Summary
Highlights
The video introduces the National Action Plan on Tourism 1992, focusing on its objectives, which include understanding action plans, government initiatives in tourism planning, and the various sectors covered by the plan. It highlights the plan's role in addressing weaknesses in India's tourism development policy and setting directions for quick results.
The 1992 National Action Plan had several key objectives: developing tourist destinations socio-economically, preserving ecology and heritage, increasing international tourism, improving India's share in global tourism, boosting employment in the sector, and enhancing the economy for domestic tourists. It was designed to provide a detailed course of action to achieve specific goals within a timeframe, considering various scenarios.
Presented to Parliament in May 1992, the plan emphasized the tourism industry's global and national importance, recognizing its potential for employment, revenue generation, and foreign exchange. It aimed to use tourism as an instrument for development, helping to tackle issues like poverty, improve education and medical facilities, generate employment, and enhance the living standards of host communities.
The plan focused on the socio-economic development of tourism areas, ensuring local communities benefit both socially and financially. It aimed to increase employment opportunities, especially for host communities, with a focus on maximizing job creation from the tourism industry.
A major objective was the preservation of national heritage (palaces, temples, monuments) and the natural environment (flora and fauna), utilizing them as tourism products. The plan also aimed to optimize foreign exchange earnings through international tourism, attracting more international visitors to develop tourism areas within the country.
The National Action Plan also sought to increase India's share in the world tourism index through initiatives like visa-on-arrival facilities, international marketing, and campaigns such as 'Incredible India.' The Ministry of Tourism continuously strives to improve India's global tourism ranking.
The plan summarized specific initiatives such as creating special tourism areas for intensive investment, establishing a scheme for financial assistance in these areas (like adventure and pilgrim tourism circuits), and introducing new tourist trains like 'Palace on Wheels' on various routes. It also recommended river cruises to target the leisure segment and promote India as a cruise destination.
The plan aimed to restore and improve foreign offices to enhance their accountability in meeting specific targets, thus attracting more international tourists. It also emphasized upgrading the information revolution system to project India positively in key source markets, showcasing its diverse tourism products like mountains, beaches, deserts, and cultural heritage. The plan also called for developing and standardizing information counters at major international airports, trains, and hotels, staffed by a skilled workforce.
In conclusion, the 1992 National Action Plan focused on the holistic development of India's tourism sector, aiming for socio-economic benefits for host communities. While successful in establishing targets, some, like increasing tourist traffic to five million by 1997, were optimistic and only achieved later (in 2007). Despite some unrealistic targets, it was considered a wonderful plan for India's tourism development.