Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay has called upon States to develop tourism infrastructure and facilities to double the inflow of tourists from abroad.
He was inaugurating a two-day second Southern Regional Conference of Tourism Ministers here on Saturday.
Mr. Sahay said India had got the tag of being a seasonal tourism destination. The aim should be to change it into a round-the-year destination. As of now, India attracted half a per cent or around 5 million of the international tourists. The Union government aimed at increasing it by another half a per cent in the next five years. But for that another five lakh hotel rooms were required.
He said even yoga was being marketed as a brand by other countries. A new approach to tourism was needed if the country was to register progress in this sector. While the State and the Central governments would develop the infrastructure, revenue generation should be pursued through private-public participation. So, the States should offer something that attracts private investors.
He called upon the State governments to support the Centre's initiative to attract more tourists. Promotion of polo and golf would be given priority. Skill in hospitality was found wanting, and to overcome it, the government would provide financial support to hospitality and tourism institutes in the private and the government sectors to start courses in hospitality skill development.
Mr. Sahay called for more facilities for pilgrims, especially at Sabarimala and Tirupati, while preserving the sanctity of these areas. Tourists did not facilities to relax in these destinations. Development of such facilities would give a boost to pilgrim tourism.
He called upon the States to rationalise taxes in the tourism sector. Complaints were being raised about the high taxes imposed by the States. He suggested a tax system that remained at 8 per cent. However, at present it was higher than 20 per cent. Tourism should be seen as a business venture and not as a luxury venture and taxed accordingly, he said.
The conference aimed at bringing together the four southern States, the Union Territory of Puducherry and private sector stakeholders on a common platform to discuss and take forward a holistic and integrated development of the tourism sector in the region, he said.
A.P. Anil Kumar, Gokula Indira, and C. Rajavelu, Tourism Ministers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, respectively; R.H. Khwaja, Secretary in the Union Ministry of Tourism; and Sanjay Kothari, Additional Secretary; participated.
