Tourism sector sees slight jump in jobs at 70 million in 2021-22: Govt

Moneycontrol earlier reported that there has been a significant rebound in the travel and tourism industry in India, with a remarkable annual growth of 25 percent in 2023, according to data by foundit.

The total number of direct and indirect jobs in the tourism sector increased slightly to 70 million in 2021-22, said Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER G Kishan Reddy in Rajya Sabha on February 8.

In 2020-21, the tourism sector had 68.07 million employees, down from 69.44 million in 2019-20.

The minister also detailed the overall strategy for the development of Lakshadweep Islands, which is based on achieving sustainable growth, preserving the unique cultural and environmental characteristics, and enhancing the quality of life for the islanders.

“It (the government) aspires to position Lakshadweep as a model for responsible and inclusive development, balancing economic progress with environmental conservation. The strategy includes leveraging the island's natural beauty to promote tourism, creating a robust and resilient economy, and fostering a sense of pride and well-being among the local communities,” he said in a written answer.

The Ministry of Tourism has revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & tourism-centric approach and has notified 57 destinations in the country including Lakshadweep for development under SD 2.0.

Moneycontrol earlier reported that there has been a significant rebound in the travel and tourism industry in India, with a remarkable annual growth of 25 percent in 2023, according to data by foundit.

Also, the total number of white-collar jobs in the travel and tourism sector increased from 10,276 in January 2023 to 12,141 in January 2024, marking an 18 percent increase in hiring activity.

A positive percentage growth in the number of jobs suggests a growing or expanding travel and tourism sector. Among the most in-demand job roles, sales and business development hold the largest share of 26 percent, followed by chefs (17 percent), and travel consultants (13 percent).