The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee will inaugurate the conference and it will be addressed by luminaries like Mr. Michael Elliott, Editor, TIME Inc. U.S., Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Former Foreign Minister, Thailand, Ms. Clara Chong, Executive Director, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr. Thomas Oliver, Chairman and CEO, Six Continents Hotels, U.K., Ms. Sue Shapiro, CTC, President, Shapiro Travel Resources, U.S., Mr. Jeff Hamblin, Chief Executive, British Tourist Authority, Mr. Renton De Alwis, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Board, Mr. Brock Freissen, Vice President, Star Alliance, Germany, Mr. Richard Beere, Regional Director, Australia Tourism Board and Mr. Richard Gordon, Secretary, Tourism etc. Shri Jagmohan, Minister for Tourism & Culture, Shri Karan Singh and Professor Ramaswamy will also address the conference.

    In the meeting it was decided that a special drive will be launched by NDMC and MCD to improve general cleanliness, emergency medical facility at important points. CM, Delhi Smt. Shiela Dixit said that a drive to remove posters has already been started. She instructed officials to take strict action against the offenders. She also directed authorities to impound stray cattle. She said efforts should be made for beautification and sprucing all-important gardens, parks, shopping plazas and monuments. The Committee also decided to set up a Special Cell at the Airport to facilitate immigration of delegates and security arrangements.

    India will be attaching major focus to the growth and development of tourism in the coming years. This prestigious Conference provides world wide publicity to the host nation and particularly to the host city in this case Delhi. It helps to influence the industry to promote tourism to the host country and will provide a competitive edge to India in marketing inbound tourism. Even during the conference, there is a major economic contribution made by the delegates since not only they pay for their hotel stay but also take pre and post tours to other parts of the country and indulge in extensive shopping. The conference indeed is designed to provide a major fillip to the efforts that are being made in reversing the trend of down-turn in tourism as an aftermath of the global economic slowdown and the terrorists’ attacks of September 2001.

    During the conference, cultural events will also be organised to provide glimpses of rich heritage of the country and post conference tours will be organized for various tourism destinations.