Tourism Industry- A Fastest Growing Tertiary Sector in Assam: An Explorative Research

Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world. Besides, it is related to major social phenomenon of the modern society with definite economic, social and environmental consequences. It has taken important role increasing GDP share to economy and increasing new destinations. Assam is fast emerging as a major tourist destination in India with its splendid tourist attractions, its breath taking scenic beauty, dense forests, green valleys, large water ways, rich bio-diversity and unique art and culture making Assam a state with enormous potential for development through tourism. The tourist visits in Assam has been increasing steadily during the last few years and the trend needs to be sustained through the provisions of appropriate tourist facilities and services. This paper is an effort to find out the result of a study in respect of the tourism industry of Assam as the fastest growing tertiary sector.


Introduction:
Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world. Besides, it is related to major social phenomenon of the modern society with definite economic, social and environmental consequences. It has taken important role increasing GDP share to economy and increasing new destinations. Over the past six decades, tourism has experienced as a tremendous growing sector and the world economy has been emerged in to competitiveness. "The Market share of the emerging economies increased from 30 % in 1980 to 47% in 2013 and is expected to reach 57% by 2030, equivalent to over 1 billion international tourist arrivals" (UNWTO, 2014 edition). Asia and Pacific recorded the strongest growth with 6% increase in arrivals followed by Europe and Africa (both increase by 5%). In the world, China has consolidated in position as the number one business source market in the world spending US $129 billion in international tourism.
A report presented by UNWTO (2006:5) to the third United Nations Conference on least developed countries highlighted the following topics.

1.
Tourism as an export-product has the unique quality of being consumed at the points of production, providing direct benefits to the local communities and businessmen.

2.
Tourism has a multiplier-effect in matter of economic activities, providing jobs and income through supply chain.

3.
The infrastructure required by tourismtransport, communications, water supply and health services also benefit local communities.

4.
When properly managed tourism also helps to create awareness about national and cultural environment preservation.

5.
Tourism creates opportunities for small and micro enterprises and is an industry with very low start -up and entry barriers.
The tourism Industry is related to Demand factor motives, which include: International tourist Market, Domestic tourist Market, local people participations in tourism based activities, facilities and services. International Tourism (Travel passenger's transport) accounts for 29% of the world export of services.
To study market demand and role of world tourism industry increasing tourist arrivals, GDP share, employment opportunities in the world scenario.

2.
To study state tourism Industry increasing tourists, revenue increasing, unemployment and G.D.P.

Statistical Concepts and Methodology:
Statistical information on tourism is collected from the reliable secondary source that is United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). On the other hand, the data is based on Travel and Tourism Report Also, the secondary data is collected from the Govt. policy record, published Article, Case-study Report and Various Web-site sources.
In order to measure the benefits of the industry the key indicators are increasing arrivals (in bound) and departures (out-bound), Gross Domestic Product (GDP%), Industry share of employment (%) and receipts from the Industry.
The unemployment data is based on reports of National Council of Applied Economic Research. It provides the direct and indirect contribution of Tourism to state GDP and employment using state specific GDP and employment data. Also, NCAER'S employment data is estimated in 66 th round survey of NSS (National Sample Survey) office, TSA based table employment and GDP share according to TSA: RMF-2008 reasonability, high variability in the working conditions, flexibility and the informality of jobs in several small units industries. As recommended Table presents the total number of Jobs (one employed person can take up more than one job), the other being of subsidiary nature and number of people employed in the tourism specific industries.

Growth of World Tourism and India:
The world tourism organization, UNWTO highlights the following.
. An ever increasing number of destinations world-wide have opened up to and turning tourism in to a key driver of socio economic progress through export revenues, the creation of jobs and enterprises and infrastructure development.
. Over the past six-decades tourism has experienced continued expansion and diversification becoming one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world.  The table highlights the growth trend of tourism Industry in the world. The number of international tourist arrivals (over right visitors) in 2015 reached a total of 1186 million, an increase of 52 million over the previous years. It represents an increase by 4% or more every year since 2010. Since Demand was robust, three factors influenced the demand of tourism i.e. unusually strong exchange rate fluctuations, the decline in the prices of oil and other commodities which increased disposable income in importing countries but weakened tourism demand in exporting countries as well as increased global concern about safety and security. By UNWTO regions, the America and Asia and the pacific both recorded close to 6% growth in international tourist arrivals.  The percentage (%) change is fluctuated. The volume of tourist arrivals increased but annual change does not-increase significantly.

