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Sept, 2005
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• Tourism Ministry launches new initiatives
• Israel sets up drug de-addiction centre in Kullu town     

Tourism Ministry launches new initiatives

     New Delhi: Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) Renuka Chowdhury today announced the launch of a number of new initiatives to promote tourism on the occasion of World Tourism Day, including co-branding of Incredible India with Air India, Microsoft, exclusive website on rural destinations and tourism taxis with Incredible India graphitis. Launching the schemes, Chowdhury said that she is hopeful of achieving five million tourism arrival by the next year. This year, till August, the arrival has recorded 15.6 percent increase. Encouraging trends are visible as a result of new initiatives in the field of rural tourism, medical tourism and cruise tourism etc. She said that the Ministry has decided to develop about a dozen destinations with concerted efforts and concentrated investment of Rs. 25 to Rs. 50 crore each during the current financial year. The Minister said an aggressive marketing scheme was also being planned for overseas marketing; focus will be on niche markets and youth. Unexplored markets like China will also be targeted, she added. The celebration started in the midnight of 26th with the traditional welcome of visitors major international airports with garland, tika and aarti. The welcome was also accorded at various hotels in Delhi and other cities. Later in the morning, an exhibition of Incredible India photographs was inaugurated by the Speaker, Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee. It had the display of award winning entries of the photographic competition with the theme What tourism means to me. The competition by the Ministry of Tourism, which received entries from all over the country and some from abroad also. Air India will now have Incredible India brand displayed at the tail of its selected aircrafts. Indian tourism themes with music will be available at the Microsoft Window. Tourist taxis with Incredible India graphiti will run on the roads of metropolitan cities. These were formally launched today in a function held at Purana Quila, New Delhi. On the occasion, ensemble of India Musical Instruments by Saptakshara by Vinayakram and performance by other well-known artists were also held in the evening at Purana Quila, New Delhi.
-Sept 27, 2005

Israel sets up drug de-addiction centre in Kullu town (Go to Top)

     Kullu: The Government of Israel has established a de-addiction camp in old Manali to rescue their people from drug addiction and guide them to learn about their Jewish religion. Bareich Shenhav, a rabbi (a Jewish religious priest) says that the main motive behind setting up the camp was to teach Israeli tourists about Toha, or the Jewish religion. "At first we should teach them about our Toha the jewish religion. But we should also provide them huts so that they can get the feelings of being at home," said Rabbi Shenhav. This region always attracts foreigners due to good weather condition and easy availability of drugs here. Around 20,000 Israeli tourists come to Manali every year. "It is amazing. I just look around and enjoy the wonderful views. The atmosphere here gives me the energy to be fit for the whole day," said Dacel, an Israeli tourist. "Here in Manali we feel like at home. Our religion says every place is like your country," said Eli, another Israeli tourist Police officials say that among the tourists visiting this hilly retreat, about one sixth are from Israel and law enforcement officials have not faced any major problems from them. "Among the tourists, one sixth or one fifth are from Israel. Even though some of the tourists from Israel involve in minor incidents like street fighting etc., with other tourists or locals, we do not have any serious problem with them," said Anand Pratap Singh Superintendent of Police, Kullu.
-Sept 26, 2005

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