Effective partnership with industry key to tourism growth: Soni

New Delhi, Sept 1 (UNI) Tourism Minister Ambika Sonia today sought the help of the travel trade to effectively partner with the government to overcome lack of infrastructure and promote its new products such as rural and adventure tourism and upgrade India as a major MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions) destination.

"Effective partnership with the industry is foremost to achieve growth in tourist arrival," she said, while inaugurating the 23rd Convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) here.

She lauded the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for its help to develop infrastructure in Buddhist destinations across the country.

Ms Soni said the decision of several states to give a five-year tax holiday to budget hotels in Buddhist destinations would go a long way in ushering in enhanced infrastrcture in these sites which were increasingly becoming an attraction to tourists from many countries such as China and Japan.

She said it was highly encouraging that all states were allowing 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) only in the tourism sector.

The Minister said the Incredible India campaign had opened up many new markets and globally repositioned India as the most favourable destination.

She said India's participation in the recent ITB Berlin as a partner state had created a very positive image and greater awareness about various niche products like rural tourism, medical tourism and adventure tourism.

Earlier, she released the IATO Manual and Special Women Issue of the Express Travelworld devoted to the world tourism day theme of this year.

Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna said the capital city would wear a new look before it would get ready to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

IATO President Subash Goyal raised issues related to the luxury tax in Delhi, need for rationalisation of road taxes and improvement of basic facilities in all respects to sustain the growth of tourism. More than 1,500 delegates, including travel agents, tour operators from India and overseas, tourism consultants, hoteliers, restaurants, airlines, centre and state tourism officials and allied service providers, attended the conference.

"This is the largest attendance in any of IATO's annual conventions since its inception in 1982, " Mr Goyal told mediapersons later. All the Ministers who were present also spoke about the IATOs pioneering role and their sincere cooperation to boost tourism to their respective state by forming team with IATO members.

Dignitaries were given small mementos on the occasion of 25 years of IATO.

A special attraction of the three-day convention is the tourism fair at Hotel Ashok where Indiatourism, state tourism, and other service providers have put up colourful displays.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism is the Partner State of the convention, while Delhi Tourism is the Host State.

UNI