India as a tourism destination:

In the last few years, India has shaken off some of the many impediments that have held back its inbound tourism development. Double-digit annual growth was achieved in both domestic and international tourism between 2002 and 2005, and the increase in earnings indicates that India’s vast potential may be finally becoming fulfilled. The economy has been performing particularly well since the formulation of the ten-year tourism plan in 2002. The removal of a number of regulatory barriers in the aviation sector have prompted an air transport boom, and investments in the national highway network have helped to improve accessibility by road.

While India is unlikely to match the rapid expansion of tourism in China, China’s success has undoubtedly provided a competitive impetus for the Indian authorities to acknowledge the potential of a liberalised regulatory environment in tourism.