Eighteenth CII Annual Tourism Convention in 2024
18th CII Annual Tourism Summit Held in New Delhi, Focuses on Transforming India's Tourism Potential
The 18th CII Annual Tourism Summit, initiated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), took place in New Delhi on December 18, 2024. The summit aimed to chart a strategic roadmap for transforming India's tourism potential into actionable outcomes.
The key focus of the summit was employment and skill development, with the launch of the CII-EY Report on Employment Landscape in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. The report offered in-depth insights into employment trends, challenges, and capacity-building initiatives in the tourism and hospitality sector.
India aspires to rank among the top 10 global tourism destinations by 2030 and the top 3 by 2047. The summit represented a vital opportunity to unlock the sector's potential and drive economic growth. Strategies to boost inbound tourism through integrated marketing and strategic international partnerships were discussed.
The tourism sector is a significant source of economic growth and societal well-being. In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals in India reached over 9.2 million, marking a 43.5% year-on-year increase. The sector contributed ₹19.13 trillion to India's GDP in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by nearly 10%. Foreign exchange earnings (FEEs) from tourism exceeded ₹2.3 lakh crore in 2023, a 65.7% rise compared to the previous year.
The summit also focused on enhancing ease of doing business to streamline the hospitality sector. Measures towards strengthening tourism business were necessary, such as easing regulatory and licensing burdens, reducing compliance costs, efficient approval systems, and fostering investments. Stakeholders showcased state-level best practices to foster regional collaboration.
Government initiatives like the 'Incredible India' campaign, Swadesh Darshan, Dekho Apna Desh, Vibrant Village Programme, and facilitative visa regimes have boosted India's global appeal. The recently announced strategies like Paryatan Didi, Paryatan Mitra, Incredible India Content Hub, and Government-Industry-Academia collaborations are aimed at further promoting tourism.
To realize the full potential of the tourism sector, strategies targeting niche segments like MICE, medical, adventure, and rural tourism aim to position India as a year-round destination. By doing so, India's ranking on the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) improved to 39th among 119 countries in 2024.
Employment in the tourism sector grew by 10% to 43 million jobs in 2023. The summit provided a platform for discussions on how to tackle employment and skill development challenges in the tourism sector. Registration for the summit was available for interested parties. The summit was scheduled for Wednesday, 18 December 2024, in New Delhi.
The data source for this information is the Ministry of Tourism (https://pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=149085&lang=1).
