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President's greetings on the occasion of the Parsi New Year
The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in her message on the occasion of the Parsi New Year which is being celebrated tomorrow, has said: -
"On the joyous occasion of Navroz, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens, especially my Parsi sisters and brothers.
May this unique festival heralding the Parsi New Year bring happiness and fulfilment to our people and make us feel proud of our composite culture and pluralistic society".
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Selja asks state governments to Constitute Monitoring Committees for speedy implementation of Tourism Projects
STATES MUST ACKNOWLEDGE AT THE PROJECTS CENTRAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO THEM BY UNION MINISTRY OF TOURISM
An Inter-state regional conference of the state tourism ministers of the north and central states was organized by the Ministry of tourism here today. Union Minister of Tourism Kumari Selja chaired the conference. The state tourism ministers who graced the occasion were from
This was the first inter-state regional conference of the state tourism ministers. There is a plan of the Union Tourism Ministry to organize the similar conferences for the east and north east states and subsequently, the south and western states. The objective of this conference was to give a serious thought on the tourism related issues and problems and to ensure holistic and integrated tourism development in close cooperation and coordination with the states. During the conference issues related to tourism sector such as luxury tax, broadbasing of hospitality education, creation of the land banks and seamless travel were discussed.
Inaugurating the conference the Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said, for the speedy implementation of different tourism Projects projects, it is suggested that a state level monitoring committee should be constituted in each state which should not only regularly monitor but also send a quarterly or half yearly report to the Union Ministry of Tourism with a view to have better assessment of the project. She urged the states to acknowledge by indicating the name of the ministry on the foundation stone at the projects financed by the Union Ministry of Tourism. The Minister said, tourist flow shall remain poor if the assets created are not only properly maintained but kept clean and in the hygienic conditions.
Here is the full text of Minister's speech:
"It gives me an immense pleasure to inaugurate the first ever inter-state regional conference of the Tourism Ministers of the North and
I feel very confident in saying that tourism sector, if effectively promoted, can act as a catalyst for the furthering the economic growth in view of its wide ranging linkage effects and multiple impacts. The sector has the vast employment potential, both direct and indirect. To quote, the number of manpower employed has increased from 44.7 million to 51.1 million during period 2004-05 to 2006-07. It not only has the capability and capacity to take country's economy ahead but also sustain it for the time to come. For example, its contribution to Gross Domestic Product has increased from 5.83% to 6.11 % during the period 2002-03 to 2007-08.
It is heartening to note that in spite of rise in world crude price, global financial meltdown, tourism in
Domestic tourism also continues to show encouraging trends, with an estimated 561 million domestic tourist visits during 2009. With the rapid economic development taking place in the country, the availability of greater disposable income and affordable holiday packages tourism in India in increasing steadily. There is tremendous awareness about the diverse products and people are traveling to different regions and enjoying a variety of experiences. I am of the opinion that the domestic tourism would remain as the backbone and provide the much needed resilience to the Indian economy. Even if this sector alone is promoted to its full capacity and maintained, can prove to be enough for sustaining higher economic growth! This segment can certainly counter the negative impact of the global meltdown and give push to the economy.
I do not say that we are doing enough to see tourism sector as playing the lead role. In spite of our having realized its importance, the sector is yet to see its full potential. There are indeed some hurdles that are blocking the exploitation of its full capacity. This conference aims at analyzing, perusing and examining at length these blockages. We, in the Ministry of Tourism, with that end in view, have specified an agenda for the development and promotion of this sector as enunciated in the milestones for the next hundred days. This already has been circulated to you. Your cooperation shall be invariable in achieving this agenda. The more near we go to the achievement of this agenda, the better socio-economic impact it will have on your economies.
However, I would like to touch upon some of the issues which require immediate attention and serious thinking. The relationship between sustainable tourism and economic growth is very intimate and well known. I am of the firm view and hope you all agree, that the security and safety of the tourists would take them to further heights. The growth of tourism sector would depend on the inflow of the domestic and foreign tourists that could be ensured only when we are able to provide them with safe and secured environment. We look for not only addition of new tourists but also the repeat visitors.
