2007 India-China year of Friendship through tourism

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) India and China have agreed that the year 2007 be declared as the " India-China year of Friendship through Tourism", the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni in a written reply said this was as per the India-China tourism cooperation treaty reached on January 14, 2002.

She said as per the agreement, " India China Year of Friendship Through Tourism " an action plan has been finalised to undertake several tourism promotional activities.

She said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between India and China already in existence provides for visa facilitation procedures to the potential tourism. in addition, Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to grant Long Term Tourists visa of a five year duration with multi entry facilities to the nationals of 18 countries.

The Minister said both foreign and Indian tourists visit diverse tourist attractions across the country.

She said as per the information available with the Government the number of Indian tourists travelling to China was growing rapidly since 2004 when 3,09,411 went to China and this figure went upto 4,05,091 by 2006. During the same period the number of Chinese travelling to India though witnessed a rise but was much smaller in number compared to their Indian counterparts. In 2004 the number of Chinese who travelled to India was recorded at 34,100 which went upto 47,009 by 2006, she added.

UNI