Context: Seychelles recently declared a state of emergency in response to a blast at an explosives stockpile triggered due to flooding.

About Seychelles: 

• Location: Western Indian Ocean
  • The principal Seychelles islands are located around 1,600 km east of Kenya and approximately 1,100 km northeast of Madagascar. 
• Seychelles is located in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres of the Earth.
• Capital: Located on the island of Mahé.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Seychelles: 
  • Aldabra Islands 
  • Vallée de Mai National Park
• Ethnic groups: French were the first people to settle on the collection of islands in the 1770s. 
  • Ninety percent of the Seychelles’ population lives on Mahe, the largest island. The people who live there are called Seychellois.                           Image Source: Britannica
  • The group known as Indo-Seychellois are the second largest ethnic group in Seychelles.
• Religion: Roman Catholics make up more than three-quarters of the population. 

News Source: Financial Express

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Context: The central government banned the use of sugarcane juice and sugar syrup for ethanol production in the 2023-24 supply year to ensure adequate sugar availability and control prices.

Balancing Act: India Takes Steps to Control Food Inflation

• However, the supply of ethanol from existing offers received by OMCs (Oil Marketing Companies) from b-heavy molasses will continue.
  • B-heavy molasses is the syrup remaining after the second crystallization process in sugar Production process. 
• As per the Indian Sugar Mills Association, sugar production is likely to fall 8 percent to 33.7 million metric tons in the 2023/24 marketing year owing to below-normal rainfall in key growing states.
• In the last sugarcane crushing season 2022-23, the total sugarcane production was 33.1 million metric tonnes.
• The decision to curtail ethanol production is intended to prevent a further decline in sugar inventories in India.
• Other measures taken to control food inflation include banning wheat and broken rice exports and setting MEP for basmati rice.

About Ethanol

• Ethanol is one of the principal biofuels, which is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. 
• Uses:
• • It has medical applications as an antiseptic and disinfectant. 
  • It is used as a chemical solvent and in the synthesis of organic compounds
  • It is used as an alternative fuel source i.e. Biofuel

Ethanol Production In India: 

• In the 2022-23 ESY (December-October) 4.94 billion litres of ethanol produced in the country, a quarter, estimated to be around 1.26 billion litres, came from sugarcane juice or syrup as feedstock, 
  • while 2.33 billion litres (around 47 per cent) came from B-heavy molasses, and the rest, around 1.3 billion litres, came from grain-based sources. 
• In the 2023-24 ESY, some over 2 million tonnes (mt) of sugar could be ploughed back into the total supplies by this order of the government to stop sugar companies from producing ethanol from cane juice and syrup.

Potential impacts of Ban

• Increased sugar availability and lower prices for domestic consumers.
• Reduced ethanol production.
  • The country is looking at 20% ethanol blending by 2025-2026 ethanol year.
• Closure of sugarcane juice and sugar syrup-specific ethanol production facilities.
• Potential job losses in the sugar industry.

Must Read: Global Biofuel Alliance: Advancing Sustainable Energy

Source: Indian Express

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Context: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) issued a drug safety alert regarding the common painkiller, Meftal.

IPC issues drug safety alert for Meftal

• This was based on a preliminary analysis conducted on adverse drug reactions by the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI).
• The Commission also advises people to take the drug only after consulting a doctor.
• Healthcare professionals and patients are advised to be vigilant for signs of DRESS syndrome and other adverse drug reactions.

About Meftal:

• Meftal is a commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
• The primary component of Meftal is Mefenamic acid, a pain-relieving medication employed to mitigate muscle and joint discomfort as well as menstrual pain (menstrual cramps and rheumatoid arthritis). 
• Drug Action: Reduce the production of prostaglandins, which increases the pain sensation.
• Use: It is  commonly prescribed for various conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhoea, mild to moderate pain, inflammation, fever, and dental pain.
• Risk and Side effects: In addition to DRESS syndrome, other side effects such as abdominal pain, indigestion, dry mouth, blurred vision, increased blood pressure, swelling and gastrointestinal issues like stomach ulcers and bleeding.

