Tourism Transformation through Public Involvement: View by G. Kishan Reddy
In Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, the National Conference of State Tourism Ministers took place, bringing together key figures in politics and tourism to discuss strategies for reviving the sector and promoting sustainable development. The conference was held alongside the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Annual Conference India Zone II, focusing on governance and innovative development strategies.
Nakul Anand, Chairman of FAITH, highlighted India's minuscule share in the world's tourism, despite being the fifth largest economy globally. He emphasized the need to boost India's tourism sector to generate employment opportunities and achieve economic goals.
G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Tourism, has been advocating for policies to revive India's tourism industry post-pandemic. His initiatives focus on digital transformation, infrastructure, and sustainability, aiming to make tourism more accessible and attractive nationwide.
Tourism Ministers from 12 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Haryana, Mizoram, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh, attended the conference. The event was divided into thematic sessions, covering aspects such as responsible and sustainable tourism, digital technology for marketing, homestays, Ayurveda, wellness, and medical value travel, and forest and wildlife tourism.
Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Tourism, spoke about the successful implementation of the PRASHAD and SWADESH DARSHAN schemes and other major initiatives to promote tourism. Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Tourism and Defence, emphasized the importance of showcasing India's hidden cultural and natural facets to attract more tourists.
Sambit Patra, Chairman of India Tourism Development Corporation, highlighted the importance of appealing to the mental space with the right advertisement about India's Incredible India. He stressed the need to focus on experiential values in the tourism industry, which is now answering the demands of the times.
Jai Ram Thakur, Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister, shared his vision for tourism revival in Himachal Pradesh. He aims to enhance the state's natural and cultural assets while ensuring sustainable development. His participation underscores his role in shaping state strategies for tourism growth and governance reforms.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is working on initiatives like the Ramayan circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalaya Circuit, etc, under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme to advance in the tourism sector. The Himachal Government has also started the "Nai Raahein Nai Manzilein" scheme to highlight lesser-known tourist destinations in the state.
The conference and related political engagements aim to create a roadmap for reviving the tourism industry, balancing development with cultural and environmental preservation, and leveraging legislative support and innovative governance approaches championed by leaders like G Kishan Reddy and Jai Ram Thakur. The event reflects their vision of reviving tourism through good governance, digital innovation, and sustainable resource management, which will benefit Himachal Pradesh and other states significantly.
during the conference, the importance of promoting homestays was discussed as a strategy for sustainable tourism development in various states, such as Himachal Pradesh; in light of the focus on sports and wellness tourism, incorporating sports events and activities at these homestays could potentially attract more tourists.
to achieve economic goals and generate employment opportunities in the recreated tourism landscape, emphasizing the inclusion of sports facilities at homestays might provide an additional allure for tourists, consequently reviving the sector in line with the vision of tourism ministers like G Kishan Reddy and Jai Ram Thakur.
