ISSUE 109
INDIA NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2022
Special Edition TOURISM
News
................................................................................................................................................. Snapshots of the latest Highlights
1
India’s gross domestic
product (GDP) is expected to grow at 9.2% between April 2021-March 2022, as per first advance estimates released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
2
India’s share of global
merchandise exports is currently at an all-time high due to share gains in manufacturing exports, as per a Credit Suisse report.
3
Sales
of
electric
vehicles in India are expected to be around 1 million units in 2022 equal to cumulative sales in the last 15 years, as per Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV).
4
To
push
inbound
travel, 5,00,000 e-tourist visas will be offered as India opens up for international travel in a calibrated manner, as per a government announcement.
5
More than 75% of
North Eastern Railway (NER) routes have been electrified with 100% electrification looking possible by December 2022.
6
In 2021, the most
sought-after sub-industry in the real estate space was industrial and logistics, with investments reaching a five-year high of US$ 1.1 billion, a fivefold increase from 2020.
11
India surpasses the
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“More than 60% of
UK to rank third with 54 unicorns in 2021, according to a Hurun report.
India’s eligible population is fully vaccinated against covid-19,” according to Mr. Global chipmaker Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister, Intel is aiming to open a Health Government of India. semiconductor manufacturing facility in India, shortly after the The Indian IPO market Union Cabinet authorised had the best IPO year in a US$ 10.2 billion policy 2021 in two decades, as 63 boost for the country's companies raise about US$ semiconductor and display 15.6 billion, according to a manufacturing ecosystem. Prime Database report.
7
13
8
Indian startups have
secured funds of almost US$ 36 billion in privately held companies in 2021 as demand for digitization grew exponentially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
9
Indian economy will
become the world’s third largest by the year 2031, as per UK based think tank ‘Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)’.
10
Government
approved Production Linked Incentive scheme for manufacturing of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) to bring down prices of battery in the country.
14
The Union Cabinet
approved a US$ 9.95 billion production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for semiconductor manufacturing over the next 5-6 years.
15
India’s
exports
of
agricultural products, including marine and plantation goods, rose 23.21% to US$ 31.05 billion between April-November 2021 and is anticipated to exceed US$ 50 billion during FY22, as per the Ministry of Commerce.
16
Total
textiles
and
apparel including handicrafts exports grew by 41% YoY to US$ 29.8 billion between April-December 2021. INDIA NEWSLETTER . 1
India Tourism
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Overview India is a large market for travel and tourism. It offers a diverse portfolio of niche tourism products - cruises, adventure, medical, wellness, sports, MICE, eco-tourism, film, rural and religious tourism. India has been recognized as a destination for spiritual tourism for domestic and international tourists.
The travel market in India is projected to reach US$ 125 billion by FY27 from an estimated US$ 75 billion in FY20. The Indian airline travel market was estimated at ~US$ 20 billion and is projected to double in size by FY27 due to improving airport infrastructure and growing access to passports.
India ranked 34 in the Travel & Tourism In 2020, the Indian tourism Competitiveness Report sector accounted for 31.8 2019 published by the million jobs, which was World Economic Forum. 7.3% of the total employment in the country. By 2029, it is expected to In WTTC’s Economic account for about 53 million Impact 2019 report, India’s jobs. International Tourists Travel & Tourism GDP arrival is expected to reach contribution grew by 4.9%, 30.5 billion by 2028. which was the third highest after China and Philippines. e-Visa facility was offered to Additionally, the report also 171 countries as of March highlights that between 2021. The government 2014-2019, India witnessed introduced a scheme to the strongest growth in the boost the tourism sector by number of jobs created providing one-month free (6.36 million), followed by tourist visa to 5 lakh China (5.47 million) and tourists until March 31, the Philippines (2.53 2022. million). During 2019, foreign tourist In 2020, the travel & arrivals (FTAs) in India tourism industry’s stood at 10.89 million, contribution to the GDP achieving a growth rate of was US$ 121.9 billion; this 3.20% y-o-y. During 2019, is expected to reach US$ FEEs from tourism 512 billion by 2028. increased 4.8% y-o-y to US$ 29.96 billion. In 2019, In India, the industry’s arrivals through e-Tourist direct contribution to the Visa increased by 23.6% yGDP is expected to record o-y to 2.9 million. an annual growth rate of 10.35% between 2019 and In 2020, FTAs decreased by 2028. 75.5% YoY to 2.68 million
