Entertainment industry and tourism boom

People do not travel just for entertainment or sightseeing—tourism today also encompasses long-distance travel for commercial purposes, medical needs, wellness treatments, and more. The tourism industry generates significant revenue primarily from international and domestic tourism. It also creates job opportunities for local residents across various sectors, contributing to their livelihood.

In many Western countries, ancient structures are carefully preserved and attractively maintained primarily to draw tourists. Nations that earn significant income through tourism generally ensure high standards of living and safety for travellers. Developed countries lead the way in this regard. However, India is not among the top-ranking nations when it comes to attracting tourists. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, India ranks below the 30th position. Despite this, tourism contributes nearly Rs 20 lakh crore to India's GDP. If India gives more focused attention to this sector in the coming years, this figure could potentially double.

It is in this context that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently stated at the Waves Summit that India will be transformed into a global powerhouse in the tourism industry. India, with its population of over 100 crore, is also a land of 100 crore stories. The country’s six lakh villages each have unique traditions and storytelling styles. The Prime Minister emphasised the vision of “Create in India, create for the world” in the context of the tourism sector. For a long time, India's tourism vision was limited to showcasing old palaces, forts, and historical monuments. But now, the tourism landscape is shifting nationwide. However, pandemics and terrorism remain the two major challenges to tourism. The COVID-19 crisis brought tourism across the globe to a standstill, and the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam has dealt a severe blow to Kashmir's tourism. Therefore, to ensure sustainable growth in tourism, India must prevent such attacks from recurring and demonstrate to the world that perpetrators of such acts will face strong retaliation.

After the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 crisis, Kerala’s tourism sector has made a remarkable recovery. The state is especially attractive due to its beautiful natural landscapes, safety, and relatively low travel costs. Kerala’s Tourism Department has been achieving consistent success in drawing both domestic and international tourists. As India moves toward becoming a global tourism powerhouse, Kerala must take steps to elevate its tourism industry to new heights.