Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja suggests State Level Monitoring Committees for speedy implementation of Tourism Projects in East and North East States
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6 DEC 2009-Gangtok,Sikkim 15:40 IST
The Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has said that for the speedy implementation of Tourism projects, it is suggested that a State Level Monitoring Committee should be constituted by East and North East States. Speaking at the inaugural of Regional Conference of East and North East Tourism Ministers in Gangtok today, she said these Committees should not only regularly monitor but also send a quarterly or half yearly report to the Union Ministry of Tourism. Further, States are requested to acknowledge by indicating the name of the Ministry on the Foundation Stone at the projects financed by the Union Ministry of Tourism. She further urged that all the projects should not only be completed but made functional so that the tourists and other stakeholders may take full benefit of the central financial assistance. Needless to say that any tourist amenity should essentially have proper water supply, electricity, well maintained approach road and proper landscaping, the Minister added.
Kumari Selja said, her Ministry has taken a number of initiatives for the overall development of India’s tourism sector. These include development of mega tourism destination and circuit development projects. In this regard, a total of 29 sites, which include three in the East and Northeast Regions, have been identified. We have already sanctioned 21 projects in these destinations.
She said, the Union Ministry of Tourism has initiated the Scheme for Certification of Skills of service providers working in the hospitality sector. A minimum of 5000 service providers would be certified in the year. We have already started this in IHM, Guwahati and Shillong.
She said, the Ministry is organizing domestic Road shows in collaboration with private sector participation in North, South, West, Central, East and Northeast Regions. The first Road Show on the Eastern & North Eastern Region was successfully organized in Kolkata on the 11th and 12th August 2009.
A revised and more liberalized Incredible India Bed & Breakfast/ Homestay Scheme has been launched. Kumari Selja advised the States/U.T.s to formulate their own scheme to develop Bed & Breakfast and Home stay units.
The Minister informed the conference that the Union Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the policy of broad basing hospitality education. ITIs, vocational schools, polytechnics, universities and colleges would be involved to meet the growing demand of trained manpower in hospitality sector. She urged all State Governments present in the Conference to avail of this opportunity to increase skilled manpower in tourism sector.
The Minister said that the Centre has approved the revised guidelines for the scheme of assistance to Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Food Craft Institutes (FCIs) including setting up of 19 State IHMs and 25 State FCIs. She said, one IHM each at Assam and Manipur have been sanctioned recently. At present, all the states attending this conference have at least one IHM except Tripura and she asked the Tripura Tourism to get an IHM sanctioned for their state at the earliest.
Referring to the responsible tourism initiative, the Minister said 153 rural sites including 51 sites in the East and Northeast Regions are being developed under the Rural Tourism Scheme. The traditional artisans from these sites have been given exposure to national/ international platforms. Rural Tourism is about creativity and innovation.
Referring to West Bengal rural tourism potential, Kumari Selja mentioned about a village named BORAL near Kolkata which was the shooting location of legendary film maker Satyajit Ray’s maiden movie Pather Panchali. She said, this movie shot him into fame in world cinema and this location could offer excellent potential as a rural tourism site. The Minister said, Boral could be developed as a major attraction for the connoisseurs of films the world over as well as tourists in general. I would suggest that West Bengal tourism may promote such niche products and I am sure all the states may have such innovative product which can be promoted in India and abroad, she added.
The Minister informed the conference that her Ministry is working on a commercial film for promoting North East and it would be launched soon.
Kumari Selja also said that while drawing up the policy, State governments must not forget the fragile ecology of the North Eastern States. She said, together we should endeavour to formulate such policy, which encourages sustainable tourism while underlining creation of environmental, social, economic and climate responsiveness. The States of North East offer extraordinary prospects for green – tourism. We would like to promote suitable locations for such projects on Mission Mode. The projects will be conceived and developed based on local resources, raw materials and talents. Vernacular Architecture will be adopted in its entirety. We would like encourage all the stake holders including the civil societies and NGO’S to come forward to develop local facilities.
In this direction, the Minister said, the Green Mission Initiative of the State Government of Sikkim aiming to sustain, maintain and enrich the State’s environment and ecology is highly commendable. She urged every State and Union Territory in India to emulate this initiative.
The Minister referred to some of the issues which require immediate attention and serious thinking by the State Governments. She said, the relationship between sustainable tourism and economic growth is very intimate and well known. In the same manner Safety and security of the tourists is a worldwide concern. She said, any adverse perception about safety and security of the tourists would seriously affect tourist arrivals in the country. Kumari Selja said, she is of the firm view, that the security and safety of the tourists is of paramount importance for the growth of this sector. The inflow of the domestic and foreign tourists could be ensured only when we are able to provide them a safe and secure environment. We look forward not only to addition of new tourists but also the repeat visitors, she added.
