In order to achieve further growth in tourism, the President of India Pratibha Patil, has urged for a multi-pronged approach to be adopted to make visitors’ experience pleasant and hassle-free. “India has exquisite destinations, diverse culture, colourful festivals, long heritage and vast landscape to attract tourists,” the President said. She added that tourism was the main driver of economic prosperity and development for many countries of the world and the tourism industry’s capacity to generate employment and uplift the livelihood standards of unskilled and semi-skilled labour is well known. Patil cited the examples of countries like France, Spain, etc., where tourist arrivals are more than the population. The President was speaking at the National Tourism Awards function organised by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi recently.
Appreciating the steps taken by the government in recent years to promote tourism by including niche segments like cruise, adventure, wellness tourism, etc., the President said that there has been growing interest in Ayurvedic medicines and Yoga among people in foreign countries and she also said that the decision to constitute an inter-ministerial committee for tourism to build “convergence of programmes at the implementation level” was a step in the right direction.
However, the President said that proper infrastructure, connectivity, and accommodation facility affordable to all segments of travellers are key for tourism. Making a specific mention of the hospitality industry, the President said that the hotel industry must look at the requirements of all sections of travellers. She also urged the industry to imbibe new technology in order to make travel products more accessible. While working to achieve the target set, the President also cautioned the industry against deviating from the cultural traditions of the country. She urged the industry to keep up the spirit of responsible tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism, Govt of India said that efforts are on to achieve the target of one per cent of international inbound into India by 2016. The Minister also said that the target can be achieved only through stronger partnerships among governments at the Centre and the State and the private stakeholders of the tourism industry. Reiterating tourism’s capacity for employment generation, social integration, and wealth distribution, Sahai said, “The government intended to take the benefits of tourism to grassroots level by clustering the rural tourism projects.”
The President gave away National Tourism Awards to 78 awardees in over 50 categories. New categories were included in this year’s National Tourism Awards to recognise Heritage related products and services. The awards included were Best Heritage City, Best Heritage Walk, and Best State on Campaign Clean India were included in this year’s award.
Appreciating the steps taken by the government in recent years to promote tourism by including niche segments like cruise, adventure, wellness tourism, etc., the President said that there has been growing interest in Ayurvedic medicines and Yoga among people in foreign countries and she also said that the decision to constitute an inter-ministerial committee for tourism to build “convergence of programmes at the implementation level” was a step in the right direction.
However, the President said that proper infrastructure, connectivity, and accommodation facility affordable to all segments of travellers are key for tourism. Making a specific mention of the hospitality industry, the President said that the hotel industry must look at the requirements of all sections of travellers. She also urged the industry to imbibe new technology in order to make travel products more accessible. While working to achieve the target set, the President also cautioned the industry against deviating from the cultural traditions of the country. She urged the industry to keep up the spirit of responsible tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism, Govt of India said that efforts are on to achieve the target of one per cent of international inbound into India by 2016. The Minister also said that the target can be achieved only through stronger partnerships among governments at the Centre and the State and the private stakeholders of the tourism industry. Reiterating tourism’s capacity for employment generation, social integration, and wealth distribution, Sahai said, “The government intended to take the benefits of tourism to grassroots level by clustering the rural tourism projects.”
The President gave away National Tourism Awards to 78 awardees in over 50 categories. New categories were included in this year’s National Tourism Awards to recognise Heritage related products and services. The awards included were Best Heritage City, Best Heritage Walk, and Best State on Campaign Clean India were included in this year’s award.
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