nument of love.The study, now forwarded to the state tourism department, categorically suggests a `Potato Processing Zone', one of its kind in the country. "The district has just the right kind of weather for the crop,'' said Prof Debashish Dasgupta, senior professor of marketing and the team leader who conducted the study recently. The district accounts for 80% of the total production in the state. "But the resource is poorly tapped,'' he said, on the sidelines of a three-day international conference on tourism. Dasgupta said that potato farmers can be encouraged to channelise their produce for the processing industry, which can also contribute immensely to further the attraction of Agra.
The study goes on to suggest few other crucial measures to give a boost to the tourism potential in Agra. "We need to market Agra as a district,'' he said. For that, the study suggests, sustainable development of other sites which have not been accorded their due status. Like, Dayal Bagh, Sikandra, Etmad-ud-Daulah Tomb, Mariam Tomb and Keetham Lake. The five spots within Agra, if developed and brought under a tourist circuit, can in fact increase the stay of tourist in the city by at least two to three times. The IIM researchers found that the average stay of tourist in the city is only 1.7 day.
Experts point out that Agra is the only city in the world to have three United Nations Organisation (UNO) preserved sites -- Taj, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. "No other city in the world has more than two monuments,'' a researcher said. "But see the irony of it that the city does not have even an airport,'' Dasgupta said. All that exists is an air strip of Indian Air Force, which has a restricted use. The study, therefore, recommends construction of an airport in the city.
What may further put a dent on the tourism potential of Agra is the construction of Noida Expressway by which the average commuting time from new Delhi to Agra would be only about 45 minutes. "So one can stay in Delhi and come to Agra to see Taj. There would be no growth of Agra per se,'' Dasgupta added.
In addition, the research suggests, the city should develop a `shopping festival' kind of thing. "Very much like Dilli Haat, there should be Agra Haat' for giving the much needed exposure to the artisans,'' he said. Then, a free-flowing Yamuna, could be another attractive feature for the city. The river, however, is dying a slow death as none of the state governments showed interests in getting the river de-silted. The city, the study found, has lost virtually all its resources which had been one of the principal attraction of the city. For example, the leather industry received a jolt following disintegration of USSR. In fact, the industrial sector largely took a beating following environmental considerations, the research points out while furthering the claim to find alternate tourists hot spots within the city. It is globally known for being the city where one of the seven wonders of the world, Taj is situated. But what has Agra to do with Aaloo
(Potato)? A lot, according to a study conducted by the marketing department of Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L). The tuber, the study suggests, can actually give a `huge fillip' to the tourism potential of Agra which is otherwise confined just around the monument of love.
The study, now forwarded to the state tourism department, categorically suggests a `Potato Processing Zone', one of its kind in the country. "The district has just the right kind of weather for the crop,'' said Prof Debashish Dasgupta, senior professor of marketing and the team leader who conducted the study recently. The district accounts for 80% of the total production in the state. "But the resource is poorly tapped,'' he said, on the sidelines of a three-day international conference on tourism. Dasgupta said that potato farmers can be encouraged to channelise their produce for the processing industry, which can also contribute immensely to further the attraction of Agra.
The study goes on to suggest few other crucial measures to give a boost to the tourism potential in Agra. "We need to market Agra as a district,'' he said. For that, the study suggests, sustainable development of other sites which have not been accorded their due status. Like, Dayal Bagh, Sikandra, Etmad-ud-Daulah Tomb, Mariam Tomb and Keetham Lake. The five spots within Agra, if developed and brought under a tourist circuit, can in fact increase the stay of tourist in the city by at least two to three times. The IIM researchers found that the average stay of tourist in the city is only 1.7 day.
Experts point out that Agra is the only city in the world to have three United Nations Organisation (UNO) preserved sites -- Taj, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. "No other city in the world has more than two monuments,'' a researcher said. "But see the irony of it that the city does not have even an airport,'' Dasgupta said. All that exists is an air strip of Indian Air Force, which has a restricted use. The study, therefore, recommends construction of an airport in the city.
What may further put a dent on the tourism potential of Agra is the construction of Noida Expressway by which the average commuting time from new Delhi to Agra would be only about 45 minutes. "So one can stay in Delhi and come to Agra to see Taj. There would be no growth of Agra per se,'' Dasgupta added.
In addition, the research suggests, the city should develop a `shopping festival' kind of thing. "Very much like Dilli Haat, there should be Agra Haat' for giving the much needed exposure to the artisans,'' he said. Then, a free-flowing Yamuna, could be another attractive feature for the city. The river, however, is dying a slow death as none of the state governments showed interests in getting the river de-silted. The city, the study found, has lost virtually all its resources which had been one of the principal attraction of the city. For example, the leather industry received a jolt following disintegration of USSR. In fact, the industrial sector largely took a beating following environmental considerations, the research points out while furthering the claim to find alternate tourists hot spots within the city.
