Steering Travel Out Of Troubled Waters

MICE to hospitality and restaurants, certification programmes to promoting the country’s cultural, scenic and culinary offerings, the ambit of intervention by India’s Ministry of Tourism is wide. The initiatives to kick-start the crucial travel segment is spearheaded by Union Minister of Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel and backed by Additional Secretary – Tourism, Rupinder Brar

India’s Union Ministry of Tourism is on a roll, keeping people engaged during the pandemic and offering them a glimpse into the country and its various tourism offerings.

The Minister of State for Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel, backed by Rupinder Brar - Tourism, has led the initiatives. Among the opening gambits was the implementation of the Dekho Apna Desh clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through social media campaigns and webinars, many of them involving celebrities speaking about various aspects of India culture and tourism, from Sadhguru Vasudev Jaggi to Chef Ranveer Brar.

“The idea came to us when we saw how people used technology a lot these days. So we thought about curating and showcasing the beautiful destinations that people can travel to from home. India is so diverse that there are so many places Indians have not travelled to. We are trying to build a narrative around the various experiences of India and make the country accessible to everyone,” Brar said.

Indian tourists approximately spend $28 billion on international tourism, which, if spent on domestic tourism, can change the face of the Indian travel industry. According to Union Minister of Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel, the growing influence of tourism as an economic powerhouse and its potential as a tool of development is irrefutable. “Not only does the tourism sector spearhead growth, but it also improves the quality of people’s lives with its capacity to create large-scale employment of diverse kinds. It supports environmental protection, it champions diverse cultural heritage and it strengthens peace in the world.”