---------------------------------------------------------- Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goanet2003/ ----------------------------------------------------------
Indian diaspora seeks parity in hotel tariff, airfares >From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Parity in hotel tariffs and airfares with Indian citizens would make visits of the diaspora more attractive. At an interactive meeting organised here Monday by leading chamber body Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), members of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) urged that visas for visits to India should be dropped for them. They suggested "same air fares, hotel tariffs and taxes be charged from them in India as applicable to the citizens in the country," according to ASSOCHAM. The different taxes charged from GOPIO members, besides the dollar dominated payment for hotel and air tariff and visa charges make the journey to their place of origin very costly and in some cases prohibitive, they contended. "The PIOs also suggested that provision be made in India to receive online applications for visas, and that these be issued to them without delay or inconvenience," said Subhash Goyal, chairman of Assocham expert committee on tourism and aviation. Criticising the treatment meted out to them in Indian high commissions and embassies, the GOPIO urged initiating training programmes for immigration, customs and other officials connected with tourism and aviation when dealing with them. The members also sough reduction in the PIO (People of Indian Origin) card fees from $1,000 to $300, and extending the coverage to their family members and children. Charging each member of a family would not be sustainable as all Indians settled abroad "were not well-off to pay such prohibitive rates". To Goyal's to promote pilgrim tourism of the country, the GOPIO urged better infrastructure and provisions to ensure better treatment at the airports and tourism destinations. --Indo-Asian News Service