and arrivals through e-Tourist Visa (Jan-Nov) decreased by 67.2% YoY to 0.84 million. The launch of several branding and marketing initiatives by the Government of India such as ‘Incredible India!’ and ‘Athiti Devo Bhava’ has provided a focused impetus to growth. The Indian Government has also released a fresh category of visa - the medical visa or M-visa, to encourage medical tourism in the country. The Government is working to achieve 1% share in world's international tourist arrivals by 2020 and 2% share by 2025. The Government is also making serious efforts to boost investment in the tourism sector. In the hotel and tourism sector, 100% FDI is allowed through the automatic route. A five-year tax holiday has been offered for 2-, 3- and 4-star category hotels located around UNESCO World Heritage sites (except Delhi and Mumbai). India is often termed as the hotspot for bio-diversity and its rich natural heritage is unparalleled in many ways. As of December 2020, the country comprised ~104 national parks and 566 sanctuaries. Ministry of Tourism launched DekhoApnaDesh webinar in April 2020 to provide information on the many destinations and the INDIA NEWSLETTER . 2
sheer depth and expanse of the culture and heritage of Incredible India. Until July 2021, 90 webinars have been conducted under the series. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) runs a series of Bharat Darshan tourist trains aimed at taking people to various pilgrimages across the country. In October 2021, Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra
Modi launched the Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh to boost tourism. The Ministry of Tourism developed an initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) by partnering with the Quality Council of India(QCI) in October 2020. The initiative will effectively implement guidelines/SOPs issued with reference to
COVID-19 for safe operations of hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units. Ministry of Tourism has introduced the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (IITF) and Incredible India Tourist Guide (IITG) Certification Programme, aimed at creating an online learning platform of well-trained tourist facilitators and guides across the country. The IITF concept is aimed to promote micro-tourism, i.e., tourism in less explored areas of the country.
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Eternal India
................................................................................................................................................ Heritage tourism in India has seen tremendous development. India has long been known for its ancient culture and rich legacy. As a result, the arrival of historical tourism in India has been growing. India's illustrious past and cultural variety combine to create a powerful mix that draws millions of travelers to its heritage tourism attractions each year. The diverse temples, palaces, monuments, and forts that can be found all around India illustrate the country's rich legacy. This has resulted in a rise in historical tourism in India.
Taj Mahal, AGRA
Photo source
Mehrangarh Fort, JODHPUR
Hampi, KARNATAKA
Tawang Monestry, ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Ajanta & Ellora Caves, MAHARASHTRA
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MediCare
................................................................................................................................................ India was included among top 10 best medical services providers in the world by Medical Treatment Index (MTI), 2020-21. It has one of the largest healthcare industries in the world IMAGE Healthcare with one of the largest networks of hospitals. There are 69,364 hospitals (43,486 private hospitals, and 25,778 public hospitals) with 1.2 million registered doctors, achieving WHO recommended doctor population ratio. The entire potential of wellness systems, has been established through millennia of old civilization wisdom. This is accomplished through promoting India as a
center for Ayurveda, Yoga, Sidha, Naturopathy, and other complementary therapies, as well as the spiritual philosophy that has long been a part of the Indian way of life.
worked in medical institutes in the United States, Europe, or other affluent countries.
Medical tourism is a term that describes the rapidly rising practice of seeking healthcare treatments across international borders. Elective treatments, as well as major operations, are common services requested by tourists.
Many Indian hospitals have top-of-the-line medical and diagnostic equipment from worldwide transnational enterprises.
The majority of physicians and nurses are bilingual.
The following criteria gives India an edge as a medical tourism destination:
India has some of the top nurses in the world. In India, almost 1000 accredited nurse-training facilities, most of which are affiliated with teaching hospitals, graduate nearly 10,000 nurses each year.
The majority of doctors and surgeons at Indian hospitals have received their training or have
Even the most budgetconscious visitor can enjoy first-class service and luxurious facilities.
