Analysing the Differential Performances of Indian States in the Tourism Sector: (1947-early 2020)

Abstract

Tourism is an ever-evolving and dynamic industry that can play a crucial role in increasing income and providing employment opportunities in an economy. India, especially with its rich heritage, culture, and geographical landscapes, has always had immense potential to become a leading tourist destination. Presently the major types of tourism prevalent in India are Medical Tourism, Rural/ Natural Tourism, Religious Tourism, Historical & Educational Tourism. In 2018-19, the tourism sector contributed around 5% to India’s GDP. However, with the unexpected crisis of Covid-19, the tourism sector has taken a major hit since early 2020. Several thousands lost their jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector when different states imposed lockdowns and took various other measures to curb the pandemic. As restrictions in each state eased after the first wave of the pandemic, different states in India adopted various policies to revive the tourism industry. But to understand the effectiveness of these policies in each state/ UT, one needs to investigate the baseline at which the Tourism industry was before the pandemic hit the country. This paper attempts to look at the differential performances of states and UTs of India in tourism by categorizing them into various types of tourism between 1947 and March 2020. This paper also aims to act as a base for further analysing the impact of this pandemic on Tourism across states in India.