Union Culture and Tourism Minister's Address at the CII Summi

*We must collectively respond to attempts to tarnish India's image: Shekhawat*

*Tourism is no longer peripheral, it is the 'growth engine' of India's development journey: Shekhawat*

Neeti Gopendra Bhatt

New Delhi . Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, referring to the global narrative war, said that we must collectively respond to attempts to tarnish India's image. The Indian government is ready, and now the entire tourism industry must also step forward with full force. He said that tourism in India is no longer a marginal sector, but has become the main growth engine of the journey towards a developed India 2047.

Speaking at the "Unlocking the Growth and Employment Potential of Tourism" session at the CII Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday, he said that India's overall economy will reach $32 trillion in the coming years, of which 10 percent, or $3 trillion, will come from the tourism sector alone.

Shekhawat said that there is cut-throat competition in tourism globally. While every country positively markets its products, a negative image of competing countries is often created. If there's a school shooting in the US, or a serious incident in France or any European country, no one says these countries are "unsafe." However, if even a small incident occurs in India, with its population of 1.4 billion, our own media and some individuals present it in such a way that it impacts India's image internationally. This is detrimental to us.

Shekhawat said that tourism industry leaders are the country's economic ambassadors and brand ambassadors, so wherever they go, they should play an active role in presenting India's true, positive image to the world. No one can tarnish the image of a nation that is transforming, provided its own industry and citizens stand with it.

Shekhawat said that the transformation India has witnessed over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been possible not only through policy decisions, but also through the partnership between industry and citizens. The Modi government's greatest achievement is that it has instilled confidence in an India filled with distrust and instilled the belief that we can grow. This encompasses everything. Referring to the post-COVID economic situation, he said that India is the only example among major economies that has not only reached but also surpassed pre-pandemic levels and achieved stable growth.

He said that the pace of infrastructure construction in India over the last 10 years is unprecedented. More than 1.15 lakh km of new highways have been built. Large-scale work has been carried out on the expansion and modernization of railways. The process of developing 1,600 railway stations as new-generation stations has been initiated. Citing an example, Shekhawat said, "I recently visited Jaisalmer, where a new station is being constructed. I can responsibly say that the facade of the station will give you the feeling of a Taj Hotel. Previously, no one could have imagined that such massive projects would be taking place simultaneously in India. The tourism sector will receive the first and direct benefit from the investments made in roads, railways, airports, digital connectivity, and waterways.

*WTTC Ranking 54, Planning for a Quantum Jump*

Referring to the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) rankings, Shekhawat said that India, with its diversity and heritage, is ranked 54th today, which is a matter of concern." He explained that when the ministry analyzed the index, it found that only about 20 percent of the total parameters were directly related to the tourism ministry or the sector, while the remaining 80 percent were related to infrastructure and governance issues. In light of this, the government has begun working on a holistic, end-to-end tourist experience model. He said, "We have decided that in cities like Agra or Varanasi, a tourist's entire experience should be seamless, from entering the airport or city to visiting the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, or other sites and then returning. Once we make this model successful in some destinations, India can take a quantum leap in the WTTC index."

*Unprecedented Competition Among States*

Shekhawat explained that the central government has studied the tourism policies of all states and prepared a model draft policy, which has been shared with the states. Following this initiative, the interest and competition among states is unprecedented in his 35 years of experience. Citing an example, he said, "I was surprised by Madhya Pradesh's policy. If someone builds a hotel worth ₹200 crore, the state government provides 30 percent of the capital investment, or approximately ₹66 crore, as a direct capital subsidy. States like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have all recognized their tourism potential and have begun aggressively pursuing these projects." The Union Minister cited this as an example of the states' growing commitment and expectations, saying that this energy gives confidence in achieving the Prime Minister's goals.

*Domestic Tourism is India's Real Strength*

Shekhawat stated that the true story of India's tourism growth lies in domestic tourists. Over the past few years, 250 million people have risen above the poverty line and entered the middle class. Income tax and GST reforms have increased disposable income. As a direct result, people are now traveling more frequently. Citing the example of Ujjain's Mahakal Temple and the Mahakal Public Corridor, he said that the number of devotees visiting the Mahakal Temple in just one month is now one and a half times the number that previously visited the temple in a whole year. This reflects India's changing economic and social landscape. He explained that while Indian tourists previously found it difficult to afford a hotel room that cost ₹3,000-₹4,000 per night, today demand has increased for rooms ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹100,000 per night, and requests often have to be made to secure a room.

Infrastructure status for hospitality paves the way for accelerated investment

Disclosing the decision on a long-pending demand, Shekhawat said the central government has granted infrastructure status to hospitality infrastructure in 50 global iconic destinations and all cities/tourist destinations with a population of less than 1 million. He stated that this has facilitated financing, positively impacted project costs, and accelerated the pace at which new hotels and tourism infrastructure are being built at a pace the country has never seen before.

*Moving Forward Towards E-Visas and Visa on Arrival*

Regarding the convenience of foreign tourists, Union Minister Shekhawat stated that *major reforms have been made in India's visa regulations. Today, Indian visas are available solely as e-visas for citizens of many countries. No one needs to visit an embassy; visas are available on their mobile phones within 72 hours.* We are working to further shorten and simplify the forms. We have also begun working on extending this facility on a reciprocal basis to countries that have already granted India visas on arrival.

*Moving Forward with Full Force*

Shekhawat stated that the central and state governments are working rapidly on policy reforms, infrastructure, skill development, and branding. Now is the time for industry, investors, travel-tech, and all players in the creative economy to step forward with full force in the tourism sector. *The next 5 to 10 years are crucial for India. What we have seen today is only a tenth of the transformation that is to come. As our economy grows from $4 to $32 trillion, tourism will be the first and biggest beneficiary of economic progress and infrastructure growth.* He said, "I invite you all to come together and unlock the full potential of India's tourism and establish the 'India Edge' to the world."

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