More foreign destinations from India proposed

The civil aviation ministry is expecting connectivity with over 200 foreign destinations over the next five years, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said at a meeting organised by Air Travellers’ Association (India) (ATAI) to celebrate the inauguration of an international flight by Air India from here to Dubai on Sunday.

“In a bid to increase international air connectivity from various airports in the country, the government has decided to allow private airlines to operate flights to other countries,” he said.

The Indian civil aviation sector has been witnessing an 18-20 per cent growth every year despite several problems like high capital infusion. Currently, the sector is going through a rough weather globally, and is expected to touch the Indian skies very soon, Singh said.

 

Civil aviation, tourism and hospitality sectors have great potential to generate employment. Collective efforts should be made by these sectors to exploit the potential, he said, adding that the government had plans to develop airports in Tier-II cities to operate feeder services, which would help in increasing the trade and tourism in the country.

According to Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Visakhapatnam has the local advantage for tourism and hence local and government organisations should jointly plan for proper tourism packages to attract more foreign tourists to this region.

“The existing airport in Vizag should be operated round-the-clock with the help of the Indian Navy, or the government should plan for a new airport here. The civil aviation minister should take necessary steps to introduce more international flights from the city,” Reddy said.