Bangkok--Feb 15--eTurboNews
India's new Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni is planning series of initiatives including setting up of country's first Tourism Promotion Board, which will act as the premier nodal agency for looking into tourism policies and identifying new thrust areas. The initiative is being worked out currently.
"It is time we had a nodal agency, a statutory body, with more teeth and muscle. Right now, we have a Tourism Advisory Council, but we need a more proactive agencym" Soni told The Indian Express.
The government is also contemplating giving visa on arrival to travelers from 16 countries including Australia, New Zealand and France. The proposal, prepared by a group of ministry, is awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, said Soni.
The minister said apart from creating a special tourist circuit of national monuments and illuminating them, the ministry was also contemplating to launch a campaign to overcome the "negatives" like sex tourism or drug tourism.
"We have to strengthen our systems for an effective checking and state governments have to play a very important role in monitoring that these negatives don't exploit our locals," Soni said.
The government is also promoting the Buddhist circuits including Nalanda and Bodh Gaya, adventure tourism, tourism routes along the country's melas (fairs), and the North-East. "The new 'Incredible India' campaign stresses the North-East and its wonders. However, I am aware there are several limitations like air connectivity, lack of hotels, and permits for foreigners in the region, but we are working on it," Soni reportedly said.
Soni said she would continue her ministry's efforts to get industry status for tourism, as this would lead to rationalization of the taxation regime. "Tourism has become an area which has the biggest potential for employment generation. In fact, it has more potential than the IT industry."
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