Incredible India roadshow draws a huge response in Israel

India has appealed to leading tour operators, hoteliers and travel agents of Israel who have gathered at 'Incredible India roadshow' showcasing the country's immense tourism potential to partner in its quest to double the inflow of tourists in the next five years.

"During my interaction with Israelis during the last two days I have realised that they know every bit of detail regarding tourism potential in India.

"I seek their support in participating in our efforts to double our inbound tourism from 6 million to 12 million in the next five years," India's Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai, who is on a four-day visit to Israel, told the gathering.

"India's outbound tourism during this period is likely to increase by four times. They would love to come to Israel to discover its rich heritage too," Sahai said presenting the proposition as mutually beneficial.

Describing the tourism industry as not just a pleasure industry, Sahai emphasised that his country was serious about promoting the tourism sector and adopted the G-20 declaration which says that "tourism industry is a central economic enginefor growth" which reduces poverty by employment generation.

"India understands that tourism increases the rate of employment among the working classes, women and people living in the periphery," he said.

The roadshow drew a huge gathering of all stakeholders from the tourism industry in Israel who got a chance to interact with their Indian counterparts accompanying the delegation led by Sahai with some expressing hope that such interactions would indeed take cooperation in the industry to a different level.

"The facilitation exercise done by India's Ministry of Tourism and the Embassy of India in Israel adds a new dimension to cooperation in the tourism sector. Such an effort is bound to prove mutually beneficial and has so far been sorely lacking. I feel it is an important day in the evolution of Indo-Israel ties because cooperation in the

field of tourism will create everlasting people to people bonding between the two countries," Nurit, a senior manager at ISSTA travel agency said.

"Today's interaction has thrown new light to the vast potential for cooperation in the tourism sector. Sectors like Well Being and Medical tourism in India remain largely unexplored. More importantly the presence of delegation from Assam has brought forward new ideas for future Israeli travellers to India," said another travel agent Boaz.

Tourism Minister of Assam, Chandan Brahma, made a fervent plea to Israelis to come visit his state outlining various unique features of the state.

"It is a 100 per cent green state producing maximum tea, offers terrific heritage sites, one horned rhinos, the unique majuli islands and much more. Please come join us at the  Assam carnival in January next year. We are a state which is also very liberal towards investors," Brahma said addressing the gathering.

A student of the Hebrew University, Gili, who has spent the last five months touring India's north-east told PTI that she has fell in love with natural beauty offered by the region and warm hospitality people offer to the visitors.

"I learnt Hindi at the university. After enjoying last five months of hospitality of locals in Assam I seem to be mixing Hindi a lot with Assamese," she said.

Uttarakhand's tourism minister, Amrita Rawat, also gave a presentation bringing out the unique features of her state and the huge potential for eco-tourism in the hill state.

Joint Secretary at India's Ministry of Tourism, Anand Kumar, set off the agenda for the evening presenting the broad canvass of tourist potential present in India identifying possible areas of cooperation to boost tourism between India and Israel.

Indian Ambassador to Israel, Navtej Sarna, highlighted the importance his country attaches to relations with Israel said that four cabinet ministers have so far visited Israel this year with each one touching upon one aspect of cooperation between the two countries as they celebrate twenty years of diplomatic relations.