Date:15/12/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/15/stories/2002121503901100.htm

National

Advani assails travel advisories

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Dec. 14. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, said today that States and governments promoting terrorism were far more dangerous than terrorist outfits and a lot more needed to be done by the world community to contain the problem.

Inaugurating an International Conference on Aviation and Tourism here, Mr. Advani said there had been some realisation about this by the world community, but a lot more was needed to be done. Security was high on the Government's agenda, as terrorism had affected the lives of people in India in the last two decades. The 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. made everyone conscious of the harm being done by terrorists.

Lashing out at countries that had issued travel advisories against nations who were themselves victims of terrorism, including India, he said the advisories had hurt the tourism and aviation industry in those countries. He urged the foreign delegates participating in the conference to advise their countries against such advisories.

Synergy between aviation and tourism was imperative to best realise the potential of the two sectors. It was also necessary to synergise the efforts of the Government, the private sector and the people. "It is important to take decisions in aviation and tourism without delay and ensure their implementation quickly," Mr. Advani said.

The Union Tourism and Culture Minister, Jagmohan, said issuing of travel advisories by foreign governments against visiting India amounted to "playing into the hands of terrorists".

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Shahnawaz Hussain, said his Ministry had sent a proposal for acquisition of aircraft for Indian Airlines and Air India to the Cabinet Committee on Security. The proposal for joint venture privatisation of four metro airports would also be sent to the Union Cabinet within a week for approval.

Mr. Hussain said the Government had also allowed Indian passport holders, besides foreigners and NRIs, to use flights by chartered companies to fly in and out of India. They would operate only to airports that had customs and immigration facilities.

The Indian Airlines would soon start operations to the Northeast region with four leased ATR aircraft. The North-Eastern Council had contributed Rs. 33 crores towards the operation.

The Civil Aviation Secretary, K. Roy Paul, described the fleet acquisition and airport privatisation programmes as the "biggest in the world" when the global aviation industry was going through a recession.

He said the Expression of Interest for the joint-venture privatisation of the Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai international airports would be called within a month. Private participation would be to the tune of 95 per cent, while the Government would hold five per cent stake.

The Air Traffic system and security would be with the Airports Authority of India.