Chiranjeevi aims to put tourism on national economic and political agenda

To liberalize visa procedures by adding nine more countries to the existing 11 nations in Visa on Arrival scheme to increase tourist inflow; Also to facilitate development of budget accommodation

Travel News
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Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi said promoting and raising awareness about India as a tourist destination round-the-year was his first priority, besides focusing on easing visa regime, expanding tourist visa on arrival and facilitating development of budget accommodation.

“My agenda will be to make tourism India’s main economic and political agenda, taking all State Governments, Union territories and other stakeholders on board,” he said. The Ministry recently launched a refreshed ‘Incredible India’ campaign — ‘Find what you seek’. “Till now we have been promoting India from the destinations and product point of view. In our Take 2 of Incredible India campaign, we are focusing on consumers,” he said, adding that the ministry would promote lesser-known destinations.

In 2011, India’s tourist arrivals constituted just 0.64 per cent of world tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings stood at 1.61 per cent of World Tourism Receipts.

The Ministry is aiming to increase India’s share to 1 per cent of the World Tourist Arrivals by 2016. The minister, who attended the World Travel Market event at London and the UNWTO Minister’s summit, said India would be hosting the next meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commissions for South Asia and Far East & Pacific next year at Hyderabad.

India also won three awards for being "Asia's leading destination", "Asia leading tourist attraction - Taj Mahal" and "Asia's leading tourism board", the minister said.

India is attempting to liberalise visa procedures by adding nine countries to the 11 whose citizens are entitled to the document on arrival, said Chiranjeevi, who has been given independent charge of tourism as a minister of state.

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