The travel and tourism industry operates in the private as well as the public sector.

Private Sector

In this sector activities are divided into two distinct sections:

TRAVEL AGENTS

Travel agents are concerned with the marketing of travel and tourism. They are basically retailers, who plan and sell trips to individuals or groups. They book passages for air, rail, sea and road travel; arrange hotel reservations or other accommodation; hire cars and coaches. All, travel agents take on both international and domestic bookings. Some specialize in areas like business trips, group tours or conferences.

TOUR OPERATORS

Tour operators deal in travel and destination management. They put together and sell package holidays. These could be for individuals or groups, and could include incoming tourists from abroad, outbound tours to foreign destinations or domestic travelers. 

Tour operators could offer special interest packages that range from archaeology to golf, wildlife to astrology. Some deal only in certain regions or activities like Himalayan trekking expeditions or camel safaris in the desert.

Public Sector

This sector's main concern is the promotion of tourism in India. To this end, most public sector organizations connected with tourism not only run a network of hotels, information centers and other facilities and services for visitors to the country, but are also involved in larger development projects aimed at improving tourism infrastructure and expanding, the industry. 

They are sided in this task by other semi-government bodies, including the Indian Railways and the two national airlines. These organizations include:

THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

With the Minister and Secretary Tourism at its helm, the Department of Tourism is responsible for formulating policy and initiating action plans for the enlargement and improvement of the industry.

INDIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

This is an autonomous body, headed by the Director General for Tourism. ITDC functions cover the publication and distribution of promotional literature on India; disseminating tourist information; organizing cultural and other programmes; and running a network of hotels, snack bars, restaurants, duty free shops and other tourist facilities. 

STATE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS

State tourism development corporations have been set up in every state of India, with the purpose of promoting and facilitating travel and tourism in the region. The function of these bodies is similar to those of the ITDC, but confined to their state of operation.