Centre to introduce 'shopping tourism' to attract foreign tourists

Kolkata, Aug 18 (UNI) The Centre has decided to introduce 'shopping tourism' to attract foreign tourists and meet the growing demand of tourism in the country, Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said here today.

Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the Travel and Tourism Fair(TTF), the Minister said Noida, Shilpagram (Hyderabad), Bhubaneswar and Aurangabad have been identified to initiate the project which would later be extended to other parts of the country.

Ms Soni said the Union cabinet has approved the proposal and it would be implemented under public-private partnership.

She informed that the Centre would fund 25 per cent of the total cost of the project up to a ceiling of Rs 50 crore.

''India is being increasingly recognised as the most favoured tourist destination and the shopping tourism will create international tourism infrastructure facilities and showcase the diverse tourists attractions of India,'' Ms Soni observed.

She also said that 18 countries have been listed for long term visa for participating in travel and tourism fairs in the country and her department was having discussion in this regard with the Union Home Ministry.

Ms Soni said the Commonwealth Games in 2010 would certainly increase the tourist inflow in the country and hoped that 10 million tourists would visit India by that time.

The three-day fair was being held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium with over 250 participants from all over the country including representation from 22 states and seven countries.

UNI