Shillong: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat chaired a Tourism Ministers’ conference in Shillong on Monday, attended by Tourism Ministers from the North Eastern, Eastern States, and Union Territories.
The Union Minister stated that the Ministry of Tourism is conducting a series of meetings across different regions to foster greater collaboration among all States and Union Territories for the overall growth and development of tourism in the country.
“This is the third meeting in the series, following similar conferences for the northern, central, and western regions in Chandigarh and Goa,” Shekhawat said.
He emphasised that these meetings aim to focus on developing iconic tourist destinations on a global scale, enhancing alternative destinations, and improving aspects such as marketing, promotion, safety, connectivity, cleanliness, and ease of doing business in the tourism sector. He also mentioned that the tourism industry is seeking investments from private players as part of a public-private partnership (PPP) model to boost growth.
The Minister highlighted India’s achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership over the past decade. “India has witnessed substantial economic progress and infrastructure development. The global perspective on India has shifted, with people worldwide now viewing our country with renewed enthusiasm,” he remarked.
Shekhawat also outlined several government initiatives aimed at bolstering tourism, including the Swadesh Darshan scheme, which provides financial assistance to state governments and Union Territories for tourism development. “From 2014-15 to 2018-19, the government undertook 76 projects worth 5,000 crore rupees, including 16 in the Northeast,” he explained. “We have revamped the Swadesh Darshan scheme to focus on sustainability and responsible tourism. Under the revised scheme, 57 destinations across 32 states and UTs have been identified, and 23 projects worth 715 crore rupees have been launched under Swadesh Darshan 2.”
He also highlighted the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, which focuses on pilgrimage and spiritual tourism. “So far, 46 projects worth 1,624 crore rupees have been initiated under the PRASAD scheme,” he said. “We have also introduced a new sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 dedicated to developing child-friendly destinations.”
The Minister urged states to submit proposals for tourism development in various sectors, including spiritual tourism, culture and heritage, vibrant village programs, eco-tourism, and Amrit Dharohar sites. “The Ministry has selected 42 destinations across various tourism themes in 25 states and UTs for development under this scheme,” he noted.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Tourism has released operational guidelines to support capital investment in tourism projects. “Our ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative invites citizens to vote for their preferred destinations, which will be developed to enhance the tourist experience,” he said. “We have also launched the ‘Chalo India’ campaign and other promotional activities.”
Shekhawat also spoke about ongoing efforts to improve the Incredible India website. “We are revamping the Incredible India website to provide a world-class experience and have requested states to contribute their observations, content, videos, and photographs,” he added.
During the marathon meeting, which lasted over seven hours, the Minister expressed appreciation for the presentations and commitment shown by the states.
Addressing the challenges faced by the sector, the Minister acknowledged the need for improvements in connectivity and the development of homestays. “We have noted all observations and challenges, and we are committed to finding solutions to enhance our tourism sector,” he concluded.
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On Tuesday, the Union Minister will visit South West Khasi Hills district to chair a review meeting with state and district-level officers and visit some of the infrastructure sites in the district.
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