TOURISM TAKES
NEW PROFILE
The Government has
taken several steps during the last 3 years to give new profile
to Tourism. It has been declared a priority area in view of its
economic potential, accordingly significant increase in financial
allocations, new infrastructure projects at micro level, new integrated
tourism circuits, cultural hubs in each State and other initiatives
have been taken. After assuming charge, the present Government
combed tourism with culture to fulfil long felt need of establishing
synthesis between two.
New Tourism Policy
New National Tourism
policy announced by the Government to position tourism as a major
engine of economic growth and to harness its multiplier effects
for employment generation and economic development. The new policy
attempts to position India as a global brand to take advantage
of the burgeoning global travel and trade and the vast untapped
potential of India as a destination. It acknowledges the critical
role of private sector with Government working as a pro-active
facilitator and catalyst. The policy creates and develops integrated
tourism circuits based on India’s unique civilization, heritage,
and culture in partnership with states, private sector and other
agencies. It also ensure that the tourist to India gets physically
invigorated, mentally rejuvenated, culturally enriched, spiritually
elevated and "feel India from within".
Tourism and Cultural
hubs in each State
In order to synthesis
elements of tourism and culture the centre has decided to set
up at least one hub in each State which will work as a Centre
to project art and cultural
heritage of India. Places of tourism interest and cultural heritage
will be linked at the hub with improved infrastructure. Documentation
centre and interpretation centre, handicrafts emporium and other
similar facilities will be crated at these hubs to familiarise
rich heritage and civilisation values. Tourists visiting these
hubs will be physically invigorated, mentally rejuvenated, culturally
enriched and spiritually elevated. First of this kind hub has
already been set up at Ajanta in Maharashtra.
Five-fold increase
in tourism allocation
Realising the importance
of tourism in the all round development of economy and job generation,
Tenth Plan allocation for the sector has been increased five fold,
from Rs. 595 crore to Rs. 2900 crore. Annual allocation for 2002-03
also enhanced from Rs. 150 crore to Rs. 225 crore.
Incentives to
Travel & hospitality Industry to promote tourism
Several incentives
for tourism and travel industry announced in order to provide
boost to infrastructure development which include interest subsidy
to the hospitality industry, exemption of air travel tax for north-east,
increase in threshold limit for levy on expenditure tax.
Collaboration
with technological institute for conservation of monuments
The engineering/scientific
departments have been involved in scientific studies in the preservation
for centrally protected monuments. The Taj Mahal will be
taken care of by Central Building Research Institute, Rurkee,
Structural Engineering Research Institute, Ghaziabad, Earthquake
Engineering Department, Rurkee and National Geographical Research
Institute, Hyderabad. The IIT, Khargpur will conserve the Jagannath
Temple, Puri. National Geographical Research Institute, Hyderabad,
will maintain Char Minar, Hyderabad. The Ajanta and
Allora Caves have been handed over to the Geo-technical Studies
of Rock through Geological Studies of India. IIT,
Chennai has been roped in to study the earthquake-affected monuments
of Gujarat.
National Cultural
Fund
In order to encourage
private sectors’ participation in the preservation, restoration
and upgradation of infrstructure of the historical monuments,
a new scheme has been initiated which enables institutions and
the public at large to contribute for culture related activities.
Work at Humayun’s Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal,
Khajuraho, Konark and Hampi have already initiated under the
scheme.
Nizam’s Jewellery
and Picasso : metamorphoses 1900 to 1972 at display
The exhibition of
‘Nizam’s Jewellery the rarest cultural treasure of the country
was displayed. It attracted a large number of visitors from abroad
also. Picasso : Metamorphoses 1900 - 1972 was also organised to
apprise of the work of legendary painter.