The Government has set an ambitious target of attracting 1.1 crore or about one per cent of the total 110 crore international tourists to India in 2015, a massive jump of around 57 per cent from an estimated 70 lakh foreign tourist arrival (FTA) in the country this year.
To achieve this it has prepared a multi-pronged strategy such as training on hygiene to owners of dhabas situated along highways, development of theme-based circuits at important tourist attractions, push to wildlife and medical tourism among others, said Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma on Monday.
He was speaking at the “Make in India” National Workshop on Tourism, Media, and Entertainment here. He said the Government is considering various steps to achieve the target, including coordination among different ministries, e-ticketing facilities, public programs and development of theme based circuits at important tourist attractions in the country.
Sharma said, “Five theme based-circuits ie, Ganga, Krishna, Buddha, North East and Kerala circuits being developed by the Ministry of Tourism which has allotted `500 crore for the development of these circuits.”
Under a multi-pronged strategy, the Government is focusing on improving cleanliness, hospitality and safety in India along with the help of other ministries. Connectivity is also a focus of the Government to boost tourism in India and a “Cruise plan” is expected to be ready soon.
Medical tourism and wildlife tourism are also sectors that could get a fillip next year, along with training to the dhabas (food joints) along the highways which are popular among the tourists, the Minister said. Focus will be to promote both foreign as well as domestic tourism. The Minister urged the leaders in the tourism sector to take bold decisions to improve the tourism industry.
According to the Tourism Ministry data, FTAs during January- November 2014 stood at around 65 lakh, up about 7.1 per cent from around 61 lakh in the corresponding period last year, the best rate of growth in Asia. The foreign exchange earnings for India from tourism is estimated at around $17.6 billion during January- November 2014, up about 5.2 per cent from around $16.7 billion recorded during the corresponding period last year.