New Scheme for Tourist Vehicle Operators

A new scheme has been recently announced the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under which via online mode any tourist vehicle operator will be able to apply for an All India Tourist Authorization⟋ Permit. This has been done with an aim to promote tourism as well as to grow state revenues.

Incentives from Ministry of Tourism

Overview

  • The new set of rules will be applicable from April 1,2021.
  • Once the relevant documents are submitted along with the fees, the permit will be issued to the tourist vehicle operator within 30 days of the submission of the applications.
  • During the validity, all the existing permits will continue to be in force.
  • In the 39th and 40th Transport Development Council meetings, the move was discussed.

All India Tourist Authorization Scheme

  • Flexibility in the form of the permit or authorization being granted will be allowed for a period of 3 months or more, and not exceeding three years at a time.
  • Areas with limited season of tourism and operators with limited financial capacity are under focus.
  • A central database along with the fees will also be consolidated w. r. t all such permits⟋authorization. This is expected to give a scope of improvement a sense of tourist movements and promotion of tourism.

Travel and Tourism

Industry՚s Growth

  • Tourism sector has been an integral pillar of the Make in India programme.
  • It plays a role of significant economic multiplier.
  • There has been an increasing manifold in the last 15 years in the travel and tourism industry.
  • Both international and domestic tourists have contributed towards the growth in tourism in India.
  • There has been a trend of high expectation and consumer experience.
  • In 2018, travel and tourism were the largest service industry in India.
  • In 2019, tourism generated $ 194 bn or 6.8% of India՚s GDP according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) .
  • This industry is further expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.9% to $ 460 bn by 2028 which is 9.9% of GDP.
  • Till December 2019, e-visa facility has been extended to the nationals of 169 Countries under various sub-categories:
    • e-Tourist visa
    • e-Business visa
    • e-medical visa
    • e-Medical Attendant Visa
    • e-Conference Visa
  • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the latest country to be added for e-visa facility.
Benefits of Rural Tourism
  • Employment Generation.
  • Women Empowerment.
  • Preservation of local tradition.
  • Reduces urban drift.
  • Cultural Exchange.
  • Builds community pride.
  • Provides entrepreneurship opportunities.
  • Provides sustainable development.

The Global Medical Tourism Market

  • In 2016, the Global Medical Tourism Market was worth $ 19.7.
  • By 2021, this is further expected to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 18.8% , to reach $ 46.6 bn.
  • In India, the total no. of inward medical tourists doubled in a span of just three years.

National Tourism Policy 2022

  • To enhance employment potential within the tourism sector.
  • To foster economic integration through developing linkages with other sectors.
  • Acknowledging the critical role of private sector thereby creating integrated tourism circuits.

Project Mausam

  • The govt. of India has proposed to establish cross cultural linkages.
  • To revive historic maritime cultural and economic ties with 39 Indian Ocean countries.
  • The China Silk Road project was linked with Project Mausam in 2015 by the govt. of India.

Examrace Team at Jul 5, 2021