Tourism set for a bright future
The Ministry of Tourism is endorsing employment creation and economic development in the tourism sector while gaining recognition from key policy making institutions in India.
The global endorsement to the employment creation and economic development potential is also reflected in the recognition the sector has received from key policy making institutions in India. RH Khwaja, Secretary - Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in an exclusive conversation with delved into the various elements that go in policy making, while painting a bright picture of the tourism sector moving into near future. Here are the selected excerpts:-
12th Five Year Plan target
The significance of creating a target is that it gives us a roadmap. Subodh Kant Sahai, our Union Minister for Tourism has always been stressing to double our arrivals during the 12th Five Year Plan period. We are certainly trying our best in terms of devising policy interven- tions, bringing all states on board, facilitate development of mega circuits, improving facilities for tourists, rationalisation of taxes and promoting seamless travel.
However, the realisation of the target is dependent on many external and internal factors. We have no control over external factors like the events in Greece, Euro Zone or other such economies. But, whatever happens to them, impacts us,
as we are also a part of the same tourism world.
We have a great extent of control over the internal situation. But, like the Tourism Ministry, I do not have control over some of the issues that impact tourism like law and order problems. For instance, due to recent law and order situation in some parts of the country, other governments had issued advisories. There are so many aviation issues like Kingfisher curtailing its services. Often, the trains are not up to the mark in terms of cleanliness. Similarly, many our destinations are also not well-managed in case of cleanliness and hygiene.
We certainly take up these issues with the concerned ministries. In fact, to address the issues of cleanliness and hygiene, we had recently launched the nationwide Clean India Campaign. In such campaigns, we do require support of all the stakeholders.