Growth of Tourism Industry in Assam:
Assam is a state which lies in the eastern region of India with its economic potentiates. Different valuable natural resources are in the possession of this state. It is subjected to variety of problems in the North-East-region. The term 'tourist infrastructure' associated with the development of accommodation sector, food and beverage sector, transport system, tourist spots, travel-agencies, tour operators, the entertainment industries, art and crafts, the souvenir industry and so on. Economists frequently put stress on the development of touristic infrastructure.
Assam is fast emerging as a major tourist destination in India with its splendid tourist attractions, its breath taking scenic beauty, dense forests, green valleys, large water ways, rich bio-diversity and unique art and culture. The tourists visiting Assam had been increasing steadily during the last few years and the trend needs to be sustained through the provision of appropriate tourist facilities and services. which has presented the negative growth rate. The column 4 and 5 are calculated by the author to find out the changing pattern of tourist arrivals in Assam. In respect of visit of Indian tourists, this fall was in Kaziranga NationalPark (-18.98%), Manas National Park (-19.22%) Orang NationalPark (-32.43%), Dibru Saikhowa National Park (-33.3%) and Nameri National Park (-19.15%).  The table presents the employment in tourism industry of Assam. Two major breakdowns of the number of jobs and hours worked are proposed. One according to the gender of the person are employed, the other according to a simplified status in employment classification. Where only employees are signed out from use of the labour force is expressed in terms of number of jobs, number of hours worked (in the reference period) and number of fulltime equivalent jobs (in the reference period) in order to make the measurement comparable and to wipe out the effects of part time jobs (As per NCAER report) The employment and income effect of hospitality sector are very close related and follow a common source, namely expenditure on accommodation, food and beverage by the tourist. Tourist expenditure provides direct income and also generates employment in hotels, restaurant, bar, bakery, jeweler, transport agency, readymade garments, food-product etc. These sectors also generate an immense volume if indirect employment and income with a multiplier effect with the coming of tourists to destinations. The demands of hospitality industries generate direct employment in one hand and it will open up yet another dimension in the economic development.

GDP share to State Tourism Industry
At national level, the estimates of GDP are prepared and published annually by the central statistical office (NSSO).
State Domestic Products estimates are prepared annually by the State Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES). State Domestic Product (SDP) is the monetary value of all goods and services produced within the geographical boundaries of the state. It covers all the items like agricultural crops, livestock, fisheries, forest product, manufacturing items, construction of building the service sectors i.e. domestic service, hotels restaurants, trade etc. Tourism service includes in the service sector. In the preparation of state TSA, the SDP account are used to arrive at the supply side information of the tourism industries.

Finding and conclusions:
International tourist arrivals (Overnight visitors) grew by 5% worldwide in 2013, reaching a record 1087 million arrivals after tapping 1 billion marks in 2012. Asia and the pacific recorded the strongest growth with a 6% increase in arrivals followed by Europe and Africa. International tourism receipts reached up 1159 billion worldwide in 2013, up from US $1078 billion in 2012. China has consolidated its position as the number one tourism source market in the world, spending US $129 billion on internal tourism.
Travel & tourism's impact on the economic and social development of a country can be considered enormous, opening it up for business, trade and capital investment, creating jobs and entrepreneurialism for the workforce and protecting heritage and cultural values. Travels & Tourism generated US $7.6trillion (10% of global GDP) and 277 million jobs (1 in 11 jobs) for the global economy in 2014. Recent years have seen T&T growing at a faster rate than both the wider economy and other significant sectors such as automotive, financial services and health care.
WTTC is proud to continue to provide the clean and empirical data in order to help both public and private bodies make the right decisions for the future growth of sustainable travel and tourism sector.
In Assam, there is good proposal for the development of tourism industry. Since the tourism industry also provides a fillip to related industries such as hospitality industry, the handloom and handicrafts industry and provides employment opportunities to the local people, a well directed effort at realizing the potential of Assam as a tourist destination will go a long way in making the state prosperous and improve the country GDP.
Since tourism is a social initiative which cannot grow and sustain by the efforts of the government alone, it requires private initiatives for its promotion. In fact, tourism is a multidimensional activity and has strong inter-related linkages. A study by NEDFI found that every domestic tourist agency create employment for three persons and every foreign tourist seven persons. It was also estimated that every million rupees involved in tourism, creates 479 direct jobs besides many indirect jobs.