India plans tourism promotion forums

With India aiming to double the number of tourists by 2016, its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and elsewhere in the GCC will stage tourism promotion forums, according to India's Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai. "We receive over six million tourists every year, but we find that our outbound tourists are four times more than our inbound tourists," Sahai told Arab News in an interview on the sidelines of an Incredible India Road Show organized at Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. "We want to improve the scenario and so we are planning to organize tourism promotion forums in all Gulf countries under aegis of Indian embassies. We aim to increase India's share in international tourist arrivals from 0.6 percent to 1 percent by 2016," he added. Currently, India has 200,000 five star hotel rooms and 200,000 more rooms will be attached within four years. In addition, there are plans to add more exhibition and convention centers and theme parks. "In short, we need to invest over $7.25 billion to develop tourism infrastructure within the next three to four years," he added. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Yemen and Turkey have registered positive growth and are emerging as major tourism generating markets for India, Sahai said. India has decided to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Tourism Department by next month. This MoU is intended to promote tourism jointly. "We will also seek tie-ups with other Gulf countries," he said. Asked about the complicated visa procedures for foreign nationals, Sahai said: "Issues related to visa norms will be resolved soon." The tourism promotion forums in the Gulf will also have the participation of professionals from the industry and media. "I hope they can bring a lot of ideas and solve many issues," he said, adding that India is poised to become the hub for medical tourism. "We have top hospitals with the latest technology, highly skilled physicians and surgeons, low cost treatment, excellent quality care, nursing and Indian hospitality, in addition to world renowned Ayurveda and yoga treatments." "India is a multi-faceted year-round tourist destination for culture, luxury, wildlife and medical tourism," Sahai added. According to figures provided by India tourism office in Dubai, foreign tourist arrivals into the country have witnessed a steady increase over the years, touching 6.29 million in 2011, an 8.9 percent increase over 5.78 million in 2010. Until May this year, the foreign tourist arrival (FTA) in India stood at 2.8 million. The foreign exchange earnings (FEE) till May stands at $7.2 billion. Senior officials and ministers from the state tourism authorities of Rajasthan, Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, Indian Ambassador to the UAE M.K. Lokesh, Indian Consul General in Dubai Sanjay Verma as well as Saudi-Bahrain based Indian businessman Ravi Pillai attended the road show. Fifteen leading Indian tour operators, hotels and airlines took part in the Road show.from arabnews.com