Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, spoke at the TV9 Network Travel and Tourism Summit, emphasizing domestic tourism as India’s key advantage. He compared India’s domestic tourism to that of other destinations like Dubai, Singapore, and Thailand. Several notable personalities were present at the summit.
Shekhawat noted that India has welcomed over 2 crore tourists this year. The country’s strong domestic tourism market is what makes it special. He said that the number would have exceeded 300 crore if the Kumbh Mela figures were included. Shekhawat said that Indian tourists themselves are accelerating the growth in the sector.
He stated that the Kumbh Mela is an example of India’s cultural and spiritual strength. Shekhawat said the recovery of the tourism sector was a collective effort by industry stakeholders. He believes tourism will help India become an economic, cultural, and spiritual leader.