| "We
want 10 million tourist inflow in 2010," she said.
The country's tourism sector was growing steadily with
3.92 million tourist inflow in 2005 and 4.43 million
in 2006, the minister was confident that the inflow
would touch the 5 million mark in 2007.
"We are looking at the hotel industry to come
up to the challenge," she said, adding at least
150,000 more rooms in all categories of hotels are required
to cater to the increased tourist inflow.
With specialised types of tourism becoming a craze
throughout the world, India is coming up with Dubai-type
shopping tourism facilities at several places besides
focusing on health tourism.
At least four such destinations would come up soon
and another is likely in West Bengal if the infrastructure
is ready by the end of 2007, Soni said.
Noida in Uttar Pradesh with world class facilities,
Shilpagram near Hyderabad, permanent art and crafts
fair at Bhubaneshwar and another at Aurangabad near
Ajanta-Ellora in Maharashtra are the shopping tourism
destinations coming up.
Inviting other states to join the initiative, the minister
further said that the centre would underwrite 25 per
cent of the money spent in developing such projects,
whether by the state or a private player.
The growth in tourism obviously augers well for the
hotel industry which is on a roll. It will add to wine
market significantly too.
Source: http://www.zeenews.com
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