Karnataka government to increase the entry fee at Mysuru Palace
Context:
Recently, the Karnataka Government decided to raise the entry fees for foreign tourists at Mysuru Palace from ₹100 to ₹1,000, sparking discussions on its tourism strategy focused on short-term gains.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Government policies and interventions)
Key Highlights:
- Tourism Potential: Karnataka boasts 320 km of coastline, UNESCO sites (Hampi, Pattadakal, Hoysala temples), and around 1,500 protected monuments, along with five tiger reserves and multiple bird sanctuaries.
- Tourism Performance: Karnataka was not among the top 10 states for foreign tourist visits in 2022.
- Domestic Tourism Strength: Karnataka ranked fourth in India for domestic tourism with 182.41 million tourists, after Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, but requires more foreign tourism to boost its hospitality and retail sectors.
India’s Tourism Sector:
- India currently ranks at 39th place on the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024.
- As per the India Brand Equity Foundation’s (IBEF) report, travel and tourism, with a total contribution of about USD 178 billion to the country’s GDP, is currently rated as the two largest industries in India.
- It has also generated more than 30 million jobs (6.9% of the total employment in the year 2021).
- As per the Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in December 2023 were 1,070,163.
- Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs): FTAs in India surged to 9.2 million in 2023, up from 6.4 million in 2022.
- Top Attractions: Key destinations include the Taj Mahal (Agra), Golden Temple (Amritsar), beaches in Goa, Kerala’s backwaters, and hill stations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Tourism Market Potential: India’s travel market is projected to reach USD 125 billion by FY27, with international tourist arrivals expected to hit 30.5 million by 2028.
- Employment Growth: The tourism sector could support approximately 53 million jobs by 2029, with GDP contributions anticipated to grow at an annual rate of 7-9% until 2030.
- Travel & Hospitality Expansion: The airline market, currently valued at USD 20 billion, and the hotel market, valued at USD 32 billion (FY20), are expected to double by FY27 due to enhanced infrastructure and increased travel demand.