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Potatoes-can-save-the-day-for-Agra/articleshow/4382548.cms
The study goes on to suggest few other crucial measures to give a boost to the tourism potential in Agra. "We need to market Agra as a district,'' he said. For that, the study suggests, sustainable development of other sites which have not been accorded their due status. Like, Dayal Bagh, Sikandra, Etmad-ud-Daulah Tomb, Mariam Tomb and Keetham Lake. The five spots within Agra, if developed and brought under a tourist circuit, can in fact increase the stay of tourist in the city by at least two to three times. The IIM researchers found that the average stay of tourist in the city is only 1.7 day.
Experts point out that Agra is the only city in the world to have three United Nations Organisation (UNO) preserved sites -- Taj, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. "No other city in the world has more than two monuments,'' a researcher said. "But see the irony of it that the city does not have even an airport,'' Dasgupta said. All that exists is an air strip of Indian Air Force, which has a restricted use. The study, therefore, recommends construction of an airport in the city.
What may further put a dent on the tourism potential of Agra is the construction of Noida Expressway by which the average commuting time from new Delhi to Agra would be only about 45 minutes. "So one can stay in Delhi and come to Agra to see Taj. There would be no growth of Agra per se,'' Dasgupta added.
In addition, the research suggests, the city should develop a `shopping festival' kind of thing. "Very much like Dilli Haat, there should be Agra Haat' for giving the much needed exposure to the artisans,'' he said. Then, a free-flowing Yamuna, could be another attractive feature for the city. The river, however, is dying a slow death as none of the state governments showed interests in getting the river de-silted. The city, the study found, has lost virtually all its resources which had been one of the principal attraction of the city. For example, the leather industry received a jolt following disintegration of USSR. In fact, the industrial sector largely took a beating following environmental considerations, the research points out while furthering the claim to find alternate tourists hot spots within the city. It is globally known for being the city where one of the seven wonders of the world, Taj is situated. But what has Agra to do with Aaloo
(Potato)? A lot, according to a study conducted by the marketing department of Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L). The tuber, the study suggests, can actually give a `huge fillip' to the tourism potential of Agra which is otherwise confined just around the monument of love.
The study, now forwarded to the state tourism department, categorically suggests a `Potato Processing Zone', one of its kind in the country. "The district has just the right kind of weather for the crop,'' said Prof Debashish Dasgupta, senior professor of marketing and the team leader who conducted the study recently. The district accounts for 80% of the total production in the state. "But the resource is poorly tapped,'' he said, on the sidelines of a three-day international conference on tourism. Dasgupta said that potato farmers can be encouraged to channelise their produce for the processing industry, which can also contribute immensely to further the attraction of Agra.
The study goes on to suggest few other crucial measures to give a boost to the tourism potential in Agra. "We need to market Agra as a district,'' he said. For that, the study suggests, sustainable development of other sites which have not been accorded their due status. Like, Dayal Bagh, Sikandra, Etmad-ud-Daulah Tomb, Mariam Tomb and Keetham Lake. The five spots within Agra, if developed and brought under a tourist circuit, can in fact increase the stay of tourist in the city by at least two to three times. The IIM researchers found that the average stay of tourist in the city is only 1.7 day.
Experts point out that Agra is the only city in the world to have three United Nations Organisation (UNO) preserved sites -- Taj, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. "No other city in the world has more than two monuments,'' a researcher said. "But see the irony of it that the city does not have even an airport,'' Dasgupta said. All that exists is an air strip of Indian Air Force, which has a restricted use. The study, therefore, recommends construction of an airport in the city.
What may further put a dent on the tourism potential of Agra is the construction of Noida Expressway by which the average commuting time from new Delhi to Agra would be only about 45 minutes. "So one can stay in Delhi and come to Agra to see Taj. There would be no growth of Agra per se,'' Dasgupta added.
In addition, the research suggests, the city should develop a `shopping festival' kind of thing. "Very much like Dilli Haat, there should be Agra Haat' for giving the much needed exposure to the artisans,'' he said. Then, a free-flowing Yamuna, could be another attractive feature for the city. The river, however, is dying a slow death as none of the state governments showed interests in getting the river de-silted. The city, the study found, has lost virtually all its resources which had been one of the principal attraction of the city. For example, the leather industry received a jolt following disintegration of USSR. In fact, the industrial sector largely took a beating following environmental considerations, the research points out while furthering the claim to find alternate tourists hot spots within the city.
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Potatoes-can-save-the-day-for-Agra/articleshow/4382548.cms
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