The southern tourism ministers conference held here today resolved to form an apex southern tourism council to put South India prominently on the world tourism map.
Mooted by Kerala, the council will involve various government bodies and the private sector in promotion of the tourism industry in the region.
Tourism ministers from the south will act as the chairperson on a rotation basis annually. Andaman & Nicobar Islands has also expressed willingness to join the campaign.
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AP will take the initiative and appoint a consultant or nodal officer to work out the nitty-gritty of forming the council.
The council will strive for uniform taxation including the motor vehicle tax on tourism industry in the southern region. It will also conduct travel and tourism mart for the region on the lines of the highly successful Kerala Tourism Mart.
The conference, wherein the absence of Tamil Nadu at ministerial and official level was conspicuous, could not decide on locating the central secretariat of the council, as their first choice was Chennai.
Karnataka tourism minister too did not attend the meet. Only Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry governments could have full representation at the meet.
It was decided to move Tamil Nadu to host the tourism council and if it is not willing, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka have offered to have the council headquarters in their capitals.
The principal secretaries (tourism) of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala decided to impress upon their chief ministers to pressurise the centre for an open sky policy.
Reduction of service tax on the tourism and hospitality industry and representation to the railways for waiving 15 per cent tax on tourist coaches also would be taken up by the states.
Earlier, inaugurating the conference, chief minister strongly advocated for a brand image for south India, common tourism packages and uniform tax. For AP's part, it would make the taxes most competitive in the region shortly, he announced.
T Srinivas Yadav, KV Thomas and K Lakshminarayana, the tourism ministers from AP, Kerala and Pondicherry respectively took active part in the proceedings.