Sharma apprises editors of initiatives to boost tourism

Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma today addressed the All India Regional Editors Conference here and apprised the mediapersons of various initiatives of his ministry.
The two-day conference, which began today, has been organized by the Press Information Bureau to familiarise regional mediapersons with various ongoing programmes and schemes of the government.
"The minister interacted with the visiting mediapersons and apprised them of the achievements and successes of the Ministry of Tourism," an official release said.
Sharma, who is also Culture Minister and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said India has moved 13 positions ahead from 65th to 52nd rank in Tourism and Travel Competitive Index as per the World Economic Forum (Davos) Report.

Highlighting the other achievements, he said a Medical and Wellness Tourism Promotion Board has been formed to tap the potential and advantage that India has in the field of medical and wellness tourism.
He said his Ministry has also launched a "Welcome Booklet" for distribution at immigration counters to tourists arriving at international airports which will be helpful aid to foreign tourist immediately on arrival.

Besides introducing round-the-clock 'Incredible India Help Line', he said the Ministry has launched e-tourist visa scheme which is now available for 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.
He said that Foreign Tourist Arrivals (provisional) in 2015 were 8.02 million, representing an increase of 4.4 per cent over 7.68 million in 2014 and Foreign Exchange Earnings (provisional) was Rs 1,26,211 crore in 2015, an increase of 2.3 per cent over Rs 1,23,320 crore in 2014.

Swadesh Darshan and National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD), among other schemes, were also highlighted by the minister.