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Tourism needs comprehensive development package New Delhi: The need for a comprehensive package to promote investment in tourism was discussed at a session on tourism and hospitality. Rolling out the red carpet during the India Economic Summit 2005 jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the World Economic Forum here today, Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Tourism of India, said there is need to promote Indian tourism in the Middle East and Gulf countries to attract more tourists. Since the 1970s, tourism arrivals in India from the Middle East and other countries was low due to poor infrastructure. To address this, she said the government has started programmes like Atithi Devo Bhavo in seven states to attract more tourists. The facilities offered to tourists under these programmes are of a high standard. The minister said tourism has taken a back seat as priorities have shifted to other sectors even though it is as big an employment generator as manufacturing and agriculture. There is no access to training and a majority of service providers give poor quality service. "Incredible India is made incredible by the incredible citizens of the country, "she said. Chowdhury said new airports are being developed under the Open Sky Policy which would enable passengers to direct fly to their destinations. To enhance tourism within Asia, the government was contemplating a Look East Policy with South East Asian countries. Next year has been designated as the India-China Friendship year. Speaking on the occasion, Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister of Kerala said India had attracted 3.4 million international and 367 domestic tourists in the current year. He said Kerala Tourism's journey towards success began with a shift of focus from mass to quality tourism, supported by its positioning as a place for the rich, the famous, and culture seekers. Legislation has a vital role in tourism development. Kerala is the first state in the country to frame a law on tourism. Nakul Anand, Divisional Chief Executive, Hotels, ITC, India, felt that there is a need to speed up hotel construction. Comprehensive packages could attract more tourists. "We must create islands of excellence in various tourism-related sectors and the government must certify these islands of excellence," he said. Naresh
Trehan, Executive Director and Chief Cardiovascular Surgeon, Escorts Heart
Institute and Research Centre, India, said that within two decades, India
would be a centre of excellence in health care. Health care costs
and medical procedures in India are much cheaper than in the US or the
UK. He said in the US the cost of health care is increasing due to which
patients prefer to come to India. The government should issue medical
visas and create separate windows in airports to help patients. Mohammed
Dadabhai, Chairman, Dadabhai Group of Companies, Bahrain, reiterated tourists
from the Middle East prefer to go to other Asian Countries such as Malaysia
and Singapore rather than to Europe. Therefore, India should actively
promote itself as a tourist destination in the Middle East. Vijay Mallya,
Group Chairman, the UB Group, India said India is the only country that
provides tourism round the year. It is important as an employment generator. |
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