A mixed bag for tourism sector in 2010

Notwithstanding its failure to woo one lakh overseas tourists during the Common wealth Games as targeted, 'Incredible India' involved close to five million outstation visitors this year as the tourism ministry had its share of glory and missed opportunities. With a double-digit growth in the foreign tourist arrivals, 2010 was otherwise a good year for the ministry.Incredible India movement attracted 4.93 million foreign tourists till November as compared to 4.46 million during the same period last year, registering a growth of 10.4 per cent. Despite the massive campaign launched by the ministry to promote India for the Common wealth Games, tourist arrivals did not touch the one lakh mark target during the sporting show.

The year began on a promising note with visa on arrival (VoA) scheme introduced for tourists from Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan.A total number of 5,644 VoAs were issued under this system during January-November. Maximum tourists from Singapore (1623) followed by New Zealand (1604), Japan (1241), Finland (1123) and Luxembourg (53) availed the scheme.Encouraged by the response, the VoA scheme is being extended for five more countries Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Philippines with effect from January 1, 2011.The tourism ministry issued licences to 450 fully trained tourist guides to cater to the growing number of foreign tourists in India.

Foreign exchange earnings from tourism were Rs 57,850 crore as compared to Rs 47,918 crore during the same period of 2009, registering a growth rate of 20.7 per cent.A massive movement was carried out to endorse India as a host country for the Common wealth Games. While radio spots and road shows were launched in the abroad market, TV commercials, billboards ads were unleashed in domestic market for the Games. Though not many hotels could come up as expected before the Common wealth Games, there was no shortage of hotel rooms during the occasion.The ministry of Tourism provided central assistance for training of service providers like tourist taxi drivers, auto drivers and immigration personnel in Delhi, NCR region and Agra for making them tourist friendly and hospitable. A total of 2,200 taxi, coach drivers were trained in Haryana Institute of Public Administration.