Have to take all on board to achieve targets: Tourism Minister

Assuring the tourism industry of addressing all its issues in a positive manner, Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma today said the target of achieving one per cent pie of the total global tourism market could be done only when all stakeholders are taken on board.
"Unless we take on board all stakeholders - be it the states or the private sector - in tourism, we can't achieve the target of one per cent market share in global aviation space in a short span of time," Sharma said addressing media on PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Travel Mart 2015, which is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru from September 6.

India is hosting this mega global travel event for the third time in last eight years. The earlier two were held in Hyderabad and Delhi in 2008 and 2011 respectively.
The Minister said the government was keen on making India a "round-the-year" destination for global tourists, as the country offers all those attractions which a tourist looks for. "We have a lot (to offer), rich heritage and culture, beautiful weather, the Himalayas and everything that attracts a tourist."
He said it was because of NDA government's efforts that India's ranking in the World Economic Council in tourism sector was now at 52 against 65 a year ago.

Karnataka Tourism Minister R V Deshpandey said that PATA Travel Mart would have for the first time an investor meet as well among other features.