India, the beautiful — but first, India the functional, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India attracted 5.6 million foreign tourists until August 2025, while Singapore drew 11.6 million in the same period.
• Thailand's tourism sector earned over $60 billion, significantly more than India's earnings.
• India's tourism strategy faces challenges related to image, infrastructure, and overall tourist experience.
• The hospitality sector in India faces a 40% shortfall in trained staff, impacting service quality.
• The author suggests rebranding India's tourism with targeted narratives like "Spiritual India" and "Adventure India".

Detailed Insights:

• India's tourism sector is underperforming due to negative perceptions regarding safety, sanitation, and bureaucratic hurdles.
• Improving infrastructure, including airports, roads, and internet connectivity, is crucial for enhancing the tourist experience.
• Addressing issues such as scams, harassment, and lack of trained staff can significantly improve tourist satisfaction.
• Streamlining the visa process and offering long-term, multi-entry visas can attract more frequent travelers.
• Promoting sustainable and community-based tourism can balance growth with cultural and environmental preservation.
• Investment in tourism can create more jobs than manufacturing, particularly for unskilled and semi-skilled workers.
• The GST reforms have negatively impacted the hospitality industry due to the denial of input tax credit.
• The "Adopt a Heritage" scheme should be scaled up through public-private partnerships to maintain heritage sites.

Key Concepts Involved:

• E-visa: An electronic visa that allows eligible travelers to apply for and receive a visa online before traveling to a foreign country.
• GST (Goods and Services Tax): An indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services.
• Public-Private Partnership: A collaborative venture between a government agency and a private sector company.