Page 18 - TBM_February_2024

18 GENERAL ELECTIONS TRAVELBIZ MONITOR FEBRUARY, 2024
n

Interim

Budget

2024,

Hits &

Misses

Disha Shah Ghosh | Mumbai Moreover, Sitharaman said that a framework will be
created for rating of the tourist centres based on quality
of facilities and services to be established.
he sixth Budget speech by Nirmala Sitharaman,
an Interim one this time due to the ensuing All this when the government massively slashed its
General Election, and therefore the shortest one outlay for overseas promotion via the Incredible India
Tof 58 minutes in her tenure, saw the Finance campaign, and renewed focus on the Swadesh Darshan
Minister being upbeat about the brighter prospects of scheme and allotment to Alliance Air for UDAN flights.
India’s growth story. This clearly indicates that the government is keen on
For travel & tourism, she laid emphasis on developing pushing its resources for development tourism in India.
iconic tourist centres, and branding and marketing
them on a global scale. In order to reach this target, she Budget Highlights
announced long-term interest-free loans to states to
finance such development, including in the islands of Indian Railways
Lakshadweep. • Port connectivity corridors
• High traffic density corridors
• 40,000 normal rail bogies to be converted to Vande
Bharat standards

Tourism Sector
• States to be encouraged to take up comprehensive
development of iconic tourist centres including their
branding and marketing at global scale.
• Framework for rating of the tourist centres based on
quality of facilities and services to be established.
• Long-term interest free loans to be provided to States
for financing such development on matching basis.

Aviation Sector
• Number of airports in the country doubled to 149.
• 517 new routes are carrying 1.3 crore passengers.
• Indian carriers have placed orders for over 1000 new
aircraft.

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