SAARC Tour Operators Conclave for joint forum to promote tourism
New Delhi: The South Asian countries have urged the travel professionals and stakeholders to explore the ways and means for more exchange of tourists and set up a joint forum for tourism promotion in the region.
Inaugurating the South Asian countries’ Tour Operators Conclave convened by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in New Delhi on July 6, Minister for Tourism of India Subodh Kant Sahai said,” we must motivate each SAARC country in such a way that tourism becomes the focus of economic and political agenda.”
Sahai said that SAARC region has immense growth potential. “If it could be fully utilized in all possible ways, the SAARC region has the potential to steer the economy of the world. The cultural diversity of the SAARC region is unique, and the combination of scenic landscapes, natural beauty, and ethnic multiplicity – only add to its international appeal. All these facts unite to make the SAARC region a great tourist attraction. In fact, most SAARC nations have already realized this potential at individual level but with a concerted effort, the success culminated would be many folds”,he added.
Sahai said that in spite of its growing relevance and proven contribution to GDP, jobs and exports, the tourism sector still lacks due political and economic recognition. He said against this background, UNWTO and WTTC have decided to join hands for making tourism a global agenda through “Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign”. He opined “through this campaign we all hope to position tourism as a driver of economic growth and development.”
Referring to the rich ancient Buddhist Heritage of India he announced that “with a view to showcasing and projecting Buddhist Heritage of India we are planning to organize an International Buddhist Conclave in Varanasi on 29th and 30th September 2012. The Tour Operators and scholars from SAARC region will be invited to participate in the Conclave”.
He also announced that India will be hosting the 25th Joint meeting of UNWTO Commissions for Far East and the Pacific and South Asia in April 2013. This meeting is expected to be attended by approximately 100 delegates from 27 countries which include tourism heads, tourism officials and officials from UNWTO.
Addressing the delegates, Sultan Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism of India informed that constant deliberations are required within the regional partners to improve travel within the region. “We have to improve connectivity, both air and by road within the region. Air connectivity does not mean just adding more flights, it should be made affordable travel possible as well,” he added. He said that visa on arrival facilities for travel within the region should also be looked. “We have to act as one nation,” he concluded.
About 45 leading Tour Operators from Afghanisatan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated in the conclave.
During the presentation from the Nepalese delegation, Officiating CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Subash Nirola stressed the need of the joint forums on tourism for promoting regional tourism including the common forum for the private sector tourism associations for marketing and promotion of tourism activities.
He also emphasised on easing frontier formalities, free visas to SAARC Nationals, developing connectivity by railways and roadways, increasing direct air connectivity between the various metropolitan cities of the member countries.
Nepalese delegation included Subash Nirola, Pabitra Kumar Karki, President, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Askok Chandra Pokharel, President, Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Pawan Tuladhar, Chairman, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, Yam Bahadur Khadka, Secretary General, Society of Travel and Tour Operators Nepal (SOTTO Nepal) and Rishi Ram Bhandari, Member, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN).
After the conclave the International participants from the SAARC countries were taken on a technical visit to Delhi Heritage trip and tour of Agra.
SAARC is an important source market for India. 1,013,516 tourists from SAARC region visited India in 2011 as compared to 998,179 in 2010.
As per UNWTO report the international tourist arrivals to Asia and the Pacific are projected to increase from 204 million in 2010 to 535 million in 2030. The share of international tourism to emerging economies will be bigger compared to advanced ones.
During the year 2011, UNWTO estimates that Asia and Pacific saw a 7% increase in tourist arrivals led by South Asia and South East Asia. As per PATA report this region is poised to emerge as the fastest growing in the Asia and Pacific region. Source – NTB and PIB/India
