Question : EXPLORE INDIA MILLENNIUM YEAR

(a) whether the Government had observed the year 1999-2000 as `Explore India Millennium Year`;

(b) if so, whether the Ministry had sought involvement/participation of all the organisations/agencies connecting with Tourism;

(c) if so, whether various packages of different segments such as foreign individual tourists,families, NRIs, and youths and brochures entitled `experience thousand delights` were promoted through overseas tourists offices of Government of India;

(d) if so, whether inspite of various arrangements there was no improvement in the tourists traffic during the Indian Millennium Year; and

(e) if so, the reasons for failure to attract substantial tourists?

MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE

( SHRI ANANTH KUMAR )

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) Yes, Sir,

(c) Yes, Sir. The following packages were brought out during the Millennium Year for promoting Explore India Millennium Year through overseas Tourist Offices and other agencies:


(i) Millennium packages 1999-2001 for NRIs and Youth by ITDC

(ii) `Experience thousands delights` by ITDC.

(iii) Super Summer Saver packages by Air India.

(iv) Heritage Hotels Packages by Heritage Hotels Association of India

(d) & (e) No, Sir. The tourist traffic registered a positive growth of 5.2% during 1999 over 1998 as against the negative growth of 0.7% in 1998 over 1997. In the first three months of the year 2000, tourist traffic growth of 4.1% has also been registered as against 1999.