Question : PROMOTION OF TOURISM BY IA

(a) the steps taken by Indian Airlines to meet competition from the Private airlines in the matter of synergising tourism promotion efforts;

(b) whether any memorandum of understanding has also been signed with the Government of Maharashtra in this regard;

(c) if so, whether the places of tourists interest in the State have been identified for providing new links, additional flights and tourism promotion programmes;

(d) whether Nagpur has been identified for tour packages providing additional flights etc; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI SHRIPAD Y. NAIK)

(a): Indian Airlines has taken a number of sales and marketing initiatives for promotion of tourism i.e. Special Fares in USD for foreign tourists, Special Scheme on INR fares both for Indian nationals and foreigners residing in India, APEX Fares - an Advance Purchase Scheme on select domestic sectors etc.
(b),(c),(d) and (e): Indian Airlines has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding, Indian Airlines and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation are developing details of packages including ground arrangements for important destinations in Maharashtra where Indian Airlines flights operate namely Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Mumbai and also covering satellite towns.