Narendra Modi's speech at Vibrant Gujarat 2011

ibnlive.com 
Posted on Jan 12, 2011 at 01:17pm IST

Full text of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's inaugural speech at the 5th Vibrant Gujarat
Global Investors Summit at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar on January 12, 2010. The Vibrant
Gujarat Summits are being held biennially since 2003.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is a matter of great pleasure and rare privilege to welcome you all to this event, to the Mahatma
Mandir and to Gujarat. This is the 5th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit. From a humble
beginning in 2003, we have come a long way to hold this grand event, the biggest of its kind in the
country so far. This venue, where we are sitting, is a lasting tribute to the life and ideals of Mahatma
Gandhi, a son of this soil. This entire construction work which you are seeing is a work of just eight
months. The full project will take another year to get completed. It is going to be a monument of
peace, brotherhood and tolerance. You will be glad to know that the foundation of this building has
been blessed with the soil and water from all the villages of Gujarat and all the States of India. It is
also enriched with soil and water from twenty-two countries of the world and their various provinces.
Thus, not only the event which you are witnessing is global; but also the venue where you are sitting
is global. I can foresee a day when international peace talks will be held at this place and they will
invariably be successful. I welcome you all to the first event at this Mahatma Mandir. Today is also
the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest visionaries the world has ever produced. He
envisioned a world which is driven by "spiritual humanism" that will enable everyone to have
freedom, knowledge and happiness. Through these Summits and through all our thoughts and
actions, we consistently aim at achieving these ideals, not only for ourselves but for the entirety of
humanity.
On this august occasion, at the very outset, I would like to thank the people, the Government and the
companies of Japan who have been our active partners since the last event. I sincerely welcome His
Excellency the Ambassador of Japan and his political and business delegation. I also thank the
Government and the people of Canada for partnering with this event this time. I welcome the
Canadian delegation which is led by His Excellency the High Commissioner of Canada. I particularly
welcome His Excellency the Prime Minister of Rwanda, and various other political dignitaries,
Excellencies, business and institutional delegations. Once again, I join the people of Gujarat in
welcoming and thanking all the international delegations, all companies and participants who have
travelled long distances to be part of this summit. As per initial estimates, more than one third of the
countries of the world are represented here from several continents. We are really honored that you
have accepted our invitation. The participation of such a large number of countries and other Indian
States has given this Summit a new Vibrancy. I welcome you all once again and hope that your stay
here will be comfortable, enjoyable and rewarding.
Friends! India is an emerging power, or as President Obama famously said, "it has already
emerged". India has unlimited potential for growth. The 21st century is not only the century of India
but also that of Asia. Therefore, we have to look at the role of Gujarat not only in the context of India
but also of Asia. Whenever India led the world, the welfare of human beings was at the center. The
cultural heritage of India has compassion, equity and love at its core. This is the land where Buddha
and Mahavir walked. Whenever India suffered a setback, humanity did too. Today, there is
imbalance in the world. The gap between rich and poor is increasing. The gulf between the
developed and developing countries is widening. The separation between nature and human beings
has never been as pronounced as it is today. To come out of these, what sort of paradigm shift is
needed?
Before I talk about the Summit, it is necessary to place it in the context of the times in which this is
happening. Only a few days back, we celebrated the birth of the second decade of 21st century.
There is a vast difference between the last century and the present one in terms of the approach
towards development and growth. The development process in the 20th century was based on
exploitation. The model of development was exploitation of the weak by the strong, exploitation of
the laborers of the poor countries; nations exploiting one another. The mindset was unlimited
exploitation and use of natural resources, as if they would last forever. Therefore, in this century, it
has become necessary to bring about a change in our thinking, in our institutions and mechanisms.
Friends! in this century, when technology has taken off by leaps and bounds, the challenge is to
have technology with a human face. In the last century, international organizations like the UNO
were created mainly for dispute resolution. Now this century should not be a century of disputes or
exploitation but one of understanding and nourishment. It should be environmentally-friendly and
help us to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts, using our natural resources minimally and
getting the maximum benefits out of them. The institutional mechanisms should be development -
oriented with sensitivity towards human beings. Human beings should not be reduced to robots but
should be made free partners in development. In the last century, we worked for awareness about
the rights of women, but now they are equal partners in the development process. Gujarat is charting
out its future role based on the above required paradigm shift.
There are two important drivers of this century. One is the power of youth and the other is the power
of knowledge. India has the maximum number of young people in the world with 72 per cent of
India's population below the age of 40; 47 per cent under 20. And in fact, 10 per cent of the world
population is an Indian under 25. India is also known for its wisdom and knowledge which it gave to
humanity. In today's world, though we are talking about Intellectual Property Rights and Patents, the
question is how to bring creativity out of these narrow confines so that everyone benefits. The
inspiration should come again from India whose heritage stretches from the Vedas to Vivekananda,
