By IANS,
New Delhi : A series of “Incredible India” roadshows will be held for the first time in the Scandinavian countries to promote India as a tourist destination and Tourism Minister Kumari Selja would be part of the gala event in Norway, officials said here Tuesday.
The series of roadshows will be launched simultaneously in Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden) and Oslo (Norway). These have been jointly organised by the tourism ministry and the Indian and Scandinavian chapters of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a non-profit travel trade association.
While Selja leaves for Oslo early Wednesday, the roadshows are being organised Aug 25-28.
“This is the first time such a big event is being organised in Scandinavia and the minister will be participating in the roadshow organised in Oslo in Norway,” a statement issued by the ministry said.
The objective of the roadshows is to promote India as a preferred tourist destination, it added.
About 25 leading Indian travel trade representatives, including tour operators and hoteliers, will be participating in these roadshows.
“The countries in Scandinavia are very important source markets for India. With the introduction of Finnair services between India and Finland, tourist arrivals from this region has started showing steady growth,” it added.
“The ministry has decided to capitalize this trend by making itself visible in the region,” the statement said.
The roadshows would also highlight that India is the best destination to invest in the tourism sector.
Selja would be attending the meeting of the board of governors of Urban Poor Fund International (UPFI).
The UPFI is a self-governed, financial facility that provides capital to members, who are members of the Slum Dwellers International (SDI), an international network of federations of the urban poor.
Selja, who also holds the charge of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, will also attend an international workshop on safety and security in slums before her return to New Delhi Aug 30.