20% of the total domestic tourist visits of over 103 crores in India as of 2012 were to united Aandhra Pradesh, noted a recent ASSOCHAM study.
Emerging as the most-preferred tourist destination for domestic travelers, united Andhra Pradesh accounted for the lion's share of about 20% of the total domestic tourist visits of over 103 crores in India as of 2012, notes a recent ASSOCHAM study.
Clocking compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 85%, Andhra Pradesh (AP) recorded a significant surge in domestic tourist arrivals, which crossed the 20 crore mark in 2012, the study titled "Indian Tourism Industry: The Way Forward" conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) said.
However, united Andhra Pradesh did not figure among the top ten States in foreign tourist visits in India, as the State attracted about 2.9 lakh foreign tourists in 2012, an increase of about 11% from 2.6 lakhs in 2011.
With investments worth over Rs 6,800 crores, united AP had been one of the frontrunners as it ranked 5th with a 5.7% share amid 20 major States that attracted total investments worth over Rs 1.2 lakh crores in the hotels and tourism industry across India, highlighted the study prepared by the ASSOCHAM Economic Research Bureau (AERB).
"There is a huge scope for luring investments by the private sector in the two new States - Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh - that are endowed with abundant entrepreneurial talent, highly competent bureaucracy and forward-looking political leadership," said D S Rawat, National Secretary General of ASSOCHAM, while releasing the findings of the Chamber's study.
"There is a need for both the State governments to provide clear land bank policies for improving the physical infrastructure in order to attract new investments in the hospitality sector in their respective states," he added.
"They should also develop the tourism sector based on their respective core natural strengths. Besides, they should also conduct tourism fairs and festivals for showcasing their rich cultural heritages, regularly," said Rawat. "Developing trained manpower possessing the requisite soft skills is also very essential for them to emerge among India's top tourist destinations, and the same can be done by conducting short-term training programs with focused skill development for people working in hotels, travel agencies, railway stations, bus stands, and at monuments."
"There is tremendous scope to develop star-rated hotels across both the new States to offer quality experiences, as second-tier cities in the country hold a huge potential to drive the hotel and tourism industry," added Rawat. "The State governments should develop tourism circuits through a conjunction of sites as a package in order to offer the tourists a more complete experience."
"The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework must be adopted to build and manage tourist facilities by following industry standards, ethics and practices, ensuring preservation and protection of tourist attractions," added ASSOCHAM's national Secretary General.
"Driven by the growing middle class with rising disposable incomes and ever-evolving lifestyles, domestic tourism offers tremendous growth potential for the growth and development of India's overall tourism industry," further noted the ASSOCHAM study. "There is a need to promote domestic tourism as it spurs job creation, especially in the marginal, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promotes entrepreneurship, and accentuates demand for different categories of hotels."
Apart from united AP, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra figure among the top 5 States with the highest share in domestic tourist visits. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are the top 5 States with the highest share in foreign tourist visits.
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Orissa are States attracting significant investments in the hotels and tourism industry. (INN)