Healing traditions draw tourists to India

Tourism officials have been crisscrossing the globe as part of the government's "Incredible India" campaign launched last year that also touts the country's mystical, spiritual and healing traditions. And the results are beginning to show.
Tourists traveling to India have jumped by nearly 26 percent from last year and the number is expected to cross 3 million this year, said Amitabh Kant, chairman of the India Tourism Development Corp.
"Foreign exchange earnings, too, have shown a nearly 40 percent rise this year," Kant told The Associated Press.
India's earnings from tourism were $4.3 billion between January and November 2004, compared to $3.1 billion for the same period last year.
"Tourist figures are looking up, especially after the way the travel magazines are raving about India," Renuka Choudhury, India's feisty tourism minister, told reporters just before leaving for Spain and Italy to push the "Incredible India" campaign.
Conde Nast Traveler ranked India sixth among the world's top 10 destinations in its annual readers' traveler awards. India won top points for its cultural diversity, hospitality and good value for money.
Lonely Planet Online, the Web site of the guidebook series, described India as among the top five international holiday destinations along with Thailand, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
The "Incredible India" campaign focuses on the country's scores of small, largely unexplored tourist spots, as well as India's traditional healing arts.
"We want to push wellness and spiritual tourism in a big way. We want visitors to spend a few days at an Ayurveda spa and go back rejuvenated in mind and spirit," Choudhury said.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian healing practice that uses herbal remedies.
However, India's infrastructure is still woefully inadequate, and Choudhury concedes a lot needs to be done.
There aren't enough airline seats available on major carriers, so it's nearly impossible to get a ticket to India during summer and Christmas school vacations. And five-star hotels are concentrated in major cities and some hill and beach resorts.
However, Choudhury noted at least 22 airports are being upgraded, with better signs, modern toilets, lounges and duty free shops.
A tourist police force has been set up at airports, railway and bus terminals.
Newspapers have noted that some of these police speak no English, but Choudhury said their helpful attitude and training in etiquette make a difference.