from Upanishads to satellites. In this context, we are determining the role that Gujarat needs to play
in the larger context. Gujarat cannot look at its own development. It should provide a model, a model
not only for India, but also for the rest of the developing world. Hence this summit, where business
leaders, academic minds, entrepreneurs, political leaders and bureaucrats have assembled in large
numbers, becomes significant.
Friends! Gujarat's model of Governance, in recent years, is characterized by an organized and
holistic approach towards development. We have moved out of the traditional approach of piecemeal
actions and knee - jerk reactions. We now look at fundamental changes and aim at qualitative and
quantitative leaps. One of these steps was to institutionalize various activities under the banner of
Vibrant Gujarat. The Vibrant Gujarat events were conceived and organized to highlight the culture
and creativity of the State and unleash the energy and enterprise of its people. The scope of this
biennial event has moved further from investments in industry and infrastructure to investments in
human beings. It started as a State level event in 2003. Amidst many uncertainties, even this first
event was a huge success. Therefore, we realized that our direction was right. In 2005, we further
reorganized ourselves and went around the world to invite participation from countries and
companies. The result was again a great response. However, it was 2007 when this event started
acquiring a global character. In 2009, with greater participation of countries, I could see its real
global character. This was the year when Japan formally joined as our partner country. In the 2009
event, there was participation from heads and representatives of forty seven countries. This event,
which was held in the backdrop of a global recession, surprised everyone with investment
agreements of US Dollars 240 billion. In fact, the cumulative figure of the investment flow through all
previous events is to the tune of US Dollars 370billion.
However, investment flow into the State is only a small part of the objective of this event. The greater
objective is to energize global networking for knowledge and technology sharing; to learn the best
practices and to encourage the people to think big and take up challenging projects. Gujarat is a
land of entrepreneurs and these events have further fuelled the enterprising spirit of the Gujarat is.
But rather than resting here, our endeavor has been to further expand the scope of the event. This
time, we have invited Indian States and other countries to make use of our platform for business and
technology tie-ups through agreements for their respective locations. We are particularly
encouraging our own companies to establish national and global partnerships through this Summit.
After having a feel of today's proceedings, you will agree with me that this is no longer a State or
National level event; it has become a Global Event. It is no longer a mere investment promotion
event; it has become a growth propelling event. It is also no longer just a business meet; it has
become an international knowledge - sharing platform. It is critical that we provide an active space
for the flow and exchange of ideas on how to take the process of development forward. Particularly
for India, which is a Nation of myriad cultures and different models of development, a three-way
engagement with politicians, thought leaders and business leaders is the need of the hour. The
same is true for many other countries, particularly in the developing world. I am sure this Summit will
show us the way and will help forge a consensus on what kind of growth we want to see. This is why
we have incorporated a plethora of discussion for aand seminars into the programme of this Summit.
I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those who have contributed to the evolution of this
Summit.
Friends! it was the famous Canadian communication theorist, Marshal McLuhan, who spoke in the
early 1960s of a world that is increasingly becoming a "global village". Along with "global village",
another term that has entered the lexicon is the term "glocalisation". Its origins are in the Japanese
word "dochakuka". It means global localization and had emerged as a key business strategy in
Japan in the 1980s and 1990s. Essentially, it was the adaptation of products and services to the
needs of specific markets, especially in the developing world. I take pride in saying that Gujarat
epitomizes the best of both the terms which our Japanese and Canadian partners gave to the world.
Gujarat has, in fact, always been a Global Community with its diaspora spread throughout the world.
For centuries, our people have settled all across the world and have proved their acumen. They
bring back home the global experience and mix it with the enterprising spirit of the State. Over the
years, Gujarat has turned into a Global Economy with the presence of global companies here and
our products available all around the world. Today, you will see how we are moving towards
becoming a Global Hub. When we talk of a global hub, we mean that we are in the process of
making Gujarat a globally preferred place to live in and to do business. Thus, I can say that Gujarat
has inherently believed and sincerely practiced what Canada and Japan believed in and practiced.
Therefore, there is lot of sense why the three are partners in this Summit.
I have often been saying that in this era of globalization, the physical boundaries of nations will
disappear. Also, more than the physical resources, the intangibles like Governance, the scope of
opportunities and the standards of processes will become important. I have thought on this issue
further and I feel that for a strongly globalized and performing economy, what is important is the five
Ms: First and foremost of these five Ms is Man. When I talk of Man, it includes all genders, their
minds, their skills, their spirits, and their ways of working and living. The second important M is
Materials: which of course includes the natural resources and physical assets. Another important M
is Machines which include the technological prowess as well as the R & D capabilities. Yet another
M is Maritime links in which I also include all other forms of connectivity including Roads, Railways,
Airways and Information Highways. The last and the most important M, to my mind, is the aspect of
Management which includes the quality and nature of political, administrative and corporate
governance. Friends! On all these five Ms, I am proud to say that Gujarat represents not only the
