Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI: Making India a greater attraction for foreign tourists and working for the success of the 2010 Commonwealth Games here, will be the focus of the Tourism Ministry.

“Our preparations are in full swing to make the Commonwealth Games next year a grand success,” Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja told reporters after assuming charge of her Ministry here on Saturday. “We are expecting about one lakh tourists during the Games and steps are under way to cater to their needs,” Ms. Selja said.

The Minister said that owing to the Mumbai terror attack and the global slowdown not many foreigners were visiting India. “We have to launch a vigorous campaign to attract foreign tourists,” she added.

In the North Block headquarters of the Union Home Ministry, Mullappally Ramachandran assumed office as Minister of State. Mr. Ramachandran, a Congress MP from Vadakara in Kerala, was Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperation in the Narasimha Rao Govt.