India’s hospitality industry is booming. According to a report published by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the country’s tourism sector is expected to reach $400 billion by 2020. In fact, the Indian hotel industry alone is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10% between 2015 and 2020. And while the industry is still relatively young, it is already home to over 4 million jobs.
1. India’s hospitality industry is booming. According to a report published by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the country’s tourism sector is expected to reach $400 billion by 2020. In fact, the Indian hotel industry alone is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10% between 2015 and 2020. And while the industry is still relatively young, it is already home to over 4 million jobs.
2. But despite its rapid growth, the hospitality industry in India faces several challenges. These include poor infrastructure, lack of trained manpower, and high costs.
3. A recent study conducted by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) revealed that only 1 out of every 100 hospitality professionals in India have received any formal training. That means that 99% of the workforce lacks basic skills and knowledge.
4. To address these issues, the NSDC launched a program called ‘Skilled Hospitality Professionals’ (SHP). The initiative aims to provide training to 2,000 hospitality workers across India.
5. The SHP program was developed in partnership with the WTTC and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. It offers courses in food safety, housekeeping, front desk operations, and customer service.
6. The first batch of trainees started their course last month. By December 2019, the NSDC hopes to complete the training of 5,000 people.
7. While the government-led initiative is a step in the right direction, experts say that more needs to be done to improve the quality of services provided by hotels.
8. “The hospitality industry is a highly competitive business,” says Anjali Bhardwaj, CEO of HotelChatter.com. “It requires a lot of hard work and dedication. However, if we look at the current state of affairs, it is evident that many hotels do not offer the best services.”
9. She adds that even though the industry is growing rapidly, the majority of hotels fail to meet international standards.
10. “While the industry is growing rapidly in India, it is not yet meeting international standards,” she explains. “There is a need to ensure that hotels are equipped with the necessary facilities and amenities to attract tourists.”
11. “We believe that the government should take steps to make sure that the quality of services offered by hotels meets international standards,” she concludes.
