Tourism sector to get infrastructure status soon

"Getting infrastructure status for the tourism industry is very near conclusion," Sujit Banerjee, secretary, Ministry of Tourism said while speaking at the inaugural session of the 3-day "The Great Indian Travel Bazaar 2009" last night.

He said that tourist arrival will increase in the country very soon after it declined in recent months, especially after the Mumbai attacks in November last year. He, however, declined to indicate a time-line for the industry to regain growth.

Foreign tourist arrivals have gone down by 10-12 per cent since the attacks, he said. The Ministry of Tourism is also working on a proposal for "single window clearance" for setting up new hotel projects. "We are working on single window clearance for hotel projects in the country," Banerjee said.

While speaking at the session, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group chairperson and managing director Jyotsna Suri said: "India is a key (tourism) destination and is still unexplored".