NEW DELHI – The lengths national tourism bodies will go to in tough times is best illustrated by the decision by India to consider offering free holidays – but only to those who have already visited the country twice before.
Faced with a fall in foreign tourist arrivals (compounded by the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai) the government has decided to offer hospitality on the house to foreign tourists who come to India for the third time.
The global meltdown combined with the Mumbai attacks have spelt disaster for the tourism industry with foreign tourist arrivals dropping by 2.1 percent and foreign exchange earnings down by 12.5 percent.
The Times of India says the tourism ministry is considering several sops for the hospitality and travel industry.
These include offering free air travel and accommodation to foreign tourists who visit India for the third time. “This move, if approved, will mean encouraging genuine Indophiles and is in line with our effort to encourage repeat travellers,” an official said.
The ministry is also considering footing the bill for travel and accommodation of tour operators promoting domestic travel and medical tourism.
