Centre to develop 22 mega tourist spots

The Indian government is in the process of developing 22 mega tourist destination in phases in an effort to overcome the recession which has hit the tourist inflow into India.

Said Ambika Soni, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture. “In the first phase, tourists destination like Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Goa, Amritsar among other places will be developed. In the next phase it will develop Maharashtra, Ajanta, Ellora among other places of tourist interest. In Hampi, the government has bought land from farmers for Rs 8 crore for building a railway station. At the moment, the nearest railway station to visit Hampi is Hospet, about 8 kilometres away. This will make it easier for tourists to travel to the World Heritage Site.”

Connectivity is a deterrent to tourists visiting Hampi.

The tourism sector, which has grown only around 6 per cent last year, would grow at less than 6 per cent this year, said Ambika Soni, which she added is a creditable growth considering the condition is much of the world.

Ambika Soni was speaking at the opening ceremony of the southern regional centre of the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bangalore on Wednesday.