Published on : Thursday, May 3, 2018
Many people in Assi try to make their way out of poverty by catering to tourists, especially the foreigners.
Across India, tourism accounts for nearly 10% of the GDP, and is the third largest foreign exchange earner. The tourism industry can absorb even the most unskilled workers. The UNWTO has long established that tourism can be a key agent fir fighting against poverty. But some experts are more sceptical, arguing that tourism’s value is overstated: it creates menial, seasonal jobs and mainly benefits the skilled elite.
Avinash Mishra, joint director of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, says that building skills for those in the sector is important.