Government is actively considering creating tourism theme parks near heritage sites to promote heritage tourism. Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai has said that if the country wants to add 5 million more global tourists in the next five years, then this cannot be achieved without the development of heritage tourism.

Mr. Sahai told a heritage tourism conclave in New Delhi on Wednesday that the Ministry is proposing to construct tourism theme parks in the country and these parks can come up near these sites to hold tourists for a period of four to five days.

Seeking industry participation in the development of infrastructure, he said, the plan is to construct these parks in public-private participation model. He, also said that there is a need for aggressive campaigning about our tourism sites.

Referring to the 12th Five-Year Plan, Mr. Sahai said, according to the plan paper, tourism will play a major role in poverty alleviation programmes.

UNESCO has identified 28 world heritage sites including Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Konark Temple and Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Temple and these sites mostly attract foreign tourists.