Govt identifies 50 new tourist circuits
Updated: Sep 16, 2014 01:22:43pm
New Delhi, Sept 16 (KNN) In an effort to enhance the tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism has identified 50 tourist circuits across the country such as cruise tourism for Goa and core Buddhist circuit for development, among others.
It has also included pilgrimage circuits like Varanasi Ghat which will help augment the initiative undertaken to reinstate the sanctity and development of the holy city.
This was disclosed by Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Shripad Yesso Naik during an interactive meeting organized by the Confederation of India Industry (CII) in Goa recently.
In order to attract a large number of foreign tourists, India will be positioned as a global brand by making travel hassle free and user friendly through implementation of e-visa. The system will be introduced in a phased manner at nine airports in the country including Goa very shortly, he said.
On the other hand, Co-Chair of CII National Committee on Tourism, Arjun Sharma emphasized that for India, to achieve its goal of attracting 12 million foreign tourists annually, and to combat issues pertaining to taxation, visa, infrastructure and other concerns, the government and private sectors need to collaborate and work together to achieve the set targets and help India become a major tourist destination.
CII suggested the creation of an empowered National Tourism Board comprising of the government, public and private players who can work in partnership.
These included activities like step by step approach and deliberation over the existing suggestions of cost of visa and its link to reciprocity, simplifying visa form and procedures, improvements in visa processes, exempting hotels and tour operators from service tax on foreign exchange earnings.
This will help alleviating the problem of multiplicity of taxes at various levels and will help the sector prosper and become a major foreign exchange earner for India, it said.
The federation also suggested the creation of a task force on cleanliness and security and engage ex-servicemen who can provide insights to make an impact. Also, commercial tourist vehicles can make use of smart cards to facilitate seamless travel through state borders. (KNN/ST)
It has also included pilgrimage circuits like Varanasi Ghat which will help augment the initiative undertaken to reinstate the sanctity and development of the holy city.
This was disclosed by Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Shripad Yesso Naik during an interactive meeting organized by the Confederation of India Industry (CII) in Goa recently.
In order to attract a large number of foreign tourists, India will be positioned as a global brand by making travel hassle free and user friendly through implementation of e-visa. The system will be introduced in a phased manner at nine airports in the country including Goa very shortly, he said.
On the other hand, Co-Chair of CII National Committee on Tourism, Arjun Sharma emphasized that for India, to achieve its goal of attracting 12 million foreign tourists annually, and to combat issues pertaining to taxation, visa, infrastructure and other concerns, the government and private sectors need to collaborate and work together to achieve the set targets and help India become a major tourist destination.
CII suggested the creation of an empowered National Tourism Board comprising of the government, public and private players who can work in partnership.
These included activities like step by step approach and deliberation over the existing suggestions of cost of visa and its link to reciprocity, simplifying visa form and procedures, improvements in visa processes, exempting hotels and tour operators from service tax on foreign exchange earnings.
This will help alleviating the problem of multiplicity of taxes at various levels and will help the sector prosper and become a major foreign exchange earner for India, it said.
The federation also suggested the creation of a task force on cleanliness and security and engage ex-servicemen who can provide insights to make an impact. Also, commercial tourist vehicles can make use of smart cards to facilitate seamless travel through state borders. (KNN/ST)
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