best of India but it offers a global edge. To put it in short, Gujarat represents a state of business both
in the physical and mental form. Its strength lies in catching the ideas and converting them into
business propositions. We house some of the biggest and the best industries, the world over. We
are monopoly producers in the country in several sectors and a global leader in a number of
products. Our industrial infrastructure including the environmental infrastructure is regarded as the
best in the country. We provide a hassle-free environment for business which starts right from the
effective handholding for setting up projects. Transaction costs and the cost of living are low; labour
problems are almost zero and there is absolutely no shortage of critical inputs like power and water.
It is these features which have made Gujarat a preferred business destination.
Friends! India is on the path of becoming a major economic power in the world. I have personally
been committed to 'Gujarat's Growth for India's Growth'. We have re-oriented the approach of the
development process in general and of industrialization in particular. We have made the
development process a mass movement with people's participation. This decade of Gujarat has
been a decade of phenomenal growth. We have not only registered overall double-digit GDP growth
but our important sectors have also registered double-digit growth. Our Industry has grown at 13% in
the last decade. Our agriculture has grown at 9.6% over last seven years. The per capita income of
the people has grown at 13.8%. With these and several similar indicators, we are already regarded
as the "Growth Engine of India".
However, we want to go far ahead. Our eyes are on the global benchmarks. Our eyes are on global
excellence in all possible spheres. Also, we are equally keen that these achievements benefit our
people and raise their standard of living. We have taken definite steps to achieve this kind of
performance. To give you a few examples: We have tripled the number of seats in our technical and
management colleges on the one hand and on the other, we have set up seven new world class
universities and an NT. As part of this very Summit, we have entered into agreements with several
renowned universities of the world. Understanding the importance of knowledge in this century, we
have organized exchange programmes with the best brains and institutions in the country and
abroad. Similarly, we have made substantial progress in oil and gas exploration. At the same time,
we have laid down a 2,200 km long gas grid to fuel the industries and households. We have made
hundreds and thousands of water - harvesting structures, and also successfully implemented one of
the world's biggest dams, the longest canal system and a State wide water grid. We have added
substantial Megawatts to our electricity generation; and at the same time connected each and every
village with electricity making Gujarat the only State to supply round the clock power to all the
households of the State. We have set up world class - hospitals making Gujarat a global medical
tourism destination, and at the same time, have ensured access for mothers and children to medical
facilities. We already had the biggest Wide Area Network in Asia and the Pacific. But we have further
strengthened our connections to the world by taking the broadband right up to the village level. Our
primary and secondary schools have been equipped with the best physical and ICT infrastructure.
Friends! with careful planning and aggressive execution, we have broken away from the traditional
pattern of governance of a developing country where the pace of progress was slow, the delivery
was sluggish and the results were invisible. In the infrastructure sector, we have redefined the
approach and the level of thinking. We have been creating a very futuristic infrastructure and
implementing some of the most ambitious projects. Many of our cities have been rated as the
environmentally best cities and economically fastest-growing in the world. We are converting many
of our roads to expressway standards. We are laying down seamless and robust connectivity to and
from our ports, industrial clusters and agri-marketing centres. To connect such economic centers, we
have also implemented railway lines through the private sector. We have established India's first two
LNG terminals; to which we are going to add two more very shortly.
We are not only upgrading our ports to make them world class, we are also adopting a holistic
coastal development approach including the development of new coastal cities with global
standards. To develop the infrastructure, we have perfected the mechanism for Public-Private
Partnerships. Our PPP model is time tested now and has been consistently admired in the country.
The above are just a few illustrations but they elaborate the reasons that a large number of national
and multi-national companies have made Gujarat their base. This is the reason that our contribution
to industrial output is around 16%, consistently for a decade. This is the reason that we contribute
22% of India's exports. This is also the reason that we account for 30% of India's market
capitalization. We are committed to not only retain this position but to further improve it. With
General Motors, Tata Nano and Bombardier, we are emerging as a new auto and transportation
manufacturing hub. With our limestone reserves, we are emerging as the biggest cement producer
in the country. We have already emerged as a big steel and pipe producer in the country. Now, we
are going to become global players in these fields. And the best infrastructure strength which we
have is our 1600 km long coastline dotted with world class ports. These ports are the gateways to
Gujarat's prosperity, highways for global trade and expressways for the progress of the country
particularly its northern hinterland.
However, friends! we are not going to rest with this. We are committed to make India emerge
stronger even stronger. If India has to become a premier economy in the world, as its prime
economic constituent, we have to do even better. We are constantly expanding the horizon of our
physical, social and industrial infrastructure, our governance, our policies and processes. On the
industrial infrastructure front, we moved from our traditional industrial clusters to industrial estates
and advanced further to establish 60 SEZs which is the largest number in the country. We are
further moving to set up truly world-class and huge-sized Special Investment Regions which we call
