Raising a toast to tourism

Keeping in view Omicron variant’s scare, Ministry of Tourism had subdued celebration of National Tourism Day this year. Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, MOT organised virtual event that lasted for two hours.

Nisha Verma

The theme for the National Tourism Day celebration was ‘Rural and Community Centric Tourism’. The Chief Guest at the online event was G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DoNER, who gave the keynote speech, while other speakers included Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism; Upendra Prasad Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles; Govind Mohan, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; G. Ashok Kumar, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga; Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group and Col. Manoj Keshwar from Atulya Ganga Parikrama.

In his address, Reddy claimed that the tourism sector is one of the highest employment generating sectors, and with the biggest vaccination drive in the world happening in India, the right confidence is being built for tourists. “According to statistics in 2019, 30 per cent of employment is generated through tourism,” the minister said.

He shared that different ministries of the Government of India are working together to promote tourism in the country in one way or the other. “With the Ministry of External Affairs, India is offering 5 lakh free visas for foreign tourists, and the UDAN scheme has extended e-visa to more than 170 nations. On the railways, 35,000 coaches have been allocated for tourism, with special trains for different tourism circuits. We are also working with the Ministry of Education, where we are working on starting tourism clubs in schools and colleges to create more awareness among our students and young people,” he said.

He emphasised on the need to promote the North-Eastern region and to tap its potential and natural offerings. He said that it is vital to increase India’s share in the global tourism market. He even appealed to connect with the corporate sector under the Adopt a Heritage project under corporate social responsibility. Reddy launched a digital booklet on 75 incredible sites to visit in India and an Incredible India 2022 digital calendar by the Union Ministry of Tourism dedicated to tourism sites.

In his welcome speech, Arvind Singh said that the tourism sector has a huge multiplier effect, not only in terms of creating employment at the grassroot level, but also due to its socio-economic impact across communities. “These dynamics have turned tourism into a key driver of socio-economic progress. Tourism promotes national integration and makes citizens aware of the beauty and rich cultural heritage of our great nation. It also promotes international relationships and encourages cultural pursuits by providing support to local handicrafts,” he said.

Explaining the theme of the tourism day, he said, “Pochampally has been awarded as one of the best villages for tourism by the UNWTO for the year 2021, and it has inspired us to celebrate National Tourism Day 2022, recognising rural and community-centric tourism. As we all know, rural communities are custodians of indigenous, natural, and cultural heritage, and they also have an inherent ability to coexist with natural ecosystems, it is important at this juncture that rural communities and landscapes are leveraged to develop and promote tourism development models.”

He concluded by saying, “It is important that development through tourism is sustainable, responsible, and inclusive, and I’m confident that if we all join hands, we can emerge stronger and more resilient to cope with the challenges that confront us.”

Upendra Prasad Singh highlighted the importance of Indian handlooms and handicrafts. Govind Mohan spoke about the interconnection between culture and tourism. Leena Nandan, emphasised the importance of eco-tourism.

She also shared her views on how we can tap into the potential and growth of tourism in the country in a responsible and sustainable manner. Ashok Kumar spoke about the project launched for the holistic rejuvenation, restoration, and conservation of the Ganga Basin.

Anand Mahindra shared his views on tourism in India. “India’s rich diversity and heritage can cater to different segments of tourists, from modest budget travellers to unmatched luxury experiences,” he said. Col. Manoj Keshwar, Atulya Ganga Parikrama shared his experience of Ganga Parikrama, an initiative to revive Indian rivers and their eco-systems.