India’s first private train has been inaugurated in Coimbatore under the Bharat Gaurav scheme. As it journeys across several significant historical locations, the passengers will have the opportunity to delve into and appreciate the cultural legacy of the nation.
Bharat Gaurav Scheme: A New Concept in Rail Tourism
In November 2021, the Bharat Gaurav scheme was introduced to add a third tier, tourism, to the existing railway sectors of passengers and goods. These special trains do not follow a typical timetable, but they operate similar to the Ramayana Express overseen by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The scheme involves theme-based tourist circuit trains, which both private entities and the IRCTC run.
Theme-based tourism implies trains such as Guru Kripa that visit sites related to notable figures or events, like Guru Nanak, or a Ramayana-themed train visiting places associated with Lord Ram. Any groups, from societies and trusts to consortia and state governments, can manage these trains on particular tourism circuits based on a theme.
The service providers offer comprehensive packages to tourists, encompassing rail travel, hotel accommodation, sightseeing activities, visits to historical and heritage sites, and tour guides among other benefits.
The Impact of these Theme-based Trains
The addition of these trains will provide an opportunity for people from both India and around the world to discover and appreciate India’s fascinating historical sites and rich cultural heritage. More so, they will be instrumental in unlocking the vast untapped tourism potential of the country.
Other Related Schemes
Among other similar initiatives is the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, launched in 2014-15, focused on integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits across the country.
The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ (PRASAD) was initiated by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15 with a goal of holistic development of specified pilgrimage destinations.
Every alternate year, the Buddhist Conclave is organized with the aim of promoting India as a major destination for Buddhist tourism globally.
‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative is designed to motivate citizens to explore their own country more widely, encouraging domestic tourism and the development of tourist facilities and infrastructure at tourism hotspots.
The Current Status of Tourism in India
Tourism plays a crucial role in India’s economy and is experiencing speedy growth. As per the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel and tourism industry contributed USD 121.9 billion to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 and this figure is forecasted to rise to USD 512 billion by 2028.
The direct contribution of this industry to India’s GDP is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10.35% between 2019 and 2028. Furthermore, India ranked 34th out of 140 countries in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019, reflecting its persistent efforts to improve in this sector.