the SIRs. We have planned for 12 SIRs which will be Global Hubs of Economic Activity. They will be
supported by world-class infrastructure, premium civic amenities and an exemplary policy
environment. Setting up of these SIRs is in line with the upcoming Dedicated Freight Corridor
between Delhi and Mumbai (DFC) and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Similarly, these
SIRs will have a great synergy with our upcoming International Finance TechCity popularly known as
GIFT. I am fond of saying that each of these SIRs is going to become "a new Gujarat within Gujarat".
These developments are historic. These developments have the potential to fundamentally change
our State's economy, to give a quantum jump to the Indian economy and to influence the global
economy.
I must also add here that the achievements of Gujarat are all-pervasive. They are not region specific,
sector specific or community specific. Our people are not only beneficiaries but they are active
partners in the process of development. The State Government is playing the role of a catalyst and
facilitator. Gujarat has, in fact, emerged as a model of Good Governance not only in the country but
in the entire world. Our Mantra is: P2-G2 which means Pro-active Pro-people Good Governance.
Our innovations range from multi-faceted and multi-level infrastructure to mass campaigns for girl
child education, to evening courts for speedy delivery of justice, additional shifts in engineering
colleges, a movement away from water scarcity to water management and self-sufficiency in power
through generation and reduction of losses. These are just some of the steps that have been taken
in various fields in a very innovative manner. That is why, almost on a weekly basis, we have been
receiving national and international awards in various areas of governance, scheme formulation and
their outcome. A few months back, the United Nations Organization gave to my office the coveted
Public Service Award for improving the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of Public Service.
However, we are constantly trying to achieve higher and higher standards. Many of our Government
offices, including my own office, are ISO certified. These awards, the successive support of the
people to my Government, and the overwhelming response of the global community are testimony
that we are moving in the right direction.
Friends! we are presently celebrating the Golden Jubilee year of the formation of the Gujarat State.
We are working hard to make this era of Gujarat a golden era. With that objective, we are bringing in
changes in our systems. We are re-visiting our priorities and processes. We are re-orienting our
aspirations and energies. During this year, we all have taken the pledge to bring quality changes in
our lives and professions. The people of Gujarat have always been cost conscious and quality
conscious in their occupations. Now, we are increasingly becoming carbon conscious too. One of
the biggest changes that we are bringing in is to ensure that whatever we do, we do in a manner that
the environmental impacts are minimum. I know for sure that managing climate change is very
critical to human existence. To tackle it, Gujarat was the first Country or State in Asia to establish a
separate Department of Climate Change. We saw the need to promote an understanding that
communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards our fragile planet. No one can doubt that the
time to act is now. It is now that timely action can avert disaster. We have taken concrete action in
the last few years to show how the dangers to climate change can be averted. I have listed some of
these actions in my latest book 'Convenient Action1. These actions range from water conservation
and waste management to the generation of Solar and Wind energy. Our action flows from Mahatma
Gandhi's concept of trusteeship- that wealth belongs to the community and must be used for the
welfare of the community. My understanding of this teaching is that we must ensure the same or
better level of wealth to our future generations.
I always say that good infrastructure is the backbone of good life, good opportunities and good
investments. And, Good Governance is the enabler for all of them. Gujarat is a rare combination of
all these enablers. In addition, Gujarat has a unique spirit of business. This combined with the
Government's pro-active and business friendly role, has made Gujarat one of the most preferred
business locations in India. We are constantly on the job to further improve this ecosystem. Our
existing potential and future strategy offer enormous opportunities for you. We have assembled here
to work in mutual interest and in the interest of humanity. I invite you to be part of our development
process which is robust and yet uniform; fast and yet sustainable. You may have a lot to benefit from
it. You may find a lot to share in it. This summit is special to us, not only because it is the biggest
summit so far hosted, but also because it is happening in the Golden Jubliee year of Gujarat. In a
short span of 50 years, the State has become a leader in the country and a global icon in many
aspects. This phenomenal success could be achieved because people of Gujarat basically believe in
a value system. They also believe in business ethics and sincere standards in whatever they do.
That is the primary reason why Gujarat has done so well on a consistent basis in almost all sectors.
Friends! as I said earlier, the objective of this global summit is not merely to attract monetary
investments. This is an attempt to unite all those who are concerned about the well being of
humanity and want to evolve new parameters for human welfare on a sustainable basis. I assure
you that we will keep up our efforts in this direction and will make a difference. Gujarat Can and
Gujarat Will. This Summit is also not a one-time affair for us. It is just a beginning of building
relationships. Similarly, for you, it should not be a one-time affair. You should keep coming to it again
and again. And I wish that every time you come, you gain from it much more than you did on the
previous occasion. I once again welcome you all. I am sure that now once you are here, you will
develop lasting ties with our State, its people, its potential and its opportunities.
On my part, I assure you that I will be there to help you reach where you want to reach. In fact, from
now onwards, we will pursue your dreams and make you realize them faster than you even
anticipated.
Thank You

