The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Focus on domestic tourism, says official

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Focus on domestic tourism, says official

Special Correspondent

Gujarat showcases tourist attractions at travel meet

CHENNAI: "Domestic tourism contributes 30 times that of international tourism in giving a boost to the local economy," Shaktikanta Das, Commissioner of Tourism, Tamil Nadu Government, said on Sunday during a travel and tour operators meet organised by Gujarat Tourism. Mr. Das said domestic tourism was the backbone of the industry and that operators should focus on it.

"Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Krishna — together they describe the character of the State," Mr. Das said, lauding the people for their resilience in the wake of natural calamities.

C.V. Som, Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director of Gujarat Tourism, offered a ten per cent commission incentive to all travel and tour operators for offering packages and said that the department will be flexible in working out customised packages by negotiating with airline companies for advance bulk bookings.

He made a comprehensive presentation on the temples of Gujarat and other tourist attractions including wildlife, heritage sites, festivals, fairs and cuisine.

Well connected

Gujarat had the most number of airports in the country, and was extremely well-connected by road. About 100 sardar-vans (plantation areas) had been created along the Narmada Canal between Kevadia to Kachch, Mr. Som said. Gandhinagar had 34 lakh trees and was the "greenest capital city in the world," he added.

New tour packages

The department hopes to promote its new tour packages of the Saputara hill station and the "Majestic" tour of Gujarat. "If you sell 100 Majestic tours a month, you will make Rs. 75,000. Think about it," he told operators.

C. Nagendra Prasad, Chairman of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, Tamil Nadu, said it was time to take domestic tourism more seriously.

"We have not realised the potential of the number of people who travel by road and train," he said.

"More people are travelling by train and road because the seats are more comfortable and easily available," he added.

Tour operators complained about the difficulties of getting reservation on Navjeevan Express, the most preferred train by tourists to reach the State. The authorities promised to take it up with the Railways.

More details on the packages are available on www.gujarattourism.com.

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