"If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India."

                                                                                                                 Romain Rolland

Tourism has emerged as one of the world’s largest and fast growing Service sector. It is expanding very rapidly day by day. Tourism in India has seen exponential growth in the recent years. It has been termed as ‘Smokeless industry’. Tourism is essentially an expression of natural human insights for experience, spirituality, education and entertainment. The attraction and motivation for tourism also include social, religious and business interests. In fact, it is acting as a vehicle for infrastructure development. Tourism is a powerful mechanism for economic growth & development and has been recognized widely in many countries including India. It is an important source of foreign exchange earnings & it has contribution to the balance of payment, GDP and employment. Tourism industry is the largest employer in India as well as in the World. Tourism promotes national integration and international brotherhood. Tourism is an important instrument for peace and harmony. India has mesmerized people from all over the world with her secularism and her beautiful culture. Indian tourism industry has been growing at a rapid pace and it has great potential to create large scale employment of diverse kind. Tourism is one of the most important channels of cultural exchange, which breaks down the barriers between people of different parts of the world. There are historical monuments, beaches, adventurous places, ayurveda and yoga centres, safaris,    places of religious interests, hill resorts, international sports events, wildlife sanctuaries etc that attract tourists. Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity.

KEYWORDS: Tourism, Service sector, healthcare infrastructure, Gross Domestic Products