New Delhi, Mar 23, (KNN) Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi has asked the Finance Ministry for additional funds to set up 10 convention-cum-exhibition centres across the country for the promotion of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism.

Chiranjeevi called on Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram recently and asked him for a higher budgetary allocation to promote tourism, even though the allocation to the tourism sector was increased by Rs 87.66 crore this year.

Considering that the tourism sector directly and indirectly contributed to more than 6 per cent of the country’s GDP, more than 10 per cent of the organised employment and roughly USD 18 million in foreign exchange, the tourism minister made a strong case.

One percentage increase in tourism earnings results in a 0.1 percentage increase in the GDP of the country.

The Finance Minister however sought further details from the Tourism Ministry about the convention centres and promised to look into the request.

The allocation for the Ministry this year is Rs 1,297.66 crore while it was Rs 1,210 crore in the Union Budget 2012-13 and Rs 1,110.96 crore in 2011-12.  (KNN)