FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNED BY PALACE ON WHEELS

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RAJYA SABHA

The average occupancy of Palace on Wheels during the year 2002-2003 has been 42.98 per cent.

The foreign exchange earned during this period amount to Rs. 1035.03 lakhs.

As per the Agreement between the Indian Railways and the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), the responsibility of marketing, selling of tickets and hospitality services of the train are with the RTDC while the Railways only provide the necessary facilities for operation of the train. RTDC markets the train through its nominated General Sales Agents (GSAs) in various countries and by participating in major international tourism fairs such as World Travel Mart, International Tourism Borse (ITB)-Berlin, Dubai Festival as well as in the domestic tourism marts.

This information was given by the Railway Minister Shri Nitish Kumar in reply to a question from Shri Sukhdev Singh Libra and Dr. Abrar Ahmed in the Rajya Sabha today.