Indian travel industry “optimistic” over rail budget
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The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has welcomed the proposals made in this week’s rail budget, saying it offers “a lot of optimism to the Indian tourism industry”.
Subhash Goyal, president of IATO, said the plans, which include the launch of high-speed trains between major Indian cities, would benefit the industry and potentially boost international arrivals.
“[The] introduction of more tourist trains to link all major tourist places across the country, proposal to start bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and diamond quadrilateral project of high-speed trains to connect all major metros are the welcomed steps, and this will flourish both international and domestic tourism especially the rail tourism,” said Goyal.
“We welcome the steps being taken by the government under the dynamic leadership of Shri Narendra Modi… for boosting international tourist arrival to India.”
The IATO president also welcomed the proposals to modernise trains and improve facilities at stations, including the addition of Wi-Fi.
“International tourists always make complaints about the food quality, poor hygiene and non-availability of safe drinking water in the train and at the railway stations,” Goyal admitted. “In the rail budget all these issues have been take care [of].
“[The] introduction of world class railway stations like airports… food courts at major railways stations, Wi-Fi in A1 and A category railway stations and in select trains… are such measures and this will give a very positive image of the country,” he added.
India’s rail budget was announced this week, with the government pledging to use public-private partnerships to drive much-needed modernisation of the country’s colonial-era network. This will include track improvements, new trains and high-speed services, as well as extra facilities on trains and at stations.
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