The open forum with representatives from the state and central ministries of tourism, during the fourth session of 15th convention of Hotel and Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI), discussed several issues, which are faced by hoteliers. The session was moderated by Alan D'mello, Consulting Editor, ITP Publishing India and the panelists included Sujata Thakur, Regional Director, India Tourism, Mumbai; G S Chahal, Executive Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism; S P Jain, Chairman, Pride Group of Hotels and Reema Sisodia, Editor, Express Hospitality.
Thakur mentioned about initiatives, which the government will implement for Commonwealth Games 2010, due to be held in Delhi. The ministry has tied up with Haryana Public Training Institute in order to train around 4000 taxi drivers in Delhi and adjoining areas. It will help the taxi drivers to communicate with the tourists. Similar efforts are being planned for Mumbai as well. She mentioned about the efforts put in by the ministry to ensure proper hygiene and sanitisation in hotel premises across Delhi.
While the success of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department has been obvious with the development of tourism infrastructure across the state, Chahal informed that the state will invest Rs 100 Crore in 2009 for the development, upgradation and promotional activities. The state has recorded 76 per cent growth in the domestic tourist arrivals and 56 per cent growth in inbound tourists.
“Like the initiatives taken by Madhya Pradesh, other states need to create land banks and encourage development on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Conversion of agricultural land to a non-agricultural one takes a lot of time. Help from state governments to the private players can speed up this process,” informed Jain.
India Tourism Development Corporation plans to launch a cultural calendar for Mumbai. The session saw panelists addressing issues of several hoteliers from smaller towns like Kolhapur and Surat, who wish to promote their destinations, so as to observe growth in tourism in the long-run.
Source : hospitalitybizindia
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