Tourism is an important industry. It plays an important role in developing the economy of the nation. It is an important industry in the service sector. Though it has its own benefits of obtaining foreign currency, increase in women employment, export promotion and increase, infrastructural development, increase in transport facility, etc., yet it also faces some obstacles in the field of transport, communication, residence or hotels, less attention to domestic tourism, lack of publicity, irrational government policies, etc.

1. Transport – Transport facility is an important component without which a traveller cannot reach the destination. Lack of public transportation and traffic jams are major issues at many tourist destinations.

2. Communication – Communication plays an important role in the tourism industry. This unlimited access to information has led to hundreds of thousands of people travelling to a destination every day. And this increase in tourism can have economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts on both local communities and entire nations. Let’s take a detailed look at some of these impacts.

3. Residence or Hotel – Accommodation is one of the basic needs of any tourism activity. Travellers and tourists need lodging for rest, while they are on a tour. If not provided proper facilities, nobody would come back to the same place again. Accommodation and good hotels in the form of low budget lodges/hotels to worldclass luxury hotels are available at all the major tourist destinations to provide the tourist a home away from home. Therefore, there should be proper establishments that provide a place for the tourist to stay, i.e. lodging facilities, proper food facilities which should be provided during the stay of the tourist.

4. Less attention to Domestic Tourism – Less attention to domestic tourism is also an obstacle in the development of the tourism industry. The costly items near the tourist places, theft, lack of discipline among the people and negligence of rules and norms have made this an obstacle in the tourism industry. The development of tourist places neglects the priorities of the individuals residing there.

5. Lack of Publicity – Negative media event occurs when the mass media is communicating bad news, threats, irritations or other matters that can be seen as unfavourable by the audience. An important point is that the issues communicated by the mass media might or might not be true. However, the end result will not be good. Sometimes, big plans are made in a small ventilated room on the papers, which, in turn, results in loss only. Due to the lack of publicity, the Royal train started by Rajasthan Government ended up with less number of passengers.

6. Government Policies, Sometimes, government policies result in a negative effect on the development of tourism. Difficult norms in visa-related issues in international tourism, levying heavy taxes on hotels, lack of coordination among different departments of state government and tourism, etc. Suggestions to overcome the obstacles to the development of the tourism industry – 

Following are the suggestions to overcome the obstacles to the development of the tourism industry:

1. Financial contribution to community development and environmental protection. 

2. Improved environmental management and planning. 

3. Increased environmental education and awareness programs.

4. Improved security and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.

5. Better facilities should be provided to the guests, including their accommodation, recreational facilities, food, etc.