Arrival of foreign tourists on the upswing

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) India attracted 4.45 million foreign tourists in 2006, recording an increase of 13.5 per cent over the corresponding figure of 3.92 million during a year earlier, the government said today.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said the Working Group on Tourism for the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12) had set a target of 10 million international visitors in 2011.

Ms Soni said the government had embarked upon a series of measures to achieve its full potential in tourism and attract more foreign tourists to India.

She said the steps included putting a focus on the growth of hotel infrastructure, particulary budget hotels, and creating World class collaterals.

''The government has adopted a direct approach to the consumers through electronic and print media for highlighting the 'Incredible India' campaign,'' the minister pointed out.

Further, greater focus is being accorded to the emerging markets, particulary in the regions of China, the North East Asia and South East Asia.

She said the government had also reinforced its hospitality programmes, including grant of air passages, to invite the media personnel, tour operators on familiarisation tour to India to get first hand knowledge on tourism products.

Another focus area of the government. she said, is to enhance connectivity through augmentation of air capacity and improving road infrastructure to major tourist destinations and forge direct cooperative marketing with airlines, tour operators and wholesalers overseas.

Ms Soni said the government had launched a social awareness campaign ''Atithi Devo Bhavah'' to sensitise various stakeholders in tourism and granted recognition to guides, travel agents and transport operators in order to standardise their services.

Replying to another query, she said the government had decided against the inclusion of 'Tourism' in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

''It was felt that since 'Tourism' is not appearing in any of the three lists of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the Central Government is competent to legislate on any matter under the residuary powers.'' UNI SKS LS SSC1344