KOLLAM : Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay has said that the ministry has envisaged strategies in the 12th Five-Year Plan to double the number of foreign tourist arrivals to the country.Addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of the two-day regional conference of tourism ministers of the southern states, he said targets would be set for states in tourism promotion and stress would be given to develop infrastructure and for ensuring hygiene and safety at tourist destinations.A project in the pattern of JNNURM will be set up for infrastructure development and rural tourism will be promoted by forming clusters of four or five villages, he said. Currently only 50 per cent of international tourists visit the country, which makes to around 5 million tourists a year."We have set a target to increase the number by another 5 million and around five lakh hotel rooms will be needed to accommodate them in the next five years. Not all tourists prefer to stay in five star hotels and homestays are becoming popular. Hotel and hospitality facilities will be given prime importance in infrastructure development,’’ he said.Land BanksThe Centre will request all states to set up land banks for developmental activities in tourism sector and to treat the demands of tourism sector as privileged. On the problems to locate land in states such as Kerala where land availability is a major concern, he said that such states should provide other incentives to attract investments."Today’s tourist is tomorrow’s investor and we need to brand our states as safe, hygienic and peaceful destinations. A small inconvenience to a tourist can even affect the tourism sector in the country,’’ he said.Referring to the ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ campaign with Amir Khan as ambassador, he said that the southern states too should launch awareness campaigns by roping in film personalities. The state should attract private players to invest in the tourism sector. The Centre and the State Governments have to develop infrastructure and the revenue generation will be ensured in a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.Pilgrimage TourismThe minister said that the southern states which have pilgrim centres such as Sabarimala and Tirupati, can attract pilgrims to tourist destinations without disturbing the sanctity of the pilgrimage. Pilgrimage tourism has great potential and can attract a large number of domestic tourists, he said.
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