TBM Staff - Mumbai In a bid to elevate the accuracy and reliability of tourism data, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Tourism Department has embraced international standards for conducting tourist surveys. The culmination of a comprehensive two-day training and capacity-building programme, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, saw officials and surveyors from Uttar Pradesh’s Tourism Directorate undergo rigorous instruction on the new survey methodology.
During the sessions, attendees were extensively trained on implementing the fresh survey methodology, meticulously crafted to align with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) standards. A key focus was placed on accurately estimating visitor numbers and recording them systematically within the questionnaire framework.
With tourism playing a pivotal role in bolstering the nation’s economy, the Tourism Ministry’s initiative to introduce this refined survey system aims to ensure uniformity across data collection processes nationwide. Recognizing the critical importance of precise data for infrastructure development and the augmentation of tourism facilities, this move is poised to streamline data collection efforts.
The newly introduced tourist survey methodology comprises two phases: an initial phase spanning a month and a subsequent main phase extending over 12 months. The preliminary phase aims to evaluate visitor traffic at diverse destinations and exit points, facilitating equitable sample distribution for the subsequent main surveys.
Currently, existing surveys capture data on only 68 indicators, falling short of the UNWTO’s recommended 145 indicators. This initiative seeks to bridge this gap and enhance the comprehensiveness of tourism data collection efforts.
Following the training program, officials and employees from the Ministry of Tourism and the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department embarked on field tours to implement the new survey methodology firsthand, filling out questionnaires in accordance with the freshly acquired knowledge.
Key figures including Fakhre Alam, Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Rahul Gupta, Deputy Director, and Jyoti Ranjan Majumdar, an independent consultant, along with Isha Priya, Special Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, were present throughout the two-day session, underscoring the collaborative effort invested in advancing tourism data collection standards.
This adoption of international standards for tourist surveys signifies a significant stride towards enhancing the accuracy and reliability of tourism data, thereby catalysing the growth and development of the tourism sector not only in Uttar Pradesh but across India as a whole.
