Action plan to woo foreigners ineffective, Parliamentary panel wants review
A parliamentary panel has observed that the action plan of the Tourism Ministry to woo foreign travellers is not effective enough and has suggested review of the overseas campaign strategy.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism, Culture and Transport has recommended that the ministry must have a relook into the necessity of various tourism promotion offices abroad and the efficacy of various officials under overseas promotion and publicity.
The 31-member panel headed by CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury in its latest report observed that the expenditure incurred up to February is Rs 194.26 cr for overseas promotion.
The committee was of the view that the expenditure is not commensurate with the return in the form of number of foreign tourist arrivals (5.78 million) in 2010.
It expressed surprise that with so many attractions like religious tourism, health care and many more "why we have not been able to attract enough tourists to India".
Taking note of lack of cleanliness at tourist places as one of the reasons for low tourist arrival, the committee observed that only Rs 10,000 cr has been made available under the head for "Clean India" campaign.
It was of the view that a substantial part of the allocation may be diverted for the campaign as the tourist will come only when our tourist places are clean and well maintained.
The panel also noted that a comprehensive waste management system is lacking in most of the tourist destinations as this will become a serious problem in the coming years because of the increase in the
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