National

“Terror won’t deter tourists”

— Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

From right: Union Minister for Tourism Ambika Soni; chairman, board of directors PATA, Janice Antonson; president and CEO of PATA Peter De Jong; and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy at the inauguration in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart -2008 opened on an optimistic note for India on Wednesday when leaders of the tourism industry said that the outlook for the travel and tourism sector was positive in spite of the recent terror strikes in Indian cities and financial distress in global markets.

Union Minister for Tourism Ambika Soni, who inaugurated the event, set the tone by stating that the global citizen was not deterred by the man-made tragedies. Noting that the facts and figures of domestic and international tourist movement showed an uptrend despite terror setbacks, she however appealed to all the countries not to issue any travel advisories as they might have a long-term impact.

Endorsing the Minister’s view, PATA president and CEO Peter de Jong said despite tsunami, global terror strikes in the past, resurgence of tourism sector was phenomenal in Asia demonstrating that nothing would shake the desire of people to travel.

The PATA chose Hyderabad as the venue acknowledging the great strides it made and to send a strong message about its tourism potential to the world, he said.

PATA chairperson Janice Antonson said that with a strong outbound performance and double-digit growth in inbound arrivals, India was a compelling host destination for this year’s PATA Travel Mart.

Earlier Ms. Ambika Soni said Andhra Pradesh was a model to be replicated for promoting tourism in India in the public-private partnership mode.

“We are not competing with any other country in the number game though India recorded 12 to 14 per cent growth in tourism sector. Our challenge is to have repeat visitors by focusing on our diversity and hospitality.”

She said 128 villages were identified for rural tourism and 22 mega destinations, including two in A.P., were chosen for holistic development.

Leela Nandan, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism, said 5.08 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2007 and it was expected to touch 10 million by 2010.

Foreign exchange from tourism was $10.73 billion in 2007 and was expected to touch $ 20 billion by 2010.

State Tourism Minister A. Ramnarayan Reddy highlighted the diverse tourist attractions of Andhra Pradesh.

Nearly 1,100 delegates from 60 countries from Europe, North America and Asia are attending the three-day event.

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