Merely drafting a National Tourism Policy not enough, need a Tourism Council: Parliamentary committee

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture recently said that merely drafting a National Tourism Policy is not enough for the development of the tourism sector.
• Suggested fast-tracking the creation of a National Tourism Council to directly make recommendations to the Union and the State governments.

Committee’s demands

• Sought to know action taken on creation of Tourism Council: from the govt after the inter-ministerial consultations.
• Sought to know the steps taken by the Tourism Ministry: regarding its earlier recommendation of including tourism on the Concurrent List.
• Sought to know why industry status to hospitality projects not yet accorded by many states: asked the Ministry whether anything in this regard has been conveyed by these States to the Centre.
• Questioned the Centre: over releasing a meager amount to Kerala for development of spiritual tourism.