NHAI positive about developing tourism-related infrastructure:Kant

Kochi, Sep 22 (UNI) The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has responded positively to a proposal to develop tourism-related infrastructure along the national highways, Kerala Principal Secretary, Industries, Amitabh Kant said today.

Speaking at a book release function at the fifth Kerala Tourism Mart here, Mr Kant said the proposal was in the ''conceptual'' stage, but the NHAI had responded positively to a suggestion that tourism-related infrastructure be developed along the national highways.

Observing that major hotels had come up in the US along the highways, Mr Kant, who was behind the successful 'Incredible India' campaign during his stint in the Union Tourism Ministry, said infrastructure need not be only hotels or apartments but could include highway-side amenities for travellers.

Releasing the book 'Looking Beyond', authored by well known travel writers Hugh and Colleen Gantzer, Mr Kant said their writings truly captured the feel and ambience of the places they described.

Noting that most travel writings of these days was ''PR (public relations) writing'', Mr Kant said there was a need for travel writers who could write critically and dispassionately while being passionate about the subject.

Discounting the threat of terrorism to tourism in the country, Mr Gantzer said India was a huge country and what happened in one part need not affect the others.

He said Indian middle class had enough wealth to take the tourism industry to great heights. Tourism department should not only focus on foreign visitors but also on domestic tourists.

UNI ARC MIR AS1649