BEIJING, May 28: India today showcased its progress in the information technology and services sector at China’s key international trade fair as the ‘India Pavilion’ was inaugurated amid Bollywood fanfare.
Actress Divya Dutta along with Indian Ambassador to China Ashok K Kantha inaugurated the India Pavilion at the 3rd China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) here today.
India has deputed a 60-member delegation, its biggest in recent years, comprising of professionals and officials from tourism, IT, health and entertainment sectors to take part in the fair.
Dutta, later interacted with audiences at the screening of ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ at the Indian Embassy, making a strong pitch for more cultural interactions between India and China and the need for screening of more Indian films in China.
China restricts screening of 25 foreign films a year and most of the quota is grabbed by Hollywood movies.
Usha Sharma, Additional Director, Ministry of Tourism who is heading the tourism delegation, said efforts are being made to attract a slice of 97 million Chinese who are said to be travelling abroad every year specially in the niche and high-end category tourism.
India offers good shopping experience with its jewelry and handicrafts, she told PTI.
India currently attracts just over a lakh of visitors, while over six lakhs visitors go to China every year.
Sharma said her Ministry is addressing issues like recruiting more Chinese guides to attract more travellers from the country to India.
Over 6.8 million tourists from all over the world visited India last year and efforts are on to attract one per cent of the global tourist population, she said.
In order to attract more Chinese travellers to India, Indian Embassy in Beijing has come out with a new visa policy to issue visas in just two working days.
The policy has strict compliance, Namgya Khampa, Councilor for the Trade and Economic wing of the Embassy, said.
The potential of Chinese tourists to India has not been fully exploited as there is not enough understanding about the products on offer, which is being addressed, she said. (PTI)
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