Besides, the government is also considering an additional budgetary allocation of Rs 327 crore (Rs 3.27 billion) for the tourism sector in the Budget. In addition, there will also be special measures to boost the tourism sector in India.
"Incredible India will get a special thrust and this will be the major promotional agenda of the government," said Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhry.
Special thrust will also be given to infrastructure development as well as to attract more tourists to India, she said.
Besides, the government is also setting up a group of ministers to work out a comprehensive strategy for tourism development in the country.
The GoM will comprise ministers from external affairs, home, civil aviation, urban development, railway and rural development. The Planning Commission will also have representation in the GoM.
The GoM will look at areas that need to be incorporated in the national tourism policy as well as work out the roadmap for an integrated development of the sector in the country.
In addition, the ministry of tourism will also make a special representation to the coordination committee on the common minimum programme of the UPA government on issues relating to the sector. Besides, a presentation will also be made to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The government will work out a comprehensive national tourism policy to help India emerge as a major player in the global tourism scene.
"There are many untapped areas in the country's tourism sector. We will identify those areas and try to promote them. Besides, development of tourism needs an integrated approach, which includes many policy-related issues. We will need to work out a national tourism policy," Choudhry said.
Pointing out that the Indian tourism sector had earned a place for itself in the global tourism map, she said that the new policy would aim to strengthen its position. India, in the last financial year, attracted about 2.75 million tourists.
Besides, she also said that an impetus would be given to the all-round improvement of tourism across the country.
"The tourist centres around the country need a balanced growth, rather than the growth being limited to certain areas. The policy will look at the overall development of the country as a tourist destination," she said.
The tourism policy would also address issues like economic support, coordination between various departments of the government, Centre-state cooperation and special incentives to the sector.
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