17th Update & Outlook Meeting with Ministry of Tourism

Manisha Saxena, Director General Tourism, made the following observation and points:

1. DG acknowledged that Tourism was back to 2023 levels and is a key driver of economic growth & employment
2. Apart from culture & heritage, India offers a wide range of features and natural tourism attractions. Stakeholders must go beyond the traditional experiences and create new and interesting cultural experiences coupled with homestays, village experiences etc. The Indian diaspora is a big target audience for such tourism. Convert world heritage sites a must visit destination.
3. Upwardly mobile youth is interested in the diversity of India. We have to find the ways to attract them to different parts of India and fulfill their needs for culture, history, adventure, solitude, health & wellness and much more.
4. Religious Tourism is on the rise but the infrastructure is limited resulting in overcrowding of pilgrimage spots. Also such visits are for short duration. Important to create holding areas near religious spots which tourist can enjoy at lower cost e.g. homestays.
5. Promote North East. The infrastructure has made it viable.
6. 60 G20 locations now have basic infrastructure for MICE activities albeit small-mid size meetings. Promote these destinations.
7. MoT working with other ministries to ensure basic amenities and facilities available and maintained at places of tourist interest. Tourism needs to also embrace smaller destination.
8. OPMD scheme – MoT is in process of rewriting schemes.

She concluded by saying that with new Minister and team in place, there is lot of new offerings and initiatives in pipeline and gradually things will start to fall on place.