India Travel Mart begins today

TNN, Nov 27, 2010, 05.00am IST

CommentsJAIPUR: It's just in time for you to plan your winter break. November end, the B M
Birla Auditorium, will host a three-day international travel and tourism exhibition, India
Travel Mart (ITM). And this would give you a plethora of options to spend your X'mas, New
Year eve and forthcoming Summer holidays. The Travel Mart would be on from November
27-29 and would focus on inbound, outbound & domestic tourism. 
According to Ajay Gupta, director, ITM, "The mart is not only going to come up with variety
of holiday destinations but will also offer the best packages and deals in the industry. A
traveller today wants to diversify his/her travel in such a way that he can make the best of it
and for this purpose only the main highlights would be pilgrimage tourism, adventure
tourism, Eco tourism, health tourism and wildlife tourism." 

The exhibition will be beneficial for the residents of Jaipur and also people from nearby
cities and states. "You can choose from variety of attractive packages and deals, all this
under one roof. It will be highly helpful for corporate houses as they will get detailed
information to choose perfect, special and affordable packages at favourite destinations
across the world," he said. 

While Rajasthan is the host state, Uttarakhand & Gujarat are the partner states, Jammu &
Kashmir is the feature state, Malaysia, Thailand and Dubai are the partner countries, and
among the hospitality partners are The Fern and Wall Street Jaipur. 

Some of the leading tourist destinations and brands from major International and state
Tourism Boards like Malaysia Tourism, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Dubai
Tourism (DTCM), Rajasthan Tourism, Gujarat Tourism, Uttarakhand Tourism, Jammu &
Kashmir Tourism, Himachal Tourism, Kerala Tourism, Mizoram Tourism, IRCTC and
leading Hotels, Resorts, Palaces, Travel Agencies would be a part of the mart. 

Read more: India Travel Mart begins today - The Times of

India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/India-Travel-Mart-begins-
today/articleshow/6997484.cms#ixzz1AuNTOSVA

250 delegates from India, abroad to attend

tourism conclave in Aurangabad
TNN, Oct 16, 2010, 11.00pm IST

Article

Comments (1)
Tags:Rajendra Darda|Praful Patel|MACCIA|Aurangabad Tourism Conclave
AURANGABAD: The two-day Aurangabad Tourism Conclave, being organised by the
Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture (MACCIA) to explore the tourism
potential of Aurangabad and the Marathwada region, will start here from October 18. Civil
aviation minister Praful Patel will inaugurate the conclave in the presence of Maharashtra
industries minister Rajendra Darda and mayor Anita Ghodele. 

A documentary Destination Aurangabad' will be screened on the occasion and those already
working to promote tourism in the region will be felicitated, said MACCIA chairman
Maansingh Pawaar and other office-bearers of the conclave's organising committee. 

State tourism minister Vijaykumar Gavit, transport and law minister Radhakrishna Vikhe
Patil, minister of state for tourism Varsha Gaikwad and MP Chandrakant Khaire will attend
the concluding function on October 19, Pawaar said, speaking to reporters at the Chamber
of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) here on Friday. 

"At least 250 delegates from across India and abroad are likely to attend the conclave, which
is meant to tap and boost the tourism potential in Marathwada. It aims to work out a
strategy for the next five years to ensure an increase in the tourist flow to the region," said
the conclave's convenor and noted industrialist Ram Bhogale. 

MACCIA is organising this conclave along with various government departments and
associations of traders and industrialists. Aurangabad Zilla Vyapari Mahasangh, CMIA,
Marathwada Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Maharashtra Tourism Development
Corporation, Government of India Tourist Office, Aurangabad Hotels and Restaurant
Association, Tourism Promoters' Guild, and Aurangabad District Guides Association, are
among those who have extended their cooperation for the meet, Pawaar said. 

"The documentary, which will be presented before the delegates, will highlight the region's
tourism potential and bring to the fore the opportunities in heritage, religious and eco-
tourism in different parts of the region," said Bhogale. 

Read more: 250 delegates from India, abroad to attend tourism conclave in

Aurangabad - The Times of
India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/250-delegates-from-India-
abroad-to-attend-tourism-conclave-in-
Aurangabad/articleshow/6761017.cms#ixzz1AuNquret

Make tourist destinations safe: Centre tells states

TNN, Oct 18, 2010, 01.08am IST

Article

Comments

Tags:Tourism|States|Human Trafficking|Child Abuse

NEW DELHI: Concerned over safety of tourists and growing incidents of child abuse and
illegal human trafficking, the Centre has asked states to crack the whip against possible
forms of exploitation and ensure that tourist destinations are safe. 

In a letter, tourism minister Kumari Selja has asked states to prioritise awareness

generation and sensitise stakeholders on safe and honourable tourism and adhere to a code
of conduct recently circulated by the Centre. 

"There is need to sensitise travellers, travel industry and citizens of the country about the
tenets of safe and honourable tourism, close all possibilities of exploitation, especially of
women and children, and to ensure that India remains a safe tourism destination," the letter
said. 
The code is a set of guidelines to be voluntarily adopted by the travel and tourism industry
and aims to strengthen critical aspects of safety. It aims to ensure that Indian tourism
follows globally acceptable standards of safe tourism practises, applicable for both tourists
and local populations. The code also aims to prevent undesirable activities like forced or
involuntary drug use, manipulated and incorrect information, cultural and social
intolerance, which could increase vulnerability to crime. 

