As part of plans to attract a large number of foreign tourists to this former French colony, Puducherry Tourism Department and Tourism Development Corporation will launch a joint `arts and crafts village project at the end the 2011-12 fiscal here,

These are part of measures to attract a large number of foreign tourists and the administration also plans to promote eco and rural tourism and establish a crafts bazaar, tourism minister P Rajavelu said today.

In a press release, the miniser, now on an extensive tour abroad, had attended the World Travel Meet at London and had held discussions with tourist operators and promoters of tourist activities after visiting Paris. A multiple cultural complex to hold cultural programmes, music and art festivals every week end would also be established next year.

The release said digital information displays would be set up at important railway stations, airports. Promotional activities would also include advertisements in digital media like internet, Facebook and through websites in English and French. A 24 hour global helpline centre would also come into being as part of the steps being taken to lure foreign tourists into Puducherry.

Package tours to link Puducherry with important destinations and temple towns in the neighbouring Tamilnadu districts would also be introduced for foreign tourists The administration expects foreign tourists` flow to be around 80,750 this year and 92,866 and 1,11,439 in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Puducherry on an average registered a 16.11 per cent growth in flow of foreign tourists in last 10 years.

Funds had been sought from the Tourism Ministry to introduce Marine Park and also raise infrastructural facilities, it said. A Memorandum of Understanding would also be signed with the Tourism Development Corporation, Delhi, to provide information about Puducherry to foreigners visiting Delhi, it said