10/11/2017 5 things Government needs do to promote the Tourism Industry in India

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5 Things Government Needs Do

To Promote The Tourism
Industry In India
By Kaushambi Last updated Feb 20, 2012

Its always easy to have armchair discussions about what the government should do and what it isnt
doing. Notwithstanding that, here are a few things wed love to suggest to the tourism ministry,
because we cant help but say again and again that India can make a lot of money off its tourism
wealth but it we are simply letting opportunities slip from our hands.

Contents [hide]

1 Allow corporate sponsorship for heritage buildings

2 Create experiences, not sightseeing spots

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10/11/2017 5 things Government needs do to promote the Tourism Industry in India

3 Build great roads and access points

4 Aggressive tourism marketing strategies
5 Sell niche tourism areas separately

Allow corporate sponsorship for heritage buildings

One of the biggest charms of Indian tourism (http://trak.in/Tags/Business/indian-tourism/) is its
architecture and wealth of historic monuments. And theres a long list of heritage monuments that
are still sitting in squalid environments.

An effective solution for this would be to outsource the maintenance and exterior lighting of the
heritage monument to corporate giants in return for some branding opportunity at the monument.

Many think this is outright commercialisation. But this is a much better option than leaving it an
abandoned state and let it decay.

Create experiences, not sightseeing spots

If you closely notice, many tourist destinations around the world are merely made up of created
experiences. Be it botanical gardens, architectural monuments, backwaters, the Himalayas, the
tourism ministry should see the potential of a place to attract tourists rather than merely banking on
the natural beauty of a place.

The tourism industry which includes the government and private players, need to manipulate
destinations as experiences and not sightseeing point alone.

For instance, steps can be taken to make the tour replete with tour guides, activities for the children,
culinary tours, interactivity for the tourist with the culture of the place etc.

Build great roads and access points

It would completely wrong on anyones part to simply say Create better infrastructure. This is a very
generic statement. But it is critical to build good roads and approach points to a certain tourist
destination.

For foreign and domestic tourists alike, a bumpy ride with potholes and a punctured tire only to
reach an exotic Indian destination is no good.

Packaged train travel, easy bus connections and safe car hire services with knowledgeable
personnel combines with great freeways and highways may sound utopian but are critical features
for an unmatched tourist experience.

Aggressive tourism marketing strategies

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10/11/2017 5 things Government needs do to promote the Tourism Industry in India

Many people seem to be having a problem with exoticizing India to the West but at some point if that
strategy allows for the raking in of moolah, then why not? Were not promoting India as the land of
snakes and charmers anymore, but the tourism ministry should surely pursue aggressive online and
other marketing strategies to promote India as a must-visit location. Whether it is broadcasting
Incredible India (http://trak.in/tags/business/2009/11/12/travel-incredible-india-world-best-
destination-marketing-campaign/) campaigns abroad, holding tourism seminars or offering Indian
locations with facilities to promote foreign lm productions in the country. Aggressive marketing is
absolutely critical to be seen and heard well.

Sell niche tourism areas separately

India is currently in a position where it can make a cash cow out of selling customized experiences,
luxury spa sessions, rare animal sanctuaries, religious pilgrimage tours and extreme Himalaya tours.

With too many points of differentiation available, Indian tourism should focus on how it has
something on offer for everyone in every category with all budgets. India on shoestring, India in
luxury, the royal India, urban India, the common mans India, historical India and much more.

The way information is packaged and distributed can go a long way in improving tourist tra c in
the country.

Although the government has already started making a lot of improvements

(http://trak.in/tags/business/2009/08/17/incredible-india-ads-oscar-grammy-bafta/) in this area, we
still have a long way to go to let tourism alone generate signi cant revenue for the country.

We need to capitalize on India as a destination where the royal Bengal tiger, a common labourer, a
few millionaires, religious dichotomies, exotic culinary treasures and some of the most expensive
spas of the world co-exist. Now, thats quite a challenge, isnt it?

Do you have any pointers to add?

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Kaushambi

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10/11/2017 5 things Government needs do to promote the Tourism Industry in India

Kaushambi Vaishnav is a Freelancer with professional and personal interest in media,

technology, business, current affairs and the internet.

Comments 12 Facebook Comments

Mohd Talib (Http://Www.Cabgougon.Com) Says 2 years ago

Yes I totally agree with u that India has

all resources for tourism but we are not
utilising that in a proper way Ministery
can nd such way by which we can uti
lise our resource and can attract no of
tourist like America Britain etc

Resorts In Wayanad (Http://Www.Vythiriresort.Com) Says 2 years ago

It is really a great article to our tourism industry. Promote tourism industry means protect our nature.

Eternise (Http://Test.Com) Says 4 years ago

Youre so awesome! I dont suppose Ive read through anything like that before.
So wonderful to nd someone with unique thoughts on this issue.
Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website
is one thing that is required on the internet, someone with a little originality!

Priya Agrawal (Http://Www.Facebook.Com/Priya.Agrawal.144734) Says 5 years ago

In India online car and taxi booking services is growing up day by day and we are focusing up to how we
can providing best services to our customer so that the tourists enjoy the trip i.e. Agra, Jaipur and etc.
Website: http://www.cabgurgaon.com/ (http://www.cabgurgaon.com/)

Shubhrojyoti Mukherjee Says 5 years ago

@KS Wilbourne:
The point that you have mentioned about looting foreigners(specially cab & auto drivers) is completely
correct, & most of them are intentional. Its because whenever they nd someone from abroad(specially
whites), one thing that comes to their mind is America, Rich people, $$$. I suggest you to pay them
strictly as per METER readings(even if they argue unnecessarily).

