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Govt promises tourists cleaner India, better infrastructure
The Govt has spelt out the new initiatives to attract more tourists from the Indian diaspora to visit the country, reports Vantika Gupta.
To attract more tourists from the Diaspora to visit India, the government spelt out the new initiatives it has taken to preserve, restore and improve the ambience of tourism destinations in India.
Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference in New Delhi today, Minister for Tourism and Culture Jagmohan said cultural and tourism hubs are being developed all over the country to provide glimpses of rich cultural heritage to the tourists visiting India.
“The Government is working towards creating a tourist-friendly environment in the country by providing better airports, clean railways, better connectivity to tourism destinations through air and road and introducing more tourist facilities at highways and documentations, interpretation and information centres at all tourism destinations,” he said.
Citing the development work recently undertaken at Mahabalipuram, Hampi, Kumbhalgarh, Ajanta-Ellora and Red Fort, the Minister said that a number of such projects will soon be completed.
He said the recent efforts have paid off with a 22 per cent increase in tourist arrival by December 2003 and more than Rs 17000 crores foreign exchange earning through the arrivals. As recognition of its potential as an exciting travel hotspot, India was also selected by Conde Nast Traveller as one of the top 10 destinations of the world.
Jagmohan urged the NRIs to visit India to see its changing face and contribute in the development of tourism, thus getting their new generations acquainted with their cultural roots and the great Indian heritage.
However, the NRIs gathered at the meet had their set of demands and suggestions. Hitesh Bhakta, Chairman of Asian American Hotel Owners Association said: “India needs to ensure that not only a few sites but all of the rest are equally improved and known.”
Bhakta said advertising is another great challenge for India. He said: “Like US, India should try and promote tourism as a commodity. India must advertise at the right places, through right channels, to get the right feedback.”
“While the country should focus on domestic tourists, privatising airports up to international standards is a must,” he said.
As a representative of Indian hotel owners in America he promised: “Out of 22,000 hotels owned by Indians in America 10,000 of them will carry a message to raise awareness and promote Indian tourism by the end of this year.”
Pointing out the obstacles in attracting the right kind of tourists, Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Mauritius, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan said in the post 9/11 world security should be taken care of as the first basic step. “The tourist should feel secure when he visits India,” he said.
He added: “Unlike countries that are now taking fingerprints of each entrant, I believe India and other countries should give the tourists a welcoming environment rather treating everyone as a terror suspect.”
Some of the other demands that NRIs made to the Indian Government were to maintain proper cleanliness at airports, reduce the harassment at the custom clearance post, make online hotel reservations simpler and issue visas on arrival for those who want to visit India for a short while.
