The Hindu Business Line : Foreign tourist arrivals cross 3-million mark

FOR the first time, foreign tourist arrivals to India crossed the three million mark in 2003-04, thanks to a 23 per cent jump in tourist traffic in the winter season from October 2003 to February 2004, and plans are on to improve on that figure in the current fiscal, said a senior official.

Ms Rashmi Verma, Additional Director General, Department of Tourism, who is in the UAE to attend the Arabian Travel Mart, ATM 2004, which is under way in Dubai, told Business Line that promotional campaigns, improved facilities, increase in the number of charter flights and new concepts such as health tourism had led to the significant growth in foreign tourist arrivals to India in 2003-04. The overall growth for the year compared to 2002-03 was 16 per cent.

Ms Verma pointed out that health tourism had caught up in a big way, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, where tourist traffic growth had gone up by 12 per cent last year. "We are focusing a great deal on health tourism this year also, particularly in these states where ayurvedic and allopathic institutions have tied up to offer clients complete packages. Arab tourists have shown a lot of interest in these destinations and we are promoting these packages at the ATM in a big way," she said.

Another positive development last year was the re-opening of resorts in Kashmir for tourists with encouraging results, she said. "Kashmir is now perceived as a safe destination and we have a lot of bookings for the coming season. Arab visitors are also evincing interest in Kashmir and we are promoting it as a very attractive destination," she said.

A lot of money is being pumped in to improve infrastructure and hospitality services in Kashmir and many hotels are now geared to receive a large number of visitors, Ms Verma said.

The anticipated new civil aviation policy would also ensure more flights and better connectivity for incoming tourists, she added. The Department of Tourism was also carrying out a special drive to improve heritage sites in some States with some projects such as Ajanta-Ellora and Mahabalipuram having been completed, the official said.