Jet, Sahara may get nod to fly to UK

With India opting for an open sky policy, private carriers like Jet Airways may be allowed to operate between Indian cities and London, Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhury has indicated.

Fielding questions at a 'road show' to attract tourists to India in London on Monday night, Chowdhury told a representative of Jet Airways: "Yes, we are discussing the question (of permitting private carriers to operate from India to London, hitherto reserved for Air-India). We are having an open sky policy. Better still, we should work together."

Chowdhury and Amitabh Kant, the joint secretary in the tourism ministry, made an impressive presentation of a 'multi-faceted Incredible India,' which should not only be visited 'but experienced.'

Despite the downtrend in global tourism after the September 11 terrorist strikes on New York and Washington, India has recorded a 26 per cent annual growth in the tourist traffic with about 320 million tourists from abroad visiting India last year.

"Not only are airlines and hotels are full, even Kashmir is houseful," she noted.

Referring to the 2001 attacks, Chowdhury said: "Terrorism is a global phenomenon and each one of us has to fight this menace and not get cowed down by it."

Lord Swraj Paul, NRI industrialist and British Ambassador for Overseas Business, complimented both Chowdhury and Kant for their marvelous presentation."

"It not only makes India a marvelous place but it makes Indians here very proud of the country of their origin. Indian population here love India. They are proud of being Indians," he said wishing all success to the campaign.