India plans tourism offices in China, Malaysia, Thailand

Wednesday, 06 August 2003, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: India is planning to open tourism promotion offices in China, Malaysia and Thailand and participate in marketing activities in the Gulf region, Tourism Minister Jagmohan said Monday. "Plans are afoot for opening India Tourism offices in China, Malaysia and Thailand and (also for) enhanced publicity through print and electronic media, and web marketing" to lure foreign tourists to India, Jagmohan said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Between October and June, tourist arrivals had increased to 1.99 million, against 1.77 million in the corresponding period of the previous year, an increase of 12.5 percent, Jagmohan said. At peak, India received over 2.5 million tourists, which fell considerably after 9/11 and in border tensions with Pakistan when countries like the U.S. issued travel advisories. Through concerted marketing efforts, India has been able to turn the tide and is once more looking forward to receiving higher traffic this year. Stating that there is special focus on attracting tourists from the Gulf and West Asian markets, Jagmohan said during 2002 an estimated 101,012 visitors had arrived from this region against 96,424 in the previous year. On the benefit of recent agreement under which China had granted India the status of an approved destination, a pre-requisite for Chinese travel, Jagmohan said: "It is too early to quantify post-agreement achievements. However, the feedback indicates a growing interest for Chinese travel to India in the period ahead." India has earmarked 29 billion for the tourism sector for 2002-07, of which 15.35 billion is to be spent on development of tourism infrastructure in the country. "These funds are earmarked for the integrated development of tourist circuits and destinations," Jagmohan said.
Source: IANS
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