Kashmir sees 15% rise in tourist footfalls post-pandemic
Dev of new tourist destinations needed to ease congestion
Govt to enhance infrastructure for tourism
SRINAGAR, Aug 07: Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajinder Singh Shekhawat, stated that India’s tourism sector will become a major economic and employment generator, propelling the nation to become the third largest economy.
“India’s tourism sector will propel our economy to the third largest in the world,” Shekhawat said at the 25th Annual National Convention of the Tourist Guides Federation of India at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar.
Shekhawat highlighted the significant growth in India’s economy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Under PM Modi, we have transformed India from the 11th to the 5th largest economy, and now we aim for the 3rd,” he said. He added that economic prosperity has led to a boom in tourism, which will play a crucial role in further elevating the economy.
Addressing the need to develop new tourist destinations to manage the surge in visitors, Shekhawat noted that established tourist spots are becoming congested. “To decongest these areas, we need to develop new points of attraction and sites,” he said.
He assured that the government is committed to improving infrastructure and services in tourist areas. “Tourism is primarily a matter for state governments, but we have asked all states to create plans for new destinations. The Indian government will support these plans, whether it’s for connectivity or communication,” he added.
The minister also spoke about efforts to enhance the skills of tourist guides through online courses and training programs. “We have created an online course module for tourist guide skill enhancement. During the off-season, guides can improve their skills and advance their careers through physical training at our tourism institutes,” he said.
He went on to discuss the post-Covid-19 boom in domestic tourism and stressed the need for the industry to prepare for the increasing number of tourists. He emphasized that with advanced technologies and AI, tourists now have instant access to information, and service providers must offer unique experiences beyond what is available online.
Shekhawat observed a shift from monumental to experiential tourism and mentioned policy changes introduced by Prime Minister Modi to address current challenges. He discussed the positive impact of economic growth on tourism and the importance of targeting inbound tourists and utilizing local feedback to meet demand.
Speaking on Kashmir, Shekhawat noted a 15% increase in tourist footfalls since the pandemic and mentioned the attraction of lavender cultivation in south Kashmir. He stressed the need to promote offbeat destinations to manage the rush at popular sites.