DRESS Syndrome: 

• The Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare and potentially life-threatening reaction to a medication.
• Symptoms: Fever, Skin rash, Lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, and a spectrum of systemic manifestations ranging from mild to severe.

Source: Livemint

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Context: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter in a bid to establish a ceasefire amid Israel’s ongoing military attacks on the Gaza Strip, particularly in its southern region.

UN invoked Article 99 for the first time in decades as Israel attacks Gaza

• Secretary General’s Letter to UNSC: He urged the Council to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe & appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Must Read: UNSC Reforms For A New Era; What The World Thinks

About Article 99 of the UN Charter

• Article 99 states: “The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
• It is seen as a discretionary power.
• UNSC Obligation: According to the UN, the President of the Security Council is obliged to call a meeting of the Council if the Secretary-General brings to the attention of the Council any matter under Article 99.

When has Article 99 been invoked in the past?

• 1960: In the wake of the Congo Crisis, Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld invoked Article 99 to address the tumultuous situation following Belgium’s withdrawal and the subsequent internal conflict.1971: During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Secretary-General U Thant invoked it to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis and urge international action.
• 1979: Responding to the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis, Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim invoked Article 99 to emphasize the gravity of the situation and the need for peaceful resolution.
• 1989: In light of the ongoing Lebanese Civil War and the kidnapping of hostages, Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar invoked Article 99 to highlight the need for international support and engagement.

Could the invocation impact the conflict?

• The UAE proposed a UN resolution based on this letter, demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza. 
• To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the five permanent members – the United States, Russia, China, France or Britain
• However, it is unlikely that the vote will see permanent members’ unanimous support. The US and Britain have expressed support for Israel’s military actions since October 7.

Source: Indian Express

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Context: Recently, Google has launched a project “Gemini,” a new multimodal general artificial intelligence (AI) to exhibit human-like behavior.

Specialties of Google Gemini

• An expert helper or assistant. 
• It is also much more powerful than existing models. 
• Programming Language: Gemini can understand, explain and generate high-quality code in the world’s most popular programming languages, like Python, Java, C++ and Go.
• A Multimodal: It is not limited to the type of information it can process and can work, understand and operate across text, code, audio, image and video. 

Three Versions of Google Gemini

• Google Gemini has been optimized for three versions:
  • Gemini Nano: Optimal for mobile devices and will manage on-device tasks.
  • Gemini Pro: Built for scaling across a wide range of tasks.
  • Gemini Ultra: The largest and most capable model, undertaking highly complex tasks.
    • Gemini Ultra is the first model to outperform human experts on massive multitask language understanding (MMLU).
      • MMLU uses a combination of 57 subjects such as math, physics, history, law, medicine and ethics to test world knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

Significance of Google Gemini 

• Quality with Latency Reduction: Google claimed that Gemini performed 40% reduction in latency in English in the U.S.  alongside improvements in quality”.
• On Safety: Google claimed that Gemini has “most comprehensive safety evaluations of any Google AI model to date, including for bias and toxicity”,
  • It has conducted research into potential risk areas like cyber-offense, persuasion, and autonomy. 
  • A diverse group of external experts are also working and identifying blindspots.
• Google Gemini vs ChatGPT 4:
  • More Flexible: Currently, Gemini seems to be more flexible than GPT4 at the moment. 
  • Work with Video: Gemini’s ability to work with video and on devices without Internet gives it an edge. 
    • In contrast, ChatGPT cannot currently work on video, at least not natively.
  • Free to Use: Gemini is now free while ChatGPT4 is only for paid users.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Context: Recently, the Union Minister of Earth Sciences has informed Lok Sabha that the earthquake activity in the year 2023 increased and it was mainly attributed to the activation of the Almora fault in Western Nepal. 

• There have been 97 earthquakes in 2023 compared to 41 in 2022.

About Almora Fault

• Tectonic Plates Separating Lesser Himalayas: The Almora Fault is a high angle west-northwest-east-southeast to northwest-southeast trending tectonic plane.
  • It separates the Garhwal group of inner lesser Himalayas in the north from Jaunsar and Dudhatoli Groups of outer lesser Himalayas in the south.

