Need to develop unexplored tourist destinations: Report

There is a need to develop and highlight unexplored tourist destinations in India to increase tourist inflow which has grown 7 per cent year-on-year from 2010 to 2014, a FICCI-EY report has said.
"While the government has been focusing on more famous tourist destinations such as those in Rajasthan, Kerala and Gujarat, there are many other unique destinations with significant tourism potential, which, if developed and positioned intelligently, can add to the growth of tourism sector in India," the report said.
Unexplored destinations ranging from the Majuli Islands, the largest river islands in the Indian sub-continent, in Assam to Auroville - a spiritual centre near Pondicherry and the desert camps of Rajasthan, must be highlighted, it added.

The other nine identified destinations which have great potential to be developed as great tourist destinations are Chitrakoot, Diu, Dudhwa National Park, Elephanta Caves, Hampi Lahaul & Spiti, Rann of Kutch, Sundarbans Delta and Gurez, the report said.
Suggesting key policy interventions, it said there must be a dedicated state tourism policy, provision of basic tourist facilities, preservation of heritage and nature of the locations, organisation of marquee events/festivals, development of theme-based activities and use of social media to promote the destinations.
Indian tourism and hospitality industry has emerged as the largest service sector in India. India sees the 11th largest tourist inflow in the Asia-Pacific region and 42nd worldwide.

The sector provided employment to 36.7 million people in 2014 and contributed Rs 7.64 trillion to the country's GDP, the report said.