The Office of India Tourism, the first of its kind in China, will open in Beijing, on April 7 this year.

The scene of the press conference held on April 3 (Photo by Shi Gang)

The main task of the office, according to Nirupama Rao, Ambassador of India to China, will be to attract more Chinese tourists to India, by showcasing the latter's rich historical and cultural heritage.

"People are at the heart of any relationship," said Rao, at a press conference on April 3. "Together, the two countries account for almost 40 percent of the world's population. With increasing growth and development, both China and India have emerged as major sources of outbound tourists."

Air connectivity has doubled between India and China over the last year; there are now 27 weekly flights between the two countries. Statistics from the Embassy of India show that, in 2007, over half a million people traveled between India and China -- over 462,450 visitors from India to China and about 68,000 Chinese visitors to India.

To reach out to the maximum number of Chinese people, tourism-related literature is being translated; Indian tourist guides are also being trained in the Chinese language, Rao said, adding the number of the guides would increase gradually.

A series of activities will be organized following the opening of the office. These will comprise a photo exhibition, My Discovery of India, by Rita Zhao, a Chinese photographer who visited India during the Friendship Through Tourism Year; Incredible India, a cultural program including dances choreographed by India's leading Bharatnatyam dancer Leela Samson and featuring about 71 dancers; and a weeklong Indian Food Festival by master chefs in both Beijing and Shanghai.

"The forthcoming events will enable the Chinese people to deepen their friendship with India and its people, and the exchanges between the two countries in the field of tourism and culture will grow ever stronger," said Rao.

Ambika Soni, India's Minister of Tourism and Culture, will attend the inauguration ceremony during her three-day visit to China, starting April 6. She will hold discussions with Shao Qiwei, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, and attend various cultural and food festivals.

The Beijing office, headed by its Acting Director R.S. Meena, will be India's 14th tourism office abroad. The other offices are in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Johannesburg, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Tokyo, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney.