75,000 foreign visitors arrived during CWG, says Selja
October 21st, 2010 - 5:23 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja Thursday said around 75,000 foreign visitors were in India during the Commonwealth Games that ended Oct 14.
“Initial estimates said 100,000 visitors - both domestic and foreign - were expected in Delhi during the Games,” Selja said on the sidelines of the International Hospitality Fair 2010 at Pragati Maidan here.
“But the figures I received from the government cited 75,000 foreign arrivals, excluding the domestic tourists. One should not feel disappointed. The negative publicity had initially affected tourism prospects,” Selja said.
The minister gave a thumbs up to the ITDC, saying the “Indian Tourism Development Corporation had been able to discharge its duties despite racing against time.”
“They managed very well in the end though I think the arrangements should have been made a few months earlier,” she said.
The ITDC was only in charge of furnishings at the Games Village”, she said.
The Commonwealth Games prompted the construction of new airport terminals, highways and new infrastructure both in Delhi and the national capital region. The “fast-growing tourism sector, which is growing along with the economy, needs to utilise the infrastructure”.
“The vast tourism potential in the country is still not tapped,” she said.
“The Commonwealth Games was an opportunity to develop the tourism and hospitality infrastructure of the country. We should not question whether the visitors got the best in 14 days,” she said.
“The impact of newly-built infrastructure for an event is always felt post-event. Occupancy rates in hotels are high to prove that more people are attracted to India,” Selja said.
She also said the tourism ministry wanted to develop the mid-segment of the hospitality sector.
“The country has adequate five-star properties and dhabas. We will assist the budget hotels, three- and four-star hotels and the business hotels and related hospitality industry to build the segment,” Selja said.
Tourism promotion is a sustained campaign, she said.
“We are trying to promote India as a 365-day destination. We have so much to offer - lot more variety compared many destinations. The travellers’ profile is also changing. The country is drawing not just leisure travellers, but business travellers as well as the economy grows,” she said.
–India-Abroad News Service
mch/ld/vt
- Negative CWG publicity has hurt tourism: Selja - Sep 27, 2010
- Revolutionise India's hospitality industry, Pitroda to Indian American hoteliers - May 04, 2012
- Look through the eyes of tourists, says Selja (Lead) - Aug 19, 2009
- India, Cyprus exchange views to promote tourism - Oct 26, 2010
- Bullish on India, Chatwal plans 100 hotels in 10 years (Lead) - Jan 09, 2012
- India needs to streamline visa, infrastructure to tap tourism potential: Experts - Feb 12, 2012
- Games venues can now hold future extravaganzas, says Selja - Oct 21, 2010
- Kerala Tourism tapping more domestic market - Sep 09, 2010
- Look through the eyes of tourists, says tourism minister - Aug 19, 2009
- Commonwealth Games an opportunity to present India as a unique tourism destination: Selja - Nov 12, 2009
- Commonwealth Games to showcase India: Selja - Nov 12, 2009
- Take all steps for tourists' security against crime, says Kumari Selja - Mar 06, 2010
- India a safe tourist destination: Minister - Sep 20, 2010
- Custom made in India - holidays for LGBTs - Nov 28, 2011
- South Africa steps up efforts to woo Indian tourists - Feb 03, 2012
Tags: airport terminals, business hotels, commonwealth games, domestic tourists, four star hotels, hospitality industry, hospitality sector, indian tourism, initial estimates, international hospitality, itdc, kumari, maidan, negative publicity, racing against time, star properties, tourism development corporation, tourism minister, tourism ministry, tourism sector