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Hyderabad April 6 The Union Government has appealed to the UNESCO panel that decides on `world heritage site' status to increase the number of nominations from India.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Ms Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, said the provision mandating countries to nominate only one site for the coveted status had put India in a disadvantageous position vis-à-vis some other countries that had a number of such recognised sites.

She was here to inaugurate the Balayogi Paryatak Bhavan, a one-stop-shop for tourism products of all State and Central Governments and travel solutions. The Rs 30-crore facility, named after late G.M.C. Balayogi, the former Lok Sabha Speaker, also houses a three-star hotel.

The Government has lined up 16 sites, including Red Fort, Tanjore temples, Golconda and Charminar, for the heritage site tag.

On according `classical language' status to Telugu, the Minister said her Ministry was in favour of according the status. "The linguistic committee is evaluating the proposal and representations. Whatever information it asks for, we will provide. But it will take some time (before Telugu gets the status)," she pointed out.

Stating that the Government was giving importance to developing tourism, she said unlike in the IT sector, the tourism industry generated jobs, benefiting the people in rural areas.

AP model

The Union Government, she said, had decided to replicate the Andhra Pradesh model in other States to encourage rural tourism.

The Government increased the cap of assistance to develop a destination to Rs 25 crore and establish a circuit to Rs 50 crore. Earlier, the funds used to be in the range of Rs 5-8 crore.

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