Which of the following statements is NOT correct about tourism?

Which of the following statements is NOT correct about tourism?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → The advent of package holidays has increased the costs.

Tourism is a tertiary activity. Tourists pay for services such as transport, accommodation and meals.

Option (1) It has become the world's single largest tertiary activity in total registered jobs. — Correct about tourism. Tourism gives about 250 million registered jobs, more than any other tertiary activity.

Option (2) Tourism is travel undertaken for purposes of recreation rather than business. — Correct about tourism. This is the definition of tourism.

Option (3) The advent of package holidays has increased the costs. — Not correct about tourism. A package holiday puts travel, stay and meals together at one price, and this has reduced the cost of a holiday. Package holidays make travel cheaper, not costlier. NTA turned one word around to make this line wrong.

Option (4) Tourism fosters the growth of infrastructure industries. — Correct about tourism. Tourists need roads, hotels and transport, so infrastructure industries, retail trade and craft industries grow.

Note: Option (3) is taken from the pre-rationalised NCERT book. The latest edition (2026-27) does not have this part. An extract of the pre-rationalised NCERT book is given below for the benefit of students.

NCERT (2026-27): “Tourism … Tourism is travel undertaken for purposes of recreation rather than business. It has become the world’s single largest tertiary activity in total registered jobs (250 million) and total revenue (40 per cent of the total GDP). Besides, many local persons, are employed to provide services like accommodation, meals, transport, entertainment and special shops serving the tourists. Tourism fosters the growth of infrastructure industries, retail trading, and craft industries (souvenirs).”

Pre-rationalised NCERT: “Factors Affecting Tourism … Transport : The opening-up of tourist areas has been aided by improvement in transport facilities. Travel is easier by car, with better road systems. More significant in recent years has been the expansion in air transport. For example, air travel allows one to travel anywhere in the world in a few hours of flying-time from their homes. The advent of package holidays has reduced the costs.”