NEW DELHI: In a bid to boost tourism, India announced major policy allowing foreigners to hold 51 percent ownership of hotels. Till now, foreigners could hold 40% ownership and were required to hire Indian manager.
S.K. Mishra, Secretary Tourism, also announced that foreign companies could also operate charter planes up to a capacity of 50 Passengers at all major airports, international and domestic.
The growth of tourism has been lacklustre in the recent years. Lack of proper infrastructure like good transport, cheap clean hotels and India’s restrictive laws, as well as the turbulent political climate have been seen to be the causes of the bad performance.
Mishra also announced that India would soon sign an agreement to US. National Park Service to landscape the land facing the Taj Mahal on the opposite bank of the Jammuna river.
India is also launching a big effort to get tourists from Buddhist countries visit the cradle of Buddhism. Buddhist religion started in India but priests were killed and their libraries burnt by jealous Brah as a result of which Buddhism eventually declined and all but disappeared in India, though it spread to the South East Asia.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 14, 1989
