Indian overseas tourist offices to be developed into regional hubs

The Government of India is planning to reshape its foreign tourism offices into eight regional hubs for greater efficiency. Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons said the ministry is likely to shut seven of its 14 overseas tourist offices, including the ones in Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto and London.

The offices in Milan (Italy), Sydney (Australia) and Johannesburg (South Africa) are also likely to shut shop. “In today’s digital world, having these many overseas offices are not required. The plan is to reshape these 14 offices into eight regional hubs for greater efficiency,” said the minister to IE.

The offices in Toronto and Los Angeles are the first ones to be wound up. The New York (US), Beijing (China), Singapore, Tokyo (Japan), Dubai (UAE), Frankfurt (Germany) and London (UK) offices will continue to operate. It is also expected that the ministry will open a new office in Moscow to cater to the increased tourist inflow from eastern Europe.

The overseas offices were set up under the Ministry of Tourism to position India as a preferred tourist destination and organise events to increase the country’s share in global tourism market.