Heal in India: Emergence of India as a Hub of Medical Tourism By Rashika Vij; INVEST INDIA
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India: The land of sprituality
................................................................................................................................................ India is a country steeped in history, mystery, saints, and spirituality. Spirituality has been a school of thought that demands that every human embrace it in order to live a serene life since the beginning of time. Since many decades, India has been a center of spiritual tourism, with travellers from all over the world drawn to the country's mystic side and seeking an authentic spiritual experience in India. India has many sacred sites visited by devotees throughout the year. Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Amritsar's Golden Temple, Rishikesh and Kedarnath temples, Sarnath Stupa, and Rajasthan's Dilwara temples in the North and Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai, Brihadishwara temple in Tanjore, Ekambareswarar temple in Kanchipuram, Annamalaiyar temple in Tiruvannamalai, Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, and Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameshwaram in the South of India. Meditation, yoga, and wellness are all influenced by India's spiritual teachings. AYUSH, a ministry under the Government of India was formed on the 9th of November 2014 with a vision of reviving the profound knowledge of our ancient systems of medicine and ensuring the optimal development and propagation of the Ayush systems of healthcare. Earlier, the Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) formed in 1995, was responsible for the development of these systems. It was then renamed as the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) in November 2003 with focused attention towards education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
Ayurveda
Ganga Ghat, VARANASI
Yoga
Meditation Center, Bangalore
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
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Wild Legends
................................................................................................................................................ India is an unrivaled and intriguing country in the globe because of its wonderful blend of unique culture, tradition, religion, geography, and wildlife. The many areas of India have distinct stunning landscapes and a diversity of unrivaled flora and fauna due to their varying topography and temperature. The changing ecosystem of India provides a desired natural habitat for India's diverse animals.
The captivating natural beauty of India, as well as a diverse range of wildlife species that are difficult to discover in other parts of the world, enhance the terrain.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Kaziranga National Park
Ranthambore National Park
Jim Corbett National Park
Gir National Park
Pench National Park
India is a world leader in wildlife conservation and wildlife tourism, with 103 National Parks, 543 Wildlife Sanctuaries, and over 769 protected forests, as well as 50 Tiger Reserves. The amazing wildlife in India draws millions of wildlife enthusiasts and
nature lovers from all over the world, thanks to the Jungle Safaris offered in various National Parks and Sanctuaries. The major wild creatures include Royal Bengal Tigers, Asiatic Lions, Indian Wild Elephants, Onehorned Rhinoceros, Leopards, several types of Deer, Indian Bear, Wild Boars, Wild Buffaloes, and many more, as well as countless species of Avifauna, Reptiles, and Aquafauna.
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Discover the adventure in you
................................................................................................................................................ The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) was created in 1994 by a small group of Travel Trade Adventurers who saw ATOAI as a powerful support network that would lead to both group and individual profits by promoting adventure as one of India's top tourism attractions. With about 485+ member companies across India, ATOAI is the national representative organisation of Indian adventure trip operators. We collaborate closely with the industry and government officials at both the federal and state levels to lobby for regulations, research trends, and promote a safe environment for visitors to participate in activities across 31 verticals. Adventure trips in India come in a variety of shapes and sizes due to the country's diverse landscape. These trips assists one in overcoming the monotony brought on by city life's one-dimensionality. These trips are wonderful to do alone, with friends, or as a family adventure. There are several adventure sites in India, as well as sightseeing opportunities in and around them.
Mr. Vishwas Makhija President, ATOAI. F-190, Ground Floor, Opp. Hanuman Mandir, Lado Sarai, New Delhi – 110030. E-mail: president@atoai.org
Adventure on ice at Shela Nala, Kaza (Spiti), H.P.
Hot Air Balloon Ride, Goa.
River Rafting, Uttrakhand.
Scuba Diving, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Bike ride tours, Sikkim.
