We Will Ensure Tourism Contributes 7% Of The GDP By 2030: Tourism Minister In Exclusive Chat With Times Now Digital

Mr. Shekhawat : The Prime Minister has appealed that Indians should shun destination weddings abroad & instead do the same in India. Do you think we need to expand the wedding infra across the country for that?A) See destination weddings are currently happening all across the country… 1 pc of Indian weddings happen abroad & 99 pc on Indian destinations… But surely we can better the infra at many places to improve the experiences & attract more people.Mr. Shekhawat: Tourism traditionally has been a very big job generator... globally, of sustainable jobs. Do you think that at a time when the country faces challenges on the jobs front, it has the potential to generate more jobs?A) See jobs are a challenge globally not just in India… It may be kinds

of jobs that may be a challenge, but they are a challenge everywhere. However, the tourism sector has the potential to generate more sustainable jobs, and for that, infrastructural investment government is doing.Mr. Shekhawat: When it comes to attracting foreign tourists, India falls behind many smaller nations. Do you think India needs to do more to make itself globally competitive?A) See, last year two crore foreign tourists came to India. In india challenge is not of attracting number of tourists, challenge is that due to increase in purchasing power of Indians, Indians are today affording the services hitherto reserved for foreign tourists… So due to this competition, India becomes expensive compared to our neighbourhood countries and the challenge is to manage that.Mr. Shekhawat: While the large infrastructure like airports, the government has built many in the last few years, it is the last mile connectivity that still dogs our tourist destinations. Would you agree with that?A) No, I think in the era of technology these issues remain... Today language isn’t a barrier anymore. Today so much work is being done by the state governments on tourist infra that these are manageable matters and are being managed well.Mr. Shekhawat: India has taken an ambitious target of attracting 10 crore foreign tourists by the Year 2047. Do you think that it's achievable, & do you think India needs to deepen its tourist map for that?A) We are definitely working to achieve this target. Tourism is happening in large parts of the country today. The situation has improved a lot beyond the time when India for foreign tourists meant Delhi, Jaipur & Agra. Surely a deeper circuit can be developed to attract more people.