It seems the Indian Government has woken up to the importance of the hospitality industry and it now aims at creating 77.5 million jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector by 2016 by adopting a ”pro-poor” approach to the development of the sector in the 12th five year Plan. “Initiatives to be taken towards the development of the tourism and hospitality sector in the 12th Plan will aim at increasing net benefits to the poor from tourism and ensure that tourism growth contributes to poverty,” said a Ministry of Tourism official.

The total employment in hospitality sector is estimated to be at 47.26 lakh in the year 2012-13 and 63.79 lakh in the year 2016-17. “To meet this requirement, there are plans to initiate a number of skill development programmes,” the official added. The Ministry also plans to enhance the institutional infrastructure of hospitality education by opening new Institutes of Hotel Management (IHM) and Food Crafts Institutes (FCI). The capacity of the existing hotel management and food crafts institutes will be augmented. Private sector investments will be encouraged, strengthening the institutional infrastructure of hospitality education.