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Headlines India Reporter met The Minister of Travel &
Tourism Ms Ambika Soni and had long discussions on Travel
& Tourism Industry in India and the role of Private players
in the industry.
Reporter : What do you think are the future prospects of
tourist influx in India?
Ambika Soni: I have been directly involved with these issues
for three and half years and I feel that looking at the statistical
figures of tourists coming to India, the rate is going up
and there is great potential as well. But as a government
and as a country, I must say that we have much bigger role
in the development of infrastructure which is the most important
thing. If we do not have hotel rooms where will the tourist
stay? We need budget as well as clean accommodation. Along
with that better connectivity is required. New airports are
coming up. Railways have increased the services. Road transport
is better. National highways are being constructed. Concessions
in taxes have been implemented for development of infrastructure.
Developments are taking place but the inbound tourism will
grow simultaneously only with the improvement in infrastructure.
Reporter: What has been the government’s support to
the private players in the tourism industry in India?
Ambika Soni: Ministry at the Centre acts as a facilitator.
We have a small a budget of 1000 crore for this year and almost
half of this budget is scheduled for the infrastructural support
to the states. Whatever finances any state wants for the development
of their infrastructure of tourism, we provide them on the
priority basis. Now the Ministry has proposed for tax holiday
for hotel business for those who would be investing in rural
and hinterlands. As I told you, there is unprecedented requirement
of infrastructural development in the country in the prospective
of untapped tourism avenues and for that much bigger role
for private players is called for.
Reporter: How can the private players in India help in promoting
tourism?
We, as a Union Ministry, are developing new products for
tourism. We can not call tourists again and again to visit
the Taj Mahal. We want to keep the cycle of tourism going
because even one lifetime is not enough to know India. So
we are maneuvering rural tourism, tribal, food, medical, shopping,
tea garden and many other such types of tourism. We are developing
adventure and sports tourism like rafting and mountain climbing,
wild life and eco-tourism.
Ambika Soni: Besides the normal tourism practice we are developing
these aspects on the priority basis. These varieties would
be able to satisfy the travel needs of each and every tourist.
Those who live in the arid zones of the country, come and
visit Assam, live in a seven star hotel, to watch monsoon,
greenery and lakes and then think about the prospect private
operators will have. These are the aspects that we are trying
to improve on with the close association of the states and
private players and we have actually evolved a very good partnership
of government and private players.
Reporter: Your views on Travel Torch
Ambika Soni: Media has been playing a vital role in
promoting awareness and knowledge to harness the prospects
of tourism in India. Lots of magazines are doing this apart
from regular inputs by our ministry’s initiatives through
Incredible India campaign. Since Travel Torch is an e-magazine,
it could prove very convenient for potential foreign tourists.
I wish very well for Travel Torch.
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