The Hindu Business Line : Tourism dept favours limited open-sky policy

THE Department of Tourism has approached the Ministry of Civil Aviation with a proposal to follow a limited open-sky policy for international airlines for a limited period each year.

Addressing a press conference here, the Secretary, Department of Tourism, Ms Rathi Vinay Jha, said that her Department was keen that the Aviation Ministry followed such a policy for at least six months from October to March and for a block period of at least three or five years.

"The proposal is pending with the Ministry. It has set up a committee under the former Cabinet Secretary, Mr Naresh Chandra, to examine a host of issues. We have been pushing for such a policy," Ms Jha said.

If accepted, the proposal will make it easier not only for international tourists but also business people to visit India.

On the issue of tourism being shifted to the Concurrent List, Ms Jha said that there were now only five States — Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan — which were against the move at present.

While welcoming the proposal of the hotel industry to come forward and extend three per cent of their earnings to tourism promotion, Ms Jha said that details for setting up the Tourism Development Fund, which the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, announced during his Independence Day address were still being worked out.

Meanwhile, in an effort to promote India as a tourist destination, the Department is organising the three-day International Travel and Tourism Mart beginning here on September 26. The event is being organised to bring the travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, services and other related sectors together on a single platform.

The event is being attended by 17 States and Union Territories as well as participants from 14 foreign countries. While Uttaranchal and Rajasthan are participating as partner States, Gujarat is the focus State for the event.

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