Skiing, Jammu & Kashmir. INDIA NEWSLETTER . 8
Royalty on wheels
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Palace on wheels
The Palace on Wheels luxury train takes you on a scintillating journey into the royal land of sand dunes and regal palaces. Voted as the 4th best luxury train in the world, the Palace on Wheels carries with it an intrinsic ambience that goes perfectly well with the majestic charm and beauty spread so lavishly across the Indian terrain. KALKA- SHIMLA TOY TRAIN The Kalka–Shimla railway is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge railway in North India that runs from Kalka to Shimla across primarily mountainous terrain. It is recognized for its breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and villages. The railway was established in 1898 to connect Shimla, the British Raj's summer capital, with the rest of the Indian rail system. 107 tunnels and 864 bridges were erected along the route during construction. NILGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY The 1000mm meter gauge railway steadily ascends the Nilgiri hills, passing through tunnels and curves to provide travelers with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The only rack railway in India runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty, covering a distance of five hours and climbing from 326m to 2203m. Traveling on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a vacation in and of itself, as the alluring long journey promises a plethora of panoramic sights. DARJEELING TOY TRAIN The toy train has been operating on small gauge lines since the 1880s, providing a crucial transportation link to various sections of the Darjeeling hills and lower plains. It is an icon of legacy dating back to colonial times, as well as an engineering wonder. It also provides a superb way to take in the beautiful Himalayan scenery as you travel around the hills' slopes. INDIA NEWSLETTER . 9
Nature at it's BEST
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Dal Lake, Shrinagar
Kanchenjunga, Sikkim
Beach in GOA Lakshdweep
Heart shaped pond, KERALA
Valley of Flowers , UTTARAKHAND
Jog Falls, KARNATAKA
Balancing Rock, TAMIL NADU
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Diversity is the spice of India
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FESTIVAL OF COLOURS
'HOLI'!! Indian Classical Dance: Bharatanatyam
Indian fOOD: Rich in flavour
Photo Source
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Diversity is the spice of India
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Important Links
................................................................................................................................................ Nodal agency for the formulation of national policies and programs and for the co-ordination of activities of various Central Government Agencies, State Governments/UTs and the Private Sector for the development and promotion of tourism in India. www.tourism.gov.in
International tourism campaign of the Government of India www.incredibleindia.org
Apex Organization of Regional Level Guides of India www.tgfi.org.in
STATE TOURISM LINKS Ministry of Tourism
https://tourism.gov.in/related-links/ state-tourism-links
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States and Union Territorys(UT) of India
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INDIA DIGITAL MAP
INDIA NEWSLETTER . 14
Trade Fairs/ Webinars
................................................................................................................................................ INTERESTED IN VISITING A TRADE SHOW IN INDIA? In case your company is interested in visiting a tradeshow/B2B event in India, be it one listed here or another one that came to your attention, get in contact with us via comm1.vienna@mea.gov.in to get more information about possible assistance/subsidies.
INDIA NEWSLETTER . 15
India's Vaccination Drive
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India Is Running The World’s Largest Vaccination Drive For more information visit: www.cowin.gov.in
India Perspectives Magazine Online
.............................................................................................................................................. www.indiaperspectives.gov.in India Perspectives, the flagship magazine of the Ministry of External Affairs. The magazine is printed in 16 languages and goes to 170 countries, disseminating interesting information about India’s rich culture and tradition. For a copy of the magazine, mail us at: poip@mea.gov.in
INDIA NEWSLETTER . 16
Guide for Travellers - Baggage Rules
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The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs(erstwhile Central Board of Excise & Customs) launched a mobile app “Indian Customs -Guide to Travellers” for dissemination of information about the Customs Baggage Rule, 2016. The application has been launched to inform traders, exporters and importers about the Customs Baggage Rules 2016. It has been developed by Bengaluru Customs and is available on Android Play store, Apple Store and Windows store. Guide for Travellers
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APP
INDIA NEWSLETTER . 17
DIKSHA- E- Learning App
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Indian Embassy Library
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■■ The Embassy’s library is opened daily from 10 am to 1 pm without appointment.
■■ Our collection contains more than 3000 titles in dozens of categories.
■■ For appointments outside the opening hours or other inquiries, please contact us under info.vienna@mea.gov.in or 015058666 - 44
■■ Download our latest catalog of books under Library Catalog
INDIA NEWSLETTER . 18
Notice Board
............................................................................................................................................... EMBASSY’S LIBRARY ■■ The EMBASSY’S library is open DAILY from 10am to 1pm without appointment. ■■ For a complete list of books available in our library, visit our website www.eoivienna.gov.in . ■■ For scheduling an appointment outside the opening hours, please contact the information assistant under info.vienna@mea.gov.in or 01 505 8666 - 44
BUSINESS CENTRE ■■ The EMBASSY’S Business Centre is opened DAILY from 10am to 1pm. ■■ For scheduling an appointment outside the opening hours, please contact the commercial wing under : comm1.vienna@mea.gov.in or 01 505 8666 - 31
STUDENTS WELFARE OFFICER ■■ Mr. Rishi Tripathi, Second Secretary in this Embassy has been designated as Officer to look after welfare of Indian Students in Austria and Montenegro.
■■ His contact details are: 0043 1 505 866 and ccl.vienna@mea.gov.in
YOGA CLASSES ■■ The Embassy has started Yoga Classes from 1.07.2021- 4-5pm in multipurpose hall at Embassy of India, Vienna. To register please send an email to our Cultural Wing at culture.vienna@mea.gov.in
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INDIA NEWSLETTER
Disclaimer: Information collected in our Newsletter is through secondary research and Embassy of India, Vienna is not responsible for any errors in the same.
INDIA NEWSLETTER . 20