ONE of the key sectors that acts as an engine of economic growth is the tourism industry, which still finds itself in the lower rung of priority. Tourism sector contributes significantly in terms of Gross Domestic Product, foreign exchange earnings and employment, yet efforts to make it a globally competitive industry are few and far between. Promotion of tourism can usher multipronged benefits to all the stakeholders, from the Central Government to the local populace, provided it is done in a systematic manner. Much sensitisation is still required about tourism as a major engine of creating employment and alleviating poverty. While India boasts of some iconic sites attracting tourists from all over the world, it is the hospitality and infrastructure sectors that are many a time found wanting in providing world-class experience to the visitors. These issues need urgent resolution on various levels including the local government. India has massive potential to become a tourism hub throughout the year if the ancillary sectors are taken care of with a long-term policy boost.

FINALLY, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Dr. Urjit Patel admitted that the apex bank failed to take quick appropriate measure at opportune moments to stem the rot in Indian banking, that cost the nation lakhs of crores of rupees. This confession, too, came rather too slowly, in which process the nation saw a lot of damage to the nation’s economy. It was shocking to all that Dr. Urjit Patel had resigned from his coveted position almost in protest when the Government expected the RBI to take swift steps to stem the rot in the banking sector as well as business. For no reason, a few persons went into a denial mode and refused to recognise the damning reality that was eating into the vitals of Indian banking. Unfortunately, Dr. Urjit Patel, too, could not keep himself away from certain senselessness that dominated the scene for some time. His admission, therefore, about the RBI’s slowness of response to banking crisis comes as an afterthought. Today, that admission makes actually no sense on the ground. It stays in the category of reminiscing.