New Delhi, Apr 7 : Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni today said that the stakeholders in tourism sector must explore the possibilities of making tourism innovative and affordable.

Addressing a gathering in Beijing today after inaugurating the India Tourism Office, she said, “The India Ttourism Office in Beijing has been set up as per agreed plan of action for India-China Friendship Year Celebrations during 2007. The office will further increase people-to-people contact between the two countries and strengthen bilateral relations between India and China further.”

The Minister asked tour operators and local travel agents and airlines representatives to increase the volume of traffic from China to India as India has several tourism products to offer to them such as special trains to Buddhist sites, new luxury trains and some exciting lesser-known tourist destinations.

India’s Ambassador in China Nirupama Rao and Arun Anand, Vice-President, Indian Association of Tour Operators were also present on the occasion.

India Tourism Office in Beijing is the 14th Overseas Office of India Tourism Department and is presently being headed by Acting Director R. S. Meena.

Earlier, the Government of China had set up a China National Tourist Office in New Delhi in August 2007. (ANI)