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Foreign tourist arrivals rise by 13.2 percent in 2005
New Delhi: Foreign tourist arrivals in India have increased by 13.2 percent and foreign exchange (forex) earnings through these arrivals in dollar term by 20.2 percent in calender year 2005. According to a statement released here today by the Union Ministry of Tourism, 3915324 foreign tourists visited the country in 2005 as compared to 3457477 tourists a year ago. Foreign exchange earnings through these arrivals in dollar term have increased by 20.2 percent to 5730.86 million dollars in the reporting year as compared to 4769 million dollars in 2004. Forex earnings had increased by 35 percent last year. Foreign exchange earnings, in rupees term, recorded the growth of 16.5 percent to Rs 25172.28 crore in the reporting year as compared to Rs 21603.00 crore in 2004.
World Tourism Organisation has ranked India 5th among the world's tourists hot spots. World Travel and Tourism Council also projected India as one of the, emerging tourism markets having potential of 24 billion dollars annual foreign exchange earnings through tourism by 2015. The Ministry has launched several schemes like 'Atithi Devo Bhava', 'Priyadarshini' and 'Rural Tourism' to give further fillip to tourism industry in the country. The campaign 'Atithi Devo Bhava' was launched on January 19, 2005 as a social awareness campaign aimed at providing the inbound tourists a sense of being welcomed by, and to the country. The components of the campaign are orientation and training to taxi drivers, guides, immigration officers, tourist police and other personnel directly interacting with the tourists. Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Agra and Augrangabad were covered in first phase. 26,000 service providers were given training in these cities. After successful completion of first phase, second phase of the campaign launched in November 2005 with the target of training and sensitising 75,000 personnel by the end of next year under the campaign, the statement said. Project 'Priyadarshini' was launched on December 9, 2005 with the aim to bring in women in greater numbers in the core area of Tourism at all levels. Under the project women will be trained to drive tourist taxis. They will also be provided training for self-defense, vehicle repairing and knowledge of other related domain. The trained women will be able to work as a cab driver, tourist guide as well as be the face of 'Incredible India'.
The
objective is to make tourist, especially women, tourist more comfortable,
it said. The Ministry called for larger private investment in the sector.
In order to bring in private sector resources as well as techno- managerial
efficiencies, the Ministry of Tourism launched a scheme in December this
year. Under the scheme, grant-in-aid will be provided up to 50 percent
of the equity contribution of the promoter of the project subject to the
limit of 25 percent of the total project cost or Rs. 50 crores whichever
is the less, the statement said. Projects like tourist trains, cruise
vessels, cruise terminals, convention centres and golf courses would qualify
for such assistance, it added.
-Jan 9, 2006
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