SRINAGAR: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed the political instability in Bangladesh, noting, “It is truly unfortunate that such political upheaval has arisen in our neighbouring country. How a democratically elected government was ousted is troubling. While one can choose many things, one cannot choose their neighbour. Given the current situation in our vicinity, the Government of India remains vigilant and is closely observing the developments to ensure they do not adversely affect India.”
While attending an event at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday remarked that tourism will elevate India’s economy to the third largest globally. “India’s tourism sector will become a significant economic and employment generator, propelling the nation to the third largest economy,” he told reporters in Srinagar.
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“Under PM Modi’s leadership, we have advanced India from the 11th to the 5th largest economy, and now we aim for the 3rd,” he added. He highlighted that as India’s economic prosperity has grown, tourism has flourished. “The sector will be a crucial driver in elevating our economy,” he said.
Speaking on the development of new tourist destinations to manage the increasing influx of visitors, the Union Minister said, “Our established tourist destinations have become overcrowded due to the surge in tourists. To alleviate this, we need to develop new points of interest and sites.”
Addressing connectivity and development issues in tourist areas, the minister assured that the government is committed to improving infrastructure and services. “Tourism primarily falls under state governments, but we have requested all state governments to create plans for new destinations. The Indian government will support these plans, whether it’s connectivity or communication,” he added.
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The minister mentioned the government’s efforts to enhance the skills of tourist guides through online courses and training programs. “We have developed an online course module for tourist guide skill enhancement. During the off-season, tourist guides can advance their skills and careers through physical training at our tourism institutes,” he said.
Commenting on the political instability in neighbouring countries, the minister expressed concern about its potential impact on India but assured vigilance. “The Indian government is highly vigilant about the situation in our neighbourhood. We recognize the potential for negative impacts on India,” he stated.
He further added, “With India’s borders secured and peace established, terrorism is on the verge of ending in India. Only four districts remain affected by Naxalism.”