India emerging as a major tourist destination, says Mahesh Sharma

New Delhi, Sept 6: Union minister Mahesh Sharma on Monday emphasised that India has "everything that a tourist country should have", adding that the perception about the country as a tourist destination has improved to a great extent.

"It (India) has tourism for the whole year. It has mountains, deserts and everything. It's not a seasonal tourist country," the minister told media here.

He, however, admitted that a lot needs to be done to improve the infrastructure.

Announcing that a Tourism Investors' Summit will be held in the national capital from September 21 to 23, the minister said that his ministry was expecting good investment in the tourism sector through the proposed summit.

"We expect that Rs 50,000 crore will be invested through this summit," he said, adding that the inflow of tourists has increased manifold and he was doing everything possible to attract more and more travellers to India.

"Security of tourists is a prime concern for us," he said, adding that a helpline, which would provide assistance in over 10 languages, was being created.

The minister informed that an Investment Desk is also being established in the ministry to help and guide investors.

On being asked about the north-eastern states, the minister said that helicopter services will be started in areas which are difficult to access through roads.

He said that efforts were on to improve facilities for medical and spiritual tourism in the country.

IANS