Currently, tourism industry requires 1.5 lakh hotel rooms in the country as the inadequate infrastructure is not able to meet the growing demand and influx of tourists and is directly paralyzing it. Apart from this, government is trying to promote India as a health tourist destination but this too is backed by insufficient world-class hospitals.
Tourism minister Ambika Soni said in the Lok Sabha, ‘We have a shortage of 1.5 lakh (hotel) rooms all over the country and the government is considering the issues.’ She said hotels were being build in collaboration with private sector.
The minister also expressed her concern over short of good hospitals though the government has introduced ‘medical visa’ scheme, for those seeking to diagnose in India.
An international campaign was carried out to promote tourism through brochure, CDs, films and other publicity material. Last year 39.2 lakh tourist visited India, which now gears up to 40 lakh.
India is also preparing itself to host Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and the paucity of budget class hotels could be a great hurdle for tourism ministry. Though, the recently launched ‘Bed and Breakfast‘ scheme is an effort to fill up the dearth budget hotels but it seems insufficient. The need is to be strive more on this front and ensure the maximum participation of private sector.
Via: Business-Standard
