Shri Reddy at Tourism and Culture Ministers Conference said that he honestly believes the Southern Region is unique in its offerings, and that the Ministry has placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure, on-the-ground capability, and skills development.
The Tourism Ministry has sanctioned 15 projects in the Southern States costing Rs. 1088 crores under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme
Six projects for the Southern Region have been approved under the PRASHAD scheme, accounting for 15% of the total program budget.
Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DoNER, spoke at the opening session of a two-day conference of Southern Tourism and Culture Ministers in Bengaluru, Karnataka, today.
Shri Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Minister of State, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting; Shri Bhagwanth Khutba, Minister of State, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; and Shri Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India Shri. Subramanian Swamy, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Shri G Kishan Reddy, speaking at the event, said that with the Prime Minister’s guidance and leadership, we were able to administer 100 crore COVID vaccination doses in just 281 days. Vaccination is the single most important factor in the resurgence of tourism. “The South Indian Region Tourism & Culture Ministers Conference, which will discuss and deliberate on the region’s tourism development strategy, is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of Cooperative Federalism, in which the Union Government and state governments work together to find solutions for a better India,” Shri Reddy added.
Shri Reddy stated that the Ministry has sanctioned 15 projects in the Southern States totaling Rs. 1088 crores under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, which focuses on the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits. “The Ministry has sanctioned 6 projects in the region under the PRASHAD plan (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive), which accounts for 15% of the whole scheme budget,” he added.
Shri Reddy stated that, at the request of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of External Affairs has appointed 20 dedicated tourism officers in Indian embassies around the world. This will allow us to promote Indian tourism in nations like Australia, Canada, the United States, France, Germany, and the Gulf States. “India’s civilization heritage dates back thousands of years, and today Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is also an occasion to pay honor to all those who battled to preserve our past,” he said.
Dr. L. Murugan emphasized the relevance of religious and spiritual tourism in the tourist sector’s development. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has exhibited significant interest in the tourist sector, according to Shri Murugan.
His plan to transform India into a multi-modal tourist destination is already being implemented. “Each state in India has a unique potential to contribute to Shri Narendra Modi’s vision,” he continued.
Shri Murgan went on to say that, while we commemorate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is our responsibility to inspire the younger generations to visit the memorials of these freedom fighters and dedicate themselves to the nation’s service.
Minister of State for Tourism and Defence, Sh. Ajay Bhatt said, “Culture and tourism complement each other in today’s changing world. If culture is the soul of any society, tourism is the medium of understanding and knowing that society. If our culture is rich then tourism is the means of demonstrating this prosperity. That is why it is necessary to see culture and tourism as two sides of the same coin. The people of South India have understood this very well and that is why there has often been a very good development in the field of tourism here.” Shri Bhatt also highlighted the impact of 100 crore vaccination on the tourism sector.
Shri Bhagwant Khuba, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, spoke about the historical significance of Basavanna Kalyan and Lord Basaveshwara at Bidar, Karnataka. Shri Khuba asked the Ministry of Tourism to use tourism initiatives like PRASAD to improve Bidar.
Smt. Rupinder Brar, ADG of M/o Tourism, presented a presentation on the different projects/initiatives/programs being conducted for the establishment of tourism infrastructure, marketing & promotion, and skill development programs in the Southern Region on the opening day of the conference.
Following that, Smt. V Vidyavathi, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India and Minister of Tourism, presented a presentation on Heritage projects, monuments, and other cultural efforts in the Southern Region. In the Southern Region, there is potential for cruise tourism and rail tourism, as well as opportunities. Presentations were also delivered by state/UT.
On different channels in digital, print, and social media, the Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination, including southern region States and UTs. The Ministry of Tourism has been hosting webinars on various tourism goods, including dedicated webinars on States and UTs of the Southern Region, since April 2020 as part of the Dekho Apna Desh campaign. The region’s air, train, and road connections are exceptional, making it one of the most sought-after destinations in the world.
The Ministry of Tourism has focused on topics such as skill development in the tourism sector, building a pool of well-trained and professional Tourist Facilitators, promotion, and marketing to raise awareness about the destination in both domestic and international markets.
Because domestic tourism has increased dramatically in recent months, and because international tourists will soon be able to enter the country, establishing tourist confidence and trust is critical.
COVID-19 Safety and Hygiene Protocols have previously been notified by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism in this regard.
To ensure compliance with COVID 19 Safety and Hygiene rules, as well as the safety and health of staff and customers, the Ministry has implemented a System for Assessment, Awareness, and Training in the Hospitality Industry (SAATHI). The SAATHI project aims to assist hotels in being prepared to continue operations safely while also restoring guest confidence and enhancing the hotel’s reputation as a responsible hotel. More than 10,000 lodging units have registered with SAATHI to date. Hotel units from Southern states and UTs have shown a strong interest in registering their units on the site and adhering to the required regulations.
The Ministry has implemented a System for Assessment, Awareness, and Training in the Hospitality Industry (SAATHI) to ensure compliance with COVID 19 Safety and Hygiene criteria, as well as staff and customer safety and health. The SAATHI project aims to help hotels prepare to continue operations safely while also restoring client confidence and improving the hotel’s reputation as a responsible hotel. SAATHI has about 10,000 registered lodging units as of today. Hotel units from Southern states and UTs have shown a strong interest in registering their establishments on the portal and adhering to the required regulations.
Under its infrastructure development initiatives, Swadesh Darshan (SD) and PRASHAD, the Ministry of Tourism develop infrastructure at tourist spots across the country (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive).
76 projects have been sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme across India, including projects from the Southern Region States and UTs. Projects in various themes, such as Coastal Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Eco Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, and so on, have been sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan plan.
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