New Delhi, Feb 20- Union Minister Shashi Tharoor said India should attract more tourists by offering world-class facilities and ensuring security of travellers particularly women.
A total of 6.6 million overseas tourists visited India in 2012, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
“We should claim our rightful place in tourism. India could offer niche tourism in the health, film and culinary fields given our diversity and rich cultural heritage,” Shashi said at an award presentation ceremony for the tourism industry here Tuesday.
Tourist safety especially for women is one of the bottleneck issues faced by the government, the minister said, although efforts have been made to deal with the problem.
The tourism industry is also increasingly being recognised as a strategy for poverty alleviation.
“A rupee invested in the tourism sector generates eight times as many jobs,” Shashi said.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government recently extended a visa-on-arrival facility to visitors from 180 countries.
– Bernama
