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The Centre has asked State Governments to enact Tourism Trade Act to take strict actions against unscrupulous elements and harassment of tourists. In order to curb the cases of cheating and fleecing the State Governments have also been requested for the deployment of tourist police at all important tourist destinations. Briefing about the initiatives and plans of her Ministry to the Members of the Consultative Committee on tourism, Ms. Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Tourism informed that in order to encourage setting up of tourist infrastructure in the country. The State Governments have also been requested to set up single window clearance committees and similar tourism facilitation centres.
Highlighting the special efforts being made to promote North East as unique tourism destination, Ms. Renuka Chowdhury said that Tourism Ministry has approached the Ministry of Home Affairs to review restricted area provisions to open up more places in North East for tourists. Series of meetings have also been held with the civil aviation Ministry to discuss upgradation of airports around tourism destinations. Special thrust is being given to rural tourism in view of its huge job generation potential. 31 villages have been identified all over the country to develop them as rural tourism hubs, she informed the members.
Briefing about the infrastructure development projects of the Ministry, Ms. Chowdhury said that the Ministry has identified 17 circuits for development tourism related infrastructure in a big way. The development work had also been taken up at 41 important tourism destinations. 60 touch screen tourist information Kiosks are being installed at important tourism centres. Beside this, the Government is also planning to promote medical tourism in a big way. Setting up of convention centres at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa and Jaipur to promote India as a major convention destination is under active consideration. The Minister said that tourism arrival in the country has registered 24% increase in international arrivals and 38% increase in foreign exchange during the first 10 months for this year.
Participating in the discussion, Members of Parliament suggested immediate steps to upgrade airports and railway stations around tourism destinations. They also suggested to diversify tourism circuits by including new destinations. One member suggested that the Ministry should chalk out long term perspective tourism policy for infrastructure development. The meeting was attended by the following Members of Parliament: S/Shri Lal Singh, Chander Kumar, Rakesh Singh Badal, Parasnath Yadav, Nakul Das Rai, Chandan Mitra, Tarini Kanta Roy, Ms. Pratibha Singh, Ms. Kalpana R. Narhire, Ms. Bimba Raikar and Smt. Jamana Devi Barupal.
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