Centre targets 10 million foreign tourists by 2006

The union ministry has set a target of attracting 10 million foreign tourists by 2006, as compared to three million arrivals at present.

It envisages creation of employment for 10 million jobless youth by 2010. To achieve the targets set, the tourism ministry plans to seek a Rs 500-crore budgetary assistance.

Renuka Chowdary, union minister of state for tourism, told media persons here today that an inter-ministerial group would be formed under the prime minister to promote tourism on a major scale.

The government had recognised the importance of tourism and would look at increasing the contribution from the present levels of five to six per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to around 12 per cent as is the norm globally.

The ministry would evolve a package, along with the airlines ministry, to create special packages for the youth "� both Indian and foreign "� she said.

The ministry would also strive for a single visa for Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) nations and further simplification of visa norms.

Stating that a paradigm shift was being effected in the ministry's approach to promote tourism, Chowdary said that the measures for generation of employment for rural artisans and DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) groups would be taken up soon.

The products of these groups would be packaged so as to appeal to the in-bound travellers. These products would be sold exclusively by the souvenir shops of the tourism departments across the country, she said, adding that rural, medical and religious tourism segments had been identified for greater thrust.

The government is also planning to throw open Andaman and Lakshdweep islands for tourism.

Apart from these measures, the ministry would concentrate on capacity-building in the sector.

"Taxi drivers, porters and dhabhas would be sensitised so as to be tourist-friendly. Tourism police would also be deployed at important centres. Night bazaars would be set up at select destinations to showcase handicrafts specific to each region," she said.

Performing arts and cultural richness of the respective regions would also be showcased at such night bazaars. There will be a holistic mix of everything to appeal to both domestic and foreign tourists," she said.

On the Centre's assistance for the tourism sector in Andhra Pradesh, Chowdary said that twenty tourism projects had been supported by the Centre with an assistance of Rs 1.29 crore during 2003-03.

During the last financial year, the Centre had provided financial assistance of Rs 9.83 crore for nine projects. Major projects include integrated development of Nagarjuna Sagar, Buddhist Circuit of Amaravathi and promotion of Pochampalli village.

On the ongoing projects, she said that the Centre was extending an assistance of Rs 5 crore for the Rs 22-crore Paryatak Bhavan, Rs 2.2 crore for the Rs 20-crore National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

J Geeta Reddy, minister for tourism, Andhra Pradesh, said there was an increase of 17 per cent in domestic tourist arrivals and 128 per cent growth in foreign tourist arrivals to the state last year. Over 53 lakh jobs had been generated by the tourism sector in the state, an increase of 16.26 per cent over 2002.

The state was planning major thrust on pilgrim tourism and heritage tourism. Public-private partnerships were being encouraged and 46 projects had been awarded, involving a total amount of Rs 800 crore, she said.

For capacity-building, the state was setting up a deemed university "� National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management "� at Gachibowli at an investment of Rs 20 crore.

The institute to be launched by September this year would offer graduate and post-graduate courses. A Rs 22-crore Paryatak Bhavan project was also progressing well at Begumpet, she said. A palace-on-wheels 'Southern Splendour' will be rolled out in two years.

Geeta Reddy also said that Hyderabad had been selected to be the venue for the 73rd meeting of World Tourism Organisation scheduled on July 8-11. Around 230 delegates from 40 member-countries would take part in the event, she added.