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Traditional welcome to tourists on tourism day
Varanasi/Bhubaneshwar: A traditional welcome was accorded to the foreign tourists on their arrival to the Temple town of Varanasi on the occasion of World Tourism Day. Tourists praised the welcome, which included rituals for purification of the soul. Some also saw it as an excellent way to promote tourism. "It seems really good. It's a very special feeling when you come to the Ganga and have people who receive you. Tourists like to be in a place where they are welcomed," said Yahira, a tourist from France. Meanwhile, dozens of tourism officials, tour operators and students of hotel management staged a tourism rally in Orissa's capital Bhubaneshwar to mark the World Tourism Day. Organizers said they were trying to create awareness among the people of the state's heritage sites and tourism potential. "The prime objective is to create awareness among people regarding the importance of tourism and rich heritage. That is also the reason why we are starting this walk from this temple, which is one of the most important landmarks of Oriya architecture," said Santosh Sarangi, Director of Orissa Tourism Department.
Tourist arrivals in India rose by 10.5 percent in August from a year ago,
boosting foreign exchange earnings from the sector by 4.9 percent to 456.76
million dollars, the government said on Wednesday. It said 299,211 visitors
travelled to India in August, compared with 270,779 in the same month
last year. So far, 27,85,328 foreign tourists have visited India since
January 2006 as against 24,54,352 during the same period last year. Known
for such attractions as the Taj Mahal, India has been running a campaign
to woo tourists to its grand palaces, golden beaches, ancient temples
and wildlife sanctuaries.
-Sept
27, 2006
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