The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has taken a slew of measures to promote tourism in the country as well as in overseas markets. The MoT, after launching the phase-II of the Incredible India international campaign, recently approved the setting-up of a multi-lingual helpline to provide general information and assistance to tourists. To begin with, the helpline will be in the languages of the important source countries besides Hindi and English. Union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi has directed that the toll free helpline should be accessible from everywhere in India and should start functioning within this year. “The primary objective of the proposed helpline would be to provide tourism related information to tourists,” Parvez Dewan, Union Tourism Secretary, revealed at the launch of the Incredible India calendar in New Delhi.
Describing the calendar, Dewan said that the January month shows skiing in Gulmarg, February depicts the Bengal Tiger in Bandhavgarh, March captures Scuba Diving in Andaman, the month of April brings to the fore a double decker root foot bridge in Cherrapunji, May highlights Charminar of Hyderabad, June takes the traveller to Buddhist Monks in Himalayas, the month of July has the gorgeous Sun Temple of Konark, the month of August carries Icon of India Taj Mahal, the month of September takes the viewer to Mysore Palace in Karnataka, the month of October showcases the Formula One race, the month of November carries the picture of beautiful Munnar of Kerala and the Calendar ends with Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Replying to a question over impact of travel advisories recently issued by UK, Dewan clarified that the UK has issued travel advisory to its citizens to avoid central Delhi, but the move has not affected the flow of foreign tourists in India. “So far, there has been no adverse impact on tourism. Since the advisory, not a single cancellation of booking has taken place according to tour operators,” Dewan said and added that tour operators who have confirmed the same.
