The India Tourism, Tokyo, Union Ministry of Tourism, co-sponsored “Namaste India” campaign which began in Tokyo from September 27 came to an end recently.
It is a concept which started as a small event showcasing India in Japan but has over the years grown into a mega-carnival that celebrates the very best of India in the heart of Japan. Namaste India is a window to Indian culture and economy for the Japanese people - and is today one of the largest Indian festivals held overseas which celebrates Indian diversity and uniqueness through a vivid display of our culture, cuisine, entertainment and business.
The two day programme which included Dance, Music, Theatre, Workshops, Exhibitions and Indian Cuisine was attended by more than 1,00,000 Japanese. It was inaugurated by H. K. Singh, Ambassador of India to Japan.
The Raghu Dixit Performance which was sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations was well appreciated by an audience of thousands. The Indian cuisine varying from Jalebis to Chole Bhatura and Bhel Puri to Chilly Chicken were a hit and long queues could be seen outside Food stalls.
Incredible India branding was all over the exhibition ground and 10 Velo Taxis wrapped in images of India’s Tourism Products ferried visitors from the subway station to the exhibition grounds free of cost.
The tour operators indicated that they received various queries on the new packages launched to India as well as some confirmed bookings. The India Tourism stall was flocked throughout the day and the interest shown by the Japanese populace reflects that there will be an upward swing in tourist flow from this market.
The entire country is geared up to celebrate World Tourism Day 2008 today. While the north Indian city of Chandigarh is all set to launch a City Card and introduce tourism police squad, another city, Hyderabad, will be conducting a Vintage Car & Bike Rally.
Meanwhile Puducherry tourism department will celebrate World Tourism Day by organising various events, including a photography contest, slogan writing competetion, a numismatcis exhibition.
A cultural extravaganza by artists, including veena artist Puniya Srinivas, Bangalore Shruti orchestra and classical dance and roller-skating skill demonstration by Kasirajan would also be held besides an inter-collegiate quiz programme would in Chennai would also be held.
In Chandigarh apart from other programmees, the administration will also organize a musical night, senior citizens’ picnic, rides on Hop on Hop off Bus, Tourism run and much more to make the day complete fun for all age groups.
The institution of so-called world days to highlight among government and private circles and the public at large, salient features of the activities of intergovernmental organizations, is a widespread practice. Each year, the organizations belonging to the United Nations System, for example, celebrate world days devoted to the United Nations; world peace; human rights; health; literacy; environment; womanhood; childhood; cooperation for development; meteorology; telecommu nications, etc.
Since adoption of the statutes in 1970 and designated as World Tourism Day by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) since 1979, Global tourism has since then seen its role of fostering “awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values” not only change lives, but even change a nation’s entire course.
As movements in nations across the globe more and more adopts the chant of “greening the earth,” the global focus for this year’s campaign is to implement the Davos Declaration which builds on the tourism sector’s “strong relationship” with climate and its global social and economic value, as well as its own role in maintaining sustainable developments.
UNWTO’s World Tourism Day is hosted by a different country every year. This year, Peru is hosting an ongoing week-long celebrations with the theme, “Tourism Responding To The Challenge Of Climate Change,” a topic which has been on everybody’s lips since Al Gore, former US vice president made climate change popular.
Callyoma Municipality, a province located in the region of Arequipa, in the south of Peru is hosting World Tourism Day from September 21-27 with a “tourist parade” featuring traditional dances from the region, as well as other regions in Peru through the main streets of White City.
The 13,050-foot Rohtang Pass, the gateway to the Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh, opened for traffic Monday, Kullu Superintendent of Police Jagat Ram said.
It was on Sep 19 that the Rohtang Pass was closed for traffic following heavy snowfall.
“The Border Roads Organisation has cleared more than four feet of snowfall on a large stretch of the Manali-Leh highway,” Ram said.
Rohtang Pass which is 51 km from Manali, is a high mountain pass that connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh.
It has become a summer tourist spot, all thanks to the rising popularity of Manali, and excellent roads maintained by Border Road Organization. Almost every visitor to Manali yearns to visit Rohtang Pass as one can feel and touch snow even in the peak of summer on this pass.
The pass is open from May to November, has a nasty reputation for being very dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and high winds. It is suggested by some linguists that the name rohtang is a Persian word meaning pile of dead bodies. This pass was ancient trade route and accidents must have been very common. The local name for this pass is a generic name of pass as there are many other passes in Lahoul and Spitti which have specific names (Kunzom La, Bara Lachala, etc.).
This is suggestive of the fact that this must have been the oldest and most frequented pass in the region. The pass provides a natural cultural divide between middle Himalayas and its primarily Hindu culture, with the dry desert uplands north of the Pir Panjal (first range of the greater Himalayas; and its mainly Buddhist and Tibetan-influenced culture.
On the southern face of this pass there is a spot called Bias Kund which is the origin of river Bias.
The road through the Kullu Valley, past Manali and over the Rohtang Pass to Keylong, and Lahul and on to Ladakh, has become very busy during the summer months with several tourists visiting each year.
Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni in her speech at the Convention of the Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA) at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi said that the transport sector has succeeded in createing multiple jobs such as drivers, cleaners, guides, etc. which are so vital for sustaining tourism industry.
