Women's safety undermining measures to boost tourism, says EIH executive chairman

P R S Oberoi called for launching a campaign similar to Make in India to fully realise the tourism sector's potential

Hospitality major EIH Ltd. executive chairman P R S Oberoi on Wednesday said the incidents affecting the safety of women have undermined positive measures undertaken by the government to boost the tourism sector.

Addressing the company's 65th annual general meeting here, Oberoi called for launching a campaign similar to Make in India to fully realise the tourism sector's potential.

"Positive measures undertaken by the government were undermined by incidents affecting safety and security of women," Oberoi said in his speech.

Oberoi said despite the positive aspects to stimulate demand, the performance of the Indian hotel industry remains subdued and has been facing increased supply of rooms across the country.

"We hope the Tourism policy 2015, currently being reviewed by the government, will place travel and tourism industry as a high priority sector. The tourism industry creates 78 jobs per million rupees compared to 45 jobs in the manufacturing sector for a similar investment. The government must launch a concerted campaign similar to Make in India so that the country's latent tourism sector's potential is fully realised," said Oberoi.

Lauding the Narendra Modi government's policies to attract more FDI, Oberoi hoped that the number of foreign visitors will increase from 7 million in 2014 to at least 10 million by 2017.

The company which runs hotels and resorts under the Oberoi and Trident brands, posted a net profit of Rs.19.86 crores for the first quarter ended June 30, as compared to Rs.6.41 crores for the same quarter last year.

The current quarter profit, however, includes a sum of Rs.10.99 crore of extraordinary income.