Commonwealth Games 2010
Delhi launches tourist helpline ahead of Commonwealth Games
As the city prepares to host the Commonwealth Games, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today launched a new 24-hour helpline and a tourism website providing a range of services to the tourists.
“Delhi ranks number one in foreign tourists’ arrivals.
This makes it vital for it to have a robust tourist guidance system in place,” Dikshit said after launching the facility here.
She said the online and phone facilities will reach out to the tourists in the country and abroad making Delhi-related information and services more accessible.
On the official website www.delhitourism.gov.in, visitors will have access to a wide variety of services and information. Even before tourists set out for Delhi, they can download thematic city maps, information brochures and informative videos to plan their trip better.
Information such as type of hotel, booking services, Bed and Breakfast establishments, guesthouses, transport and flight services, currency converter and weather updates besides detailed information on city’s heritage, must-see attractions and eateries will be available at the click of mouse.
“What’s more one can “now dial ‘1280’ from any phone and get answers to questions related to Delhi tourism,” a senior Delhi Government official said.
Comments
The launching of a tourism infornation website is a positive ray of light amidst the gloom surrounding the blight associated with New Delhi's preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
Indian tourism and the city of New Delhi placed a great deal of hope and faith on the Commonwealth Games as a major stimulus to showcase a poitive message for tourism to India.
New Delhi's probleme may not have received much coverage in the US media bacuse the US is not a participant. However, within the 78 countries participating in the Commonwealth Games stories of shoddy and delayed construction of Games facilities and the athletes village, endemic corruption and budget blowouts have been front page stories in the media of Commonwealth countries ranging from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Southern and Central Africa, Malaysia, Singapore and Pacific Island nations.
Unfortunately games organisers, the New Delhi city authorities and the Indian government have been less than forthcoming about the extent of these problems and in their ability to ease concerns among athletes, officials and supportere of the 78 countries involved.
Consequently the leadup to the games have created a serious reputational crisis for Indian tourism in the eyes of some of its largest source markets. The negative publicity about the Games preparations has also focussed attention on security concerns.
While the Indian government and security agancies are confident that security is being assiduously managed some sections of the media have created a climate of fear about the safety of the games for athletes and spectators. One Australian Tabloid TV current affairs report featured a reporter allegedly walking unchallenged past games security officers near the main stadium with a wheelie bag full of detonators. The truth was that this alleged "breach of security" occurred prior to a sucurty lockdown and was beyond the secure perimeter of the stadium complex. However the viewers of this report which was featured by TV news services globally, suggested that Indian security was weak.
While many of the problems may ultimately be resolved in time for the opening of the Commonwealth Games on 04 October India's reputation as a host nation for mega-events has been seriously compromised by the appallingly managed leadup and preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
David Beirman- Senior Lecturer Tourism. Univereity of Technology-Sydney.
i want to join the commonwealth games2010
iam student fron sree vidyaniketan international school
class:6th
shera we are with you . come on!
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