Highlighting India’s potential to become the biggest tourism destination with the combined effort of private players and the government, Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy indicated that the new National Tourism Policy, expected to be rolled out before the next Parliament session, will address various issues presently faced by the hospitality and tourism sector in India.
Inaugurating the 5th Hotel Association of India Hoteliers Conclave, at The LaLit in New Delhi on Thursday, he said the Government was in the process of incorporating feedback from the industry and a few ministries before it finalises the New Tourism Policy.
Seeking greater collaboration and cohesion between the government and private players, the minister called on hoteliers to partner with the Archaeological Society of India to help improve more than 3,500 monuments across the country.
Speaking on the employment crisis faced by India, the Minister believed it (crisis) can be alleviated if the growth of the tourism sector works in tandem with the government.
HAI president and managing director and CEO, IHCL, Puneet Chhatwal in his keynote address said, “The tourism industry is going through not just an evolution but a revolution. Collaboration between the government and private players will encourage investments in the sector and create millions of incremental jobs. We are moving from the era of over service to good service. The pandemic put everything under a magnifying glass and now with rationalisation taking place and the adoption of new technology, the world is rethinking tourism. Now the focus is on inclusive growth which is sustainable and climate resilient.”
Arvind Singh, Secretary (Tourism), Government of India said, "The expectations of the Indian hospitality space are rising rapidly, mirroring the growth in the quality of international tourism. This also reflects the growth of the Indian tourism industry, which is twice that of the global tourism industry. The upcoming G20 meet in India will be a key factor in aiding recovery for the Indian hospitality industry. The government has identified 55 unique locations for key G20 meetings on tourism, finance, labour, etc. These sites are chosen for their availability of hotels, convention centres, air, road and rail connectivity."
Highlighting the importance of leading the country towards an extensive “Aatmanirbhar Bharat," Mr. Chhatwal re-emphasised on the significance of promoting the coming together of public entities with private players in a mutually beneficial partnership.
"Such collaborations could potentially create ample business opportunities and help in aiding the employment crisis at hand. From a global standpoint, one out of four jobs have been contributed by the travel and tourism sector," he said.
Must Watch: Manipur Tourism: Will the government deliver quality development?
