Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation

Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) is an undertaking of the Government of Delhi, India, that was established in December 1975 for the purpose of promoting tourism and related services in the city of Delhi. It has an authorized share capital of Rs. 10.00 crores and a paid up capital of Rs. 6.28 crores. It is involved in several other activities, some of which do not fall under the core activity of promotion of tourism, such as the selling of liquor. This particular activity, however, provides the corporation with revenue that can be utilized in tourism or other related development activities for the National Capital Region of Delhi.

Main activities

The main activities of Delhi Tourism can be divided into the following heads.

Publicity literature

The Corporation promotes tourism whether or not the activities provide any short-term benefits in terms of revenue. The gains from the promotion of these activities is reviewed regularly as part of a longer term strategy. The use of published literature for publicity and the promotion of tourism is limited to the publication of the following:

• Tourism Map of Delhi
• Eicher City Guide
• CD-ROM on Delhi to provide vital information for the tourist
• Annual Calendar and Diary
• First Mini Booklet for Distribution in inbound flight

Delhi Tourism's Official Hop on Hop off Bus

Tourist facilitation

A large number of tourists arrive at the capital of Delhi every year. Activities provided to tourists regarding include:

• Package Tours - limited to very few choices, or sometimes to only one destination.
• Travel Services - travel services in the form of international air ticketing and foreign exchange banking.
• Tourist Transport - taxi services are also provided by the transport division.
• Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus service www.hohodelhi.com|HOHO DELHI - Known as HoHoDelhi, provides sightseeing service to tourists who are willing to explore Delhi with a more flexible schedule. These tours are conducted in specially designed buses which move continuously along a route, allowing tourists to board or alight at any of the pick up/drop off points.

Other tourist activities

The Corporation provides several other activities for tourists. They are:

• Azad Hind Gram - a rural tourist complex with amphitheater and a museum in the memory of the freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose
• four Coffee Homes - run by the Catering Division of DTTDC are located at prime locations in Delhi.
• Dilli Haat - a market providing items for sale directly by the craftsmen from different parts of the country at one place, recognized as an art, crafts and cultural centre of Delhi, which was visited by approximately 16 lakhs visitors in 2001. Work on Delhi's second Dilli Haat, in Pitampura, close to Pitampura TV Tower and spread over 3 hectares, began in 2008.^[1]
• Exhibition and Conference
• Musical Fountain - located at Ajmal Khan Park with water cascades synchronized to coloured lights, each show lasts 20 minutes.
• Sound and Light show (Son-et-lumiere) - takes place at the Old Fort, Delhi and projects the Fort's history realistically through weekly one hour shows in Hindi and English covering the history of Delhi over a period of 5000 years.

Other activities include boating at nearby lakes and arranging for parasailing and mountaineering activities in India.

Shopping

Delhi is also the hub of shopping. It has various local markets, malls and ensconced in its narrow lanes and by lanes are tiny shops which cater to every pocket. Connaught Place is a favourite shopping destination and Jan Path has shops lined on either sides of the road. There are shops selling brassware, silk shawls and stoles, fashion jewellery and Indian bric a brac. Karol Bagh is a shopper’s delight and it has abundant shopping. In south Delhi are Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar market where shops sell Indian clothing and jewellery. South Extension is an up market shopping area and several global brands are available here. There are several little places to eat the local cuisine and it is easy on the pocket. Chandni Chowk is India’s largest whole sale market and tiny kiosks have brisk sales. It is located in Old Delhi. According to the history of Delhi Shah Jehan had planned the market for his daughter to shop at her will for whatever she wanted. Dilli Haat is an addition to the magnificence of Delhi where artisans from various corners of India showcase their talent and sell their wares. It is a must visit for every tourist. All localities are self sufficient for daily needs.

Selling of liquor

Besides the core activity of promotion of tourism, the Corporation directly sells liquor all over Delhi, which is one of the few activities that provides net profit to the corporation. The sale of liquor is carried out through liquor shops, which number over one hundred, and includes the direct selling of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Country Made Liquor (CL).

Infrastructure

The Corporation constructs flyovers as part of the development of infrastructure for easy commuting by tourists in Delhi. The revenue for the construction of some of the flyovers in Delhi has been generated from a share of profit that the Corporation earns from the sale of Country made Liquor (CL). The Corporation charges a flat rate of profit, a margin of Rs.6 per bottle of country liquor, of which a share of Rs.5/- has been fixed as a contribution towards the construction of flyovers. The construction is carried out by the Engineering Division of the Corporation.

Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management

The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (Delhi Chapter) provides short-term diploma programmes in Tourism and Travel Management on a continuous basis, which assists development of tourism by transferring knowledge in areas of tour and tourism.

Proposed projects

DTTDC has several projects planned:

• Garden of Five Senses, Saidul Ajaib, near Saket^[2]
• Development of Four Dilli Haats.
• Water Sports Tourism Complex at Bhaalswa Lake
• Establishment of Wayside Amenities at N.H.-8.
• Development of a Mini India Heritage Complex
• Restoration of denotified monuments
• Refurbishment of monuments
• Tourist reception centers
• Meet and Assist Services
• Radio Cabs
• Photo Identity Cards .
• Illumination of Monuments
• Development of Lakes
• Use of Information Technology-Helpline/ call center
• 52 Episode tele-serial on tourism
• Handy Audio reach kit
• Computer kiosks with WLL phones.

Festivals

• Qutub Festival

References

1. ^ "CM inaugurates Pitampura Haat". Indian Express. Apr 14, 2008. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/cm-inaugurates-pitampura-haat/296391/. 
2. ^ "A treat for the senses". The Times of India. Feb 22, 2003. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-22/delhi/27269034_1_garden-festival-flowers-in-full-bloom-landscaping. 

External links

• Delhi Tourism website