• Fault: It is a sharp break in the crustal rocks. Rocks along a fault tend to move in opposite directions. As the overlying rock strata press them, the friction locks them together. 
  • However, their tendency to move apart at some point of time overcomes the friction and the blocks get deformed and eventually, they slide past one another abruptly. 
    • This causes a release of energy, and the energy waves travel in all directions. 
• Earthquake: It is a natural event, which is the shaking of the earth. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates waves that travel in all directions.
  • Hypocentre: It is the point where the energy is released. It is also called as the focus of an earthquake. 
  • Epicentre: It is the point on the surface, nearest to the focus. It is a point directly above the focus and the first one to experience the waves. 

Earthquakes in Northern India and Nepal

• A Common Phenomenon: It is common for northern India and Nepal to experience moderate earthquakes and fluctuations in seismic activity occasionally. 
• Seismic Active Zones: Nepal and the neighboring northern part of India are situated near the active faults of the Himalayan region.
  • These are highly seismically active areas prone to frequent earthquakes due to collision tectonics, where the Indian plate subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate.

Why the Himalayas are Prone to Earthquake?

• The Himalayas is a tectonically unstable region as it is the convergence zone of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
• The mountain building process is still going on because the Indian plate is still moving towards the Eurasian plate.
• The Indian plate is pushing the Asian plate northward at the rate of about 2 cm per year. This means that in every 100 years India moves 200 cm north against the Asian plate. 
• This colliding force builds up pressure continually for several years and this pressure is released in the form of earthquakes from time to time.

Seismic Zoning Map of India

• Published by: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published the Seismic Zoning Map of India, ranging from Zone II to V.

• Basis of Zones: The zones are divided on the basis of Modified Mercalli (MM) intensity, which measures the impact of earthquakes.
  • BIS also offers guidelines for implementing the essential engineering codes and practices to construct earthquake-resistant buildings.

News Source: Livemint

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Context: Recently, India’s first Pompe disease patient passed away after battling the disease.  

Pompe Disease: What is it? Its Symptoms and Prevalence

Pompe Disease: Also known as Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme Acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). 

• • GAA: This enzyme is crucial for breaking down glycogen into glucose within the lysosomes of cells.

• Prevalence: Its prevalence estimates range from 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 300,000 births. It occurs across diverse ethnicities and populations with varying ages of onset and severity. 
• Symptoms of Pompe Disease:
  • Muscle Weakness: Progressive muscle weakness affects both skeletal and smooth muscles, leading to difficulties in mobility and daily activities. 
  • Motor Skill Delay: Children with the disease may experience delays in achieving motor skills, such as sitting, crawling, and walking. 
  • Degenerative Impact on Bones: Prolonged muscle weakness and reduced mobility can degenerate bones, leading to joint contractures and skeletal deformities.
  • Respiratory Complications: Due to the weakening of respiratory muscles, patients may experience shortness of breath, respiratory infections, and even respiratory failure.
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: It is characterized by the thickening of the heart muscle walls. This can lead to impaired heart functions and cardiovascular symptoms.
• Curability: While there is currently no cure for Pompe disease, there are treatment options available to manage symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. 
  • Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) is a standard treatment, involving the infusion of the missing enzyme to alleviate glycogen buildup.

News Source: IE

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Context: The draft text on the Santiago Network has been adopted by the Parties and sent to the Conference of the Parties and Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (COP/CMA).

About Santiago Network Draft

• Background: The Santiago Network was established at COP 25 in Madrid as part of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• Objective: The Santiago Network will connect vulnerable developing countries with providers of technical assistance, knowledge, resources they need to address climate risks comprehensively in the context of averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage.
• Governance:
  • Overseen by the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.
  • The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) host the secretariat.
• Benefits:
  • Enhanced capacity of developing countries to address loss and damage.
  • Increased access to finance and technology.
  • Improved understanding of the risks and impacts of climate change.
  • More effective implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage

• The Warsaw International Mechanism was established at the UNFCCC climate negotiations in November 2013 (the 19th Conference of the Parties).
• Objective: To promote “implementation of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change

Also Read: Loss And Damage Fund Approved At COP28 Summit

News Source: DTE

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Context: Italy has formally withdrawn from China Belt and Road initiative (BRI). Italy, a member of the European Union and NATO, signed up BRI in 2019 under the government of then Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Why did Italy join the Belt and Road initiative?

