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Monday, September 22, 2003
Dotcom World

Plan itinerary before you pack bags
Sept 27 is World Tourism Day
Vinod Kumar

TODAY tourism is the world’s largest growing industry, showing great promise with no signs whatsoever of a fall in near future. Tourism worldwide provides around 200 million jobs and the figure is expected to increase by 25 per cent to 250 by 2012. September 27 is observed as World Tourism Day. The Government of Indian is also making efforts to draw attention to the essence of tourism in the country. A look at the potential Indian tourism destinations can be had at the following Websites, just so you are prepared beforehand.

http://www.tourismofindia.com/index.htm

This is the official Website of the Ministry of Tourism. The portal contains a great deal of information related to the tourism sector in India. It is divided into different sections. Interesting facts about geography, language, and religion of various regions are given. A long list of tour operators and tourism offices, both in India and abroad, is available here. Images and a video gallery are provided in addition to holiday ideas to make your trip successful. Those interested can subscribe to a newsletter, which will keep you up-to-date on the latest news from the tourism industry. Online trivia and some other fun stuff are also available.

http://www.india-tourism.net

This is yet another comprehensive Indian tourism Website. The advantage it has is that it provides content in various international languages. There is a wide range of information about Indian tourism—facts about geography, languages, religion and culture. Vital information about passport and visa regulations is also provided. Adding colour to the Indian escape, various festivals and fairs of the country are described, supported by a photo gallery. There are handy links to sites that provide visa application forms and a currency calculator for free. Addresses of tour operators and travel agencies are given. Above all, the site stands out for the details given on Indian tourism.