Need for Pro- Poor Tourism in India

Dr.Y.Venkata Rao B.Thrinada Rao E.Rachel Jessie

Introduction Tourism has a crucial role in transforming countries economic growth rate from low to high. Tourism is the fastest growing sector which is providing more employment in the global jobs market and contributing more to global GDP. According to WTTC economic impact research report (2011) the travel and tourism industry makes a contribution of US $5991.9 billion (9.1% GDP) in 2011, and it is forecasted US $ 9226.9 billion (9.6% GDP) by 2021 towards the global economic growth. Globally it generated total 258,592,000 jobs (8.8%) in the year 2011 and forecasted to provide employment to 323,826,000 jobs (9.7%) by the year 2021. In many countries like Thailand, Maldives, etc., tourism industry acts as a primary sector for their economic growth rate and employment generation. Now the Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Dubai recognizes the importance of tourism and taking major steps to attract more tourists from the rest of the world. After implementing liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG) model in India, the Indian Government recognizes the tourism industry as a major sector for employment generation and economic growth. Tourism is one of the third largest net earners of foreign exchange for the country (IL & FS 2007). The travel and tourism industry makes a contribution of (INR 3680.4 billion) 4.5% of GDP in 2011 to the Indian economy and supports 37,655,000 jobs (7.5% of the total employment) WTTC-2011. Tourism development in a place upgrades the livelihood states and eradicates the poverty. According to Indian ministry of tourism new tourism policy one of its objectives is to establish well structured infrastructural facilities up to the interior parts of the country for developing and promoting rural destinations. But interestingly most of the tourist developmental programmes are concentrated at metropolitan cities, urban areas and highly developed destinations. The contribution of poor people (rural population) towards the investment in tourism projects is very less and negligible. The fruits of the tourism reaching the poor are very less and enjoyed by multinational organizations and elite people in the urban areas. This brought huge disparity between urban and rural. The result of this rural migration towards the urban becomes a major problem in India (Pali Halder). The census report 2011 reveals that urbanization increased from 27.8% (2001) TO 36.16% (2011). Because of this migration it is difficult to provide basic amenities to all and there is work exploitation due to availability of huge human capital. The result leads towards less human development. At present Indias human development index is ranked at 119. India is an agrarian country with 70% population lives in rural India (census 2011). 836 million Indians live on less than Rs. 20 a day (NCB report). 88% of Dalits and Adivasis (tribes) fall above 836 million. According to P.Sainath, 8 million farmers are quitting farming from 1997

to 2001 and from the last eight years farmers are killing themselves at a rate of one in every 30 minutes. Interestingly all these deaths are happened and happening while implementing different economic relief packages by central (the Prime Minister) and the state (the Chief Minister) governments (P.Sainath 2011). The relief packages can relieve the poor at that particular time or for a while (short term). Here the poor need the job or livelihood which is sustainable and uplifting from their poverty. In this scenario tourism especially Pro-Poor Tourism (PPT) can act as a major player in the rural places for creating more and sustainable employment. Pro-Poor Tourism? Pro poor tourism (PPT) is tourism that results in increased net benefits for poor people; PPT is not a specific product or niche sector but an approach to the industry. It seeks to increase the participation of poor people at many points in the sector, and that aims to increase their economic and social benefits from tourism while reducing the negative impacts on the poor. Merits PPT provides mutual benefits to both the tourist (the consumer) and the local people. The tourists come to the destination and get the benefits directly. This will mitigate middle men costs to the tourist and the amount will reach directly to the local people. Pro poor tourism is rich with high cultural, wildlife and landscape values. So it is an opportunity to the tourist for cultural exchange and one can understand the rural environment, demography, socio-cultural, economic and political background of a place. Tourism development can change poor people access to assets and to relate livelihood options on the positive side. It can generate funds for investment in health, education, communication, and other assets provide infrastructure, stimulate development of natural resources and create a demand for improved assets. In PPT there is a huge potential for low skilled labor, so it will create more employment opportunities to the local/rural women. Demarits PPT is not a substitute to the livelihood of the local people, but it is one of the diversified opportunities. So, some of the local people are first and major victims while implementing some tourism projects in the rural places. Selling the land to outside speculators for developing tourism projects, as a result the local people may end up as workers in the industry. Sometimes they may lose access to local natural resources (i.e., Livelihood) such as fish or forest. Migrants from urban areas may move in to the rural and exploit new opportunities. Role of Government and NGOs The rural parts of the country are enough potential for generating Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. Keeping that in mind the government and other organization bodies should make policies, regulations and act to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism activities on poor. This is very more important than trying to stimulate new benefits for the poor.

The Government has to develop strategic marketing plan for the promotion of Pro-Poor Tourism. Generating funds and getting loans from banks are very difficult to the rural people, so the Government has to take necessary steps to provide financial assistance to them. The rural people have to make a part in developing infrastructural facilities like roads, water, health, and communication. With the help of NGOs government has to take preventive measures to discourage the competition for natural resources among the local people, initiate training and development programme for the poor people, educating and training the local people and tourists about culture and environment to prevent degradation of environment.