Question : VISIT OF FOREIGN TOURISTS



(a) the target set for the visit of foreign tourists during 2001-02; and

(b) the fresh steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to attract more domestic/foreign tourists?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE ( SHRI ANANTHKUMAR)


(a): The objective of the Government is to promote tourism and to increase the tourist inflow in the country. No year-wise targets as such are fixed. However, the growth rate of tourist arrivals during the year 2000 is 6.4% over the previous year.

(b): Development of Tourism is a continuous process. Various steps taken to attract more domestic & foreign tourists include development and improvement of tourist facilities, publicity and marketing efforts in the foreign countries through overseas tourist offices, strengthening institutions of human resources development, use of information technology, encouraging private investment in tourism sector including hotels, co- ordinating the efforts of different Government Departments and agencies in making India a tourism friendly country and facilitating domestic tourism by promoting amenities and facilities for budget tourists.