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President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had called for integrated approach for tourism development. ‘Tourism is a mission and needs the working together of multiple industries, sometimes even nations’, he said while inaugurating the 5th Global Tourism Summit being organized World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) and the Ministry of Tourism here today. Dr. Kalam suggested an inter-ministerial coordination system for the development of infrastructure in terms of hotels, road connectivity, air connectivity, communication, IT enabled services, healthcare and human resource development.
Dr. Kalam said that a strategy should be work out to increase the arrival of tourists in the country at least 15 millions within the next 5 years. Tourism has multiple dimensions, hence its syllabus should be designed and introduced in schools, he added. Highlighting the importance of multinational tourism, he said Buddhists centers in India, Nepal and Thailand could be promoted as joint destinations. Besides frequent air connectivity for small and big cities, multi-lane roads to interior India tourists amenities should be created through private public partnership, the President said.
Welcoming delegates from travel and tourism sectors and captains of hospitality industry, Ms. Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Tourism said India has a history, a mind and a soul which can be experienced as a living civilization, having a unique spirit of its own. It has a hue of vibrant and colourful cultures and breath-taking ambience spreading across a full sub-continent, she added. The Minister said that India has allowed 100% FDI in tourism and hotel sectors. Open skies policy from October till May every year has been adopted for next three years to ensure a smooth flow of tourists. Beside this liberal charter policy allows flights to land at airports across the lengths and breadths in almost all States of India. For purposes of Sea Cruise tourism cabotage laws have been totally relaxed. All this has made ‘Rate of Return’ in Indian tourism industry amongst the highest in the world, she added. The Tourism Minister said that India is experiencing a surge in tourist arrivals. ‘We have taken conscious note of the fact that there is a requirement to build almost 150,000 hotel rooms. This alone would require more than 10 billion dollars of investment. If Accompanying investment into aircraft, airports, road and rail connectivity, civic services is added, then one can very well multiply the quantum of investment by six or seven times. Investment of such a level can create employment generation in a big way in the country’ she said.
NCJ/DT
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