INDIA-SINGAPORE ENERGISE TOURISM TIES

By P.VIJIAN

NEW DELHI, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- India and Singapore today ramped up efforts to
enhance bilateral tourism by entering into special action plan that will allow
both players to explore and promote new ideas.

A menu of options -- from strengthening marketing collaboration, promoting
reciprocal visits of media representatives and travel operators as well as
participating in tourism fairs in India and Singapore -- appeared in the tourism
cooperation plan deal signed Tuesday.
"We want to take India and Singapore friendly relations further. Now there
are more Indians travelling to Singapore and we want more Singaporeans to visit
us.

"Besides, we want Singapore to invest in our hospitality industry and
convention centres. The Indian government has allowed 100 percent FDI (foreign
direct investment) in the tourism sector," India's Tourism Minister Kumari
Selja said after the signing ceremony.

Visiting Singaporean delegation head Senior Minister of State for Trade and
Industry and Education S. Iswaran said India is a haven for short-haul
travellers in the region

"The travel pattern is changing, more people are switching from long haul to
short haul journeys, from full carriers to low cost carriers and they want
value for money," he added.

Today's agreement underscores the healthy India-Singapore bilateral
relations -- which had transcend into other key sectors like defence, education
and energy.

Singapore was the largest investor from Asean region with investments
totalling US$3.34 billion in 2008.
-- BERNAMA