‘PM Modi is greatest ambassador for tourism’

New Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is the greatest ambassador for tourism.

“Our Honourable Prime Minister spent just a few moments in Lakshadweep, and the entire world came to know about it,” he stated, highlighting the global resonance of India’s achievements in tourism, infrastructure, and space technology.

Delivering the inaugural address on the occasion of World Tourism Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Friday, the Vice-President underscored the vital role of tourism in fostering global peace, economic development, and cultural exchange, stating that tourism connects the bonds of humanity, which are much needed in today’s world. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister for Civil Aviation, Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas, V. Vidyavathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

VP Dhankhar said that India, that is Bharat, is now a favourite global tourism destination. “From the land of spirituality, sublimity, and 5,000 years of civilizational ethos, tourists can experience all seasons, all year round.”

Highlighting the exponential progress India has made over the last decade, Dhankhar stated that tourism, as an engine of economic growth, holds significant potential to drive Bharat towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

Dhankhar said that “Tourism contributes massively to peace. The entire world is yearning for peace, and any conflagration anywhere is a pain for all, disrupting supply chains and economies”, he remarked.

The Vice-President called for tourism to follow the success story of Bharat’s digitisation revolution, stating, “If we go by global standards, if we manage to tap and exploit our tourist resource, then we will be solving three problems that will exemplify a model to the entire world, just like our digitisation model.” He highlighted three key areas tourism would impact: massive contributions to the economy, upskilling the workforce, and generating employment. “Every tourist comes with a dream. He wants a seamless experience and we must ensure our human resources are skilled to provide this”, he noted.

The Vice-President spoke about the transformative journey Bharat has undergone over the last decade, stressing how the country’s global image has dramatically improved. “An image of Bharat in the world is very different from what it was a decade ago. The leadership of Bharat is recognized globally. Which other economy in the world of this size can claim to be rising around 8% GDP annually? And this is predicted to continue for many years to come”, he noted.