India’s travel and hospitality sector may be on a roll, but Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says it is being impeded by high airfares as well as costly room rates at hotels.
“Our flight and hotel rates are still high,” Shekhawat commented, speaking at the BOTT tourism conclave in Delhi on Wednesday evening. “Someone from Jaipur wanting to visit Kerala finds it cheaper to fly to Baku or Bangkok because of this.”
"Going abroad has its own lure — it’s a status symbol, something many people aspire to — but the cost is also a factor," Shekhawat said.
The minister referred to inbound international tourists, their numbers lagging behind pre-Covid numbers even four years later. “For the high- end tourist who stays in luxury hotels or the budget backpacker, it is all fine. But the middle income foreigner finds India costly.”
The minister also called on the hotel industry to step up, as even the massive expansion by big hotel chains would still not be enough to cater to the expected boom in tourism in the country.
India’s tourism growth is going to be higher than the global average. The reason is the rule of the last 11 years that has provided peace, stability and growth and the disposable income the middle class has gained due to growth.
"We talk about Indians going to places like the UK and France which are at the top of the global tourist destinations. But how much domestic tourism potential do they have?,” he said, quipping, “45 crore travellers are expected at the 14-day Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj next month!”