Post-Mumbai, India discusses how to boost tourism
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By Anil Mathur
India’s Ministry of Tourism called a meeting of the National Tourism Advisory Council earlier this week, in an effort to design a roadmap for the future of the country’s tourism industry, following the devastation of the Mumbai terror attacks and the crippling effects of the global economic crisis.
The 15 December forum brought together the a broad range of travel & tourism industry stakeholders, including participation from leading hoteliers, travel trade associations, airlines representative and representative of state tourism boards, officials from Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Civil Aviation.
During the meeting a host of measures were proposed and discussed to combat the slowdown in travel and tourism business. These included:
1. Need to repackage and be more aggressive in the Incredible India marketing campaign;
2. Give reassurance to international travellers that India is safe and secure destination through a number confidence building measures and PR activities in foreign media;
3. Incentivise travel with special packages;
4. Increased FAM tours for foreign media;
5. Starting Visit India campaign from next year;
6. New schemes under Marketing Development Assistance and MICE tourism;
7. FAM tours within the industry;
8. Development of India Travel Mart.
Other proposals included Oberoi suggesting a 0.5% tax levy to hotels that will contribute to Ministry’s promotional campaigns, while the Taj Group of Hotels also committed to 1,000 packages for travel trade invitees.
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