Sources said the tourism ministry has asked states to involve private sector participation
and organise awareness generation and training programmes to tackle cases of safety and
security of tourists and local populations, in particular women and children. The Centre has
noted that there have been instances of child abuse, illegal human trafficking and drug
abuse reported from some destinations in the country. 

Read more: Make tourist destinations safe: Centre tells states - The Times of
India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Make-tourist-destinations-safe-
Centre-tells-states/articleshow/6764766.cms#ixzz1AuNvRxIk

Goa looks at PPP in tourism sector

Oct 16, 2010, 05.37am IST

Article

Comments

Tags:Tourism Association Of Goa|Public-Private Partnership

PANAJI: The Goa government will chalk out its path ahead for building tourism-related
infrastructure and facilities using the public-private partnership (PPP) model. This was
announced on Friday by Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) managing director
Nikhil Desau. 

He was speaking at a joint-panel discussion at the ongoing ITM-Goa 2010 with Travel
and Tourism Association of Goa spokesperson Ralph de Souza, and senior office bearers
from travel and tourism associations across India. 

"There has been strong lobbying and demand in Goa for tourism-related infrastructure
projects, and we have decided that the government will play the role of facilitator and cheer
the private sector to improve tourism in Goa," Desai said. 

He pointed out, "The private lobby is asking for a marina and a convention centre. We also
need to have theme parks and adventure sports. For this the private sector has access to
capital and human resources and it enjoys flexibility. Private entrepreneurs can sustain
these projects and ensure their continuity." 

"We have already set the ball rolling and will soon come out with something concrete,"
Desai added. 

The GTDC MD further said that while Goa's greenery is much appreciated by tourists, the
challenge is to convert one-time visitors into repeat clients. "For this, we need them to carry
back home a good experience and image about Goa," said Desai. 

De Sousa, who is also chairman of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (GCCI)
committee on tourism, said that tourism in Goa initially started as a people's movement. 

"When the nature children came here in the 1960s-70s, it was the locals of Anjuna and
Vagator, Calangute and Baga who offered their houses and even converted stables into
makeshift accommodation. The government played its part by providing law-and-order. It is
this informal PPP model that helped Goa evolve to what it is today," de Souza said. 

He added that the private sector has expertise, dynamism and profit motives which are
driving forces to achieve success in any project. "The government can help the project follow
rules and regulations, while acting as a facilitator and see that the project does not go off-
track," he said

Read more: Goa looks at PPP in tourism sector - The Times of

India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-looks-at-PPP-in-tourism-
sector/articleshow/6757348.cms#ixzz1AuO20FV8
'Best model of public-private participation in
tourism is in Kerala'
Faizal Khan, Nov 15, 2010, 12.00am IST

Article

Comments

Tags:Kovalam|Kerala Tourism Industry|Kerala Tourism

Even with its serene beaches and backwaters, virgin forests, misty hills and calm
countryside, Kerala had for long remained a low-profile destination. The God's Own
Country has now shrugged off that tag to climb to the top on India's tourism map. The
success is not because of the beaches and backwaters alone, Kerala has become
intellectually appealing to international and domestic visitors, V Venu , state tourism
secretary, tells Faizal Khan : 

How did Kerala become the most-preferred tourist destination in India in

such a short time? 
Though there was no leadership position earlier, we were aggressive in marketing Kerala
globally. It is all coming together now. There are several things we did right. First, we moved
away from conventional marketing and positioned the brand at a more sophisticated level.
Secondly, we worked in absolute tandem with the tourism industry in the state. The Kerala
Tourism and the industry have taken as top priority the need to improve the visitor's
experience. We have trained service providers, from home-stays to skilled employees of
hotels to taxi drivers to government staff. 
What were the measures taken by tourism department to expand the
destination profile of Kerala? 
The most important step was positioning the state in terms of the attributes of the brand.
This is where Kerala Tourism got it right. We have moved away from plain vanilla
advertising to tell the potential traveller a story about the experiences of visitors like an
Italian who came to Kerala and decided to stay back to learn 'kalaripayattu' (a martial art).
So rather than saying 'we have wonderful backwaters, please come and see' or 'come, we
have our beautiful Munnar', we have adopted an approach in the last few years that appeals
to the higher sense of a person. We have positioned the state as a destination where the
common man of Kerala plays an uncommon role as the brand ambassador. 

What is the role of private entrepreneurs in this success story? 

Of the total room inventory in Kerala, about 80 per cent is in the hands of small and home-
grown entrepreneurs. The houseboat in the backwaters is a good example. We have about
400 houseboats and the biggest houseboat company owns only 10 boats. Ninety per cent of
them are single- or double-boat owners. The private sector in Kerala's tourism industry is
way ahead in marketing, service, operations and professionalism. 

What about public-private participation? 

