In a significant decision, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the proposals of the Ministry of Tourism seeking to enlarge the scope of its scheme that provides for creation of institutional infrastructure necessary for hospitality and tourism specific education. This revision of the scheme had become necessary to meet the growing demand of the industry of trained manpower. As per the assessment of the Ministry, the industry requires about 2.03 lakhs trained persons annually. The supply as against this is just fractional, of about 12000 persons from all the institutes in the country. The introduction of the hospitality education through ITIs, Polytechnic Institutes, Govt. colleges, Universities, PSUs. and vocational schools, as provided for in the scheme now will be an important step ahead to bridge the gap in demand and supply of manpower.
This approval would entail a plan out lay of Rupees 495 crores which is over three time the actual expenditure of Rupees 147.2 crores during the 10th plan. The approved scheme hitherto covers strengthening of the existing Institutes of Hotel Management and Food Craft Institutes and setting up of the new ones. The Central Financial Assistance for setting up of an IHM has been increased to 12 crores from 10 crores earlier. The additional amount of 2 crores shall be for construction of boys/girls hostel as students are selected on all India basis through a Joint Entrance Examination. Under the enlarged dispensation, it will also allow funding of the ITIs, Polytechnic Institutes, Govt. collages, Universities and PSUs, to the extent of Rs.2 crores in each case, for starting hospitality courses. The funds will be utilised for creation of infrastructure and purchase of equipment. The revised scheme will also provide funds, to the extent of Rs.25 lakhs, to each vocational school for starting similar course(s).
The Scheme, as approved now, provides for the setting up of 19 new State IHMs and 25 State Food Craft Institutes during the 11th Plan. The total supply of 12000 trained manpower consists of 78% at managerial level and 22% at skill level, whereas requirement is in the ratio of 34 and 66% respectively. To overcome the acute shortage of trained personnel at skill level, it has been stipulated that, the State IHMs would also conduct craft courses besides the Degree Course of 3 years.
The revised scheme emphasises the strengthening and upgradation of the existing Central/State IHMs, 28 in number. The idea is to turn them into the institutes of excellence to spur and stimulate similar efforts in the private sector. Through this step the Ministry of Tourism would provide quality trained manpower for the hospitality industry.
More than 100 pilots from across the globe will participate in the five-day pre-world cup paragliding championships to be held at Bir-Billing in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh from October 16.
Bir-Billing is considered to be one of the finest aero sports sites and its name has been included in international paragliding circuits.
The take off site at Billing, situated at a height of 2,290 m, offers an opportunity for high-altitude and cross-country flying in the Bir valley.
The valley, located at a height of 1,480 m, is surrounded by tea gardens and majestic Dhauladhar hills. The road distance between the two locations is 14 km.
“More than 100 pilots, including 48 foreigners, have got themselves registered for the championship. The participants include 10 women pilots,” a tourism department official said.
“We have framed aero sports rules as per international guidelines,” Nanda said.
A technical committee, comprising members of the Aero Club of India and the France-based Paragliding World Cup Association, would inspect the equipment being used by the participants to ensure that it is as per international standards.
A world record was made at Bir-Billing in 1992 by French pilot Xavier Remond, who flew 130.9 km to set the “out and return world record”.
The Federation Aviation International (FAI) recognises the pre-world cup and has granted it a ‘Category-II Status’ in the international ranking.
The Secretary (Tourism), Government of Manipur B Sharma IAS with the senior officers of the State Directorate of Tourism namely L Chaoba Sharma, OSD (Tourism) and Meghachandra Kongbam, Joint Director in Charge of Manipur Tourism, New Delhi, visited the Sikkim Tourism Office at Panchsheel Marg in the national capital and observed the functioning of the Sikkim Tourism Office in the national capital, for making improvement of the tourism sector in the State of Manipur.
The Sikkim Tourism, Delhi manned by three officers with its subordinate staff had a Sikkim Restaurant in the Office and coordinated with the travel agencies in Delhi for making maximum flow of domestic and foreign tourists into the State of Sikkim.
Puneet Kanshal, IAS, Officer on Special Duty, Sikkim Tourism in Delhi said that the Ministry of Home Affairs had made some relaxations for Sikkim State in issuing Protected Area Permit for foreign tourists and authorized the officers of the Tourism Department to issue the permit to the foreign tourists.
Now, the foreign tourists visiting Sikkim had easily got the permit without taking much time.
Kanshal stated the Tourism and Power were two sectors in Sikkim, which played an important role in the State’s economy as well as in providing employment.
As such, the State Government was giving top priority in tourism sector.
Shova Lama, Tourist Officer of Sikkim Tourism, Delhi said that the Sikkim Government had a struggle against the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to get the relaxation on issuing the Protected Area Permit to the foreign tourists visiting the State.
The recent announcement of the Central Government on LTC relaxation for Central Government employees allowing to travel by air in North Eastern States had been a great boon to Sikkim that many central government employees were rushing to the State as tourists, she added.
The Secretary (Tourism), B B Sharma, in his address in the Conference of North Eastern States-Investmart-2008 organised by the Ministry of DoNER with the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India at Hotel Sangrila recently said that Manipur was the best place for tourists, because of its scenic beauty and salubrious climate.
“It was truly a paradise explored. The Loktak lake, a Ramsar site and the Keibul Lamjao National Park needed more explored. Moreh town on international border with Myanmar had been always an attraction for all visitors to Manipur,” Sharma said.
“Thirty three recognised tribal communities with their typical culture and lifestyle had made the state of Manipur more colourful,” he added.
The Secretary (Tourism), Manipur invited hospitality companies and entrepreneurs in the country to set up hotels and other tourist infrastructures in Manipur, for which the State Government was ready to extend all-out supports to them.
There has been a 10.4 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals to India during the nine months ended September this year at 3.87 million compared with the same period in the previous year.
The latest data released by the Government recently shows that foreign exchange earnings from the tourism sector have reached Rs 36,464 crore during the first nine months, which is an increase of 17.8 percent over what the country earned during the same period in the previous year.
In a big push to attract more Indian tourists, New York City’s marketing agency has opened an office in Mumbai and is launching a promotion campaign featuring New Yorkers Padma Lakshmi, Sant Chatwal and Mira Nair.
Already, travel to the city from India has more than doubled in the past five years. It grew by 47 percent last year, to 157,000 visitors, generating an economic impact of $266 million. The number is expected to grow to 175,000 this year.
Recently, NYC & Company, the city’s tourism marketing agency, announced the opening of a tourism and marketing office in Mumbai.
“There has long been a commercial and cultural connection between India and New York City,” George A. Fertitta, chief executive of NYC & Co, who travelled to Mumbai for the opening, was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
“Today, we are extending that bond further by personally inviting all Indian leisure and business travellers to visit New York City in 2009 and beyond.”
New York has a large South Asian community, and many of the Indians visiting the city are friends and relatives of immigrants living in the region.
NYC & Co’s public relations campaign directed at Indian audiences includes videos featuring television show host and cookbook author Padma Lakshmi, hotel developer Sant Chatwal and film director Mira Nair. Padma Lakshmi is the first Indian American to take part in the city’s “Just Ask the Locals” tourism campaign.
The company is also starting an Online Training Academy for the Indian travel trade market to help travel agents and tour operators to package and sell tourism to New York.
Besides, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting is trying to recruit Indian film companies to produce work in the city.
The Bloomberg administration set itself a target of 50 million annual international visitors to the city by 2012 after a record 46 million visitors came to the Big Apple in 2007.
Although international travellers represent just 19 percent of the total visitors to the city, they account for over 50 percent of total visitor spending.
