Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat chaired a Tourism Ministers’ conference today in Shillong. Tourism Ministers from the North Eastern, Eastern States, and Union Territories participated in the conference.
The Union Minister said that the Ministry of Tourism is convening a series of meetings with different regions of the country to bring in more collaboration with all States and UTs for the overall growth and development of tourism in the country.
This is the 3rd meeting in the series, the earlier ones being for the northern, central and western regions in Chandigarh followed by Goa respectively.
“These meetings will focus on developing iconic tourist destinations globally, enhancing alternative destinations, and improving marketing, promotion, safety, connectivity, cleanliness, and ease of doing business in the tourism sector,” the Minister stated. He further revealed that the tourism industry is looking for investments from private players for a greater push as part of the public private partnership (PPP) model.
The Minister reiterated that India has set new benchmarks under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in the past 10 years. “India has seen substantial economic progress. With the able leadership of our PM Narendra Modiji, our country is progressing economically. Infrastructure has developed significantly over the past decade, and the global perspective on India has changed. People around the world are now looking at India with renewed enthusiasm, eager to understand it as it was in historical times,” he said.
The Minister highlighted several government initiatives aimed at bolstering tourism. “The Swadesh Darshan scheme, launched by Prime Minister Modi, provides financial assistance to state governments and Union Territories for tourism development. From 2014-15 to 2018-19, the government undertook 76 projects worth 5000 crore rupees, including 16 in the Northeast,” he explained and added, “We have revamped the Swadesh Darshan scheme to focus on sustainability and responsible tourism. Under the revised scheme, 57 destinations across 32 states and UTs have been identified, and 23 projects worth 715 crore rupees have been launched under Swadesh Darshan 2.”
Additionally, the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, focusing on pilgrimage and spiritual tourism, has seen significant progress. He stated, “So far, 46 projects worth 1624 crore rupees have been initiated under the PRASAD scheme,” the Minister said. “We have also introduced a new sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 dedicated to developing child-friendly destinations.”
The Minister called on states to submit proposals for tourism development in various sectors. “We encourage states to submit proposals for spiritual tourism, culture and heritage, vibrant village programs, eco-tourism, and Amrit Dharohar sites. The Ministry has selected 42 destinations across various tourism themes in 25 states and UTs for development under this scheme,” he noted.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Tourism has released operational guidelines to support capital investment in tourism projects. “Our ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative invites citizens to vote for their preferred destinations, which will be developed to enhance the tourist experience,” the Minister said. “We have also launched the ‘Chalo India’ campaign and other promotional activities.”
The Minister emphasized the ongoing efforts to improve the Incredible India website. “We are revamping the Incredible India website to provide a world-class experience and have requested states to contribute their observations, content, videos, and photographs,” he added.
During the marathon meeting, which lasted over seven hours, the Minister expressed appreciation for the presentations and commitment shown by the states. “I am excited about the presentations and the dedication shown by each state. I would like to extend my gratitude to all states, ministers, and officials for their valuable contributions,” he remarked.
Addressing the challenges faced by the sector, the Minister acknowledged the need for improvements in connectivity and the development of homestays. “We have noted all observations and challenges, and we are committed to finding solutions to enhance our tourism sector,” he concluded.
The Union Minister will visit South West Khasi Hills district tomorrow and chair a review meeting with the state and district level officers. He will also visit some of the infrastructure sites in the district.