The best working model of public-private participation in tourism is in Kerala. The most
shining example is Kerala Travel Mart, a buyer-seller biannual event in Kochi in the third
week of September. The mart is run by the private sector. The state government plays a
supporting role. The government consults the private partners for promoting the state in
domestic and international market through events like roadshows and tourism fairs. The
government believes that the private sector knows about business more than the
government. 

How do you plan to keep the new status of Kerala in tourism? 

Our new ad film for a global publicity campaign, titled 'Your Moment is Waiting', had its
world premiere in London in September. Through this commercial, we show why Kerala
gets 35 per cent repeat clients when the globally accepted figure for a destination to be made
is 20 per cent. Kovalam and Thiruvananthapuram are presently hosting the Hay literary
festival. The festival authorities wanted to bring it to India and Kerala was the natural
choice. The 'Hay by the Beach' festival in Kerala will be an annual event.

Read more: 'Best model of public-private participation in tourism is in Kerala' -

The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-
page/Best-model-of-public-private-participation-in-tourism-is-in-
Kerala/articleshow/6924740.cms#ixzz1AuO7VWzb
Delicacies of five states on offer at tourism & food
fest
TNN, Jan 8, 2011, 05.55am IST

Article

Comments

Tags:Raghvendra Singh|Parna Ghatak|Nalban|Manabendra Mukherjee

KOLKATA: If you are an ardent foodie, head straight for Nalban where the eighth edition of
the West Bengal Tourism and Food Festival has been on since Thursday. The five-day
extravaganza which has mouthwatering cuisines from five states on offer and much more
will continue till Monday. 

The five participating states Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and
Jammu and Kashmir have been given a day each to present their cuisine before the visitors.
Day I began with Andhra Pradesh. With a nominal entry fee of `10, the food festival is
expected to pull in the crowds. The authorities feel that the footfall this year will exceed
60,000. 

Besides food stalls, there will be stalls for promoting tourism, kiosks displaying arts and
crafts of the participating states and of course, a line-up of cultural events. James, a rock
band from Bangladesh and the Vir Khalsa Group of India's Got Talent fame will be the
major attractions this year. Presented in association with The Times of India, the timings
would be 12 noon to 9 pm for the fest and 6 to 9 pm for the performances. 

The TOI team found Parna Ghatak, an assistant filmmaker and also a regular at the food
festival, enjoying herself at the fair. "I have sampled a chicken and a fish preparation till
now and I must say that the food is very good. In fact, I look forward to this fair every year.
You can spend the entire day here, have lunch, dinner, enjoy the performances and go home
happy," she smiled. 

Welcoming one and all to the food festival on Thursday, Manabendra Mukherjee, minister-
in-charge, micro and small scale enterprises and textiles and tourism, promised "100%
enjoyment". Also present at Thursday's opening ceremony was TVN Rao, managing
director, WBTDC, Raghvendra Singh, principal secretary, department of tourism, sports
and youth services, among others. 

Mukherjee went on to say that the festival was an attempt to bring culture, cuisine and
tourism under one roof. He thanked the participating states and reserved a special word for
Jammu and Kashmir which has taken part in the festival enthusiastically year after year. 

"Investment is flowing in; two 5-star hotels have come up in the city in the 

last six months. We've just completed a rural project in Bankura's Mukutmanipur; we are
developing a tourism circuit in Purulia; Murshidabad and Jalpaiguri are also on our priority
list," said the minister. 

Rao said all important food chains of the city would have their stalls at the fest. 

Read more: Delicacies of five states on offer at tourism & food fest - The
Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Delicacies-of-
five-states-on-offer-at-tourism-food-
fest/articleshow/7238667.cms#ixzz1AuOCouZk

A medical tourism co. with end-to-end solutions

IANS, Dec 28, 2010, 03.50pm IST

Article

Comments
Tags:Treatments|Solutions|Medical Tourism|Health|Doctors|Chandigarh

A medical tourism co. with end-to-end solutions (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

With Punjab and its capital Chandigarh attracting an increasing number of overseas

patients, most of them NRIs, a group of doctors has floated a medical tourism company
to provide end-to-end solutions -- including pick-ups from the airport and doctors'
appointments. 

Touted to be the first of its kind medical tourism company in northern India, Doctor
Z India Pvt. Ltd. has been launched to cater to the growing rush of patients coming to
northern India from the US, Britain, European countries, South Africa and east African
countries. 

A majority of the patients comprising foreigners and NRIs come for the treatment of
ailments like heart diseases, knee replacements and even cosmetic surgery. 

According to Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimates, medical tourism in India is

worth over $310 million and the market is predicted to grow to $2 billion by 2012. 

And Doctor Z India is hoping to capture at least some of this market. 

"Medical tourism is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world. Till now, it has been
confined to a few selected hospitals in India. Doctor Z has moved a step ahead with the aim
of establishing international patient care centres in our hospitals very soon," said Zora
Singh, president of the Chandigarh chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and
managing director of the Desh Bhagat group of institutes, which has floated the medical
tourism company. 

