INDIAN TOURISM

Tourism in India is the largest service industry, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. In 2010, total Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in India were 5.78 million and India generated about 200 billion US dollars in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$375.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate.[1] The majority of foreign tourists come from USA and UK.[2] Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are the top five states to receive inbound tourists.[3] Domestic tourism in the same year was 740 million. Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra received the big share of these visitors.[4][5] Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency to formulate national policies and programmes for the development and promotion of tourism. In the process, the Ministry consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including various Central Ministries/agencies, the state governments and union territories and the representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being made to promote new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism.[6] The Ministry of Tourism also maintains the Incredible India campaign.
In 2011, total Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in India were 6.18 million and Foreign Exchange Earnings stood at US$ 16.691 billion (Global rank-17) up 17.6% from previous year figure of US$ 14.193 billion (5.58 million FTAs in 2010). India's Foreign Exchange earnings grew by an astonishing 14.1% (CAGR) during 2001-10 out-pacing global average 7.7%. Owing to steady decade-long growth India's share in world Foreign exchange earnings has gone up from 0.64% in 2002 to about 1.72% in 2011.[7]
According to World Travel and Tourism Council, India will be a tourism hot-spot from 2009 to 2018,[8] having the highest 10-year growth potential.[9] The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 ranked tourism in India sixth in terms of price competitiveness and 39th in terms of safety and security.[10] Despite short- and medium-term setbacks, such as shortage of hotel rooms,[11] tourism revenues are expected to surge by 42% from 2007 to 2017.[12] India's rich history and its cultural and geographical diversity make its international tourism appeal large and diverse. It presents heritage and cultural tourism along with medical, business and sports tourism. India has one of the largest and fastest growing medical tourism sectors.