The travel and tourism sector is expected to generate 12.9 million jobs directly and 25 million jobs indirectly in the country by 2010, as against 9.3 million (directly) and 17.4 million (indirectly) jobs in 1999. While every Rs 10 lack spent creates 45 jobs in agriculture and 13 jobs manufacturing, the same amount spent in the hotel and tourism industry generates 89 jobs. One foreign visitor or 17 domestic tourists generate one job in the country. The travel and tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) can be doubled to 10 per cent in 20 years if the government puts tourism and development in the forefront of the national agenda. Currently, tourism contributes an estimated Rs. 904.6 billion or 5.6 per cent to the GDP, as compared to the world average of 10 per cent. One extra international flight into India daily, assuming 200 foreign visitors per flight, seven days stay and expenditure of Rs.2,000 per day, can generate Rs.28 lakh in foreign exchange per flight. This translates into earning of over Rs. 100 crore per year (360 flights) and creation of more than 20,000 new jobs annually. |
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