National Tourism Day
National Tourism Day (राष्ट्रीय पर्यटन दिवस) in India takes place on 25 January every year. The day was incepted by the Government of India to raise awareness of the importance of tourism. Tourism has the capacity to boost the economy, foreign exchange earnings and provide a large number of jobs at every level.
India’s rich history, cultural and geographical diversity makes it a popular spot among tourist. Ministry of Tourism makes new policies and programs for the development and promotion of tourism in our country. Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps like reducing E–visa fees, reducing GST rates on hotel room booking, opening 120 new peaks for mountaineering, etc. to give tourism a boost.
The theme for National Tourism Day 2024 is ‘Sustainable Journeys, Timeless Memories.’ While the theme for 2022 was “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, and the theme for National Tourism Day 2021 was ‘Dekho Apna Desh’.
10 important facts about tourism in India
1. India’s rank in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of the World Economic Forum has moved from 65th rank in 2013 to 34th rank in 2019.
2. Tourism in India provides 40 million jobs and is the third fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world.
3. The main startling fact is that many people from across the world come to India for medical treatment. India’s medical tourism sector is soaring due to its low cost, high-quality medical care, and a variety of offered services, in tandem with soaring healthcare costs in the developed countries.
4. The Kumbh Mela held in 2011 in India is listed in Guinness record for the largest mass gathering in the world.
5. The state of Tamil Nadu is the most popular state for foreign tourists and Delhi is one of the top five most visited cities of India visited by foreign tourists.
6. The largest foreign tourist arrivals in India by source country are the USA, the UK followed by Bangladesh, and others.
7. People from Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal do not require a travel visa to enter India. The citizens of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, DPR Korea, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa, and Uruguay are not required to pay any fee when obtaining an Indian visa.
8. You will need Protected Area Permit (PAP) to enter the states of Nagaland, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. While Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to travel Andaman & Nicobar Islands and some places in Sikkim.
9. The Taj Mahal is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site in Agra, India, and sees about 7 million to 8 million visitors per year.
10. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, which is the world’s richest Hindu Temple where millions throng to get his blessings.
Suggested Read: Important Days In January
