Government readies action plan to attract foreign tourists

New Delhi: The Mumbai terror attacks on two high profile hotels coupled with the economic slowdown has left the Indian tourism industry facing a gloomy scenario ahead. In the face of this, the centre is girding up to aggressively promote India at the domestic and international level, including declaring 2009 as the year to `Visit India'.

With the world tourism growth rate having plummeted from 6 per cent in 2007 to 2-3 per cent in 2008, government estimates say that the growth of tourism in India is likely to come down to 8 per cent from 14 per cent last year. The number of foreign tourist arrivals has already dropped by 2.1 per cent for November to 5.21 lakh against the same period last year. Foreign exchange earnings also dipped 12.5 per cent to Rs 1 billion during this period.

The tourism ministry is devising packages like offering a two or three-day stay at a wellness resort, rural stay or a taste of adventure tourism. According to the package, the sops offered would be proportionate to the distance of the traveller's point of departure from India. In short, a Brazilian or a Canadian tourist will stand to avail more than, say, a traveller from Malaysia or Russia.

The scheme will be operational by 2010, and the details will be clear in a day or two, the minister for tourism and culture Ambika Soni said.
The tourism ministry has identified over 130 rural sites across the country and is in the process of developing them into model villages showcasing India's diverse culture and heritage.

''Among others, adventure tourism, rural tourism, Buddhist sites and other products will be offered to tourists in various packages,'' Soni said.

Apex bodies of the travel, tour and hospitality industry have offered to sponsor at least 1,000 foreign tourism industry representatives to a trip to India for discussions after the recent travel advisories issued by various countries urging tourists to avoid India following the recent Mumbai terror attack.

Soni recently chaired a National Tourism Advisory Council convened by her ministry, which was attended by representatives from the travel and tourism industry, civil aviation and hospitality sector among others.

Soni said the government has decided to allow public private participation (PPP) in developing basic amenities around tourist spots, including monuments. The ministry will also invite foreign media to experience the difference at tourist sites.

As per preliminary discussion with trade representatives, foreign tourists availing this scheme would be offered trips to new rural and spiritual sites.

Also, under the market development assistance scheme, the ministry had increased financial support to tour operators for promoting India in international exhibitions. It doubled the upper ceiling of foreign exchange earnings of applicant companies for eligibility under the scheme to Rs20 crore to involve more operators.