The Indian tourism industry can be called the "industry of big paradoxes". On the one hand it has almost unbeatable competitive advantages, huge potential (in terms of generating foreign exchange&employment generation), and high growth rates. On the other hand, inspite of these strengths, the Indian Tourism and Hospitality Industry is still way behind - even against its smaller neighbours in South-East Asia, not to mention the larger counterparts like China. With everything on offer from heritage to wellness, mountains to beaches, just 18 million foreign tourists coming to India each year looks very bleak.
There are some inherent problems and these are well-known but till date nothing concrete has been done to resolve these issues. Foreign tourists visiting India have often voiced their frustration over the country's inadequate infrastructure, antiquated airports and railways, absence of proper roads, and the outrageous room prices which hotels impose because of a shortage of quality accommodation in the country. Personal safety is another issue that needs to be addressed. Women, in particular, feel unsafe in places such as Rajasthan, Goa and even Delhi where incidents of molestation of women and robberies of foreign tourists are reported on a regular basis.
This article highlights and analyses challenges facing the Indian Tourism Industry and the strategies that can be adopted.