The company, through its end-to-end solutions, will take care of arrival and departure of the
guests, fixing appointments with doctors and hospitals, arranging hotels, getting hospital
rooms as well as looking after post-operative needs. 

'Medical tourism' is at present disorganised with individuals fixing their own visits and
appointments at various hospitals in private hospitals in Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana,
Jalandhar and Amritsar. 

With leading private Indian hospitals acquiring advanced medical technologies and being at
par with hospitals in developed countries, overseas patients prefer treatment here due to the
reduced costs and the expertise of doctors. 

A heart surgery in the US, on an average, costs over $30,000 (Rs.13.50 lakh) while patients
can avail the same in India for almost $8,000 (Rs.3.60 lakh). The waiting time for a knee
transplant in the US is about two years and for heart surgery about a year. 

"A majority of the patients who come to India for treatment are NRIs living in the UK and
the US. Chandigarh is set to become a hub for medical tourism in the region as nearly 1.25
lakh (125,000) NRIs visit the city every year," said cosmetic surgeon Tejinder Bhatti. 

"Most of the foreign patients undergoing cosmetic surgeries in India are generally middle
aged - with a desire for a younger, better look," said Bhatti. 

Doctor Z India has established tie-ups with the region's top 10 healthcare providers,
including hospital chains like Fortis and Ivy in Mohali (10 km from here), Alchemist in
Panchkula (15 km from here), and Inscol in Chandigarh. 

The company has also launched a green channel, an online registration system, for
interacting with the patients around the world, said its executive officer H.C. Gera. 

"We provide assistance to the foreign patients throughout their journey to India, even
receiving them at the airport here," Gera said. 

But the lower cost does not mean any compromise on quality. 

"We need to ensure that even if the cost of the treatments here is less, no compromises are
made on the quality of services," said Gurbir Singh, medical director and regional medical
advisor at Mohali's Fortis Hospital, one of the most frequented medical facilities by foreign
patients. 
"Moreover, the sensitivities of foreign patients must be respected when you are inviting
them for treatment here. Coming from different countries and continents, they have
different expectations," Gurbir Singh pointed out. 

Read more: A medical tourism co. with end-to-end solutions - The Times of
India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/A-
medical-tourism-co-with-end-to-end-
solutions/articleshow/7178471.cms#ixzz1AuOJmSOo

Travel expo opens in city

TNN, Nov 28, 2010, 04.04am IST

Article

Comments

Tags:India International Travel Mart|Consulate General Of The Republic Of Indonesia

PUNE: Diverse travel opportunities suiting all budgets have been presented in
the India International Travel Mart' a three-day travel and tourism exposition that opened
in the city on Saturday. The exposition, being held at Krishna Heritage near Mhatre bridge,
will be open till Monday. 

Rashmawati Alih, Vice Counsul (Economics) in the Consulate General of the Republic of

Indonesia at Mumbai inaugurated the expo for which Indonesia is the partner country. 
The event has over 150 participants from over five countries and 19 Indian states. India
International Travel Mart' will showcase a variety of destinations from different spheres
such as pilgrimages, adventures, culture & heritage, beaches, hills and many more, said
Rohit Hangal, director, Sphere Travelmedia, organisers of the expo. He added that tourists
had various attractive deals to choose from. 

Read more: Travel expo opens in city - The Times of

India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Travel-expo-opens-in-
city/articleshow/7002483.cms#ixzz1AuOPvcHR

CWG medal winners to get free tour packages

TNN, Nov 11, 2010, 03.32am IST

Article

Comments (1)

Tags:Royal Rajasthan On Wheels|Indian Railway Catering And Tourism Corporation|Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI: After offering the Commonwealth Games medal winners and their
companions free hospitality in the country's luxury trains, the tourism ministry has tied up
with various stakeholders to provide complimentary stay at luxury hotels and tour
packages. 

As announced during the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Union tourism ministry in
association with the Rajasthan and Karnataka governments and Indian Railway Catering
and Tourism Corporation has offered complimentary travel packages for the medal winners
and the coach or one companion to travel on the luxury trains including Royal Rajasthan on
Wheels, Maharaja Express and Golden Chariot. 

All costs including travel, accommodation, food and sightseeing are covered in these trips
which extends up to seven nights. The sportspersons can avail of these trips anytime up to
March 31, 2012, depending upon the availability of accommodation and the choice of luxury
train given by the medal winner. These incentives range from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 3.20 lakh
per person according to the category of medals won. 

The ministry has also tied up with the Hotel Association of India and announced hotel
packages at 27 locations across the country at 48 member hotels like Taj, Oberoi, ITC, Leela
for gold medal winners. 

In association with Indian Association of Tour Operators, the government has also offered
winners a tour of the Golden Triangle including Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Delhi. The tour includes
hotel accommodation with breakfast, transport and sight seeing.

Read more: CWG medal winners to get free tour packages - The Times of
India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CWG-medal-winners-to-get-free-
tour-packages/articleshow/6903064.cms#ixzz1AuOU6pWI