If govt invests 70,000 crores in tourism development in India, it will create far more jobs year after year.
It will not only help govt earn direct/indirect taxes but also help earn foreign exchange as more visitors come into the country. It can also help many other associated sectors thrive. Instead of focusing on temporary fixes by giving tax payers money, government should focus on long term model that not only create jobs but also help in wealth creation for the country.
India has a country is a great destination for tourism. There are very few countries in the world that can boast of tropical beaches and snow capped mountain to deserts to rain forests, from snow leopards to elephants to snakes we have it all. From kashmir to kanyakumari our land is so diverse. From yoga to vedic maths, from ayurveda to martial arts we have it all. From idli, dosa, sambhar to biryani, kebabs and yakni we have it all.
Look at a country like thailand where tourism contributes close to 18-20% of their GDP. Some greenery, temples and beaches and sex tourism. Thats all they have. But they have managed to survive and thrive with it. We have more than thailand but still under utilized. Tourism in India contributes less than 9% of GDP and employs only a 8% of people directly/indirectly.
Can you imagine the potential we have? Its mind boggling. Kerala which has not many industries survives mostly on tourism. So is Goa now after the mining ban.
Impetus and business acumen should be imparted to home owners for managing home stay facilities.
A few things like better connectivity, better roads, better sanitation and hygiene, better medical care (close to tourist places) will go long way in boosting tourism. We are sitting on a cash cow not knowing how to use it.
Edit: I forgot medical tourism all together. We have very good doctors in India and our best hospitals can be compared with top hospitals anywhere in the world. With cheaper medicines and cheaper rooms rates and competitive doctor fees, India can be a top destination for all sorts of surgeries and treatments.