New Tourism Policy unveil before next Budget session
Union Goverment will unveil new national tourism policy before the next budget Session of Parliament. This was stated by G Kishan Reddy Union Tourism Minister while addressing three days National Conference of State Tourism Ministers at Dharmshala today.
He said that after vast process of consultations and deliberations, the National Tourism Policy will be brought out before the Budget session. He also informed that various tourist circuits are being promoted and a new ‘Ambedkar Circuit’ shall soon be launched. The Himalayan Circuit will also be promoted under the action plan for development of tourist circuits, Sh G Kishan Reddy elaborated. Addressing an inaugral session of conference Reddy said that deliberation would be bring in diverse viewpoints and perspectives from all the States and Union Territories of India on tourism development . He said that such conference would create a direct dialogue with the States on Schemes, policies and steps being taken at a national level for overall tourism improvement in India. Reddy stated that in the past 75 years, India has become synonymous with tourism, spirituality, transformation, culture, and diversity. It is a matter of great pride to celebrate record breaking expansion, leading India to become 5th largest economy in the world. As such, establishing the tourism sector as primary concern, Ministry of Tourism has undertaken various initiatives and taken a four-fold development strategy that focuses on improving the connectivity via air, rail, and roads, enhancing the tourism infrastructure and dependent services, streamlining branding and promotion and showcasing the culture and heritage.
The Union Tourism Minister further added that the National Conference of State Tourism Ministers is also important in the current context of India’s G20 presidency. G-20 will be used as a platform to showcase India’s tourism potential to the world, he disclosed.
Emphasising the importance of air connectivity Sh G Kishan Reddy said that number of airports in the country has increased from 74 in 2014 to 140 now, and it is further proposed to increase number of airports to 220 by 2025.
He also said that Prime Minister’s vision of associating Indian diaspora and NRIs for promoting tourism will be encouraged and urged each diaspora Indian to motivate at least 5 foreigners to visit India as per vision of our PM. The financial assistance to tourism sector, which is the biggest sufferer due to Covid 19, continues to be extended upto 31st March, 2023 he said. The Tourism sector generated INR 16.91 lakh crore (USD 240 billion) or 9.2 p c of India’s GDP in 2018 and has supported around 42.67 million jobs or 8.1 per cent of total employment. The Conference would also help to share best practices, successful projects, and tourism product opportunities. Minister of state for Tourism Ajay Bhatt and MoS Tourism Shripad Naik, Director General of Tourism G Kamala Vardhana Rao were also present.
