National Advisory
Council constituted to review issues related with tourism and
advised to the Government on various policy matters related
to the sector had its first Meeting here today. The Council
proposed five sub-committees to prepare time-bound Action Plans.
This includes Committee On Heritage and Culture Tourism, Committee
on Eco-Tourism which will also have village tourism, hill tourism,
nature, back waters and island tourisms, Committee On Adventure
Tourism which will include river, sports, mountains and cruise
tourism, Committee On Health, Ayurveda and Yoga Tourism and
Committee On Pilgrimage and Tourism. These Committees will have
experts from concerned sectors to prepare time-bound action
plans.
The Meeting
chaired by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Jagmohan
was attended by Members of Parliament, State Tourism Ministers,
Secretaries, senior officials of Finance Ministry, Planning
Commission, Civil Aviation, Department of Culture, representatives
of industry associations and travel and tourism organisations.
Inaugurating the meeting Shri Jagmohan said that the new thrust
was being given to integrate culture and clean civic life because
Indian tourism is culture-based tourism. A number of new initiatives
had been taken in near past to upgrade infrastructure which
include setting up of 35 Hub of culture, tourism and civic governance
with improved infrastructure. He would approach Finance Ministry
to consider tax incentives for investment in and around these
hubs. Beside this, State Governments have been requested to
enact law to regulate maintenance of pilgrimage places so that
these can be developed and kept neat and clean on the pattern
of Vaishno Devi, Shri Jagmohan added. He also informed that
Government has launched an electronic media campaign through
National Geography Channel, BBC and CNN. The campaign being
run at the prime time by the channels at the cost of Rs. 10
crore will be followed by internet and media campaign very soon
to project India high value and upmarket destination.
On the occasion
Secretary, Tourism said that visa on arrival at the moment was
not possible because of security concern but the government
is making all efforts to make the process smooth. Several steps
were being taken to make the stay of tourists more friendly.
Guidelines for tourist guides have been revised recently, special
training programmes were also being developed. Besides, State
Governments have been asked to strictly monitor activities of
unlicensed guides. He expressed the hope that tourism allocation
would get significant hike in coming budget as Government now
consider tourism as an economic activity.
Participating
in the discussion representatives of various sectors including
State Government, officials, Members of Parliament suggested
that Government and industry should make combine efforts to
improve tourism infrastructure and attract more tourists. They
said focussed approach for regional markets should be adopted
especially growing Chinese market should be tapped. Small airfields
should be opened for private airlines to provide feeder services
for tourism destinations in small towns. They were also of the
view that youth should be involved to promote domestic tourism
and Government should sponsor school children for this purpose.
