Currently, there are offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Dubai, Johannesburg, Sydney, Beijing, Singapore, and Tokyo
The Ministry of Tourism is closing down some of its overseas offices, in an overhaul of sorts. From the 14 overseas offices that it runs across the globe, only eight will remain operational.
Currently, there are offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Dubai, Johannesburg, Sydney, Beijing, Singapore, and Tokyo. Of these, the ministry is planning to let go of some offices in Europe.
"There will be a restructuring of the overseas offices, and instead of offices in several countries, we will now function on a system of hubs, where a hub overlooks at the operation in the region," tourism secretary Rashmi Saxena told DNA.
The functioning of overseas offices have been strained with several posts lying vacant, and with lack of senior officers who can disburse funds.
Saxena said that of the five offices in Europe, only one will be retained, and that the ministry will hire professional public relations and marketing agencies. The India Tourism Marketing Representatives (ITMR) will also support the government in the functioning. Apart from the Europe office, hubs will be retained in US, Japan, Southeast Asia and China.
The Ministry will also open a new hub in Russia, owing to the increasing inflow of Russian tourists in the last year.
In the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, a department-related Rajya Sabha committee pulled up the ministry in its report filed on Wednesday. The report said that if the government finds it hard to manage its overseas offices, "it should close down all those offices and alternative arrangements may be explored".
In reply, the government said that in its overseas offices, it has a marketing campaign promoting 'Incredible India' brand to generate tourism in emerging markets in East Europe, Middle East, ASEAN and African Region by "launching marketing campaigns, publicity campaigns, participating in travel and tourism related fairs, and festivals."
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