12.03 hrs.
Title: Regarding National Tourism Policy,2002 – Laid.
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SHRI JAG MOHAN): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the New National Tourism Policy has been finalised by the Government with a view to enhance employment potential within the Tourism Sector and also foster economic integration with other sectors. It attempts to:-
Position tourism as a major engine of economic growth;
Harness the direct and multiplier effects of tourism for employment generation, economic development and providing impetus to rural tourism;SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI (RAIGANJ): Sir, the National Tourism Policy should not only remain just a statement but also needs to be debated on the floor of the House. Let him make a statement. But you may find some time for a debate on this subject.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: As the Statement is too long, the hon. Minister may lay it on the Table of the House.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI JAG MOHAN: Sir, I lay the Statement on the Table of the House.
*Also Placed in Library. See No. LT 5606/2002.
National Tourism Policy – 2002
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir,
New National Tourism Policy has been finalised by the Government with a view to enhance employment potential within the Tourism Sector and also foster economic integration with other sectors. It attempts to :- Position tourism as a major engine of economic growth; Harness the direct and multiplier effects of tourism for employment generation, economic development and providing impetus to rural tourism; Focus on Domestic Tourism as a way or driver of tourism growth; Position India as a global brand to take advantage of the burgeoning global travel and trade and the vast untapped potential of India as a destination; Acknowledges the critical role of private sector with government working as a pro-active facilitator and catalyst; Create and develop integrated tourism circuits based on India’s unique civilization, heritage and culture in partnership with states, private sector and other agencies; Ensure that the tourist to India gets physically invigorated, mentally rejuvenated, culturally enriched, spiritually elevated and “feel India from within”. The previous policy which was formultated in 1982 no longer answers the needs of the time. The principles on which the new policy is based and its highlights are as under: Account should be taken of the fact that for the last four decades or so, a tourism revolution has been sweeping the world. In 1964, the number of tourists leaving their homes, worldwide, was 100 million. This number increased to 200 million in 1974, 500 million in 1992 and 700 million in 2001. And this number is likely to swell to 1.5 billion by 2020 and receipts from it are estimated to cross $2000 billion.
If India has to partake in this revolution in a meaningful way, it must change its strategies as well as the techniques and tools of its machinery of implementation. In this connection, it has to be noted with concern that during the last decade or so, India’s share of world tourist traffic has remained static – 0.38 per cent. At the institutional level, a framework would have to be evolved which is Government-led, private-sector driven and community-welfare oriented. Government have to provide a legislative framework to regulate tourism trade and industry, ensure safety and security of the tourists and create basic infrastructure and health-care facilities. The private sector has to act as a main spring of the activities and impart dynamism and speed to the process of development as well as conservation. Both Government and the private sector would be required to safeguard the stability and also the social and economic advancement of the local communities and the communities in the neighbourhood. The deep-rooted relationship of tourism and our cultural assets should be fully recognised and provided for. Improvements and environmental upgradation of the protected monuments and the areas around them should be considered as a linchpin of the tourism industry. Effective linkages and close coordination should be established with such Departments as Civil Aviation, Environment, Forest, Railways, Home, etc. Sustainability should serve as a guiding star for the new Policy. The development and management strategies should be so worked out as to ensure that tourism largely acts as a smokeless industry and its ecological footprints remain as soft as possible. No one engaged, directly or indirectly, in the tourism industry, should be allowed to secure shortterm gains by resorting to what has been called the darker side of tourism. Neither over-exploitation of natural resources should be permitted nor the carrying capacity of the tourist-sites ignored. Greater emphasis should be laid on eco-tourism whose parameters should be broader than those of nature tourism alone. It must help in eliminating poverty, in ending unemployment, in creating new skills, in enhancing the status of woman, in preserving cultural heritage in encouraging tribal and local crafts and in improving overall environment and facilitating growth of a more just and fair social order. Special thrust should be imparted to rural tourism and tourism in small settlements, where sizeable assets of our cultural and natural wealth exist. Due importance should be given to domestic tourism, particularly tourism connected with pilgrimage, and it should be so designed that the infrastructure created under it serves as a backbone of international tourism in times to come. A new class of young tourists, with marked preference for adventure and distant destinations, in hills, caves and forests, is emerging. This class is not looking for 5-star accommodation but only for simple and clean places to stay. The requirements of this class of tourists should be met and guest tourism encouraged through Panchayats and local bodies and associations. Special attraction of tourist for the Yoga, Siddha, etc., as well as for the Indian cuisine should be made use of and effectively encouraged. The tourist industry and travel agents should be persuaded to evolve and adopt voluntarily a Code of Ethics and its infringement should be firmly dealt with by Tour and Travel Associations. A section of the State police should be earmarked to act as tourist police and special training should be imparted to it. At the international level, India should play a dynamic role and make its presencne felt at the World Tourism Organisation, World Tourism and Travel Council and Earth Council. Its unique cultural values and spiritual heritage should be projected with dignity and elevation befitting a great nation, whenever suitable opportunity comes our way. The civilisational issues as well as issues pertaining to civic administration and good governance must be attended to and made an effective part of the tourism policy. It should be ensured that good policies are not shipwrecked in the sea of half hearted implementation. The new thinking on the subject was indicated by the Prime Minister on October 30, 2001 while delivering the Inaugural Address at the Chief ministers’ Conference on Tourism. He inter-alia said:
“Tourism is a major engine of economic growth in most parts of the World. Several countries have tranformed their economies using the tourism potential the fullest…Tourism has great capacity to create large scale employment of diverse kind – from the most specialised to the unskilled and all of us know that generation of mawssive productive employment opportunities is what India needs the most”.
The background of the case and the provision of the policy are contained in the policy document which is placed on the Table of the House.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): Sir, if it is to be laid, then copies of the statement should be made available to all the Members.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: It has already been laid. Copies will be made available to all of you.
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Time may be fixed to discuss the Policy … (Interruptions) There should be a debate on the subject under Rule 193.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: We can have a discussion on the subject under Rule 193 later.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, Prof. A.K. Premajam, you have given a privilege notice. I have already received it. Your notice of privilege and the matter is under my consideration.
PROF. A.K. PREMAJAM (BADAGARA): Sir, It is against Shri George Fernandes…… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI (RAIGANJ): Sir, we want to know the matter of privilege raised by the lady Member of the House. What is that matter of privilege raised by Prof. Premajam?..… (Interruptions)
श्री रामजीलाल सुमन (फिरोजाबाद): उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, गुजरात विधान सभा के अन्दर जो स्टेटमेंट…( व्यवधान)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I have received her privilege notice. It is under my consideration.… (Interruptions)
: ग्वालियर में प्रधान मंत्री जी ने उसको नकारा है।…( )
PROF. A.K. PREMAJAM : While participating in the discussion on Gujarat under Rule 184, the hon. Minister who is the spokesman of the Government of India had misused the floor of the House and sent a wrong message to the nation…..… ()