1. INDIA, CHINA BID TO BOOST BILATERAL TOURISM

Monday, April 07, 2008--Union Tourism and Culture Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni inaugurated the India Tourism Office in Beijing today as part of the plan of action for India-China Friendship Year Celebrations. The Minister asked Chinese tour operators and travel agents and Airline representatives to increase the volume of traffic from China to India and focus on special tourism products such as Buddhist sites, new luxury trains and exciting lesser-known tourist destinations.

Mrs Soni also inaugurated a photo-exhibition by Ms Rita Zhao, the Chinese photographer who visited India during the Friendship Through Tourism Year. To mark the opening of the office, the Ministry of Tourism held an Incredible India Evening featuring the best of Indian Culture and Cuisine, with the Chairman of the China National Tourism Authority, Mr Shao Qiwei, as Chief Guest. The Beijing office is India Tourism’s 14th Overseas Office and is being headed by Acting Director Mr.R.S. Meena.

Speaking at the Incredible India Evening, Mrs. Soni said that both India and China are in the midst of rapid transformation. The systems are different but people in both countries are united in their aspirations for a better future. Last year, more than half a million visitors were exchanged between the two countries, a relatively insignificant figure in view of their combined 40% population of the world. However, travel is projected to grow rapidly as entrepreneurs of both countries boost their attendance at travel marts and road shows.

Mrs Soni said that this year, India is celebrating 60 years of its independence, which heralded freedom movements in Asia and Africa throughout the 20th century. India demonstrated to the world how Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non violence and Satyagraha could break the shackles of colonial rule.

She said the India-China relationship is unique, bonded by historic and civilisational links. To rediscover and revitalise these historical ties:

• 2007 was declared as the India –China Friendship Year Through Tourism.

• Shuan Tsang Memorial was completed in Nalanda in 2007

• The redevelopment of Nalanda as a major centre of learning with the establishment of an international university on the basis of regional cooperation is on.

• Treasures of Ancient India exhibition was held in Beijing and three other cities of China.

• Indian style Buddhist Mrne in Luoyang in Henan province in China is almost complete.

• Festivals will be organised in India and China in 2010

• India participated in the Kunming Tourism Fair in November 2007

• China National Tourism Administration opened its office in Delhi in 2007.

Mrs Soni said weekly flight connections have grown and the major metropolitan cities are well connected. Tourist Arrivals from China have been as follows:

2003         2004      2005          2006 (* Provisional)
21,152     34,100     44,897     62,330

Indian tourists to China are as follows:-

2003         2004          2005          2006  
219,097     309,411     356,460     405,091

Most of the Chinese tourists disembarked at Delhi airport (48.9%), followed by Mumbai (24.7%) and Bangalore (8.6%). The peak quarter of arrivals from China in 2006 was October-December (32.4%), followed by January-March (26.9%). The dominant age group in 2006 was 25-34 years (34.4%), followed by 35-44 year (33.3%).

The Ministry of Tourism is now printing tourism brochures in Chinese and has set up the www.incredibleindia.org website in Chinese. Tour Operators and Travel Agents of the two countries have exchanged familiarisation tours.

The Ministry of Culture in association with Sangeet Natak Academy is putting up a special classical dance performance in Beijing and Shanghai, along with a food festival. The Ministry of Tourism is also supporting the inauguration event with a branding exercise by advertisements in the outdoor media.