Maxime Bernier,Chiranjeevi, the Indo- Canadian Ministers of Tourism meet

February 27, 2013

Mr Maxime Bernier, Minister of Tourism, Canada called on Union Tourism Minister Shri K Chiranjeevi here today.  Both sides resolved to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector.  It was also decided that both the countries will identify areas for working together and exploring new opportunities in tourism sector especially in the field of human resources development, exchange of tour operators, investment in the tourism sector and exchange of information related to tourism sector.  The possibility of signing an agreement/MoU between India and Canada was also discussed.  It was also agreed that Tour Operators and Travel Agents of both the countries will interact with each other in order to promote for two way tourism between India and Canada. The possibilities of promoting more package tours in either of the countries could also be explored by the travel trade of two countries.  Both sides also explored the possibilities of promoting joint venture in the field of hotel industry and tourism infrastructural sector.  Now that Hotels and Tourism sector has been opened for Foreign direct investment up to 100% on automatic routes, Canadian investment in tourism infrastructure in India could be one of the major areas of cooperation.
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Canada is the world’s second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the world’s longest land border.
The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French colonial expeditions explored, and later settled, the region’s Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America to Britain in 1763 after the Seven Years’ War. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces. This began an accretion of provinces and territories and a process of increasing autonomy, culminating in the Canada Act 1982.
Canada is one of India’s primary source markets.  Foreign tourist arrivals from Canada to India have increased considerably over the past few years.
India tourism Office in Toronto takes care of promotion and marketing of India in Canada. India Tourism Office participates in Tourism Fair, organize workshops and seminars to showcase India’s tourism destinations and products to the tour operators and consumers of Canada. Some of the travel fairs in which India Tourism Office participates in canada are as follows:
The Travel & Vacation Show
World Culinary Show
Addison Travel Shows
International Travel & Tourism show
Maritime Show
Ministry of Tourism has organizer India Tourism Road Shows in Vancouver in Sept, 2012.  Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism has led a high level Indian delegation.
Ministry of Tourism has hosted a total of 16 journalists, photographers, travel agents, travel writers etc. from Canada during the year 2011-12 under its hospitality scheme.  14 guests have visited India from Canada during 2012-13(till date).
Both the countries may like to explore the possibilities of promoting joint venture investment in the field of hotel industry and tourism infrastructural sector especially in Budget hotels. Now that Hotels and Tourism sector has been opened for Foreign direct investment up to 100% on automatic routes, Canadian investment in tourism infrastructure in India could be one of the major areas of cooperation.
Both India and Canada can benefit greatly by sharing experience and know-how in destination management & management of heritage sites. India could benefit from the initiatives undertaken by Canada in the field of Adventure Tourism.