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Our Bureau

Chennai , Sept. 30

INDIA registered a growth of 14.2 per cent in tourist arrivals and about 16 per cent in forex earnings in January and February 2003, despite various negative factors on the global front, which affected tourism to other countries, according to Ms Rathi Vinay Jha, Union Tourism Secretary.

She said that the thinking had changed that tourism was an elitist activity not just in India, but in other parts of the world. Tourism was the largest employer in most parts of the world and a major socio-economic factor important in poverty eradication, she added.

Ms Jha, who is in Chennai to chair a review meeting with the State tourism authorities and with the local industry on the forthcoming World Skal Congress, said that the congress would help in bringing in more tourists and the publicity by word of mouth would help popularise the destination. In the meantime, the Conde Nast Traveller (a travel magazine) had designated India as one of the 10 best destinations in the world.

She said that the country has been positioned as `Incredible India' and had a Rs 10-crore ad spend last year on the electronic media alone and this year it has been increased to Rs 14 crore.

She added that this year the publicity would be on print, Internet and exhibitions also.

Mr V. Ramdoss, Tamil Nadu Information and Tourism Secretary, said that the Chief Secretary had met with all the Government agencies to gear the State machinery for the Skal Congress. The Government of India is spending Rs 1 crore for the congress, by way of infrastructure, Ms Jha said.

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