by Vijaylakshmi
As India goes to the mode of celebration of great dance of democracy, the nation looks at the vision both short term and long term. The Hotel Association of India (HAI) considers that it is an opportune time to outline the national priorities by all participants of India’s polity and therefore a time to restate the key importance of tourism and hospitality in any future development vision for the country.
KB Kachru, the newly elected president of HAI puts the perspective clearly, “The time has come for India” he says, “to achieve its true development potential and to become the third largest country in the world by GDP. It is now recognised globally that tourism and hospitality can play a very pivotal role in driving such growth. The Vision 2047 report by HAI indicates that contribution of hospitality sector could reach USD 1 trillion by 2047”.
Kachru further stated that India’s population dividend can go awry if employment opportunities are not created. Tourism and hospitality as the largest employer, fill that role. It has been indicated, he said, that properly nurtured, this sector could generate 50 million jobs.
“We would be happy if all the stakeholders recognize the great employment and growth potential of tourism and hospitality and make it a part of their commitment”, he said.
Elaborating further, HAI secretary general MP Bezbaruah said, “it would be pertinent and in national interest that the two focus issues—infrastructure status at the Centre and industry status in the states find place in the government’s agenda.” The vision of the government to reach USD 3 trillion tourism economy and 100million visitors requires corresponding creation of accommodation and destination development.
“While such incentives are given to other industries, if extended to this sector they would have a multiplier effect in investment thereby creating corresponding employment opportunities which will be spread over all corners of the country pushing inclusive growth. No development strategy of the country can ignore such pivotal role of the sector or can ignore only at the risk of compromising its vision 47”, Bezbaruah added.
