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The
minister for tourism and culture, Jagmohan, is optimistic
to have a two-fold increase in budget allocation this year.
“The government is satisfied with the ministry’s
performance and the initiatives taken so far. So, I expect
the budget allocation will be doubled, at least,” came
a confident reply.
Recently, when the minister made a presentation before the
parliamentary consultative committee related to tourism he
was praised a lot by members, who were highly impressed. The
reaction of NRIs, before whom the minister made a presentation
on January 10, was also similar - albeit with a twist in the
tale.
“You
are doing so much, but where’s the information?”
“What are your foreign tourist offices doing?” “Close
down overseas tourist offices, we will take the responsibility
of publicity” - were some of the reactions voiced by
NRIs after watching the presentation on the regeneration of
Ajanta, Ellora, Red Fort and Kurukshetra.
The assembled Pravasi Bharatiyas were exasperated by the fact
that there’s hardly any dissemination of information
of the work being done on the turism front. They were basically
unaware of new circuits being developed, attractions like
Kurukshetra being regenerated, and the new look being imparted
to ancient sites like Ajanta, Ellora and Hampi. The central
theme of the presentation was what the government and NRIs
can do mutually to promote tourism.
“Our
effort is to kindle interest in NRIs to rediscover their roots
and know about their heritage and culture. We want them to
be tourism ambassadors of India,” said Jagmohan. Though
the NRIs were eager to visit places and don mantles of ambassadors,
they did not evince interest in investing in tourism projects.
When asked to comment on the NRI’s reactions, eschewing
controversy Jagmohan said, “We cannot close foreign tourist
offices because it is a focused approach and we can regulate
their work. We do not exactly know what NRIs would do. Of
course, we will make CDs available to whosoever is interested
in having it.”
However, the ministry is restructuring foreign tourist offices
and augmenting services, he informed. “We are giving
them new publicity materials, brochures and specific guidelines.
They have been ordered to go for focused publicity like holding
exhibitions, making video presentations on new improvements
in front of travel agents etc. Further, wherever my officials
and I are on visit, we do interact with agents and tour operators
by making requisite presentations.”
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