RAIPUR: In a bid to dispel the “negative perception” about India of foreign tourists and to “defeat terrorism with tourism”, the Centre has initiated efforts to attract visitors by promoting infrastructure, cleanliness, security and hospitality in the country.
Concerned with the safety of foreign students, the Centre is also planning to start a toll-free number service for them, which can be used for the round-the-clock assistance.
“Sometimes message goes out (in the world) that India is not safe due to incidents like rape, terrorist and Naxal activities. We are making new attempts keeping in view to defeat terrorism by promoting tourism. We believe tourism will put an end to terrorism,” said Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Chandra Sharma.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the opening ceremony of an aerobridge here at Raipur’s Swami Vivekanand airport.
Sharma said his ministry was planning to launch some projects in this regard on the occasion of ‘Sushasan Diwas’ on December 25.
“These (projects and plans) will change the perception of tourists that it is not that India which was used to be earlier, it is not that Chhattisgarh which was used to be earlier,” he said.
Sharma said the Tourism ministry wanted to focus on key issues like infrastructure, cleanliness, security and hospitality to attract tourists in the country as well as in Chhattisgarh.
Expressing concern over safety of foreign tourists, the minister said, “The department will start a toll-free number service for the international tourists visiting India, which can be used for round-the-clock assistance.
“Besides, a proposal had been taken up with the Home Ministry to enact a strong law so that nobody touches a foreign tourist or creates any problem (with them),” he added.
Responding to a query on granting the international status to Swami Vivekanand Airport, Sharma, who is also the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said the process is underway and work like acquisition of land to expand the area of the airport is being carried out.
He later called on Chief Minister Raman Singh and assured him of inclusion of the historical Buddhist site at Sirpur, situated on the banks of Mahanadi river 78 kms away from Raipur, under Tourism Ministry’s ambitious plan to develop the ‘Buddha circuit’.
“Union Minister Sharma gave assurances in this regard during a discussion with Chief Minister Raman Singh here,” an official statement said.
During their discussion, the chief minister listed varied features of Sirpur and said there are ample opportunities to develop the spot as an international tourist site, the release said.
A broad discussion on a number of issues including developing amenities under tourism and culture and civil aviation was also held during the meeting, it added.
Chhattisgarh Tourism Minister Ajay Chandrakar and other officials were present during the discussion.-PTI
