Tourism working group proposes focus on skill development

New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) As proposed by the working group on tourism constituted by the Planning Commission for the 12th Five-Year Plan, more focus will be placed on skill development and capacity building to bridge the gap in demand and supply in manpower in the hospitality sector, the Tourism ministry said Friday.

Professional agencies will also be employed for developing tourism infrastructure based on carrying capacity and sustainability principles, the ministry said in a statement.

Infrastructure gap in tourism destinations and circuits will be systematically covered, it added.

There will be special emphasis upon creating rural tourism clusters and tourism parks by adopting strategies based on convergences of resources.

For promoting the "Incredible India" brand, publicity and promotional programmes of the ministry will be made product-specific, country-specific and destination-specific.

The ministry also said that appointment of India Tourism Representative Offices will contribute in a big way in attracting larger number of foreign tourists.

The group has also said there will be more attention on promoting niche tourism products, attempting greater convergence amongst different stakeholders and rationalisation of taxes in tourism sector.