NEW DELHI: The Tourism Ministry expects to get the Cabinet approval for a draft policy which it says will help increase India’s share in foreign tourist arrivals

“Draft is ready and it has got approval of all concerned Ministries. It will go to the Cabinet now for its approval. After Cabinet approval it will be effective. We are expecting it will be done very soon,” Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said here at a book launch function.

He said the country has an abundance of tourism products. “We have 7500 km-long seashore, wildlife, desert, adventure, four beautiful seasons. We have so much to offer.”

The new policy aims to cash in on the tourist wanderlust to increase India’s share in international tourist arrivals from the current measly 0.68 per cent to 1 per cent by 2020.

Cultural Heritage of Trans Himalayas (Kinnaur) authored by PS Negi Loktus was released by the Minister in the presence of the writer and senior officials.

Congratulating Negi on writing the “wonderful book”, Sharma said “It will be a great asset for tourists as well as for research in Himalayas. 73 per cent of Himalayas are with us. It protects us. It is also the lifeline for us as many rivers originate from it.”