Our Bureau

Ms Renuka Choudhary

Hyderabad , May 31

THE United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre will take up a major brand-building exercise to promote tourism globally that would, in turn, generate nearly 10 million jobs and support tiny industries.

Announcing this at a press conference on Monday, Ms V. Renuka Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Tourism, said, "Just one act of tourism would generate 10 million jobs by 2010."

For the big investors in major tourism projects like theme parks, the Government will hold out tax holidays. The industry is also assured of uniform tax structures. The parks will not ape Western themes and will have `Look East' themes like Ramayana and Buddhism.

Other plans include marketing of products like incense sticks and handicrafts with exclusive tourism brands at tourism sites. The ministry will encourage self-help groups and tiny industries to manufacture such products.

Ms Chaudhary said the Rs 500-crore tourism budget for the current fiscal was envisaged to attract more than 10 million foreign tourists in two years from the present three million.

To attract more foreign tourists, the Government will strive for introduction of single visa travel for all SAARC countries and visa-on-arrival for tourists from some countries.

Brand building apart, the Government will promote night bazaars in major cities and rural areas. The Government will develop allied services like tourism police to support these bazaars. Trial bazaars will be run after four months.

The ministry will train human resource in the transport, hospitality and health sectors to be more tourism-friendly.

The tourism ministry will also concentrate on domestic tourism.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu Business Line