As far as shopkeepers are concerned, please ask the other customers about the prices of products,
although this is not the right procedure.

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10/11/2017 5 things Government needs do to promote the Tourism Industry in India

On the other hand, if you buy any Factory made products like Cans, Food, Clothes, Shoes.etc, pay them
strictly as per MRP(Maximum Retail Price) in INR printed. Better buy from Shopping malls, but they are
less in numbers in the interior rural areas.

Please download the pdfs in the link http://www.nationalconsumerhelpline.in/consumer-tips.aspx

(http://www.nationalconsumerhelpline.in/consumer-tips.aspx). These will help you.

Please note that there is an organization named Consumer Forum in India. You can lodge a complaint
anytime you want, actions will be taken. Contact numbers & Websites are mentioned below.

I address to all the foreigners across the globe to come to our country & enjoy your holidays, because we
have Snow caps, Mountains, Desert, Beaches, Ancient Monuments & heritages, Wild life Adventures,
Megacities.etc. Apart from that India has 16 of cial languages(including English), every states have
different cultures (like Lifestyle, Clothing, Traditional fashions, Fooding, Architectures.etc.). So please
dont hesitate to visit next time.

Consumer Complaint Toll-Free Call: 1800 11 4000 from anywhere in India.

Address: Controller of Legal metrology
Govt. Barrack No. 7, Freepress Journal Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021
Telephones: Mumbai: (022)22023354, (022)22044952
Thane: (022)25407332
Navi Mumbai: (022)27574074
Country code: +91
Website: http://www.pgportal.gov.in/Grievance.aspx (http://www.pgportal.gov.in/Grievance.aspx)
http://www.nationalconsumerhelpline.in/ (http://www.nationalconsumerhelpline.in/)

Jyoti Sharma Says 5 years ago

nemesh and arun,i agree,security is right point but the best tourist destination of tourists go there,where
will be god and attractive tourist place and best tourism infrastructure and tourism features and special
focus of the rst to have all these things to attract tourists.

KS Wilbourne Says 6 years ago

As a videshi who has spent quite a few years in India over the past few decades, Id like to mention one
thing that I feel really puts foreign visitors off, and that is the government-promoted attitude that we
should pay much more for everything. Discriminatory pricing doesnt create a good feeling in the heart
and it doesnt make people feel welcome when they are expected to pay up to 50x more than Indian
tourists, which is the case at the Taj Mahal! Its a short-sighted policy that in the long run hampers
tourism. Whether its intentional or not, it actively promotes the idea that taxi and autorickshaw drivers
and merchants are justi ed in charging whatever they can get away with. This needs to change. Its really
counterproductive. Indian hospitality is famous around the world, but this is something that conveys a
very inhospitable attitude and it does nothing to attract more visitors.

Stock Darpan Says 6 years ago

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10/11/2017 5 things Government needs do to promote the Tourism Industry in India

I'll appreciate your research work..

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Aditi Mishra (Http://Www.Facebook.Com/Surprizezunltd) Says 6 years ago

and what about extra initiatives, especially in terms of security for solo female travelers?

Altaf Rahman Says 6 years ago

All the above points need attention.

I would like to comment rst on promoting tourism as an experiance.

It is absolutely neccessary. If you think from inside out, you will only know what you have. If you look at
the tourism from global view, we can understand what is the real meaning of promoting tourism as an
experiance. Take the case of Thailand. They promote the country as a destination for entertainment (you
know what I mean). In addition, there is nature, traditional Thai boxing rings, annual International Flower
exhibitions in Chang Mai, etc. But at the base, entertainment is the main theme.
If you take Europe, its Castles, Wine, Bull ghts. If you take Las Vegas, its gambling, If you take New
Orleans, its music, etc.
But in India we promote Taj Mahal seperately, Charminar seperately, Jaisalmer seperately, Gods own
country seperately, Bangalore seperately. There is no central theme.

Now coming to Roads, its true that we need good roads. But slowly the quality of our roads is improving
on a macro level. With many expressways, the situation is far different than even 10 years ago.
However roads is not the only thing that troubles the tourists. The whole infrastructure has to improve.
Infrastructure from tourism point of view encompasses, roads, hotels, food, positive locals, multiple
choices of journey from point a to point b, communications, exchange of forign currency to rupees,
medical facilities in case of urgency etc.
With only improvement in roads, forigners dont get the complete experiance. Out of all these only our
communication is the world class. We get internet / ISD facilities in even small hamlets too.

Now coming to agressive promotion, the only point I can think of at this moment is the crash of rupee.
Though it is bad for the economy as a whole, we can promote it as a reward to those who are undecided
on where to go.

Just my two paisa :)

Nemesh Singh (Http://Www.Facebook.Com/Nemeshsingh) Says 6 years ago

What about security? We have clients coming from other countries and it is a nightmare for us to take
them to Indian Places. I think the rst step to tourism promotion would be to make India secure for
Foreigners. Improve traf c sense so at least they can cross the roads.

Arun Prabhudesai (Http://Www.Facebook.Com/Arun.P) Says 6 years ago

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10/11/2017 5 things Government needs do to promote the Tourism Industry in India

Nemesh absolutely agree about the security point. Home Ministry has to ensure security
of visitors. They need to feel comfortable traveling to India in rst placeall the above
initiatives comes later

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