She said, “When we in the Ministry of Tourism talk about inclusive growth through tourism we are also thinking about those people who are involved in the transport sector. This sector creates multiple jobs such as drivers, cleaners, guides, etc. which are so vital for sustaining tourism industry. It is these people who are the real ambassadors of tourism. Their positive and pleasant attitudes create welcoming environment for tourists which in turn encourages repeat visitors to India.”
“I am happy to be here today for the Annual Convention of the Indian Tourist Transporters Association. I accepted to participate in this important Convention because we in the Ministry realize how crucial a good transport network is for the growth of tourism. On the eve of the World Tourism Day on September 27 i.e. tomorrow, I, on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, would like to express my deep appreciation and felicitation to Indian Tourist Transport Association for being an active partner in the growth of tourism in the country.”
“You all are aware that only last week we held Pacific Asia Travel Mart in Hyderabad successfully. This event was a reflection of the acknowledgement of the world community of the growing importance of Incredible India. This success is not that of only Ministry of Tourism but of the entire tourism industry of which Tourist Transport Associations like yours is an enduring part,” Soni said.
“I recall my interaction with your Association when you all met me last year. We discussed several issues of concern to you especially rationalization of state taxes on tourist vehicles. My Ministry had taken up this matter with various state governments stating that differential taxation was hurting tourism as they add to costs and make tourism expensive. The States must take a long-term view of earning greater revenue by generating volumes rather than be short-sighted. Another issue that my Ministry has taken up through the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways was regarding allocation of separate registration series carrying alphabets “TV” on all tourist vehicles. We have recommended levying a quarterly or annual tax so that tourist vehicles can move seamlessly under a Single Window Permit System. We all need to work together on these matters with the State Governments.”
The minister further said, “The 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games is another big opportunity for the transport industry. Today’s theme – Motoring Commonwealth Games is extremely pertinent in this context. Your Association as a service provider should take up this challenge to provide quality services during the Games. Learn from the experiences of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the Beijing Olympics where the services they provided to visitors during those days were widely said to be of top quality and seamless. Likewise we should set high benchmarks for the Games because these events provide lasting impressions on people. I am sure your Association is already discussing these issues with the Delhi Government. Dr. Walia and Shri Haroon Yusuf who are representing the Delhi Government here today, I am confident, are looking into these issues.”
“The landscape of many of our metropolitan cities is fast changing. For example, look at our own city ‘Delhi’ which has changed so much in the last few years and still changing. The growth of automobile industry has put enormous pressure on our towns and cities especially traffic congestions and clogging parking spaces. In my view, the ongoing modernization of airports, railway stations and roads should address these issues. The Urban Development Ministry is looking at these issues in a wholistic manner. Your inputs would be extremely valuable to JNNURM Mission while planning urban infrastructure. Similarly at the 22 mega tourism destinations where we are building world class infrastructure, we shall give due consideration to your requests.”
“Safety and security of tourists is very important for the industry. I have spoken about this on many occasions and I am not tired of saying this again. Let me reiterate ‘please take care of your tourists as if they are your guests in the true spirit of Atithi Devo Bhava’. Incidents of harassment have undermined the tourism industry in the recent past. It is our collective responsibility to ensure the safety and security of tourists. A good agency will invest on the security of his client as much as in the maintenance of the vehicles he uses. I wish to also underline here the importance of good communication skills of the drivers, cleaners and guides. They need to be trained constantly. Ministry of Tourism has been organizing courses for the benefit of this particular group as part of our sensitization campaign ‘Atithi Devo Bava’. I am happy to know that your Association is partnering with the Ministry in imparting these courses,” Ambika Soni added.
The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to develop 500 acres at Nizamsagar as a tourist spot on the same lines as the Brindavan Gardens.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, at a meeting with the Tourism Minister and officials concerned in Hyderabad on Friday.
A release from the Chief Minister’s Office said that Dr Reddy also gave the nod for establishing three star hotels — one five-star, one four-star and one three-star hotel — on PPP model on Tourism Department’s land near the National Academy of Construction and Hitex in Hyderabad. He asked the department to begin the proceedings by calling tenders.
Meanwhile, Dr Reddy also reviewed the project of developing eco-adventure tourism resort and mini golf course of Idupulapaya in Kadapa district.
The release said the tender for the project has been approved and work has been entrusted to the contractor and the project would consist of entrance plaza, administrative unit, restaurant and conference hall, cottages with 16 rooms, viewtowers-2, parking and landscaping.
The mini golf course consultant also has been appointed and design and estimates will be completed by October 15 and tenders by November-end.
It is expected that the golf course will be ready by March 2009 and the total cost of the project is envisaged at Rs 3.80 crore.
Dr Reddy also decided to hand over the responsibility of completing the work from canal to sump to the field to the Irrigation Department for speedy completion of the project.
Until now the work from sump to the field (crop) used to be done by the Horticulture Department as they had the technical know-how.
“Since there are some undue delays in the completion of the lift irrigation and micro-irrigation project works, the Chief Minister today decided to entrust the work to the Irrigation Department itself in consultation with the micro irrigation experts from the Horticulture Department,” the release added.
