Free Packages for Foreign Tourists to India

Central govt. of India has decided to provide some free packages to foreign tourists like free air ticket, complimentary stay and sight seeing tour to lure foreign visitors as part of its Visit India 2009 scheme.The step has been taken to give a boost to Indian travel industry which is facing huge problems and a steep fall in attracting foreign tourists after Mumbai attack. In a statement, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said, "We are launching the scheme from April this year involving all stakeholders of tourism". The scheme includes complimentary international air passenger for travelling companion, one night complimentary stay in hotel booked by the tourist and complimentary local sightseeing tour in any one city of visit among others.

The Tourism Ministry has also planned to organize road shows in important tourist generating overseas markets with participation of the travel industry. Road shows have been finalised in Singapore, Malayasia, Australia, UK, Japan, South Korea, USA and Canada during February and May this year.

River Ganga as National River

The Indian government has decided to declare the river Ganga as a national river, following campaigns from several quarters to preserve its cultural and religious significance. A High Powered Ganga River Basin Authority, to be chaired by the prime minister, will be set up as an empowered planning, implementing and monitoring authority for the river. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, or moef, has decided to conduct a basin-wide pilot study of the ecological impact of hydel projects coming up on the Ganga.

The study will be conducted from Dharasu to Gangotri lying in the stretch of the Ganga’s tributary Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand. It will help in the planning of hydropower projects and maintaining adequate water flow in the river for its ecological health. IIT Roorkee and G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora, have been asked to submit proposals for conducting the study.

Medical Tourism in India

Today India is atracting a huge crowd f childless couples from overseas for low cost treatment and friendly rules in terms of egg donors and surrogate motherhood. As per Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction, there are some 400 IVF clinics in the country, providing an estimated 30,000 assisted reproductive treatments a year.

In America, a full IVF cycle costs around 12,500 dollars, which in India costs around 4,500 dollars. Only cost is not the only factor, lack of rules and regulations in this context is equally considerable factor. In India, there are no restrictions on egg donation

In Britain, the British Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has outlawed payments to surrogates and British IVF clinics allow doctors to implant only two embryos into the uterus in a treatment. In India, five implants are allowed, substantially increasing the chances of pregnancy, and there is no shortage of egg donors.