Tourism sector can support 46 mn jobs in India

The Dollar Business Bureau

India’s travel and tourism industry is capable of growing at a faster pace and create job opportunities for about 46 million people by 2025, only if implementation of apt investments and policies are intact, said Richard Verma, US Ambassador.

The tourism and travel industry contributed $120 billion, accounting to 6.3% of India’s GDP, and was supported by 37 million jobseekers in 2015, says the data available with the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Timely and economical air connectivity can boost and explore the industry to its fullest potential, said Verma while addressing a conference themed ‘'Travel and Tourism as a means to achieve $500 billion trade between India and USA'. The conference was organized by Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.

He further said that efficient air connectivity is crucial aspect for robust tourism relation.

Hinting on the close bond shared by the two nations, Verma said that India had foreign visitors majorly from US in 2015. More than 1.2 million American tourists flied to India, contributing 15% of total foreign tourists.

America welcomed over 1 million Indian tourists, contributing around $11 billion to US economy, in 2015.

The US ambassador also appreciated 100% Foreign Direct Investments in civil aviation sector and National Civil Aviation Policy, which were announced of late.

With India taking steps to enable greater connectivity and implement growth enabling policies, the US is looking ahead to grow passenger traffic between the countries, said Verma.

For the first time, the US Mission in India, in 2015, had dealt with over 1 million non-immigrant visa holders just in a year, revealed Verma.

Emphasizing on the role of travel and tourism in economic growth, NITI Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant, said that India needs to create more jobs and no other industry creates jobs in multiple numbers except tourism.