In a directive passed by the Cabinet on Monday, it has said that it is mulling over the establishment of a single-point clearance system for new hotel projects.

The move, has been taken so that the setting up of hotel infrastructure across India is faster and easier. The Ministry of Tourism is playing a very important role in the setting up of the new structure.

India is currently facing a huge deficit of hotel rooms and experts believe that this directly impacts the tourism sector in the country.

“India will soon launch a helpline for tourists to know more about various destinations and to seek help if they are in distress”, said Minister of State for Tourism Kumari Selja, at an International Buddhist Heritage Conference in Nalanda in Bihar organized with an aim to promote Buddhist circuit in India.

More than 110 eminent monks and scholars, academicians and tour operators are participating in the conference which has delegates from 18 countries. The conference aims to let people experience Buddhism in the land of origin.

New Delhi, Jan 8 : The global economic meltdown and the swine flu scare appears to have hit Indian tourism last year, which saw tourist arrivals fall by 3.3 percent to 5.11 million.

Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said that around 5.11 million foreign tourists visited India in 2009.

The 2008 figure was 5.28 million. The earlier figure of 5.37 million had been revised by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI).

Selja, however, said that India's tourism growth was better than what was estimated by the UN World Trade Organisation.

New Delhi, Dec 17 : Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja informed the Parliament on Thursday that the Centre has decided to introduce visa-on-arrival scheme for tourists from five countries including Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan on a pilot basis for a period of one year.

Kumari Selja said that this step has been taken to counter the downward trend of the inbound tourism.

New Delhi, Dec 15 : India's tourism sector has received a severe knocking due to global meltdown, swine flu and the Mumbai terror attack, but the government is taking several initiatives, including allowing visa on arrival for five countries.

Tourism Minister Kumari Selja Tuesday said that the tourism sector faced a difficult situation in 2008 and 2009.

She said from 2005 to 2007, the foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) registered an average annual growth rate of about 15 percent, but it started dipping from November 2008 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and continued through 2009.

New Delhi, Nov 28: Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja on Saturday said that with the economy developing at a steady pace, middle class growing in number and increasingly possessing disposable incomes, which could be spent on leisure activities, India could also take on cruise shipping in a big way.

Addressing the media on the occasion of announcing the arrival of luxury cruise ship `Aquamarine' in India, Selja said that India with its vast and beautiful coastline, virgin forests and undisturbed idyllic islands, rich historical and cultural heritage, can be a fabulous tourist destination for cruise tourists.

New Delhi, Nov 26 : India takes up the issue of lifting travel advisories with different countries from time to time to avoid any adverse impact on tourism, union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said here Thursday.

"The tourism ministry through its overseas offices and in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions abroad takes up the matter regarding lifting of travel advisories as and when issued by different countries to avoid any adverse impact on tourism to the country," Selja informed the Rajya Sabha.

New Delhi, Nov 26 : To attract more tourists to India, the government would develop 106 new projects in the country at an estimated cost of Rs. 398.33 crore (Rs. 3.98 billion), Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said Thursday.

Informing the Rajya Sabha, the minister said that although the identification and development of tourists spots are undertaken by the state governments, the union tourism ministry does provide financial assistance for tourism projects - depending on the availability of funds.

London, Nov 12 : Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said on Thursday that the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi provides an opportunity to India to emerge as a unique and hospitable tourism destination.

New Delhi, Nov 4 : Swine flu and the economic downturn impacted foreign tourist arrivals in India for a while, but it is picking up again, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said here Wednesday.

Addressing reporters, she said: "The impact of the economic downturn was seen throughout the world. Terror attacks and the economic downturn this year saw a decrease in tourist arrivals. We picked up in the middle, but in recent months because of the swine flu there was a downturn. But it is now seeing an upward trend."

New Delhi, Oct 5 : Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Tourism Kumari Selja today said only an inclusive city can be a sustainable and we have to work towards an urban India where we would address developmental disparities in a comprehensive and holistic manner.

Delivering the World Habitat Day (WHD) address here, she said the indicator of livable cities is good infrastructure, clean environment, a good quality of life and vibrant economic base for all its citizens.

New Delhi, Aug 26 : Union Minister of Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja will leave for Oslo, Norway today to attend meeting of the board of governors on the Urban Poor Fund International (UPFI) and road shows to promote India as a preferred tourist destination.

Before returning to New Delhi on August 30, Selja will also attend international workshop on safety and security on slum.

New Delhi, Aug 19 : Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has said that her Ministry will take along Uttar Pradesh and Bihar while promoting Buddhist Circuit for tourists.

She said that Buddhist Circuit is popular both among foreign and domestic tourists and all efforts will be made to make it a star attraction.

The issue came up during the meeting of Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Vinod Singh with Selja here today when the former called on her.

New Delhi, Aug 19 : Kumari Selja has called upon experts and stakeholders in the tourism sector to develop world class tourism infrastructure for putting India''s tourism industry on the world tourism map.

Inaugurating a workshop on the subject here today she said, "We should look at comprehensive development of infrastructure which includes roads, water, sanitation, cleanliness, hygiene, proper lighting, landscape, signages and proper maintenance of tourism destinations and heritage sites."

New Delhi, Aug 19 : Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja will inaugurate a one-day workshop on World-Class Tourism Infrastructure here today.

The objective of the workshop is to develop world class tourism infrastructure in consultation with architects, the engineering organisations, tourism managers and consultants.

As a capacity building workshop, focused to sensitise the various stakeholders of the

New Delhi, Aug 18 : Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja will inaugurate a one-day workshop on World-Class Tourism Infrastructure here tomorrow.

The objective of the workshop is to develop world class tourism infrastructure in consultation with architects, the engineering organisations, tourism managers and consultants.

India and Singapore will work to promote tourism between the two countries under a joint action plan signed between the Tourism Minister Ms. Selja and the Singapore Minister of Trade, Industry and Education S. Iswaran in New Delhi .

Kumari Selja said, "We have great historical relations with Singapore. We want investors from that country to invest in hotels, local tourism and a number of lucrative areas."

New Delhi, July 17 : Housing and Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja today informed the Lok Sabha that the government is planning to launch a new housing scheme for slum dwellers and urban poor since the scheme is aimed at providing subsidy up to five per cent on a loan of Rs one lakh availed by the poor.

"Government proposes to launch ''Rajiv Awas Yojana'' in the country for slum dwellers and urban poor. The scheme would extend support to states willing to assign property rights to people living in slum areas," Kumari Selja said.

New Delhi, July 16 : Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja on Thursday said that accommodation for visitors, both overseas and domestic, expected during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi would be complete and ready for occupation, a few months prior to the commencement of the gala event.

Selja said this after visiting and inspecting a couple of sites in national capital on Thursday where the construction is in full swing.

Chandigarh, June 29 : Union Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja has said that both the Ministries under her have vast potential for employment generation and convergence between the two is under active consideration of the Government to utilize their full potential.