'New tourism policy will stress integrated approach'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 8. The new tourism policy will reflect the need for coordination between the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Home and Culture for an integrated approach, said the Tourism Minister, Mr. Jagmohan, here.

Mr. Jagmohan said the draft of the policy would be discussed with entrepreneurs, hotel and travel industry, experts, overseas marketing agencies, officials and State representatives ahead of the State Tourism Minister's Conference, which is to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, here on September 12.

The Minister said the meetings would help him to give his inputs to the draft policy. ``Tourism can succeed if all the stakeholders take it as a national endeavour. We are trying to give a push to this sector as was indicated by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech in which he declared that a National Tourism Policy would be out soon,'' he said briefing the media about the conference.

The Tourism Secretary, Mr. M.P. Bezbarua, said, besides facilitation, information, coordination and infrastructure development, the draft focussed on an integrated approach with the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Culture and Home. It laid stress on domestic tourism, particularly pilgrim and rural tourism, and emphasised marketing the particular strengths of India.

The policy contains a vision statement to make tourism sustainable.

The broad objective of the policy would be to prepare a medium- term strategy to be dovetailed into the Tenth Plan.

In addition, a three-year development and marketing plan would be made, which would focus on infrastructure development, liberalisation of the Indian skies and visa regimes, upgradation of airports, integrated development of islands, uniformity of taxes and aggressive and focussed marketing overseas.

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Section  : National
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