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Action and reaction
 Another
Budget has come and gone, and the industry is back to what it does best - business.
All said and done, the Ministry of Tourism has often been at the receiving end
for a number of reasons - from sub-standard infrastructure, to high accommodation
prices and tourist safety and security issues. There have also been times when
the ministry itself has admitted to being lackadaisical and sitting on a gold
mine that is India tourism. But it has learnt its lesson and is ready to make
amends.
What's more is that apart from acting, it is also reacting. If one goes by the
ministry of tourism's reaction to the recently released World Economic Forum
(WEF) Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008, one can say that it
has come of age and is ready to defend itself, even in the international arena.
The ministry has gone on record saying that the WEF report, which placed India
on the 65th position both in 2007 and 2008 among 130 countries, is rather piecemeal
in its analysis (see anchor news).
Apart from the Budget boomerang, March also witnessed two mega events - ITB
Berlin and the Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism, which
was proudly hosted by the state of Kerala. Though the general feedback of all
those who attended ITB Berlin was rather cold and passive, the event hosted
in Kochi received an encouraging response both in terms of international and
domestic participation.
It was extremely heartening to see talks, sessions and lectures running full
house even during mid afternoon. This is in stark contrast to most trade conferences
where one has to cajole and convince people to attend the sessions. The issue
of responsible and sustainable tourism was well taken. But at the end of the
day responsible tourism can be a success only if the stakeholders - both in
the public and private sectors - act instead of just reacting and implement
systems and programmes that will truly make India one of the leading countries
to practice responsible tourism.
Finally, the month of April will witness the World Travel and Tourism Summit
(WTTC) to be held in Dubai, from the 20th to the 22 April. Tourism industry's
well known faces from across the world will meet and deliberate at the `Round'
and it will be interesting to capture all the action, to be shared with our
readers, in the capacity of being the sole Indian media contributors for the
event.
Reema Sisodia
Associate Editor
editorial.etw@expressindia.com
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