Chennai: Stressing the need for both the centre and state governments to accord more priority and an integral central role to promote infrastructure development in the tourism sector, tourism stakeholders claim creation of more infrastructure would augur well for generating employment through tourism.
Promoting concepts like tourism circuits and building tourism industry on core and naturally viable resources would go a long way in making the sector vibrant. Tamil Nadu which attracted sizable investments, was better poised, a senior tourism official said.
According to the Assocham study, the number of domestic tourist visits in India can increase to over 227 crore by 2020 from over 143 crore in 2015.
Given the growth of India’s economy, expansion of middle classes and ongoing westernisation of their lifestyles, the relative importance of domestic tourism can only be expected to increase exponentially over the coming decades, according to Assocham.
Claiming that the government was according top priority to improving the amenities for tourists, a senior tourism official said the tourism department has suggested the cruise tour operators to include the Chennai Port Trust and the Thoothukudi Port Trust in their itinerary and ensure the visitors arriving to the state through the sea ports, spend more time.
“This will help to generate more revenue given the inclination of the visitors to indulge in shopping besides help the locals to devise appropriate mechanism to sustain the trade,” he added. Apart from creating wayside amenities, it has been proposed to upgrade the beachfront areas, erect watchtowers, develop walkways and install CCTVs and signage at prominent tourist spots.
