Action replay, different actor

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, NOV. 16. Exactly a year ago - on November 16, 2000 - in the same hotel, the same suite and the same seat, sat Mr. Ananth Kumar, then Minister for Tourism and Culture, who, charged with excitement, told a group of Indian journalists that a new tourism policy, focussing on the four ``principles'' of swagat, soochna, suvidha and suraksha was expected ``any time.'' For nearly an hour, he waxed eloquent on the Government's efforts to boost tourism which, he said, was a ``national priority,'' and fielded questions on harassment of foreign tourists by touts, guides and taxi drivers.

In the same hotel, the same suite and the same seat sat Mr. Jagmohan, Minister for Tourism, and, exuding the same enthusiasm as that of Mr. Kumar, told a group of Indian journalists on Thursday that a new tourism policy was in the offing, and that it would be finalised ``before the year-end.'' And, after elaborating his vision, fielded the same set of questions on touts, guides and taxi drivers - and, like Mr. Kumar, assured that things were on the mend.

Mr. Jagmohan's press conference was a scene-by-scene replay of Mr. Kumar's `tea-and-samosa' briefing and left you a little confused. Whatever, one wondered, happened to Mr. Kumar's ``all- new'', ``any-time-to-be-announced'' policy under which tourists could ask for a visa on arrival at any Indian airport (swagat), there was to be a state-of-the- art information network (soochna), local train/air facilities were to be streamlined (suvidha) and states were to raise ``tourism police'' to check harassment of tourists (suraksha)? Had it been abandoned? Was it ever introduced? Mr. Jagmohan's own formulation, mired more in cliches about spirituality and mental rejuvenation than hard facts, made no reference to any of the ``highlights'' of Mr. Kumar's policy. Nor was the India Tourist Office here able to shed light on how new the ``new'' policy would be - presuming, of course, that like Mr. Kumar's document, it does not fall by the wayside.

``Under the new policy, top priority would be given to public- private partnership and also for expansion of infrastructure,'' Mr. Jagmohan said, announcing a seven-point plan to meet the ``adverse conditions'' in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in America. His ``dos'' and ``don'ts'' were: ``Do not ring alarm bells too often, propagate India as a safe and secure destination, step-up marketing in the Western and Northern world, break new grounds in the East, and South, particularly China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia, give special boost to domestic tourism..., create conditions... for ethical and business practices, and help in initiation of a great reform movement in India... which would make India more creative and constructive (sic) and bring about a work culture of the highest class.'' Safe and secure destination, improved marketing, ethical business practices. We have been here before. So, until next year... when a new Minister with a new policy comes calling at St. James' Court's Taj Suite again.

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