FICCI emphasizes need to revamp tourism; suggest a 13-point action program

FICCI emphasizes need to revamp tourism; suggest a 13-point action programEmphasizing that “Firming up a visa strategy is of utmost importance,” the industry body FICCI has said that in order to achieve the 10-million foreign tourists’ target prior to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Indian tourism sector needs to focus on an easy visa strategy, tourists’ security and infrastructural improvements.

Towards that end, the FICCI has come up with a 13-point action program for not only revamping Indian tourism sector, but also projecting India as a value-for-money and safe destination, by providing ample tourist-security measures including an active tourist police.

The document released by the FICCI also stressed the need to train the tourism department employees to check con artists and taxi drivers feigning to be tour guides. The industry body suggested: “Tour guides must have proper training, good language and a badge to identify them as approved tour guides.”

Moreover, recommending an increase in the number of hotels, the FICCI also emphasized on improvement of civic amenities by the way of the public-private partnership model. It urged the Urban Development Ministry to classify at least two model cities or tourist centres as part of a pilot project for boosting tourism and tourist-related aspects.

Listing some issues to be tackled urgently, the FICCI recommended renovation and modernization of airport infrastructure and provision of at least 50 international gateways.

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