“The NTP should be aligned and should state upfront vision targets of 100 million foreign tourists, 15 billion+ domestic tourism visits, and 20 crore employed Indians directly and indirectly in line with the pre-discussed national tourism vision of 2047”
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
The Federation of Associations of Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) along with national travel, tourism, and hospitality industry associations, ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI & TAFI, in a detailed multi-stakeholder discussion with the leadership of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has welcomed the efforts of the ministry on the drafting of the National Tourism Policy (NTP) which has attempted to incorporate FAITH associations’ cumulative suggestions over the years and also the suggestions from the earlier tourism vision workshops.
FAITH, in a statement, said that the NTP should be aligned and should state upfront vision targets of 100 million foreign tourists, 15 billion+ domestic tourism visits, and 20 crore employed Indians directly and indirectly in line with the pre-discussed national tourism vision of 2047.
“Intent is only as good as its implementation. Currently, the policy document mentions a 10-year duration. However, it is suggested to be a rolling document of 5 years with a quarterly review mechanism with the industry. This will ensure that the policy document is institutionalised and will get upgraded on a rolling basis every 5 years towards the vision 2047 with a quarterly review and feedback mechanism of what is working what is not,” mentioned FAITH.
The policy body further added that like agriculture has been a national priority of all successive governments and gets the vital focus of the PM & the CMs, tourism too can get due national domestic priority if it is declared as such in the NTP. “It’s impact, its footprint across the country is far-reaching and is deeply rooted in our geographical and cultural fabric across the length and breadth of our country. If recognised as a national priority sector, it will ensure tourism will focus channelised domestic investments as such more so needed post this worst 24 months ever.”
“The NTP should address this key gap and position tourism as a vital export sector at par with merchandise exports ensuring the due support that it will get in the successive foreign trade policies and also ensuring that our taxes whether direct, GST or state level are not exported to foreign buyers. This statement of recognition in the NTP will manifold Indian tourism’s global competitiveness.”
— FAITH
On the matter of getting tourism included, FAITH stated, “The Constitution rightfully needs to recognise tourism as a joint and collectible responsibility of centre & states to ensure a shared national vision and development, marketing & skilling synergies among all our individual tourism portfolios across states and segments. Thus, a stated goal of the NTP should be as such to get that status.
“Till today tourism forex contribution to our current account has not been fully recognised in letter despite tourism catering to foreign buyers and foreign exchange earnings. Just as a sample over the past five years pre-Covid tourism may have contributed to more than USD 100 billion earnings and on a cumulative basis multiple times over the past many years. The NTP should address this key gap and position tourism as a vital export sector at par with merchandise exports ensuring the due support that it will get in the successive foreign trade policies and also ensuring that our taxes whether direct, GST or state level are not exported to foreign buyers. This statement of recognition in the NTP will manifold Indian tourism’s global competitiveness.”
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