The tourism ministry wants to upgrade all facilities, including toilets, hygienically prepared food and clean wayside amenities. “Let us approach this creatively. There are many people with good homes who can generate income by offering bed and breakfast, similar to what they have in Ireland, Scotland and other countries. It also reduces the pressure on hotels, which are difficult to run during the off-season. Star hotels are a necessity today, because India is not only a destination for tourists but also for patients and their families who stay for long durations. Apart from that, India is a `mind-destination’, as we have people coming for meetings, exhibitions and conferences throughout the year.”

Reduced domestic airfare would spur domestic tourism, she feels. She is canvassing for lowering the price of aircraft fuel, which is taxed by State Governments, to help bring down airfare. About 49 lakh Indians travel outside the country because it’s cheaper to fly to countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok, compared with domestic air travel.

For the first time the ministry has addressed medical tourism. Chowdhury points out that Indian doctors offer 36 per cent of the medical services in the US and UK. The credibility of medical education in India, English language skills and the sunny climate beckon patients from abroad. The contribution by private medical institutions and hospitals offering state-of-the-art facilities have helped benchmark medical services in the country.

Nearly 60,000 patients have visited India for hip and knee replacement surgery, bypass surgery, cosmetic and other surgery during the last four years.

A taskforce comprising the tourism ministry, health ministry and the CII has been constituted to promote medical tourism. This is expected to give a fillip to both Indian indigenous medical systems and allopathy. Hospitals are being accredited to enable categorisation.

While India is known for its monuments and historical sites, their deplorable state is a matter for concern. The tourism ministry works in tandem with the Culture Ministry and the Archaeological Survey of India, which are responsible for the maintenance of historical monuments. Renuka moots public-private partnerships.

The concept of ‘tourism police’—a boon to tourists, particularly women—is receiving a major thrust. The idea is to sensitise the police to problems faced by tourists, guide them to their destination, assist them when there is loss of passport or money, and ensure safety at tourist spots. Tourism police is also expected to deter harassment of women tourists, especially foreigners. “Sometimes people from other countries come with different dress codes, not anticipating the orthodoxy prevalent here, which can be quite challenging and frightening to some tourists,” she says.

Another niche that the minister is looking at is Buddhist pilgrimage. Chowdhury is determined to take the work forward from where Jagmohan had left it. Like her predecessor, Chowdhury is bullish about promoting the Buddhist circuit. Not only has her ministry identified 22 Buddhist sites across the country, she has either sanctioned or is in the process of sanctioning several projects for infrastructure development in most of these sites. The minister also plans to encourage high-end tourism that has the potential to contribute substantially to the economy. Observers believe Chowdhury can swing it. After all, they say, she is a post-graduate in industrial psychology. And she is an old hand at politics. She has held a number of significant positions like member, Rajya Sabha (two terms); chief whip, Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party, Rajya Sabha (1986-98); Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare (1997-98); elected to the 13th Lok Sabha (1999); Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare (1997-98); Member, Committee on Finance (1999-2000) and Member, Committee on the Empowerment of Women (2000-2001). Apart from being politically active and duly branded a “firebrand” for her outspoken nature, she has a number of literary, artistic and scientific accomplishments to her credit. She has written many articles and short stories for children. She has enthusiastically associated herself with various social and cultural organisations and has been contributing zealously in the field of women and child development and welfare. Chowdhury is known to take tough and controversial decisions. Like the transfer of tourism secretary Uma Pillai in February over the purchase of a large consignment of Johnnie Walker whisky by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) from Diageo. Apparently, the former secretary became the minister’s target when she suggested that the tourism ministry should keep out of ITDC’s commercial dealings. Johnnie Walker brands disappeared from ITDC’s duty-free shops as a result of the controversy. The controversy, however, soon died out. Also, she came under a barrage of protests when she suggested that night food courts be opened at the site of ancient monuments. That proposal was hastily withdrawn. However, the minister has stuck to her plans to change the face of tourism in India. Towards that end, Chowdhury has put the bureaucracy to work. It remains to be seen how deep the changes have sunk in.