Weathering tsunami impact on tourism, India posted an impressive growth in tourist arrival and foreign exchange earnings in 2005 which saw several new initiatives aimed at spurring further progress in the coming years.

But it could not make matching progress in providing additional infrastructure to hold the fresh growth in tourist arrivals.

Among the major initiatives of the year was the new focus on medical tourism and relaxation in visa rules for tourists yearning for treatment in Allopathy and also in the country's traditional systems of medicine.

The deadly tsunami that devastated a part of the coastal India did affect the flow of foreign tourists in the first two months of this year, but the effective global campaign of India Tourism salvaged the situation and the country kept up the tempo that was generated through the ''Incredible India'' campaign launched four years ago.

India recorded a growth of about 13.5 per cent in arrivals and about 20 per cent in foreign exchange earnings in 2005.

The first eleven months recorded 3.35 million tourists to the country as compared to 2.59 million during the corresponding period last year. Similarly, foreign exchange earnings during January-November was Rs 22,958 crore as against Rs 17,039 crore during this period last year.

According to India tourism's poster boy Amitabh Kant, India's growth in its tourism market has outstripped the world average increase during 2004 and 2005.

In 2004, India's tourism industry had grown by 24 per cent in volume terms; and by 26 per cent in value terms. The figures in the first eleven months also indicated a similar pattern, said Mr Kant, who is also Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism.

Sensitising the need for more hotels, mostly in the budget category, the Ministry of Tourism has announced a few new schemes aimed at attracting private players to infrastructure development in metropolitan cities and tourism spots. The centre has also advised the state governments to streamline their land policy by re-zoning and redefining land use to facilitate development of adequate hotel rooms in metro cities and at tourism sites.

In order to encourage construction of hotels in the country, the Tourism Ministry has announced a scheme 'Incentives to Accommodation Infrastructure' granting Capital and Interest subsidy to hotels.

The scheme is expected to make impact in the coming years.

However, the year witnessed the usual bouncing of hotel rooms in Delhi, much to the embarrassment of travel agents and affecting the image of India Tourism.

( http://news.webindia123.com)