(a) whether the Government has conducted any study or survey to assess the impact of terrorist activities on tourism growth;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the sectors worst effected by the terrorist activities; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to remedy the situation?
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SMT. AMBIKA SONI)
(a) and (b): Analyses of tourists arrivals to India have shown that major incidents of
terrorism such as the 9/11 incident at World Trade Centre in New York in 2001 and the
attack on Indian Parliament in December 2001 (coupled with Afghan conflict in 2002 and
Indo-Pak border tension during the period), had an adverse impact on tourism. There was
a decline in foreign tourist arrivals in the country by 4.2% in 2001 and a further decline
by 6.0% in 2002. From 2003 onwards, the arrivals have registered positive growth. The
analyses have also revealed that sporadic incidents of terrorism may have immediate and
localized adverse impact on tourism, but tourist traffic picks up again.
(c): Tourism being an amalgam of various sectors like hotels, food & beverages,
transport, travel agencies, etc., any growth or decline in tourist arrivals has its impact on
these sectors.
(d): In order to take care of any negative publicity and adverse impact on tourist arrivals
due to terrorist attacks, the Ministry of Tourism takes up from time to time the matter
with the Ministry of External Affairs, Domestic and Overseas Indiatourism offices, and
trade associations to counteract adverse publicity.