Tourism Ministry's Incredible India website on Wednesday acquired a business dimension with the launch of an e-commerce platform.
NEW DELHI: The Tourism Ministry's Incredible India website on Wednesday acquired a business dimension with the launch of an e-commerce platform that will allow firms to conduct a host of travel-related activities
The platform, developed jointly by the Ministry along with EVIIVO, a tourism e-commerce company, is accessible on the main site www.incredibleindia.org and will facilitate small and medium industries to conduct a host of travel related business activities, mainly booking of accommodation at the destinations.
Terming the e-commerce platform as "one of the most effective way of access to the tourism products," Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said the platform "will strengthen our visibility on the internet".
Launching the e-commerce platform, Soni said the website has proven to be "singularly the most effective way" to increase tourist inflow - from 3.9 million to 4.43 million from year 2005 to 2006.
"At this pace, I am sure we will be able to meet our 10 million arrivals mark in 2010 when Commonwealth Games will be held," Soni said.
She said apart from the SME (small and medium enterprises) the business portal is expected to "substantially benefit" the medical tourism in the country.
"The website will give details about what sort of medical expertise is available in which destination," Soni said adding India offered a wide range of medical care and tourist will have a choice.
During her speech, she emphasised the need to upgrade tourist infrastructure through an increased partnership with the private players.
The Incredible India portal and its technology partner EVIIVO will now offer a online booking service for a range of accommodation businesses across India targeting international visitors, currently representing 70 per cent of the site traffic, and domestic visitors.
It will also enable visitors to use new hotels and bed and breakfast availability through search engines on the homepage and complete their transaction in US dollars or Indian rupees.
In order to make a "truely open platform" for all the service providers in the tourism industry, the Ministry and EVIIVO will integrate third party consolidators and multiple partners.
The launch of the platform also means an opportunity to the independent accommodation providers and tourism business parties for selling their products online to the worldwide audience.
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