Kumari Selja said, the matter regarding constituting Tourist Police Organizations in States and Union Territories has been taken up from time to time. Accordingly, guidelines for raising Tourist Security Organization, comprising Ex–servicemen for the safety and security of tourists were formulated. These were forwarded to all State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. She said, she is happy to note that several States have deployed Tourist Police at important tourist destinations, in one form or the other.
Kumari Selja said, the Central Government has taken several initiatives for promoting tourism in the Northeast States. Union Ministry of Tourism has relaxed the guidelines for inbound, domestic, adventure tour operators and travel agencies. It has provided special dispensation for the Northeast Region so that more and more service providers are approved.
She said, her Ministry has also modified the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme. This would enable approved tourism service providers in the North Eastern Regions to avail financial support for undertaking overseas promotional activities. Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme has been extended to provide financial incentive to those Professional Conference Organizers (PCO), who successfully bid for any international conference at an Indian destination. MDA scheme has also been extended to Medical Tourism service providers as well as Wellness Tourism service providers.
The Minister said that her Ministry has announced a new policy guideline to promote Caravan Tourism in India and to facilitate the infrastructure required for
Caravan Tourism.
She said, the Centre has modified the guidelines of the existing Financial Assistance Scheme to promote tourist destinations in hilly, remote and inaccessible areas of the country, for construction of heliports. Three projects for construction of heliports at Mangan, Geetang Khola and Chemchey in Sikkim have also been sanctioned under this new initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Kumari Selja added.
Referring to RPA and ILPR, the Minister said, relaxation of protected area, restricted area and inner line permit regime in North Eastern States will go a long way in encouraging tourism inflow in the region. She said, her Ministry has regularly taken up the issue of relaxation of the restrictions and recently Ministry of Home Affairs has given relaxation for the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
The Minister informed that her Ministry provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/Union Territories for development of tourist infrastructure and promotion of tourism including River Cruise. The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs.365.52 Lakh in 2006-07 towards Development of Brahmaputra River front in Assam. In addition, a project for development of Ganga Heritage River Cruise in West Bengal for an amount of Rs.2042.35 Lakh has also been sanctioned in 2008-09.
She said, we have decided to provide Central Assistance upto Rs.5 Crore to States/ UTs for development of Convention Centers under the Government/Public Sector initiatives. Manipur and Mizoram are the two northeastern states to receive financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 4.16 Crore and Rs. 4.68 Crore for construction of convention centre at Imphal and Aizwal respectively.
Buddhist pilgrimage in the East and Northeast Regions are promoted among domestic and foreign tourists vigorously, the Minister informed.
The Minister said, tourism, world wide has emerged as a key player in Development strategies. Appropriately leveraged, tourism sector has high potential for delivering sustainable growth with equity. The Tourism Sector in India has witnessed great buoyancy in recent times. This sector has been able to generate phenomenal direct & indirect employment. She said, the number of manpower employed has increased from 42.9 million in 2004-05 to 49.8 million in 2006-07. Tourism sector has the capability and capacity to take country's economy ahead while sustaining it for the time to come. For example, share of tourism in GDP has increased from 5.83% to 5.92% during the period 2002-03 to 2007-08.
Kumari Selja said, it is heartening to note that in spite of rise in world crude price and global financial meltdown, tourism in India has grown steadily and has witnessed significant growth. For example, the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) has increased by 5.6% in 2008 over 2007. Similarly, Foreign Exchange Earnings through (FEE in Rupee term) tourism have registered a growth of 14.4% increase in 2008 over 2007. Unfortunately, FTAs declined since November, 2008 mainly due to Mumbai terrorist attack, and partially due to economic slow down. It registered a short recovery in the months of June and July 2009, but it dipped again due to Swine Flu Scare. She assured the participants States in the Conference that Government of India is taking all possible steps to consolidate India’s position in the tourism sector through sustained campaigns both at national and international levels.
Listing some of the initiatives taken by the Government of India in recent times, she said that her Ministry has organized 4 Road Shows in Middle East Countries for Wellness and Medical Tourism and 11 Road Shows in other countries in collaboration with the Indian Association of Tour Operators and Adventure Tour Operators for showcasing different products.
A scheme Visit India Year 2009 in collaboration with all stakeholders including State Governments, airlines, hotels, and tour operators was launched for incentivising travel to India.
Kumari Selja said, domestic tourism also continues to show encouraging trends, with an estimated 562.92 million domestic tourist visits during 2008. With the availability of greater disposable income and affordable holiday packages, tourism in India is increasing steadily. Wide publicity and tremendous awareness about the diverse products have inspired people to travel to different regions, specifically North East. This segment can certainly counter the negative impact of the global meltdown and give the required fillip to the economy.
She said, in spite of our having realized tourism’s importance, the sector is yet to see its full potential. There are indeed some hurdles that are blocking the exploitation to its full capacity. She said, this conference aims at perusing, analyzing and examining at length these blockages. All of us must strive together, to harness the tourism sector’s potential to the greatest extent possible so as to ensure inclusive and sustainable development of tourism sector, Kumari Selja added.
AD/KM
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