Chandigarh, Oct 3 : Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni today claimed that tourism in the country has not been affected by terrorist activities but added that a global fight against terrorism must be launched.
Mrs Soni was interacting with media persons shortly after inaugurating the third three-day Pinjore Heritage Festival amidst festivities of various kinds at Yadvendra Gardens in Pinjore, near Chandigarh today.
She said that in India, tourism was growing at a rate of 12 to 14 per cent as against world wide growth rate of six per cent. She said that the issue has also been raised in the UN Assembly , but we must remain vigilant against terrorist activities.
In reply to a question about promotion of tourism in Haryana, she said that while replicating Haryana’s famous Suraj Kund Crafts Mela, four shopping festivals have been sanctioned for different places in the country so as to promote tourism.
While appreciating Haryana for promoting tourism in a big way, the Union Minister said that Rs 50 crore were given to the State in the tenth Five-Year Plan, which have been spent judiciously. In reply to a question she said that she can’t discreminate between states for promotion of tourism. She said that on the pattern of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur triangle, a circuit of Delhi-Haryana-Punjab-Himachal Pradesh could be develo