Hawai‘i’s tourism industry is on track for another year topping 8-million visitors. Right now, the state attracts more travelers each year than the entire country of India. But India’s government has plans to ramp up those tourist numbers. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.
India’s tourism industry is slowly on the rise.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased electronic visas for visitors from China and from other countries. He’s also encouraged a project to bring some international help to India’s tourist industry.
The Straits Times reports Singapore recently signed an agreement with the state government of Rajasthan to set up “The Center of Excellence for Tourism Training.”
Operations will begin next year, with three-dozen teachers offering half a dozen courses ranging from culinary training to hospitality. The center will eventually teach nearly 500 students a year.
India’s tourism numbers have shown modest growth this year. According to the Ministry of Tourism, over the first six months of 2015, visitor arrivals are up about three and a half percent compared to a year ago. Visitor spending has increased about six-percent.
The top five markets for visitors to India: the United States, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
The government says tourism currently represents about 7-percent of India’s economy.
A recent report from the research firm Macquarie estimates tourism could add 100-billion dollars to India’s economy within a decade.