The Hindu Business Line : Rail-link to southern tourist spots planned

THE Union Tourism Minister, Ms Renuka Chowdhury, has said her Ministry proposes to introduce a train to be called `Southern Splendour' to link major tourism spots in south India.

The fare of the train would be "affordable" so as to attract the middle-class tourists, she said, while speaking at the fifth Editors' Conference on Social Sector Issues, here.

The intent, she said, was to have a train modelled on the "Deccan Odyssey" with the States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh sharing the cost of the project.

Further, the Government was also looking at promoting health tourism. The hospitals would be categorised soon for this purpose, she said.

Ms Chowdhury said the overall direct and indirect employment from tourism in India is slated to rise to 66 million from 41 million by the end of the Tenth Plan period. India is registering constant growth in domestic as well as international tourism. The two-pronged strategy of tourism development — upgrading the tourism infrastructure hand in glove with vigorous marketing efforts under the banner of `Incredible India' — has already been delivering very encouraging results.

Building on last year's success of 23 per cent increase in foreign tourist arrivals, India had already seen a 26 per cent rise in international arrivals and 41 per cent increase in foreign exchange earnings in dollar terms in the first eight months this year, she said.