• Italy signed it when the populist Five Star Movement party-led government promoted it as a way of increasing trade with China while getting investments in major infrastructure projects.

Why has Italy withdraws from China Belt and Road Initiative?

• Rising Trade Deficit & lack of Investment: In the intervening years, Italy’s trade deficit with China has ballooned from 20 billion euros to 48 billion euros ($21.5 billion to $51.8 billion.) 
  • Promised investments in Italian ports were never achieved.

About China Belt and Road initiative

• Genesis: In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia, expressed a vision to build a Silk Road Economic Belt (SERB) and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), to break the “bottleneck” in Asian connectivity.

• Called “One Belt, One Road” in Chinese, the Belt and Road Initiative started as a program for Chinese companies to build transportation, energy and other infrastructure overseas funded by Chinese development bank loans.
• Goal: It was launched in 2013 to boost trade and the global economy by enhancing China’s connectivity with other regions, resembling a modern Silk Road linking China to the Middle East and Europe.
• Investments: Estimated $1 trillion
• Key Principles: 
  • Policy coordination
  • Infrastructure connectivity
  • Trade
  • Financial integration 
  • people-to-people connections
  • Industrial cooperation
• Participation: At the tenth anniversary of the initiative, the Chinese government declared that more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations have embraced the BRI.
• China has hosted three BRI Forums in the years 2017, 2019, and 2023.

Must read the linked article China Celebrating 10th Anniversary of Belt and Road Initiative here.

China’s Motivations Behind Belt and Road Initiative

• China’s rivalry with the US: The vast majority of Chinese international trade passes by sea through the Malacca strait off the coast of Singapore which is a major US ally. 
  • The initiative is integral to China’s efforts to create its own more secure trade routes.
• Investment Opportunities: The Belt and Road framework provides an alternative market for China’s vast state-owned companies beyond the borders of China.
• Fostering Inclusive Growth for China’s Central Provinces: The Belt and Road is seen as a crucial element in the Chinese government’s efforts to stimulate economies of the country’s central provinces, which historically lag behind richer coastal areas. 

Progress of Belt and Road Initiative in South Asia

• Pakistan: According to the master plan for Gwadar’s development under BRI, approved in 2020, it would increase the city’s GDP to $30 billion by 2050 and create over a million jobs.
• Sri Lanka: In Sri Lanka, multiple infrastructure projects that were being financed by China before the launch of the BRI in 2013, many of them conceivably came under its fold. 
  • For Example: China  developed the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) at the Colombo port, where a Chinese state-owned firm holds an 85 per cent stake under a 35-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement.
• Nepal: Kathmandu formally joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017, submitting a list of 35 infrastructure projects it wished China to finance. 
• Bangladesh: Bangladesh, which joined the BRI in 2016, has been promised the second-highest belt and road investment by China (about $40 billion) in South Asia after Pakistan.

Concerns associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative

• Debt Trap Diplomacy: Nations have borrowed heavily from China for BRI projects, and they now face challenges in repaying these loans. This has led to accusations of “debt trap diplomacy,” where countries risk losing control of strategic assets if they default on their loans. 
  • For example, Sri Lanka had to hand over control of the Hambantota port to China due to mounting debt.

India’s Stand

• India strongly opposes China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), because it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• India’s main concern is that this project disregards its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Context: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently released the State of Climate Services for health report.

2023 State of Climate Services for Health Report: Key Findings

• The State of Climate Services for health report has been published annually since 2019. 
• Produced under the auspices of the WMO-led Global Framework for Climate Services, the 2023 report includes contributions from the Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO).

Know more about State Of Climate Services Report 2023 – WMO here. 

What are the impacts of climate change on health?

