TOURIST CORPS
ITDC | ESTABLISHED IN 1966
LAYING THE ROADMAP
The Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has played a pivotal role in the creation and advance of tourism infrastructure in India. It has been responsible for synchronising the work undertaken by the governments of different states as well as their tourism departments, and also for the planning and implementation of new tourism-related projects.
START OF THE JOURNEY
In 1946, a government report noted that it would be in India’s best interests to develop and enhance tourist traffic from both domestic and international locations. Three corporations—the Hotel Corporation of India, the India Tourism Corporation and the India Tourism and Transport Undertaking—were set up in 1956. In 1966, these were merged into a single undertaking by the government of India—ITDC. Today, this organisation remains one of the few consistently profit-making public sector entities.
FINAL DESTINATION
This year, the central government approved the disinvestment of hotels and properties owned by ITDC at three locations—Bhopal, Guwahati and Bharatpur. The plan is to either sub-lease these properties in association with the concerned states or else return the properties to the states in their entirety. ITDC is also responsible for the management of 11 transport units as well as nine duty-free shops at airports and seaports.