India Mulls Appointing ‘Tourism Officers’ in All Embassies to Boost Tourism Promotion

India Mulls Appointing 'Tourism Officers' in All Embassies to Boost Tourism Promotion Pic/Special Arrangement

VoM News Desk | September 26, 2023 | 06:12 PM IST | Breaking News, Tourism, World | Follow on Google News

India Mulls Appointing ‘Tourism Officers’ in All Embassies to Boost Tourism Promotion

In a bid to bolster the promotion of Indian tourism destinations, the Indian government is considering a proposal to appoint “tourism officers” in all its embassies and high commissions worldwide. This initiative comes in response to concerns raised by stakeholders and a parliamentary standing committee report that highlighted the adverse impact of closing overseas tourist offices in missions abroad.

Closure of Overseas Tourist Offices

Around two years ago, the Indian government decided to shut down overseas tourism offices in missions abroad. Instead, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) appointed tourism officers in 20 countries, which are top source markets for tourists. The aim was to collaborate with stakeholders and attract foreign visitors to India.

Negative Impact on Indian Tourism

The recently tabled parliamentary standing committee report on transport, tourism, and culture revealed that the closure of overseas tourist offices had negatively affected Indian tourism. India’s absence in the brochures of overseas tourism agents was noted as a particular setback, affecting the prospects of Indian tourism.

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Limited Engagement with Stakeholders

The parliamentary panel expressed concern that tourism officers had held only one meeting with Indian stakeholders in the last two years. This raised questions about their engagement with foreign tourism agents and business-to-business (B2B) players since their appointment.

Exploring Solutions

In response to these concerns, the parliamentary committee suggested exploring the possibility of posting well-trained and experienced officers from the Ministry of Tourism for awareness and publicity activities in Indian missions abroad. The committee also sought information about the background and training of the tourism officers appointed in 20 countries.

Government’s Response

The Ministry of Tourism responded by stating that the officers already dealt with promoting Indian culture and commerce, making them suitable for tourism promotion. The MEA is now considering a proposal to designate tourism officers in all missions.

Budgetary Discussions Ongoing

The report also highlighted ongoing discussions regarding separate budgets for tourism at the MEA’s disposal for promotional campaigns. The committee recommended expediting the resolution of this issue to ensure that MEA has the necessary funds and programs for tourism promotion.

In summary, India is contemplating the appointment of tourism officers in all its embassies and high commissions as part of efforts to reinvigorate the promotion of its tourism destinations on the global stage.

VoM News Desk

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