Tuesday, March 13, 2018

If they are happy they won't mind paying.

In terms of earnings India ranks 7th in the world in tourism, making Rs 14.1 trillion, or $208.9 billion in 2016. Tourism constitutes 9.6% of GDP and creates 40.3 million jobs, which is 9.3% of total jobs in India. However, in terms of numbers India comes 40th in the world, with only 9 million tourists, which is one-tenth of what France receives. Prof N Kaushal analyses why India receives so few tourists. Turkey received 3 times as many international tourists as India in 2016, despite increasingly despotic rule by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, repeated terrorist attacks and the war next door in Syria. "Taj Mahal had half-a-million tourists, the Statue of Liberty in NY received four times as many, and the Great Wall of China received six times as many." The government has been improving infrastructure and access to tourist sites for foreigners. E-visas are available to citizens of a large number of countries. The new expressway from Delhi to Agra is wide and has much less traffic, for a smooth drive to the Taj Mahal. The problem is that the official site for the Taj Mahal does not warn Indians that they must carry proof of identity to prove they are Indian. Which creates arguments and anger at the entry point when people are stopped from entering. Obviously, they cannot go back to their villages to get their identity proofs. Nor does the site tell you that the ticket for foreigners, which costs Rs 1000, includes entry to Agra Fort as well. A visit to the Taj Mahal is not complete without a visit to the Fort because Shah Jahan, the man who built the Taj, was imprisoned there for the last 8 years of his life and would spend his time gazing at the monument in memory of his wife. The Red Fort in Delhi is undergoing reconstruction so that all the palaces inside are blocked to visitors. There is no warning and people are being charged full amounts for tickets. Delhi zoo is beautiful inside. Extremely clean with beautiful lawns and electric vehicles to take people around. But, you have to pay Rs 70 to take a camera inside and nothing for mobile phones, all of which have cameras. Sadly, animals do not look happy. There is one tiger, one jaguar, one gharial and just one wolf. Wolves are pack animals so it must be especially lonely for it. Then there are the people. Foreigners, especially women with blond hair, are requested for photos by locals. Although security is very impressive at the entrance there is no one inside to stop this harassment. The infrastructure has definitely improved. Emphasis should now be on making tourists feel happy so that they come back. Tourists mean money.  

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