Delhi to be 'tourist destination' besides being 'transit point'

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Delhi Tourism Minister A S Lovely today said several initiatives are afoot to popularise Delhi and its surrounding areas as 'tourist destination' besides being a 'transit point'.

Speaking on the occasion of 'World Tourism Day', he said Delhi Tourism had revamped its website with multilingual content and also started a e-news letter that would keep the tourists and Delhiites informed about all the events and shows on the 'cultural calendar'.

Among the other initiatives, training for 'tourist police' and guides was also on for tourism promotion.

Meanwhile, efforts to market Yamuna as a tourist spot would bear fruit with the construction of the signature bridge over the river in North Delhi, around which aforestation would be carried out on vast lands.

The minister informed that Delhi Tourism's estimated net profit in the current fiscal could be around Rs seven crore as compared to the previous year's Rs 2.45 crore.

He said the capital city would have the distinction of hosting the annual meeting of Council for Promotion of Tourism in ASIA (CPTA) for the second time on October 5 and 6. Stakeholders from major Asian cities including Tokyo, Kuala Lampur, Hanoi, Taipai, Jakarta and Delhi would discuss joint promotion of tourism within Asia and evolve strategy for joint marketing and promotion.

The travel industry in Delhi would also interact with their counterparts in the member cities of CPTA.

A lot of festivals and shows were lined up this year, Mr Lovely said and added that Delhi was moving towards making a mark in the global tourism arena.

He announced that Delhi Tourism would host two days of enchanting music festival celebrating the 14th annual Qutub Festival on September 30 and October 1 in the historic Qutub Minar complex.

The festival would feature various musical programmes -- Sitar by Pandit Debu Chaudhuri and Prateek Chaudhuri, roack show by Indian Rock Band Euphoria, Quawwali by Nizami brothers and also a show by Shankar Ehsaan and Loy.

The festival would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The Tourism Minister said Delhi government had been actively promoting visual and performing arts in a major way. And an Italian orchestra performance was slated in November at the Purana Qila, International Qawali Festival and Sharad Utsav are also planned this year.

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