The government has a target of achieving 12 per cent growth in tourism sector by 2016. Addressing a function in New Delhi, Tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai said with this target, the country would be able to create 25 million additional jobs.

Aiming at a higher number of inbound tourists, Mr Sahai said, the target is to attain one per cent share of the world tourism arrivals by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan. He said that the tourism sector would be a major source of employment in the years ahead.

Citing a Planning Commission finding, Mr Sahai said while agriculture sector provides jobs to 45 people per lakh, tourism provides employment to 78 people per per lakh. The minister added that the country has tremendous facilities for the development of human resource in tourism sector which can be utilized by developing countries.