Economic importance of tourism
The country’s GDP benefitted from both foreign tourist arrivals as well as a rise in foreign exchange earnings. Over the years, tourism also saw an increase in budget allocation from the union government and a rise in the number of registered employees. The sector also contributed to infrastructure development as more hotels and recreational centers came up in old and new tourist destinations across the country.For Europeans, South Asia is among popular travel destinations. It came as no surprise that the first wave of traveling activities developed in the late 19th century. From that time on, international tourism evolved in waves, another occurring after The Beatles visited Rishikesh in 1968. Along with the economic developments in many Asian countries from the 1990s onwards, the number of tourists from these countries grew as well. Most tourists to India came from Bangladesh, United States, and parts of Europe. On the other hand, the number of Indians traveling abroad quadrupled since 2000.