The Tourism Ministry in India has failed to produce a clear roadmap to maximise the potential of its G20 presidency to increase foreign tourist numbers, according to a report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. The report, submitted on Monday, said that the ministry should have set aside a budget for G20 promotional activities and developed a more detailed roadmap to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into the tourism sector.
"The committee also feels that the ministry does not have a roadmap to leverage the G20 opportunity to its maximum potential for the promotion of tourism and increase of foreign exchange," the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture report said.
The panel also criticised the budget of Rs 242 crore ($32m), which it claimed would not be enough for both routine promotional activities and G20 events.
The report suggested that the ministry approach the Ministry of Finance for increased budgetary allocations for promotional activities. It also called on the ministry to ensure that a roadmap for overseas promotion is in place before the start of the next financial year.
The parliamentary panel also noted that the Overseas Promotion and Publicity scheme had not been approved, adding that the ministry should not lose the opportunities provided by the G20 meetings and the "Visit India" promotional campaign.
The panel expressed concern that all eight overseas promotion offices were being shut down without alternate methods for overseas promotion being provided.
The report recommended that the ministry provide details of the work being done by tourism officers and the roadmap for the promotion of Indian tourism abroad.
The panel emphasised that the ministry should not lose the opportunities provided by the G20 meetings and the 'Visit India' promotional campaign and should make sure that a roadmap for promotion overseas is in place before the start of the next financial year so that the budget can be fully utilised.