• It is ranked the 14th best tourist destination for its natural resources and 24th for its cultural resources, with many World Heritage sites, both natural and cultural, rich fauna, and strong creative industries in the country.

• India also bagged 37th rank for its air transport network. The India travel and tourism industry ranked 5th in the long-term (10-year) growth and is expected to be the second largest employer in the world by 2019.

• The hotel and tourism industry’s contribution to the Indian economy by way of foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows were pegged at  108.5 crores from April 2000 to September 2010, according to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

• India’s hotel pipeline is the second largest in the Asia-Pacific region according to Jan Smits, Regional Managing Director, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Asia Australasia. He added that the Indian hospitality industry is projected to grow at a rate of 8.8 per cent during 2007-16, placing India as the second-fastest growing tourism market in the world. Initiatives like massive investment in hotel infrastructure and open-sky policies made by the government are all aimed at propelling growth in the hospitality sector.

• Combining unparalleled growth prospects and unlimited business potential, the industry is certainly on the foyer towards being a key player in the nation's changing face. Furthermore, banking on the government’s initiative of upgrading and expanding the country’s infrastructure like airports, national highways etc, and the tourism and hospitality industry is bound to get a bounce in its growth.

• The Government of India has announced a scheme of granting Tourist Visa on Arrival (T-VoA) for the citizens of Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore. The scheme is valid for citizens of the above mentioned countries planning to visit India on single entry strictly for the purpose of tourism and for a short period of upto a maximum of 30 days. During the period January - October 2010, a total number of 5016 VoAs were issued under this Scheme.

• The government of india has allowed 100 per cent foreign investment under the automatic route in the hotel and tourism related industry.

• The current count of hotel rooms is 130,000, and the country is expected to require an additional 50,000 rooms over the next two to three years, according to World Travel and Tourism Committee (WTCC) estimates

US-based hotel chain, Marriott International, plans to expand its network in India to 100 hotels over the next five-years, stated Arnie Sorenson, Chief Operating Officer, Marriott International. At present, the group operates 11 properties across the country. Roots Corporation, a subsidiary of Indian Hotels Company (IHC), plans to open 60 to 70 budget hotels, known as Ginger Hotel, in 23 locations across the country. ITC, the Kolkata-based cigarette major, also projected its plan to open 25 new hotels under the Fortune brand over the course of next 12-18 months (or by 2011).