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Two representatives of the Indian stand put on traditional Indian make-up in Berlin
© AFP/DDP/File Jens Schlueter

The target of five million foreign visitors set when the "Incredible India" promotional campaign was launched in 2002 is set to be reached this year, and Indian authorities are seeking new horizons.

"We are trying to convert India into a 365 days a year destination by opening other regions and offering new products," Amitabh Kant, joint secretary of the Indian ministry of tourism, told AFP at the ITB fair in the German capital which closes on Sunday.

The World Travel and Tourism Council issued a report this month placing India among the top 10 countries in terms of tourism sector growth over the next few years.

For India, tourism is becoming an important contributor to GDP.

"We focus on tourism because the impact on employment is bigger than with other industries," Kant said.

Swadesh Kumar, a tour operator who was one of the pioneers in the Indian tourist trade when he created Schikhar Travels in 1979, said his company was a typical example of how the sector is diversifying.

Having started out offering guided tours of the Himalayas for dedicated climbers it now runs Jeep safaris and more relaxed walking holidays.

But he said the speed of the growth in the sector was posing problems for travellers.

"Tourism in India is growing very fast. It's a problem because infrastructures are not following. For example you can't get accommodation," Kumar said.

The government is offering substantial incentives to address the problem.

"We need 150,000 hotel rooms by 2010. We've just given tax concessions. Those who build hotels by 2010 will receive a five-year tax holiday," Kant said.

©AFP

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