Chiranjeevi urges Chidambaram to grant more allocation to Tourism Ministry

New Delhi, Mar. 22 : Union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi called on Finance Minister P. Chidambaram here on Friday and urged him for higher budgetary allocation for the Tourism Ministry.

Chiranjeevi told the Finance Minister that the tourism sector directly and indirectly contributes to more than 6 percent of the GDP of the country, more than 10 percent of organised employment in the country and roughly US$18 million in foreign exchange. Thus, one percentage increase in tourism earnings results in a 0.1 percentage increase in the GDP of the country.

Chiranjeevi requested Chidambaram for additional allocation for Tourism Ministry to set up 10 convention-cum-exhibition centres across the country for the promotion of MICE tourism.

Chidambaram sought more details from the Tourism Ministry about these convention centers and promised to look into the request.