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Fast forward with India
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BBC World's FastTrack would show the tourist potential of `Incredible India!' this May, Akhtar Khan tells SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY
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FastTrack allows me to see new places and also to put my teeth into meaty issues Akhtar Khan
TOURISM SHOW: BBC World's FastTrack anchor Akhtar Khan in New Delhi Photo: V. Sudershan
Incredible India!
A hint of patriotism and nationalism shows up when any proud Indian pops up with this line now used by the Tourism Ministry to sell Indian destinations to foreign tourists.
But on hearing Akhtar Khan, the anchor of BBC World's tourism show FastTrack, spattering such a comment with zeal the other day in New Delhi, floors you. This is not an insider's but an outsider's view and coming from a newsman, seriously so.
"Well, I am from India too. My family belongs to Hyderabad. That makes me an insider but the comment is an objective one. India indeed qualifies to be sold as Incredible India," says Akhtar. His blue eyes, strong British accent, White skin make him look remotely Indian but the heart still beats for that fading link with his family's country of origin.
Shooting India
In New Delhi to take part in the just-concluded Global Travel and Tourism Summit, which had chosen BBC World as its official broadcaster for the second consecutive year, Akhtar, on the side, has also looked around for locations and story ideas for Fast Track. The show is a weekly global round-up of travel news for both leisure and business sectors. "I am going to Agra, Kerala, Hyderabad and Rajasthan for a few shots. We want to show these destinations to our corporate viewers. They can choose these places for their annual company meetings, etc," he explains. Continuing, he gives a clearer idea, "For instance, we shall look at the Taj Mahal and the controversy whether is it really 350 years old now."
On May 3
Also, he is looking at the potential of medical tourism in India. "India truly has a potential in medical tourism. Many Westerners are already coming here for it. We want to explore this angle a bit this time," he adds. The programme on the tourism summit would be shown on BBC World this Tuesday at 0100 and 1500 IST with repeat shows on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
"And the India Special shows would air from May 3," he informs. The series would also focus on the growth of low-cost airlines in India, whether air traffic control would be able to cope with the rush etc.
Having been anchoring the programme since August 2002, Akhtar has seen as many as 42 countries by now. "I love travelling and it is giving me a great opportunity to do so," he says. He was game for this job as "the show is not the usual glossy tourism magazine type but is news-based. It is great fun doing it as I can also put my teeth into meaty issues in the tourism sector." Counting a few "meaty issues," he talks of eco-savvy tourism, the hassles of visa restrictions put by many countries, the need to have metric passports and cleaner, greener jet engines.
"But the need to preserve the world is as much a duty of everyone as the policy-makers," he states.
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