• Direct Impact:  As per the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, climate change is a multiplier of health vulnerabilities resulting in direct injuries and death. 
  • Small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs):  1.4 million people (70% of the total deaths) in LDCs lost their lives due to weather-, climate and water-related hazards in the past fifty years.
  • Since 1970, SIDS have lost 153 billion US dollars (USD) due to weather-, climate and water-related hazards.
  • Impact of Extreme heat: Aged people who are more susceptible to the negative effects of intense heat saw 3.1 billion more person-days of heatwaves globally in 2012–2021.

• Indirect Impact: Climate change leads to indirect effects such as deterioration of mental health and exacerbation of non-communicable diseases resulting from increasingly frequent and intense temperature extremes, cyclones, storms, floods, droughts and wildfires.
  • Food insecurity: Climate change is exacerbating risks of food insecurity, as environmental impacts on food systems affect food availability, access and utilization, and ultimately health and nutrition.
  • Compared to 1951–1960, 29% more territory on Earth experienced an intense drought for at least one month annually between 2012 and 2021, endangering sanitation, water security, and food security.

Global Climate Policies: Integrating Health for a Sustainable Future

• Growing Emphasis on Health: It is evident in climate-related policies. Ex- the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reports, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Health National Adaptation Plans (HNAPs),etc.
  • The national climate plans, or NDCs, now acknowledge that climate change poses a risk to both human welfare and the health of the planet.                                          An analysis of 193 NDC reports revealed that the majority of NDCs and all National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) made reference to health.
  • Currently, around one third (29%) of NDCs dedicate climate funds to plans and/or actions related to health. 
• Health Programme in UNFCCC: In 2021, it was advocated for the first time in the UNFCCC process, even though Article 4 of the UNFCCC recognises health. 
• ATACH by WHO: Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) has been established by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • Its health ministers have committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their health systems and/or strengthen their systems’ resilience to climate change.
• Operational Framework for Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Health Systems: It has been established by the WHO to help direct the health sector and effectively address the problems posed by climate variability and change.

What are the concerns associated with the NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) of countries?

• Inadequate preparedness: According to the report, the health sector is not adequately prepared to safeguard people from the effects of heat and other extreme weather events.
• No financial targets: Merely 11% establish unrestricted financial goals for all or some of their health-related plans, initiatives, and/or strategies.
• Underutilisation of climate information for health:   Globally, 28% of NDCs prioritize vector-borne diseases, and 25% prioritize injury and mortality from extreme weather events.
  • In spite of this, less than 25% of health ministries worldwide use climate information and services to track health risks associated with climate sensitivity.
• Data Services Gap: Although data services for the health sector are provided by around 74% of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), they are not especially designed with the needs of the sector.
• Data Exchange:  In order to promote data exchange and cooperation, the Ministry of Health and NMHSs do not have a formal agreement in place in at least 85% of the countries. 

Also Read: NDC Synthesis Report For 2023: UNFCCC

What are Climate Services for Health?

• About:  It is a type of health service to help the health sector become smarter and more agile in an uncertain and increasingly extreme climate.
  • Through this, climate information can be customized through climate services to suitably advise sectoral decision makers.
    • For Example: In Europe, a mobile app has been developed to provide information on risks of heatwaves in urban environments. In 2022, 1 000 Athenians and visitors used the app to cope with heat and air pollution.
• Aim:  To generate comprehensive, actionable climate data from a well-founded, holistic viewpoint of the past, present, and future conditions of societal threats associated with climate change.

What are the benefits of Climate Services for Health?

• Informed Decision Making: They provide decision-makers the ability to think ahead and plan in order to guide practices and policies that prove protective against climate related disasters.
• Empowering Health Professionals: Climate services can help health professionals better understand the risks associated with climate change, identify the most vulnerable groups, and assist in the efficient planning and implementation of interventions.
• Disaster Management: They are essential for risk assessment, emergency preparedness, early warning, and programmatic measures to safeguard public health. 
  • They are essential to disaster risk reduction by improving early warning systems, disease prevention and control initiatives, heatwave and air quality management, etc.
• Empowerment of citizenry: Climate services contribute to empowering individuals, and building climate-resilient health systems and healthy communities.

