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The Ministry of Tourism has convened State Tourism Ministers’ meet to discuss various policy issues including employment generation through tourism, development of infrastructure, rationalization of tax structure in tourism sector, single window clearance for tourism projects, disaster management plan at tourism sites, identification of new tourism projects and training of hospitality sectors people like guides and tax drivers.
Under the chairmanship of Ms. Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Tourism, the 2-days meet at Delhi will commence on 4th March with the keynote address by Deputy Chairman for Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia. It will be followed by deliberations on status of infrastructure state-wise. The issue of creating more employment opportunities and development of quality manpower in the hospitality industry is an important agenda point as tourism is highest generator of jobs accounting for 8.2% of the total employment. Integration of the hospitality and tourism courses to match global standards will be taken up during the meet.
In view of significant increase in foreign tourist arrival and domestic tourism the requirement of accommodation in budget category is expected to be double during the next 5 years. Measures to facilitate setting of budget category hotels for this purpose, will also be figure during the discussion.
The agenda of the meet also include rationalization of taxes-luxury tax on hotels, tourist transport tax and aviation fuel tax to ensure that India remains an important destination among competitive neighbouring destinations.
Besides State Tourism Ministers’ and officials of various Central Ministries, representatives of tourism and travel industry will also participate in the Conference.
NCJ/DT/rel-2march/tourisministermeet
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