A number of new initiatives launched to promote tourism
On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Ministry of Tourism launched a number of new initiatives to promote tourism including co-branding of ‘Incredible India’ with Air India, Microsoft, exclusive website on rural destinations and tourism taxis with ‘Incredible India’ graphitis.
Launching the schemes, the Minister of State for Tourism, Smt. Renuka Chowdhury said that she is hopeful of achieving five million tourism arrival by the next year. This year till August, the arrival has recorded 15.6% increase. Encouraging trends are visible as a result of new initiatives in the field of rural tourism, medical tourism and cruise tourism etc. She said that the Ministry has decided to develop about a dozen destinations with concerted efforts and concentrated investment of Rs. 25 to Rs. 50 crore each during the current financial year. The Minister said an aggressive marketing scheme was also being planned for overseas marketing; focus will be on niche markets and youth. Unexplored markets like China will also be targeted, she added.
The celebration started in the midnight of 26th with the traditional welcome of visitors major international airports with garland, tika and aarti. The welcome was also accorded at various hotels in Delhi and other cities. Later in the morning, an exhibition of ‘Incredible India’ photographs was inaugurated by the Speaker, Lok Sabha, Shri Somnath Chatterjee. It had the display of award winning entries of the photographic competition with the theme ‘What tourism means to me’. The competition by the Ministry of Tourism, which received entries from all over the country and some from abroad also.
Air India will now have ‘Incredible India’ brand displayed at the tail of its selected aircrafts. Indian tourism themes with music will be available at the Microsoft Window. Tourist taxis with ‘Incredible India’ graphiti will run on the roads of Metropolitan cities. These were formally launched today in a function held at Purana Quila, New Delhi. On the occasion, ensemble of India Musical Instruments by ‘Saptakshara’ by Vinayakram and performance by other well-known artists were also held in the evening at Purana Quila, New Delhi.
NCJ/DT