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| Priority is to make 2010 Games a grand success: Selja |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi May 30, 2009, 15:31 IST |
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Wooing more foreign tourists and making the 2010 Commonwealth Games a grand success will be the main priorities of the Tourism Ministry.
"Our preparations are in full swing to make the Commonwealth Games next year a grand success," Tourism Minister Kumari Selja told reporters after assuming charge here today.
The mega sport event is slated to be held in October 2010 in the capital.
"We are expecting about one lakh tourists during the Games and steps are underway to cater to their needs," she said.
Acknowledging the drop in foreign tourist arrival in recent months, she said due to the Mumbai terror attack and the economic slowdown not many foreigners are visiting the country.
The number of foreign tourist arrival in April 2009 was 3.71 lakh as compared to 3.84 lakh in April last year and 3.51 lakh in April 2007.
"We have to launch a vigorous campaign to attract foreign tourists. It is also a major a source of foreign exchange earnings," she said.
The Ministry is conducting roadshows in coordination with tour operators in several cities across the world to attract tourists."We are also examining the proposal for giving incentives to operators for carrying out the roadshows," Selja said.
The number of domestic tourism was 527 million in the year 2007 covering adventure and cultural sites, pilgrimages and wildlife parks.
The Minister said due importance will be given to domestic tourism.
"There is also a need for the growth of domestic market as it is an important segment," she added.
Highlighting the importance of tourism, she said the sector also generates employment opportunities.
The Ministry had launched the Visit India Year 2009 in April to attract more foreign tourists.
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