This scheme has recently been introduced to invigorate and revitalise the various institutions under the Ministry of Culture which have vast ‘treasures’ in the form of manuscripts, documents, artifacts, antiquities and paintings. It encourages serious researches into our cultural resources so that the nation gets to benefit from the results. Museums, for instance, can hardly display more than a small fraction of their entire holdings but the schemes like this would encourage research, scholarship and analysis of the objects that are not usually available for public viewing. At present, it covers 17 institutions or organizations under the ministry. The scheme is open to both Indian and foreign academics and researchers. Scholars and researchers, who have sound academic or professional credentials and experts in their respective fields or are persons with significant creative work in any field of art or culture are eligible. The fellowships are normally awarded for a period of two years.
Fellows will have the benefit of access to national cultural institutions for study and research material and infrastructural support.
The scheme offers the best terms, emoluments and facilities in order to draw the best talent available from academic and research institutes, as well as to attract researchers with domain knowledge.
Professors, who came on two years’ lien, would be fully compensated with pay allowance, HRA etc, and would also be entitled to a sum of upto ₹ 3.5 lakh each year (for two years) by way of project assistance.
Retired academics or researchers, with established credentials, would be entitled to an honorarium of ₹ 80,000 per month, in addition to other financial and logistic support.
Outstation Fellows would also be entitled to a ‘Settling-in-allowance’. Tourism
Positioning tourism as a major engine of economic growth and harnessing its direct and multiplier effects on employment and poverty eradication in a sustainable manner by active participation of
all segments of the society is the main objective of the tourism policy of Government of India. Tourism sector is one of the largest employment generators in the country and plays a very significant role in promoting inclusive growth of the less-advantaged sections of the society and poverty reduction. Apart from marketing and promotion, the focus of tourism development plans is now on integrated development of tourism infrastructure and facilities through effective partnership with various stakeholders. The role of Government in tourism development has been re-defined from that of a regulator to that of a catalyst.
Visa-on-Arrival (VoA)
In an effort to promote inbound tourism in the country, the Government announced Tourist Visa- on-Arrival in 2010. At present, it provides Tourist Visa-on-Arrival facility (TVoA) to the nationals of 12 countries namely Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar and South Korea. This facility was initially available at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. However, with effect from August 15, 2013 this facility has been extended through Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. During the period January to December 2013, a total number of 20,294 Visa- on-Arrivals (VoAs) were issued as compared to 16,084 VoAs during the corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 26.2 per cent. The number of VoAs issued under the scheme duirng January to December 2013 was Japan (6,448), New Zealand (3,968), the Philippines (2,967), Indonesia (2,758), Singapore (2,486), Finland (1,030), Vietnam (205), Myanmar (148), Luxembourg (145), Cambodia (120) and Laos (19).
During the period January to December 2013, the highest number of VoAs were issued in New Delhi airport (11,046) followed by Mumbai (4,206), Chennai (2,815), Kolkata (1,351), Bengaluru (380), Kochi (229), Hyderabad (165) and Trivandrum (102).
Niche Tourism Products
The Ministry of Tourism has taken the initiative of identifying, diversifying, developing and promoting niche products of the tourism industry. This is done in order to overcome the aspect of ‘seasonality’ and to promote India as a 365 days destination, attract tourists with specific interest and to ensure repeat visits for the unique products in which India has a comparative advantage. Identifying niche products is a dynamic process. Thus, new products may be added in due course. The Ministry of Tourism has constituted committees for promotion of Golf Tourism and Wellness Tourism. Guidelines have also been formulated by the ministry to support Golf, Polo, Medical and Wellness Tourism. Accordingly, the following niche products have been identified for development and promotion :
Cruise; Adventure; Medical; Wellness; Golf; Polo; Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions; Eco-tourism; Film Tourism and Sustainable Tourism
Bed & Breakfast/Homestay Scheme
The scheme offers foreign and domestic tourists an opportunity to stay with an Indian family and enjoy the warm hospitality and a taste of Indian culture and cuisine in a clean and affordable place. With a view to encourage the growth of such establishments and also to simplify the procedure of approvals, the Ministry of Tourism has recently reviewed the scheme and has simplified the guidelines by amending certain norms.
Medical Tourism
Medical Tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term used to describe the rapidly growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. Services typically sought by travellers include elective procedures as well as complex specialized surgeries such as joint replacement (knee/hip), cardiac surgery, dental surgery and cosmetic surgeries. However, virtually every type of healthcare, including psychiatry, alternative treatments and convalescent care is available in India. The Medical Tourism activity is mainly driven by the private sector. The Ministry of Tourism has only the role of a facilitator in terms of marketing this concept and promoting this in the key markets. The Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to promote India as a medical and health tourism destination. India Tourism Development Corporation
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is a Public Sector Undertaking under administrative control of the Ministry of Tourism. Incorporated on October 1, 1966, ITDC played a key role in the development of tourism infrastructure in the country. Apart from developing the largest hotel chain in India, the ITDC offers tourism related facilities like transport, duty free shopping, entertainment, production of tourist publicity literature, consultancy, etc. The ITDC has played a committed and pivotal social role in the development of tourism infrastructure in backward areas, thereby trying to promote regional balance. After the disinvestment of 18 hotels, ITDC consolidated its remaining activities and restructured itself to take up diversified service- oriented business activities like consultancy and execution of tourism and engineering projects, training consultancy in hospitality sector, event management and mounting of Son-et-Lumeire (SEL) Shows, etc.
The present organizational set-up at the corporate level comprises Managing Director, Functional Directors and heads of business groups viz. The Ashok Group of Hotels, Corporate Marketing, Events Management, Ashok International Trade, Ashok Travels & Tours, Ashok Creatives & Public Relations, Ashok Institute of Hospitality & Tourism Management and Engineering Services Division supported by Human Resource Management, Finance & Accounts, Vigilance and Security, Administration and Secretarial, etc., are important players.
Network of ITDC Services
The present network of ITDC consists of eight Ashok Group of Hotels, seven Joint Venture Hotels including one yet to be completed hotel, one Restaurant, 11 Transport Units, one Tourist Service Station, seven Duty Free Shops at airports/seaports, two Sound and Light Shows and three Catering Outlets. Besides, ITDC is also managing a Hotel at Bharatpur and a Tourist Complex at Kosi.
Some Major Promotional Activities Undertaken for Overseas Promotion
The Ministry of Tourism, undertook a series of promotional initiatives to aggressively promote tourism to India.
Road Shows
As part of the promotional initiatives undertaken, Road Shows were organized in important tourist generating markets overseas with participation of different segments of the travel industry. The
Road Shows comprised presentations on India followed by one-to-one business meetings between the trade delegation from India and the travel trade in the respective countries. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh and Damman) Nordic Europe (i.e., Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki) Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) USA (East Coast) South East Asia (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Manila) USA (West Coast)/Canada and China (Shanghai, Beijing and Gungzhou) Germany (Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich) Austria (Vienna) Besides, India Tourism Offices in overseas also participated in Road Shows organized by Tour Operators/Travel Agents in countries under their respective jurisdiction.