Fiji, India to set up 'Joint Tourism Committees'

Hyderabad, May 18: Fiji's Finance, National Planning and Sugar Industries Minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhry today said India and his country were planning to set up a Joint Tourism Committee (JTC) to promote tourism industry in a big way in future.

Participating in the 'Look South 2007' international conference, being organised by the Andhra Pradesh Government and FICCI here, he said the JTC would explore new tourism avenues in both the countries. 'Open sky agreements' persued since several years by his country would boost the tourism industry, he added.

He further said that more than 3,000 Indian tourists visited Fiji in 2006-07 and the numbers would increase this year. Mr Chaudhry said Fiji has invited Indian investors to set up hotels by providing them all facilities, including incentives.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Information and Public Relations Minister, A Ramanarayana Reddy said the State received 25 per cent of the international tourists to the country, while 24 per cent of domestic tourists visited Andhra Pradesh this year.

He said it was the right time to boost tourism in South India by creating a dynamic atmosphere with the coordination of all Southern States.

UNI