TravTalk India Online Magazine
The Ministry of Tourism has released the beta version of the Incredible India 2.0 website, which is all set to be officially launched in two weeks, reveals Meenakshi Sharma, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, at the IATO luncheon meeting in New Delhi.
Nisha Verma
Wait for website
The Incredible India website was announced on World Tourism Day on September 27, 2017, which also collided with the National Tourism Awards. With more content being added to it, now it looks like the website will soon be launched for users. Meenakshi Sharma, said, “We are almost ready to launch the website. The beta version is ready and we are waiting for feedback. Very soon the final version will be out and we would like the users to experience it. The interface of the new website is not complex. Just like the digital calendar, one needs to download it and start using. The new website is extremely user friendly and will be compatible with all devices. A mobile App will also be available for the same to allow people to get the information they need.”
PRASAD Scheme
A lot has been going under the PRASAD scheme and Sharma gives an insight, saying, “Under the PRASAD scheme, the sites are selected in terms of footfall. Our focus at MOT is to create the amenities for tourists whether it is to provide information or other facilitation centres, which can even include an amphitheatre depending on the destination we are working on. Currently, there are 21 projects in 16 sites, out of which three are nearing completion. Amaravati is soon getting completed. Even Patna Sahib is almost done, and last year during the 351st birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the facilities were utilised. A lot of work is also being done in Belur as well as Kedarnath,” revealed Sharma.
The interface of the new website is not complex. Just like the digital calendar, one needs to download it and start using. A mobile App will also be available for the same to allow people to get the information they need
Working with Railways
Referring to railways as the lifeline of India, Sharma said that railways has had a huge impact on tourism. “As far as domestic tourism is concerned, a large number of people travel by trains. The MOT works with railways on luxury trains. Railways has halved the haulage charges, which will make luxury trains affordable. We have just come up with three glass-top coaches along with railways which have been proving successful—one is running between Vishakhapatnam and Araku Valley, the other one is in the Konkan and the third one is going to be in Srinagar. While these are some initiatives on which we are working together, there are others which railways is executing on its own, including mega development of railway stations,” she shared.
Buddhist Tourism
India is the land of Buddha, and Sharma says that India needs to be able to take Buddha’s teachings and life to people. “We do get a lot of Buddhist pilgrims, but there is a huge scope to work on this approach. We organise international Buddhist Conclave where we share information with other tour operators. As part of Swadesh Darshan scheme, the upcoming Buddhist Circuit will connect many destinations,” Sharma shared.