Challenges To Implementing Climate Services For Health

• Lack of clarity about the term: The terms “Climate-informed decision tools” and “climate services” are used interchangeably by the health community.
  • Climate services are actually the partnerships and techniques used to enhance existing health sector decision tools and processes.
  • For example, epidemiological studies, monitoring and surveillance, early warning and detection, with information about the climate exposure at different timescales.
• No Perceived Distinction Between Climate and Weather: The healthcare sector views climate and weather data as the same. 
  • The strong distinction between climate and weather is not perceived by the health community and the division made by the meteorological community is seen as a barrier to data and understanding. 
• Lack of Formalization through Collaboration: Collaboration is not generally formalized through Memorandums of Understanding, working groups etc .
  • Collaboration is essential for building capacity, fostering relationships, fostering a common understanding, and creating a more supportive partnership and enabling environment.

Way Forward:

• Fostering Data Sharing and Collaboration: allowing policy directives to encourage data sharing and collaboration between weather and health entities.
  • Implementing coordinating structures and interconnected, multisectoral policies at all institutional and operational levels.
• Awareness Creation: Raising awareness of the importance of climate information for climate adaptation and resilience, and of the technical requirements and investment gaps.
• Creation of new professional cadres:  Creating new professional cadres with training in transdisciplinary climate and health and institutional support to work in a variety of partnership contexts.
• Enhancing Climate Literacy:  Enhancing the public’s understanding of climate literacy and the transdisciplinary communication abilities of stakeholders involved in meteorology, climate, the environment, and health.
• Enhancing Local participation: Building national capabilities to enhance local expertise (such as gathering epidemiological, climatic, and socioeconomic data), as well as institutional communication with legislators.

• Identifying and addressing knowledge gaps: Establishing a systematic process to identify and respond to research gaps and knowledge priorities between and across health, climate and other sciences.

Conclusion:

Addressing the impacts of climate change on health requires collaborative efforts, enhanced climate services, and improved integration of climate information into health policies, emphasizing the need for proactive measures and informed decision-making to build climate-resilient and healthier communities globally.

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Context: This article is based on the news “India on course to become 5th-largest market for travel and tourism” which was published in the Business Standard. According to a report by Bernstein, India is ready to become the next big travel market in the world, projected to hit the 5th rank in outbound tourism with spends of $89 billion in 2027 as compared with the current 10th position with $38 billion in 2019.

India’s Outbound Tourism Doubles in Three Years

• Tourist Inflows: India is projected to become the 3rd largest domestic market by 2027 with spending of $174 billion, up from the $127 billion spent in 2019 when it was in fifth place. 
  • This places India behind only the USA and China, and ahead of Brazil, Italy, Australia, Japan, Germany, France and Mexico.
• Outbound Tourism: Of the total travel share, outbound tourism has gone up from 17% in 2019 to 32% in 2022. 
  • India will be behind only the US, China, Germany and the UK, but ahead of Ita­ly, South Korea, Australia, Canada and France, to name a few.

• Domestic Tourism: Travel is concentrated in just 5 states that account for 65% of the footfall. 
  • These include Tamil Nadu followed by Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.  

Also Read: World Tourism Day 2023 – Theme, Significance, and More

What is the current status of the Indian Tourism Industry?

• Tourist: The World Tourism Organization (WTO) defines tourists as people “traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes
• India’s travel and tourism sector: According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2022, the contribution of India’s travel and tourism sector to India’s economy was worth Rs 15.7 trillion. By the end of this year, it would be worth Rs 16.5 trillion.
  • The travel market in India is projected to reach US$ 125 billion by FY27 from an estimated US$ 75 billion in FY20. 
• Tourist Arrivals in India: As per the Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during the period January-March 2023 were 25,29,766 as compared to 7,84,750 in January-March, 2022 registering a growth of 222.4%.

What are the strengths of the Indian Tourism Industry?

