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`Tourism generates income, jobs'

Special Correspondent

Third largest forex earner in India: Haryana Governor

CHANDIGARH: Tourism contributes to the economy of a nation by generating income, employment and foreign exchange, according to Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai.

Inaugurating a conference on "Dream Tourism-Green Tourism" organised by the Institute of Marketing and Management in New Delhi on Monday, Dr. Kidwai said that tourism had become the third largest foreign exchange earner in India.

"The sector's share was approximately 4.9 per cent of the GDP in 2004 and if properly exploited it could play even more significant role in the nation's economy."

Income from tourism helped in benefiting regions which were low on socio-economic indicators as tourists preferred to travel in regions with less urbanisation, more natural resources, rural areas and places where artisans and craftsmen lived, said Dr. Kidwai according to a spokesperson of the Haryana Raj Bhavan here.

Dr. Kidwai said that India was emerging as a lead tourist destination as it had varied landscapes, rich social and cultural heritage and multiple religion, languages and cultures.

In 2004, 3.37 million foreign tourists visited India which registered a growth of about 24 per cent over and above a growth of about 14 per cent witnessed in 2003.

This was despite the fact that there was a decline of about 1.5 per cent in tourist arrivals in the world in 2003 and only a growth of 10.7 per cent in 2004.

Foreign exchange earnings from tourism were 4,810 million US$ in 2004 representing an unprecedented 36 per cent growth, he added.

Various new forms of tourism like eco-tourism, rural tourism, farm tourism, ethnic tourism, industry tourism, adventure tourism were now gaining prominence.

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