India to combat travel advisory setbacks at world tourism mart
Thursday, 07 November 2002, 20:30 IST
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LONDON: More than 80 Indian tour operators and government departments will attempt to overcome the setbacks of the recent travel advisory against India at the World Tourism Mart (WTM) opening here next week. Tourist flow to India slumped in the wake of the travel advisory issued by the British government following the face off between India and Pakistan. The travel advisory was lifted in August, but the tourist inflow remains low. Air traffic to India did not decline, but tour operators cancelled many program under the advisory. The fall was noticeable until last month as well. "But tourist flow is beginning to pick up now," Alka Kohli, director of the Indian tourism office in London said. "We are looking to very encouraging results from the WTM." The WTM is among the world's largest gathering of tour operators and tourism promoters. The meet has been held annually at Earl's Court in London but has been moved this year to a larger site at Excel in London's Docklands. A total of 84 Indian exhibitors will attend the WTM this year, including tourism departments from 20 state governments, about twice as many as last year. The success of Kerala and Goa has now encouraged many other Indian states to send representatives to the WTM. The bulk of tourist traffic to India has begun to head south, and state governments from the south plan to put up a particularly strong show this year. The travel advisory against India was lifted in early August, but visitors were still cautioned about border areas with Pakistan like Rajasthan and Punjab. The travel advisory against Rajasthan and Punjab was lifted later. The tourism office in London has launched a campaign aimed at younger generation Indians settled in Britain to keep up visitor flow to India. Tourism Minister Jagmohan will launch an India evening on the opening day of the exhibition on November 11. The exhibition continues until November 14. Jagmohan is expected to outline several new policies at the WTM. These include an increase in revenue for marketing and publicizing India and a push to eco-tourism to make sure areas of beauty and historical value such as Ajanta and Ellora caves have a quality tourism environment without suffering from the fallout of tourist flow. Also proposed is development of India's infrastructure, including construction of roads and railway services and new hotels along the routes popular with tourists and the new branding of 'Incredible India' with a newsletter and a new website www.tourismofindia.com providing quality information on the range of destination choices within India.
Source: IANS
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