The moot question is : are we able to provide such a kind of pleasant atmosphere for the tourists? Is
Another important issue which has the tangible impact on the tourist flow is that of luxury tax. At present this tax rates on hotel rooms vary widely from state to state. The variation is quite large, from 5% to 20%. A uniformly lower rate of 4%, applicable to the actual tariff would help the hotel industry to effectively absorb the pressure on the bottom line and offer discounted package to stimulate demand. While some of the states levy luxury tax on the basis of actual tariffs there are others who charge them on the basis of published rates. Charging on the basis of published rather than actual rates may not be termed as a good economic logic since it does not allow the hotels to adjust by lowering its tariffs in response to market signals efficiently and flexibly respond to a lowering of demand. I hope that the participants would give a thought on this aspect in the meeting.
As we all know that there is an acute shortage in the hotel accommodation, particularly, in the budget category in the country. This is one of the main reasons for the high tariff and discouraging factor for the tourists. The relationship between the tourists flow and budget hotel accommodation is simple and clear. The hotel industry is not coming forward to construct new hotels on account of it being capital intensive and also due to very high land cost component. The states have been requested to create land banks and provide land to the hoteliers at the low cost. This will not boost the construction activity in the hotel industry, but will also ease pressure on the accommodation, lower tariff and promote tourism.
Before I end and we break for tea, I would like to throw light on some of the steps the Ministry of Tourism has recently taken to give a further push to tourism sector.
There is no gainsaying the fact that sustentation of tourism as an engine of economic and social growth could be possible only with support of the trained and skilled manpower in the hospitality sector. There is a strong and integrated linkage between the tourist flow and hospitality sector. As on date, however, we see a vast gap between the demand and supply of this manpower with the former far exceeding the latter. This gap is to be quickly bridged. The annual requirement of trained manpower is over 2,00,000. I feel happy to inform you that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the revised guidelines for the scheme of assistance to Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Food Craft Institutes (FCIs) including setting up of 19 state IHMs and 25 state FCIs. The Cabinet has also approved the policy of broad basing hospitality education to ITIs, vocational schools, polytechnics, universities and colleges to meet the growing demand of trained manpower in hospitality sector.
Apart from 22 mega projects already announced and being implemented, the Ministry has announced seven more such projects during the current year out of which two are for Himachal Pradesh, one for Rajasthan and one in
The Ministry is also making efforts to develop wayside amenities in the identified tourist circuits through National Highways Authority of India and with private sector participation. As a responsible tourism initiative, 142 rural sites are being developed as a rural tourism product. The traditional artisans from these sites have been given exposure to national/international platforms. Mega shopping festivals are providing an opportunity for sale of art and craft products. A Visit India Year 2009 Scheme has been announced by the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments, for incentivising travel to
At the end, I would like to touch upon a very important aspect, that is of monitoring of the projects which are sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism. For the speedy implementation of these projects, it is suggested that a state level monitoring committee should be constituted which should not only regularly monitor but also send a quarterly or half yearly report to the Ministry of Tourism with a view to have better assessment of the project. Further, states are requested to acknowledge by indicating the name of the ministry on the foundation stone at the projects financed by the Ministry of Tourism. Last but not the least, tourist flow shall remain poor if the assets created are not only properly maintained but kept clean and in the hygienic conditions.
I once again thank you for taking active participation in the conference. I am sure that the deliberations may highlight more issues, provide solutions and therefore, would lead to fruitful results. I wish you all best of luck."
Shri Sujit Banerjee, Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism, in his opening remarks, while appreciating the work done by some of the states in the tourism sector, also pointed out certain deficiencies in the implementation thereof. He advised the states to have proper and well spelt out signages at the sites but also requested them to indicate the name of the Union Ministry of Tourism on the stones installed there.
Representatives from Travel and trade also took part in the discussion.
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Selja to inaugurate Workshop on World class Tourism Infrastructure on 19th August 2009
The Ministry of Tourism will be holding a one-day Workshop on World-Class Tourism Infrastructure here on 19th August, 2009. The Workshop would be inaugurated by the Minister of Tourism Kumari Selja.
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 tourism industry towards the emerging trends in world class tourism, the objective is to initiate dialogue and debate, it will also be a curtain raiser to the emerging demands of world class tourism today.
The Participants in the workshop would be, head of the Engineering Departments of the implementing agencies in States/UTs and the chief architect associated with implementation, officers from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and resources persons/experts/specialists from INTACH, ADB, JBIC, CPWD, RITES, NBCC, HUDCO and ITDC.
There would be four simultaneous Technical Sessions on:
a) Urban Civic Amenities
b) Built Heritage
c) Climate responsive architecture (vernacular architecture) and
d) Urban landscape
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