NEW DELHI, August 21: The annual convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) began in New Delhi on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion Tourism Minister, Madan Lal Khurana that tour operators would be given the status of exporters soon. ``The new tourism policy would be put before the cabinet next month,'' he said. According to him, the ministry had selected 50 destinations across the country which would be developed as ideal tourist destinations.Also present were Urban Affairs Minister Ram Jethmalani, former minister Madhav Rao Scindia and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Vijai Kapoor.
Earlier welcoming the delegates, IATO president, Subhash Goyal said that government should ensure the safety of tourists to pave way for the growth of tourism in the country. ``There is a need to build more international airports, provide visa on arrival and rid railway stations and airports of touts and beggars,'' Goyal said.
``There is a need that the tourism and civil aviation should be clubbed into one ministry since most tourists come by air, you cannot have successful tourism policy without an integrated civil aviation policy,'' said he.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Printer-friendly page