Tourism Dept. to go hi-tech

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation is changing gears and shifting to hi-tech mode. Not only is it upgrading its information flavour but is all set to join the cyber revolution by uplinking its network with the Internet besides installing touchscreen computers at major tourist arrival centres in the Capital.

The Delhi Tourism Minister, Dr. Narendra Nath, said the Department had derived inspiration from the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dixit's initiatives on the Information Technology front. The computerisation project, he said, would be implemented in phases to make the entire information network set-up tourist friendly and also provide reservations and other facilities to the domestic and international tourists on Internet and through e-mail.

Dr. Nath said it had been decided to install six touch screen computers at ``cyber kiosks'' to be set up at the information centres of the Department. These are likely to be installed at the Central Reservation Office (Connaught Place), Palam Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Old Delhi Railway Station and the New Delhi Railway Station and one more place.

These tourist-friendly computers can be operated by any person. One touch and the screen will provide all the information regarding tourist destinations, packages, mode of transport, hotels and other related information. The facility would later be extended to other centres also, he added.

Similarly, joining the IT race, the DTTDC would soon launch its second cyber cafe at the Coffee Home, R.K.Puram, after DTTDC's initial venture at Dilli Haat. This new cyber cafe will have six work stations and provide opportunity to netizens to try their hand at the mouse and browse through Internet and even send e- mails.

In addition, 16 information centres would be equipped with computers soon. These would have Internet connectivity and offer e-mail facilities. These centres would also be linked up with various hotel chains and tourist destinations in various parts of the country for getting immediate information on various services.

Under the scheme drawn up by the Department, the DTTDC plans to put up packages in different categories on the internet for various seasons to enable tourists to have easy access and plan their vacation accordingly. The information regarding this would be put up on the DTTDC website -- www.delhitourism.nic.in -- and even work out arrangements for making reservations for the tourists not only in Delhi but also in other States.

The DTTDC general manager, Mr.V.K. Jain, said the Corporation would also tie-up with hotels and tourism departments of other States to provide reservations for which it will charge a nominal fee. All these transactions would be done through the internet and the individual or a firm would not have to come to the tourist centres for completing the formalities or making enquiries. This is being touted as a cost-effective step, bringing down the expenses for making reservations drastically.

In addition, Mr. Jain said, the names of all those who have been cleared for providing paying guest accommodation would also be put up on the website to enable them to have easy access about where all this accommodation was available.

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