India’s share of world
tourist traffic has remained static at 0.38 per cent. One of the first principles included in the
basic document “National Tourism Policy, 2002” issued by the Department of
Tourism had underlined the need to formulate a legislative framework to
regulate tourism trade and industry.
Tourism is to be viewed
as a major engine of economic growth by optimum harnessing of tourism potential.
Resources and expertise of the private sector would need to be utilized by the
tourism industry to achieve process of development as well as conservation.
A pragmatic resume would safeguard
conservation, preservation and integrated development of areas around protected
monuments to accelerate cultural tourism. Protection and removal of
encroachments from the west cost of India is the need of the hour to develop
sustainable beach and costal tourism. In a similar wake, creation of special
tourism police force for development at major tourist destinations will provide
requisite security to the travelers.
The aim of this seminar is to facilitate a
serious discussion amongst the various state holders to visit and define the
contours of a broad legal regime stake needed not only to regulate but promote
tourism in India to its full potential.
