Just as the environment needs to be sustained to encourage ecotourism, other types of tourism must also be thought of in terms of sustainability. With issues generalizable to other developing countries, 17 papers by contributors primarily from India and Australia analyze the importance of tourism in India's economic development and measures taken to ensure sustainable growth of this industry. Specialists narratively and graphically detail aspects of India's tourism such as trends in number and satisfaction ratings of tourists, national policies, environmental issues, employment generation, regional tourism, eco-friendly and national park tourism. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

In the 21st Century, tourism has emerged as a leading sector across the globe. This sector has been widely acknowledged for its contribution to national income, foreign exchange reserves, employment creation, expansion of local business, poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, balanced regional development, cultural exchanges, and above all for developing and maintaining international relations and world peace. The development of tourism sector generates growth due to its linkage effects and cross-sectoral synergies which lead to the progress of other sectors including agriculture, handicrafts, healthcare, education, transport and communication, construction etc. On the social front, expansion of tourism brings positive changes in the population structure, occupational patterns, value system, individual behaviour, family relationships, collective lifestyles, moral conduct, creative expressions, traditional ceremonies and community organizations. In India, tourism has become the most vibrant service sector activity and a multi-billion dollar industry over the years. The natural surroundings, architectural masterpieces, music, dance, paintings, customs and languages have all made India a tourist paradise. The strategies and policies of the Government of India including Incredible India and Athithi Devo Bhava have significantly contributed to the expansion of tourism in India. The present volume contains 14 scholarly papers, authored by experts in the field, which not only provide an overview of the growth of tourism in India, but also give an analytical account of the problems and prospects associated with it.

The 2020 edition analyses tourism performance and policy trends across 51 OECD countries and partner economies. It highlights the need for coherent and comprehensive approaches to tourism policy making, and the significance of the tourism economy, with data covering domestic, inbound and outbound tourism, enterprises and employment, and internal tourism consumption.

Tourism, the world's largest industry, has created a variety of complex political problems, particularly in those countries where the primary attraction of tourism is its potential for accelerating development. The political dimensions that have encouraged tourism in the People's Republic of China, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan are examined in Linda K. Richter's study, which is based on more than 250 interviews with government officials, travel industry representatives, and media officials. Richter concentrates on the reasons for using tourism to advance government policy objectives and on the many ways political and economic problems can frustrate tourism's contribution to national development. All too often, after the expensive infrastructure is developed, luxury goods imported, and lavish promotional efforts expended, nations are left disillusioned with the economic promise of tourism. Disappointing results are often complicated by a preoccupation with the lure of tourism and an underestimation of the industry's needs and of the political pressures of and on government officials. Encouraging an awareness of the political aspects of tourism, the author advocates greater involvement by social and political scientists in monitoring tourism policy, as well as a restructuring and redesigning of programs in this largest sector of international trade.

Big data is already being used to measure, monitor, and manage tourism development, but its potential remains to be fully exploited. This report discusses the trends, opportunities, and challenges in using big data and digitalization in the tourism sector. It highlights how big data is being leveraged for COVID-19 recovery and examines its relationship with statistical frameworks to better measure the economic, social, and environmental impact of tourism. Case studies of partnerships in Asia and the Pacific between the public and private sector demonstrate ways to tap big data.