
The India Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ITDC) is an Hospitality, retail and Education company owned by Government of India, under Ministry of Tourism. Established in 1966, it owns over 17 properties under the Ashok Group of Hotels brand, across India (Ministry of tourism, 2009). Tourism has the potential to stimulate other economic sectors through its backward and forward linkages and cross-sectoral synergies with sectors like agriculture, horticulture, poultry, handicrafts, transport, construction, etc. Tourism has also become an instrument for sustainable human development including: • Poverty elimination. • Environmental regeneration. • Job creation. • Advancement of women and other disadvantaged groups Management in tourism is aware that a good ecological image provides competitive advan¬tage. The development of tourism and hotel business depends to a great extent on the environment, more than any other trade. Only tourism can signify climate, flora, fauna, caves, coasts, and other natural objects. Protected natural and cultural values, like National parks, Nature parks, and archeologi¬cal locations represent attractive motives for tourists. Along with their promotion, awareness is raised about the necessity to protect them and to preserve the value of a tourist destination. Tourism has emerged as an instrument of employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable human development. Tourism has thus become the second largest net foreign exchange earner for the country. Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades. India is well known for its overpopulated, littered streets; however, there is a pristine aspect of India that many tourists overlook. With 89 national parks and over 400 wildlife sanctuaries, there are many untouched areas to explore. Eco-tourism educates travelers on sustainable living and how to enjoy the natural beauty of the environment through recreational activities. Tourism can and does bring about socio-economic changes and is usually deliberately developed to generate economic benefits and through them social betterment.