Enforce Responsible And Sustainable Domestic Tourism: ADTOI

Neeti Chopra - New Delhi

The recently concluded seventh Annual General Meeting of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), not only witnessed a gala evening but also serious deliberations on germane issues. Renuka Chowdhury, minister of state for tourism, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The association appealed to the minister to recognise domestic tour operators as a separate category and foster responsible tourism with good practices countrywide focusing on unspoilt nature. "Rationalisation of taxes needs to be taken up on a priority basis to encourage and sustain tourism within India. Domestic tourism packages in India are taxed heavily. There is a need to understand that domestic tourism is an all-season product not affected by any external catastrophe. Therefore, instead of concentrating on the inbound, more emphasis should be laid on domestic tourism," said Jyoti Kapur, president, ADTOI.

Accepting the fact that rationalisation of taxes is the need of the hour, Renuka Chowdhury, minister of state for tourism said, "It is important not only for domestic tour operators but also for the country as a whole to be perceived as a responsible destination. Domestic tourists kept the flag flying when tourism was on the dismal front. We need to market more destinations in India aggressively showcasing the country’s rich history and diverse cultural heritage, which are among our most valuable assets."

The minister appreciated the great efforts that have been made by the association in boosting domestic tourism in the country and assured he ministry's full support to ADTOI's endeavour to strengthen sustainable domestic tourism in the country. She requested for co-operation and larger participation by industry and NGOs to establish eco-friendly tourism in the country.

According to Kapur, the association's focus in 2005 would be to develop planned destinations, infrastructure and circuits with the support of the central and state governments. The membership strength of ADTOI has increased to 150 from 90 last year.

Later the minister released a manual on domestic tourism, while Amitabh Kant, joint secretary, Department of Tourism launched ADTOI's website, www.adtoi.com.

The programme was followed by a product presentation by Ashwani Lohani, managing director, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation and a famous ballet Mrignayani giving the travel trade an experience of the rich cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh by MP Tourism.