India to showcase its cultural tapestry in Singapore, China

New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) The rich tapestry of India's vibrant cultural traditions will be showcased in Singapore and China in the next one week to augment the arrival of foreign tourists whose number has crossed five million mark.

As part of 'Incredible India' campaign, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni will be leaving tonight for Singapore and China to showcase different facets of India's growth, tourism products and art and culture.

In collaboration with CII, the Tourism and Culture Ministries are organising the event in Singapore during April 5-7 and in China from April 7 to 9.

Ms Soni will inaugurate the Singapore event at Orchard Street tomorrow.

As part of the event, various activities and programmes have been planned. These include cultural performances from different regions of India, display of its handicrafts, especially by artisans from rural tourism sites, photographic exhibitions and an ''India Evening''.

There would also be extensive promotion and marketing through print and outdoor advertising, a ministry official said.

On the day of inauguration in Singapore, a cultural programme featuring performances by Indian artists before a select gathering and a dinner reception have been organized.

Ms Leena Nandan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, said people are keenly waiting for the tourism and cultural events. She said the ministry has been receiving requests from various organisations in Singapore to explore possibilities if more performances beyond the scheduled programmes could be organised.

India and Singapore are collaborating both bilaterally and through ASEAN. The city state is an important source market for India's tourism products where these have been actively promoted through the Incredible India campaign and other promotional and marketing events.

''India sees immense potential for tourism generation from Singapore due to geographical proximity and good connectivity,'' Ms Nandan said.

After the Singapore event, Ms Soni will proceed to Beijing to inaugurate the new India Tourism office at Beijing on April 7.

The new office has been set up in view of the keen interest evinced by Buddhist pilgrims from China in India's famous Buddhist sites.

There will also be a cultural programme at Hotel Beijing on the evening of April 7 after which the minister would return to India.

Tourism Secretary S. Banerjee would cover the Shanghai part of the events on April 8 and 9.

UNI SKS VD DS1623