(a) whether tourism sector is capable of providing employment to a wide spectrum of job seekers from the unskilled to the specialised and even in the remote parts of the country;
(b) if so, the details of the contribution of tourism sector in creating jobs and the role played both by the Centre and State Governments in this regard; and
(c) the employment opportunities likely to be generated during the 12th Five Year Plan?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a): Yes, Madam. Tourism Sector is a major generator of employment. As a highly labour intensive activity, tourism and tourism support activities create a high proportion of employment and career opportunities for low skilled and semi-skilled workers, particularly for poor, female and young workers.
(b): As per the 2nd Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for 2009-10 and subsequent estimation, the contribution of tourism to total employment of the country during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were 10.17%, 10.78%, 11.49% and 12.36%, respectively.
Ministry of Tourism operates various schemes for overall development of tourism in the country which in turn creates employment in the tourism sector. With a view to create and strengthen institutional infrastructure capable of meeting the skilled manpower requirement of hospitality sector, Ministry of Tourism is operating two Plan Schemes, namely, Scheme of Assistance to Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs)/Food Craft Institutes (FCIs)/National Council of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT), etc. and Scheme of Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP).
(c): The Working Group on Tourism for 12th Five Year Plan, set up by the then Planning Commission, has estimated the generation of additional employment of 24.5 million (direct and indirect) during 2010 to 2016.