New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Tourist spots should be kept clean and drivers, waiters and cooks should be trained to ensure that travellers make repeated visits to popular hotspots like the Taj Mahal city of Agra, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said here Wednesday.
“Public awareness campaign about cleanliness must be started in places like Agra where tourists come in large numbers,” Selja said when Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Vinod Singh met her here to discuss tourism-related projects.

Stressing the need to “provide cleanliness and a hygienic atmosphere at tourist spots in the state”, she said these are ways the state could get more repeat visitors.

To keep the city clean, she suggested that state authorities involve the corporate sector’s help in generating public awareness.

The Taj Mahal, the 17th century monument to love built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, is one of the most popular tourist spots, attracting over 2.5 million visitors a year.

According to 2006 figures of the tourism ministry, the marble monument that is listed among the seven wonders of the world was visited by an estimated 2,048,120 domestic and 491,351 foreign tourists.

The city is also known for two other World Heritage monuments - the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

In their meeting, Vinod Singh sought Selja’s help in setting up international airports at Agra and Kushinagar.

Selja promised him that the ministry would also involve Uttar Pradesh and Bihar when they promote Buddhist circuits that are popular with both foreign and domestic tourists.

“We will take all efforts to make it (Buddhist circuit) a star attraction,” she said in a statement issued here.

“The state should work towards seamless travel for the comfort of tourists as Uttar Pradesh is one of the key states in the Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur), which attracts most of the foreign tourists visiting India,” she added.

Selja also suggested that the state provide training to waiters, cooks, taxi drivers and other stakeholders so that tourists enjoy their stay.

Singh sought Selja’s help in training youth in these areas and to give them stipends.