• High Population with Increasing Wealth: According to Bernstein, the strength of Indian tourism industry lies in the fact that it is the most populous country in the world with 80% of Indians below 50 years and the increasing wealth of one-third of the population as it moves to middle and high incomes by the middle of this century.
• Robust Demand: The travel market in India is projected to reach US$ 125 billion by FY27 with the international tourist arrivals expected to reach 30.5 million by 2028.
• Attractive Opportunities: India offers a variety of experiences, including 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites, archaeological remains of ancient civilizations, wildlife in national parks and sanctuaries, the world’s highest mountain ranges, expansive beaches, the magnificent desert and a rich cultural heritage. 
  • The Ministry of Tourism designated 2023 as the ‘Visit India’ year when more than 60 cities hosted more than 220 meetings (for the G20 summit).
• Policy Support: US$ 289.89 million allocated to the Ministry of Tourism as the sector holds huge opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship for youth. 
  • an outlay of US$ 170.85 million has been allocated for the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. 
• Government Initiatives: The Indian government has undertaken initiatives to promote tourism, such as the “Incredible India” campaign. Additionally, policies and reforms have been implemented to ease visa processes and encourage foreign investment in the tourism sector. 
  • Other Initiatives: 
    • Tourist Visa on Arrival (VoA) enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has been introduced for the citizens of 43 countries, simplification of procedures for classification of hotels and restaurants, improving infrastructure development, identification and improving major tourist circuitse etc. 
    • Translating of ministry’s promotional website www.incredibleindia.org in various languages including Chinese, Arabic, French, German, Korean, and Japanese languages to further position India as a leading tourist destination. 

What are the weaknesses of the Indian Tourism Industry?

• Infrastructure Challenges: Despite improvements, certain regions in India still face challenges related to infrastructure, including transportation, roads, and public facilities. Inadequate infrastructure can affect the overall tourist experience. 
  • The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2021 ranks India 54th out of 141 countries overall and it mentions that some aspects of India’s tourism infrastructure remain somewhat underdeveloped. 
  • For example, the nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international comparison and low ATM penetration.
• Safety and Security Concerns: Ensuring the safety of tourists is crucial for the industry’s growth. Safety concerns, including instances of crime and harassment, can impact the perception of India as a tourist destination. 
  • India faces many security risks due to which it was placed 41st for safety out of the 42 most popular countries for travelers in the World’s Safest Countries rankings in 2022, produced by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Lack of Connectivity to Remote Areas: As the tourism industry is closely integrated with several other industries like hotel and accommodation, aviation, railway, roadways, healthcare, entertainment, etc., the combined weaknesses of all the sectors make it more vulnerable. 
  • The aviation sector and network of trains with buses and taxicab services, all these systems work independently, often resulting in long waiting hours and creating a confusing situation for the tourist.
• Environmental Impact: Over-tourism in certain areas can lead to environmental degradation and strain on natural resources. 
  • In recent years, Uttarakhand has encountered an issue of overcrowding. 

Way Forward

• Tourism Friendly Infrastructure: Invest in improving integrated transportation networks, including roads, airports, and railways, to enhance accessibility to tourist destinations. 
  • Upgrade and expand accommodation facilities, ensuring diverse options to cater to different traveler preferences and budgets.
  • Diversification of Tourism Offerings: Explore and develop niche tourism segments such as adventure tourism, wellness tourism, and cultural experiences to attract diverse travelers. Promote lesser-known destinations to distribute tourist traffic and benefit local economies.
  • Government Policies and Support: Implement policies that facilitate ease of travel, such as providing incentives for tourism-related businesses. Collaborate with the private sector and local communities to create an enabling environment for tourism development. 
  • The industry is also looking forward to the expansion of the e-Visa scheme, which is expected to double the tourist inflow in India. 
  • India’s travel and tourism industry has the potential to expand by 2.5% on the back of higher budgetary allocation and low-cost healthcare facilities according to a study conducted by Assocham. 
• Marketing and Promotion: Develop and implement effective marketing strategies to promote India as a premier tourist destination. Leverage digital marketing platforms and social media to reach a global audience and engage with potential travelers. 

Conclusion:

Indian tourism industry shows immense potential for growth, with rising outbound tourism, increased domestic spending, and strategic initiatives, yet challenges like infrastructure and safety must be addressed for sustained success.

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