State's tourism policy in a week's time

Focus on sea sports, adventure sports: Minister

Minister for Tourism & Higher Education R V Deshpande asserted the tourism policy formulated in State, the first of its kind in the country, would be announced within a week.

Speaking after laying foundation stone for Thenkanidiyur-Kodavuru-Malpe connective stretch built at the cost of Rs 90 lakh, he said the guidelines would enhance the quality of eco tourism, beach tourism, sea sports, adventure sports, naturopathy and so on. The guidelines would support various tourism activities in State, through incentives enabling the execution of the tourism potentials available in plenty, he added.

He said the other ambitious project of the Congress led State government is infrastructure cooperation, wherein the corporate would be pulled in, to invest on the tourism department owned land. He added under the programme the investors would be given land under lease for 30 years which would also facilitate renewal of the agreement. The investors who find it hard to purchase land following viability can go for the new programme envisioned by the government, wherein the land is pledged, he added.

Elaborating over Tourism Trade Facilitation Act, he said there are guidelines in the Act, however, the Act lacks regulations, the new format of the Act, wherein the amendments’ would brought in, would enable regulations, uniformity and licensing of various stakeholders involved in the tourism sector.

Nascent stage
He said tourism sector in India is in nascent stage when compared to Cambodia, Singapore and Dubai. The contribution in these countries from tourism sector to the country’s GDP is 15 percent and in India it is mere 6.1 percent. Tourism development would end up in ample employment opportunities in the local sector. It is a boon to the skilled and unskilled unemployed youths.

Pointing out that safety, cleanliness and security would be the priority in the process of boosting tourism industry, the Minister added the regulations in the Tourism Trade Facilitation Act would be amended following the cabinet approval. The tourist spot would be made security proof and talks are held with the police department. He said the tourist guides are regulated, besides the tourist operators would be made to register themselves and the details would be uploaded on website. The guides would be trained and would receive coaching in foreign languages like Russian, Chinese and French.
Asserting over the importance of elaborate tourism regulations, the Minister said the restaurants, hotels would be regulated. The tourists should have freedom to choose the faculties based on the feasibility of the income.  He added that domestic tourism would also be promoted besides international tourism, the Minister added a new scheme is being envisioned to focus on public private partnership to enhance the basic infrastructural facilities in the tourist spots.  As many as 319 tourist destinations are open for the corporate sector to adopt.

He added  that the cooperate who adopt the  tourist destinations will develop the area, however the ownership would be with the government, he added. He said as many as 8-9 corporate have approached the government for the adoption, he added. Asserting that the government has spent nearly Rs 200 crore in the past two years to develop connective roads, he said local traders and investors should come forward to develop the tourism destinations in their locality, he added.