Centre aims to woo 11 million tourists next year
NEW DELHI: The Tourism Ministry is aiming to attract around 11 million or about one per cent of the total 1.1 billion international tourists to India next year with five theme-based circuits including one in North East.
This was informed by Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma who was speaking at “Make in India” National Workshop on Tourism, Media, and Entertainment in New Delhi on Monday.
The target set y the Tourism Ministry is a massive jump of around 57 per cent from an estimated seven million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India this year.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, FTAs during January- November 2014 stood at around 6.58 million, up about 7.1% from around 6.15 million in the corresponding period last year, the best rate of growth in Asia.
The foreign exchange earnings for India from tourism is estimated at around $17.6 billion during January- November 2014, up about 5.2% from around $16.7 billion recorded during the corresponding period last year.
“Five theme-based-circuits, Ganga, Krishna, Buddha, North East and Kerala circuits are being developed by the Ministry of Tourism,” Dr Sharma said. The Ministry has allotted Rs 500 crore for the development of these circuits, he informed.
Sharma further said that the government is considering various steps to achieve the target, including coordination among different ministries, e-ticketing facilities, public programmes and development of theme based circuits at important tourist attractions in the country.
Dr Sharma added that under a multi-pronged strategy, the government is also focusing on improving cleanliness, hospitality and safety in India along with the help of other ministries.
Connectivity is also a focus area of the government to boost tourism in India and a “cruise plan” is expected to be ready soon.
Medical tourism and wildlife tourism are also sectors that could get a fillip next year, along with training to the dhabas (food joints) along the highways which are popular among the tourists, said Dr. Sharma. Growth in tourism is expected to boost India’s economy with direct benefit to several sectors such as handicrafts, SMEs, hospitality and transport, he said.