MALDIVES, SRI LANKA, BHUTAN AND NEPAL LIKELY ON LTC MAP FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

The government is mulling a proposal to provide leave travel concession (LTC) for Central Government employees to four countries – Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka to boost tourism in the neighbourhood. The LTC will be modeled on the schemes for the north-east and J&K which helped increase tourism and fuelled economic improvement in the two regions. Sources in the tourism ministry said "introuducing LTC for 20 lakh government employees could encourage greater people to people exchange among the SAARC Countries. But there will have to some reciprocal arrangement. We are working on that". Sources said India is in touch with the countries to consider the proposals viability.