Picture this: The travel and tourism sector is estimated to create 78 jobs per million rupees of investment, against 45 jobs in the manufacturing sector for similar investment.

Along with construction, it is one of the largest service sectors in India, providing employment to a wide spectrum of job-seekers from unskilled to specialised hands.

Given the immense employment potential and investment opportunities, tourism has emerged as one of the key drivers of the economy.

The sector has reached a crucial juncture of addressing several issues like sustainable tourism keeping in mind environmental concerns.

“Rather than tackling issues as ‘stop-gap arrangements’, we need to address the root cause of the problem,” opines Ms C. Aditi, coordinator, programmes, Equitable Tourism Options (Equations), a research, campaign and advocacy organisation.

The concept of sustainability is catching up in the country and the Union tourism ministry’s 12th Five-Year Plan outlines how tourism can be made more sustainable while addressing local concerns.

“We can draw inspiration from Karnataka’s jungle lodges and resorts, which has said a firm ‘no’ to AC on its properties,” says Ms Aditi, and adds that green buildings and water conservation would also help address the issue.

Experts say World Tourism Day should be celebrated seriously by all stakeholders. “Sustainable initiatives should not merely focus on conservation of natural assets but also ensure that taxation does not create a hole in the pocket,” explains Steve Borgia, member, advisory committee of world heritage matters under the Union culture ministry.

The report of the working group of tourism 12th Five-Year Plan (2012 – 17) of the Union tourism ministry envisages high growth potential for the sector.

Expansion of the tourism sector can lead to large-scale employment generation and poverty alleviation, it says.

The adoption of ‘pro-poor tourism’ approach will ensure that tourism contributes to poverty reduction. Besides, the ministry has outlined guidelines for various sectors in tourism.

MoT plans to cover Buddhist, Jain, Sikh and Sufi circuits offering short-duration packages of five days and long-duration packages of seven days.

About 35 religious circuits will be developed in the first phase by 2016 and the remaining 89 will be taken up during the second phase.

Among the circuits planned is the Hindu circuit covering Tirupati–Chennai-Mahabalipuram in TN and Velankanni–Santhome and St George Cathedral in Christian circuit. Sarv Dharm circuit to promote national integration will be created linking Tirupati–Chennai-Velankanni–Nagoor.

Sports tourism turns new mantra

Just as the government is toying with various forms of tourism formats, tour operators are quietly cashing in on the broader concept of sports tourism that is taking roots slowly in the country.

The idea is to offer sports adventure along with tour benefits which can become a wholesome concept for the entire family.

Interestingly, despite recession concerns, sports tourism has given an impetus to Indian industry by 30 per cent during this quarter of 2012.

Sports packages that include tickets for the event, hotel stay, air tickets along with a conducted city tour have found favour among young families.

“I get the double advantage of family plus a sports vacation along with watching my favourite stars live in action,” says Mr Siddarth Saxena of Delhi working with an MNC bank. He is visiting Lanka for the T20 World Cup match with his family.

2012 has proved a good year for operators who could conceive tour packages around major events such as Euro Cup, F1 Grand Prix, US Open and T20 Cricket World Cup.

“There has been a fantastic response to T20 matches till now. Though we are booked only for group matches, we are sure to see more enquiries coming in if Indian team moves up the ladder,“ says Mr Shashank Shekar Mishra, AVP-sports of TUI India, the official travel agent of the event ICC event.

Interestingly, this time a huge demand for T20 matches seems to be coming from corporate groups and the student community.

With a lot of holidays coming this season, there are a good number of queries from Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi region. “Also, Lanka is an affordable destination,” says Mr Mishra.

The next big event that operators are eyeing is the FI championship scheduled in October last week.

“Though online travel has not been associated with sports tourism till now, we are in talks with hotels and airlines around Noida for such a package,” says Mr Sanjay Bhasin, MD of travel portal Goibibo.com. ''

free guided tour at mahabs

Have you been postponing the trip to the ancient port town of the Pallavas - the internationally famed Mahabalipuram, for long?

Then try to make it on Thursday to be received by the tourist guides approved by the Central government. Members of the Tourist Guides’ Federation of South India (TGFSI) have decided to provide day-long free guided tours for tourists visiting this world heritage monument site, and other prominent places in the south, for free.

Those who wish to avail the free guided tours should contact Sudhakar (Mahabalipuram): 9444988248; Arun: 09446221124, Priyankar: 09895539505 and George: 9447288397 for Dutch palace, Kochi; Ramesh: 9945396856 for Somnathpur temple near Mysore and Madhu: 9849353753 for Chowmahalla palace, Hyderabad.

“The government of India approved guides will give a day-long free guided tours for tourists at Mamallpuram,”says Sudhakar S. Selwyn of TGFSI.