Tourism is set to get a definite push as a part of the government’s strategy to attract investments across sectors and bring growth back on track. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism stood at an estimated Rs 77,591 crore in 2011, 19.6 per cent more than the previous year’s Rs 64,889 crore. Last year, 6.29 million foreign tourists visited India.
Although several measures have been taken in bits and pieces to give tourism its due, this is the first time that a high-level committee, led by the principal secretary to the prime minister, Pulok Chatterjee, has started formulating measures to give the sector a clear direction. The committee, with representatives from several ministries, including finance, is also striving to remove the hurdles in getting approvals for big-ticket projects. Fiscal incentives are also a part of the plan to take tourism to the next level.
At its first meeting yesterday, the committee focused on coordination required between various ministries to get the best out of the new projects.
The proposed projects include tourism linked with rural India, healthcare and cinema, according to a tourism ministry official. The rural development, health and information & broadcasting (I&B) ministries are expected to play an active role in rolling out these projects.
| STRATEGIC STEPS |
| * High-level committee on tourism under Pulok Chatterjee holds its first meeting |
| * Inter-ministerial consultation begins to remove hurdles on the way of big-ticket projects |
| * Fiscal incentives under consideration to drive growth |
| * Projects to get a push include tourism linked with rural India, healthcare and cinema |
| * Rural development, health, I&B and finance ministry to work in co-ordination with a clear road map |
| * Sops and incentive schemes are being worked on to attract more and more foreign film-makers to India |
India has been a popular health tourism destination.
But the official said the idea was to make it big, as some Southeast Asian destinations were increasingly gaining prominence for health tourism. To achieve this, various ministries would work along with hospitals and healthcare centres.
To promote cinema tourism, something that is close to the heart of tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay, the I&B ministry has to play a key role, according to the official. Sops and incentives are being worked on to attract foreign film makers, and then promote India before international travellers from the perspective of cinema tourism.
It is learnt that mandatory approvals required for mega tourism projects also came up for discussion yesterday. The environment and railway ministries are among those which need to consider various tourism projects before these are given a clean chit. Lavasa is an example of a showcase tourism project that was delayed because of the environment ministry’s objection.
The government is learnt to have planned 45 mega tourism projects. For 15 such projects, various clearances are awaited. These will be part financed by the Centre and the remaining by states.
