NEW DELHI - The Indian government is budgeting US$20 million in the current fiscal year (up to 31 March 2005) to promote India as a preferred tourism destination.
Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Chowdhury said: “All the segments of the tourism industry will work in sync to deliver the ultimate Incredible India experience by creating synergies through coordinated efforts.”
Chowdhury said her ministry would work with industry representatives on strategies to promote India as a preferred destination, focusing on positioning India as a global brand.
Some 2.75 million foreign tourists visited India in 2003, a growth of 15.3 percent over the previous year.
During January-May 2004, foreign tourist arrivals grew by a quarter.
India's tourism ministry has signed a pact with a conglomerate of hotels, airlines and travel agents to market the country marking a major new private-public partnership in the sector.
An agreement was signed here by Tourism Secretary Rathi Vinay Jha and Raymond Bickson, managing director of Indian Hotels on behalf of Experience India Society, a meeting of major hotel chains such as the Oberoi, Taj Hotels and Intercontinental Hotels, Jet Airways and Sahara Airlines and travel agents Thomas Cook.
It envisages a three-year plan to promote India's tourism potential and market it internationally. The global campaign will feature films, advertisements and publicity in the media.
"Between us, the sky is the limit," said Chowdhary.