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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Tour operators ask PM Modi for ₹1000 crore allocation to increase foreign tourist arrivals
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make an immediate budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore under the 'Incredible India' campaign and form an 'India Tourism Board' under the PM's leadership with the specific objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) in the country. The IATO is the national apex body of in-bound tour operators and works closely with the Government and other hospitality stakeholders on policy issues related to foreign tourist arrivals. In a letter to Mr. Modi, the IATO said, going by trends and following discussions with stakeholders, FTA in India has still not touched the 2019 level in the last financial year. Even though foreign tourist arrivals in India have seen a rebound post-pandemic, they are still below pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals reached 9.52 million, which was 87.09% of the pre-pandemic level of 10.93 million in 2019. The Ministry of Tourism reports that the 2023 numbers were 47.89% higher than in 2022 (6.44 million), but still significantly lower than the 2019 peak. Way below potential The letter dated May 28 said while the importance of in-bound tourism as a precious foreign exchange earner and soft diplomacy tool cannot be over emphasised, India as a destination that offers raw and natural beauty is performing way below its potential. 'These measures are required as the coming season is a few months away, and it can help boost inbound tourism in this financial year,' it said. Ravi Gosain, Ppresident of IATO, said, 'when global trade is facing unprecedented disruptions due to tariff wars and geopolitical shifts, tourism exports remain unaffected. Unlike goods, India's tourism export (i.e., foreign tourists spending in India), which is non-tariff based, brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country. 'This positions inbound tourism as a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account with valuable foreign exchange, by generating employment, and by helping to balance the forex trade deficit. Yet , regretfully, the country is lagging in its effort to attract foreign tourists.' He added that to enhance FTA numbers besides the steps suggested above, the steps required are: simplified visa facilitation, expanding the scope of e-Visas, fast-tracking group tourist visas, and exploring visa fee waivers for select countries. Further, we need to incentivise international airlines and air charters to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially to tier-2 and tier-3 destinations.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IATO urges govt to set up tourism board; seeks ₹1,000 cr budget allocation
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), a key body representing domestic tour operators, said on Monday that it has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an India Tourism Board, along with a budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore under the Incredible India Campaign, to attract more foreign tourists. According to IATO, India is still not seeing the same number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) as it did before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. "While the importance of inbound tourism as a precious foreign exchange earner and soft diplomacy tool cannot be over-emphasised, India as a destination with such raw and natural beauty is performing way below its potential," the association noted. Immediate action needed to boost inbound tourism IATO said that the upcoming tourist season is only a few months away, making it the right time to introduce such measures. "To step up, IATO has written to the PM, where it has urged immediate budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore under Incredible India Campaign and formation of India Tourism Board under the PM's leadership with the specific objective of increasing FTAs," the statement added. IATO President Ravi Gosain highlighted that unlike global trade, which is currently affected by tariff wars and geopolitical issues, tourism exports are free from such challenges. "Unlike goods, India's tourism export (i.e. foreign tourists spending in India), which is non-tariff based, brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country. This positions inbound tourism as a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account with valuable foreign exchange, and employment generation and balances forex trade deficit. Yet, regretfully the country is lagging in its effort to attract foreign tourists," he stated. To support the growth of foreign tourism, IATO has also recommended easier visa processes, which includes expanding the e-visa facility, faster approvals for group tourist visas and considering visa fee waivers for selected countries. "Further we need to incentivise international airlines and air charters to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 destinations," Gosain said. India's tourism industry: Outlook According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India's tourism and hospitality sector is expected to yield revenue exceeding ₹5,12,356 crore ($59 billion) by 2028. Additionally, the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) is projected to reach 30.5 million by that year. India's Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated ₹2,541.06 crore ($291.07 million) to boost its tourism sector, focusing on upgrading infrastructure, developing skills, and making travel easier. The key initiatives include developing 50 major tourist destinations, providing MUDRA loans for homestays, improving connectivity, and expanding e-visa services. Travel and tourism are among the largest industries in India, contributing approximately $ 199.6 billion to the nation's gross domestic product. According to India's Tourism Minister, the country's tourism industry is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20% over the next few decades, fuelled by the expanding middle-income group and rising disposable incomes. India's geographical diversity and rich cultural variety offer unique experiences, making it one of the top countries in terms of international tourism expenditure.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IATO urges PM Modi for Rs 1,000 cr boost to Incredible India Campaign
Indian Association of Tour Operators ( IATO ) said Monday it has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has requested for an immediate budgetary allocation of Rs 1000 crore under the Incredible India Campaign . IATO said it is also seeking the formation of 'India Tourism Board' under the PM's leadership with the specific objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals . These measures are required as the coming season is a few months away and can help boost inbound tourism in this financial year, the industry body said in a statement. As per trends observed by IATO and discussion with every other FTA( Foreign Tourist Arrival) stakeholder, it is assessed by the body that FTA in India has not still not touched the 2019 levels in the last financial year. "When global trade is facing unprecedented disruptions due to tariff wars and geopolitical shifts, tourism exports remain unaffected by such constraints. Unlike goods, India's tourism export (i.e. foreign tourists spending in India), which is non-tariff based, brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country," said IATO president Ravi Gosain. "This positions inbound tourism as a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account with valuable foreign exchange, employment generation and balances forex trade deficit. Yet , regretfully the country is lagging in its effort to attract foreign tourists," he added. Live Events He said to enhance FTA numbers besides the steps suggested above the country needs simplified visa facilitation, fast-tracking of group tourist visas besides exploring visa fees waivers for select countries. "Further we need to Incentivise international airlines and air charters to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 destinations', he added.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IATO urges govt to set up ₹1,000 cr board to boost foreign tourist inflow
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an immediate budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore under the Incredible India campaign, as well as the formation of an India Tourism Board under the PM's leadership to increase foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in the country. This request follows IATO's repeated concerns over India's slow recovery in FTA numbers compared to 2019 levels. As the apex body for inbound tour operators, IATO collaborates with the government and other hospitality stakeholders on policy matters related to FTAs. The association said these measures are crucial with the upcoming tourist season just months away and could help boost inbound tourism in the current financial year. According to the India Tourism Data Compendium 2024, 9.52 million FTAs were recorded in 2023 as part of an ongoing recovery. In comparison, 10.93 million FTAs were recorded in 2019, before the pandemic. 'When global trade is facing unprecedented disruptions due to tariff wars and geopolitical shifts, tourism exports remain unaffected by such constraints,' said IATO President Ravi Gosain in a statement. 'Unlike goods, India's tourism export—foreign tourists spending in India—is non-tariff based and brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country. This makes inbound tourism a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account, foreign exchange reserves, employment generation, and overall trade balance. Yet, regretfully, the country is lagging in efforts to attract foreign tourists.' Gosain added that IATO has already taken steps such as simplifying visa processes, expanding the scope of e-visas, fast-tracking group tourist visas, and proposing visa fee waivers for select countries to enhance FTA numbers. He further emphasized the need to incentivize international airlines and air charters to improve connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III destinations. 'This sector alone has the potential to contribute 1 to 2 per cent to the GDP. Therefore, this engine needs to fire,' he said.
