Tourism and Artisan Entrepreneurship in India: An Understanding from the Literature

Abstract

Tourist arrivals have surged globally for several consecutive years and has shown exceptional growth since 1960’s. Tourism contributes 10 per cent of the global GDP, generates one in ten jobs and 7 per cent of global exports. Tourism entrepreneurship is a growing research area since last decade and artisan entrepreneurship has also seen reflections from researchers. Many countries generate a large proportion of their GDP from this sector. Due to the impact of handicrafts, handlooms and artisan on Indian society, culture and economy government has been working in their development since decades. There are hundreds of clusters in different arts and crafts. Ministries, NGO’s and organisation are engaged towards the sustenance, development and innovations to help Indian artisans to make and market their products in more innovative ways. This study is being conducted to understand prospective possibilities for artisan through tourism entrepreneurship development in the country. The review highlights evidence that tourism and artisan entrepreneurship are growing in size and are majorly unexplored in India. There are many opportunities hidden in these kinds of industries and their development in the entrepreneurial aspect will create many new businesses, jobs and sustenance to thousands of families in the long term.