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New Delhi, July 18: In a bid to make Khajuraho an exciting Millennium tourist destination, the Khajuraho Millennium Committee (KMC) announced the appointment of British Airways and Jet Airways as the official international and domestic carriers of the Khajuraho Millennium celebrations respectively on July 16 in the Capital. The Government of India has declared March 1999-March 2000 as the Khajuraho Millennium Year in celebration of the 1000 years of Khajuraho.
``We are formulating a master plan to develop the Khajuraho township in an eco-friendly manner,'' said Digvijay Singh, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and chairman, Khajuraho Millennium Committee. ``A calender of Millennium events is lined up to promote and sell Kharjuraho tourism outside as well as inside the country.''
Jet Airways' association with Khajuraho started in December '98 when it added Khajuraho to its network by linking Delhi with Khajuraho and onwards to Varanasi. ``We have a satisfactory load factor on this route-almost 30 per centof our traffic originates overseas,'' said Saroj K Dutta, executive director, Jet Airways Ltd. ``We are planning more initiatives to tap the Millennium mood when the tourist season starts, from September onwards.'' Simon Ratcliffe, general manager South Asia, British Airways added: `We'll promote this centre in every market we serve.'' BA is planning special packages for students and Khajuraho-bound traffic.
KMCs initiatives include: Anthologies on Khajuraho; special edition cassettes/CDs (by Music Today); a sculptors meet (by Orient Express Ltd); a film series on Khajuraho (by Delhi-based Teamwork Films); educational workshops (by PATA Educational sub-committee); tourism seminars; Khajuraho Film Festival on August 20-24, 1999; Music Festival on October 27-29, 1999; Millennium Night on December 31, 1999; and Dance Festival 2000 on March 2-8, 2000.
KMC's communication drive will be supported by MP Tourism, MP Handicrafts, the Union Ministry of Tourism, Orient Express Ltd, Sita World Travel, TravelCorporation of India, Taj Hotels, Oberoi Hotels, Clark Hotels, Khajuraho Tourism Association.
While Jet Airways covers Delhi-Khajuraho-Varanasi route, Indian Airlines has linked Khajuraho to Bhopal, Indore and Mumbai. A Rs 975-crore rail project to connect Khajuraho has already been launched and next on the agenda is to improve the condition of highways.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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