“Tourism Sector, globally, is primarily driven by the private sector with Government acting as a facilitator and a hand holder. The optimal model is that Government should engage itself in formulating policies, aimed at openness and easy access; seamless travel; building core infrastructure viz roads, rail and air connectivities; creating tourism infrastructure with basic amenities and facilities at the destinations and developing social infrastructure with focus on cleanliness, hygiene, safety and good communication. Government should leave the rest of the activities to private sector.
Looking at the rapid growth of tourism in India in the past few years, it is essential that the supply of tourism services should match with its increasing demand. It is therefore the right time that Government engaged in greater collaboration with private sector than ever before, to bridge the gap.
It is heartening to see that even in Core Infrastructure areas like building of Airports, Highways, State Roads and Railways, the Union Government is already promoting Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in an effort to bring in world class infrastructure. The time has however come to expand the areas of partnership between Government and Private Sector in tourism sector. They should engage together in joint promotion of India Tourism through Incredible India campaign, road shows and tourism events; in augmenting infrastructure for skilling and capacity building; and in building and promotion of upcoming and potential areas viz Cruise, MICE and Adventure tourism. It is also time that Government explored, how it can go beyond the PPP mode, to allow the private sector to operate exclusively in certain identified domain areas of the Government.
Private sector on the other hand has to be ready and proactive to take up new areas of responsibilities, and impart dynamics and speed to the process of tourism development of the Country.
Greater collaboration between Government and Private Sector will undoubtedly optimise the comparative advantage of each partner and pool resources, while maintaining a balance between public and private interest and ensuring transparency.”
Addressed a batch of Senior IAS Officers at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie on the subject ‘Collaboration with Private Sector – Tourism’ on 15th July 2019.
Coming to the ‘queen of hills’ and particularly to the Academy is always a matter of pleasure and pride.
