AGRA: Uttar Pradesh's efforts to promote tourism in Agra have gained momentum after the inclusion of the Taj Mahal, India's greatest tourist draw, in the new list of Seven Wonders of the World.
Everyone from the district authorities, the municipal corporation and tourism bodies is trying to cash in on the euphoria.
Le Passage to India, a travel agency, has announced plans to distribute specially designed badges with Taj inscribed on them to 10,000 foreign tourists next month.
Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association, said: "The coming tourist season beginning September should see a big spurt in tourist arrivals. The interest in Agra and its monuments has definitely increased and we are determined to cash in on the publicity."
In early August, the executive committee members of the Domestic Tour Operators of India will be meeting in Agra to discuss plans to promote tourism in Agra.
Sunil Gupta, a member of the executive committee, said: "The tourism industry is naturally upbeat about the Taj Mahal's inclusion in the Seven Wonders of the World list and expects a large number of tourists to come to Agra."
Large-scale renovation work of the Taj by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is under way. ASI officials said a clay pack treatment to remove stains from the marble surface of the Taj would start after the monsoon rains end.
The state government has, meanwhile, given the green signal to several plans for Agra's makeover.
The Taj Express Way has been given top priority. District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram said he was trying to speed up the land acquisition process for the project because the government is keen to have it completed much in advance of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Divisional Commissioner S.R. Meena said he was busy giving final touches to the Taj National Park project. As part of the project, a 300-acre national park will be made across the river Yamuna in collaboration with the US National Park Service.
Meena added that an open-air theatre at Mehtab Bagh behind the Taj Mahal is his top priority at the moment.
Raviv Tiwari, a tourism industry leader, said the present turnover from Taj centric tourism was around Rs.20 billion annually. "We now want it hiked to Rs.100 billion."
Another boost to tourism will be the Mega City Tour Project, which will be launched this year in September by American travel agencies. They will take US tourists on a trip to the Delhi-Jaipur-Agra golden triangle.
Everyone from the district authorities, the municipal corporation and tourism bodies is trying to cash in on the euphoria.
Le Passage to India, a travel agency, has announced plans to distribute specially designed badges with Taj inscribed on them to 10,000 foreign tourists next month.
Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association, said: "The coming tourist season beginning September should see a big spurt in tourist arrivals. The interest in Agra and its monuments has definitely increased and we are determined to cash in on the publicity."
In early August, the executive committee members of the Domestic Tour Operators of India will be meeting in Agra to discuss plans to promote tourism in Agra.
Sunil Gupta, a member of the executive committee, said: "The tourism industry is naturally upbeat about the Taj Mahal's inclusion in the Seven Wonders of the World list and expects a large number of tourists to come to Agra."
Large-scale renovation work of the Taj by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is under way. ASI officials said a clay pack treatment to remove stains from the marble surface of the Taj would start after the monsoon rains end.
The state government has, meanwhile, given the green signal to several plans for Agra's makeover.
The Taj Express Way has been given top priority. District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram said he was trying to speed up the land acquisition process for the project because the government is keen to have it completed much in advance of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Divisional Commissioner S.R. Meena said he was busy giving final touches to the Taj National Park project. As part of the project, a 300-acre national park will be made across the river Yamuna in collaboration with the US National Park Service.
Meena added that an open-air theatre at Mehtab Bagh behind the Taj Mahal is his top priority at the moment.
Raviv Tiwari, a tourism industry leader, said the present turnover from Taj centric tourism was around Rs.20 billion annually. "We now want it hiked to Rs.100 billion."
Another boost to tourism will be the Mega City Tour Project, which will be launched this year in September by American travel agencies. They will take US tourists on a trip to the Delhi-Jaipur-Agra golden triangle.