New Delhi: Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Francesco Frangialli today complimented India for the steps taken in the country to promote tourism when he called on Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni. During their half-an-hour meeting here, Soni apprised the Secretary-General of the latest developments in India's tourism industry, the continued and steady

World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli calling on Indian Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni in New Delhi

growth in the number of international and domestic tourists, the success of the Incredible India campaign, and new bilateral initiatives to foster tourism particularly from the Chinese and Japanese markets. Francesco Frangialli complimented the Minister on the excellent achievements of India's tourism industry, applauded the Government for its initiative in diversifying India's tourism package. He noted that over the past five years or so, Indian tourism has made excellent progress and recorded growth rates, which were much above the global and regional growth rates. Of late, Indian tourism has made its mark in Western Europe, North America and the far East.

     The Indian tourism product has undergone tremendous diversification and the country now offers various new forms of tourism, which would attract new tourist segments in primary generating markets. The credit for this achievement goes entirely to the policies and strategies of the Government, a very effective and healthy public-private sector partnership and new innovations in the industry. Francesco Frangialli reiterated his condolences on the loss of lives in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai but also expressed his conviction that this was a localised incident which would not affect the Indian tourism industry in the long term, given the global perception of India as a safe, secure and extremely hospitable destination. He hoped that India's tourism industry would demonstrate its strength and resiliency over the coming months and regain the consumer confidence. He lauded some of the tangible steps taken by the Government of India, which would go a long way in accelerating the complete recovery of the industry. He assured the Minister of UNWTO's full support and all possible technical assistance in the recovery process and for the further development and promotion of the country's tourism industry.
- Jan 20, 2009