Excelsior Correspondent
CHANDIGARH, Oct 13: Regional Director, Survey & Land Records, Udhampur/ Reasi, Amit Sharma led a panel discussion on “Leveraging Tourism, Building Smart Cities” during National Tourism conclave which concluded at Chandigarh the other day.
During his keynote address, Sharma stressed upon developing a strong consortium of various State Tourism Boards and Tourism Development Corporations so that the brand value of Indian Tourism enhances especially in the eyes of foreign tourists and maximum States getting benefitted with influx and enhancement in the quantum of footfall of foreign as well as domestic tourists in different States of the nation. He pressed that “Tourism India” should be sold together as a brand and country should not merely focus on respective states’ tourism selling strategies for achieving long-term success in Tourism sector.
He further mentioned that all State Tourism Corporations have not been able to exploit the real tourism potential to the optimal levels and primarily, it has happened due to individualistic approach adopted by our States. He further quoted the contemporary example of successful European Union Model wherein a tourist may land in France but ends-up visiting at least 8-12 European Countries before leaving Europe due to the lucrative models offered by the consortium of EU nations.
Amit further mentioned that similarly, Sri Lanka Tourism is sold as a wholesome package and all destinations are sold under one roof whereas whenever International Tourism Fairs are held, it is often seen that different states of India are seen selling respective tourism-products/packages in silos and hardly, it has been seen that India is marketed together as a single tourism destination due to which tourism trade and industry suffers a lot here.
The proposal was widely lauded in the conference and it was decided to forward this to the Union Tourism Ministry.
It is highly appreciable to get such a high-level National Tourism Conclave organised here wherein, its inaugural session was addressed by S Navjot Singh Sidhu, former renowned international cricketer, who happens to be Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab. A large number of stake holders from different States attended the conference.
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