What are the key features of the proposed tourism policy?
In the new tourism policy, we are trying to give a new dimension to this sector. We are no longer looking at it as a leisure activity, but as a major source of employment. The labour capital ratio per million rupee of investment at 1985-86 prices in the tourism sector is 47.5 jobs as against 44.7 jobs in agriculture and 12.6 jobs in case of manufacturing industries. So far, we had not looked at this aspect of tourism but the new policy will change all this. It could help solve the major national problem of unemployment. It will also focus on promotion of eco-tourism and involvement of private sector in a big way in tourism projects. The private sector needs to invest more in promotion of tourism to reap its real benefits. The government is also to strengthen its own hotel chain, ITDC. Besides, we are looking at promoting culture tourism. The government has decided to organise `VISIT INDIA’ year from April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000 to coincide with 300 years of birth of Khalsa for which
