Centre giving all help to U'khand to boost tourism: Sharma

Centre was extending all help to the Uttarakhand government to boost the tourism sector which can help generate employment opportunities for the local youth and stop migration from the hills, Union Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma today said.
"We are giving all cooperation to the state government for implementation of tourism-related projects.The Centre has already released Rs 80 crore for tourism projects in the state and another Rs 60 core will also be released soon.
"Development of the tourism sector will generate employment opportunities for local youth and put brakes on migration from the hills in search of livelihood," he said addressing Tehri Lake Adventure Tourism Festival and Investors' Meet in Tehri.

The Union Minister also inaugurated the Rajiv Gandhi Adventure Sports Academy and a restaurant named Floating Marina in the Tehri lake.
Addressing investors, Chief Minister Harish Rawat extended an invitation to them to invest in the tourism sector in Uttarakhand promising them all help from the state government.
"The tourism sector in Uttarakhand has tremendous potential. We are working methodically to boost tourism activities in the state in accordance with an action plan. I invite investors to invest in the sector and assure them of all possible help," Rawat said.

"We have dreamt of a developed Uttarakhand with Tehri being at the centre of our scheme of things. There are areas where water sports, adventure tourism and mountaineering activities can be taken up on a much larger scale.We are working in these areas in accordance with an action plan and investors are welcome," he said.

With more overseas merchants accepting UnionPay cards and
more UnionPay exclusive privileges are offered, much more Chinese business tourists carry UnionPay cards abroad, and their average spending amount also grew stably.
An increasing number of Canadian merchants take the acceptance of UnionPay cards as a significant means to attract tourists. The four major banks in Canada have all enabled their ATMs to accept UnionPay cards, making UnionPay's local ATM acceptance coverage reach 85%. In addition, UnionPay cards are accepted at over 70,000 merchants; these merchants include duty free shops, department stores, brand chains, jewelry stores most frequented by tourists. At these merchants, cardholders can pay conveniently with UnionPay cards.

An experienced local tour guide, Ms. Hou, said that she often recommended the Chinese tourists to pay with UnionPay cards no matter in tourist attractions or at department stores. Because paying with UnionPay cards is not only safer and more convenient than paying cash, but is also without service fees.
Since 2014, qualified Chinese tourists are able to get multi-entry visa to Canada. With this visa, tourists can stay in Canada for as long as over half a year, and the passport can be valid for as long as ten (10) years. This measure helps to attract more Chinese tourists to Canada.

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Talking about investment opportunities, Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said there is a shortage of about 1.90 lakh rooms in India.
There is a need to lay special thrust on improving the core infrastructure of the tourism sector, he said.
Citing road, rail and aviation sectors, he said a lot more needs to be done in these areas.
"You need to have new airports and revival of airstrips ... On roads, we need good signage and good connectivity with tourist destinations," he said.
"I invite all the investors to find ways and join hands for core infrastructure. In this, private sector can play major role," he added.

He also urged the states to pick up the best practices followed in other areas in order to improve the tourism sector.