Question : SEMINAR OF MINISTERS ON TOURISM

(a) whether any Seminar of Union and State Tourism Ministers was held recently in Delhi on tourism sector; and

(b) if so, the details of deliberations alongwith the outcome thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM (SMT. RENUKA CHOWDHURY)

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India had recently organized an All India State Tourism Ministers Conference in Delhi. A copy of the Resolutions passed during this Conference is placed at Annexure.

ANNEXURE IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4521 ANSWERED ON 25.04.2005 REGARDING SEMINAR OF MINISTERS ON TOURISM

Resolutions of All India State Tourism Ministers` Conference held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 4th and 5th March, 2005

The Conference of All India State Tourism Ministers under the Chairpersonship of Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 4th and 5th March 2005 unanimously passed the following resolutions:

1.	Tourism is a major driver of economic growth and employment creation.	States will work towards making it the priority sector in the States` planning	process with enhanced financial outlays.
2.	States will endeavour for development of quality manpower and `Athithi	Devo Bhavah` campaign would be taken forward for quality manpower	development in collaboration with the State Governments.
3.	States would strive for development of world class infrastructure at tourism	sites including improvement of urban infrastructure and ensuring better	connectivity to major tourist destinations.
4.	States would work towards streamlining their land policy by re-zoning and	redefining land use to facilitate development of adequate hotel rooms in	metro cities and at tourism sites.
5.	Each State will strive to have one or more airport to be declared and equipped	as an international airport allowing scheduled foreign airlines to land.
6.	States agreed to work towards rationality and uniformity of taxes so as to	make their destinations competitive. It was agreed that this alone would	lead to increased tourist arrivals and generate higher revenues. The model of	uniform taxation regime in each zone will also be examined by the States.
7.	States would work toward reduction/removal of State Sales Tax on Aviation	Turbine Fuel (ATF) to make the domestic air fare competitive for boosting	domestic tourism . The declaration of ATF as `declared good`, where uniform	CST of 4% is levied, will also be taken up for implementation. The proposal	of a basic fare and a separate surcharge on ATF to the concerned destinations	will be examined by Ministry of Civil Aviation.
8.	States would take up the issue of operation and maintenance of tourist	infrastructure through Public-Private Partnerships.
9.	States resolved to make all tourist sites `Plastic Free` and also take necessary	steps to develop the area in and around the important monuments `Free From	Vehicular Traffic` and give due regard to the sustainability of the	environment. There will also be an effort towards better maintenance of	tourist destinations and also opening of souvenir shops and public	conveniences at these sites.
10.	States should give a separate and distinct `TV` series for Tourist Vehicles of	recognized tourist transport operators.