To promote unexplored tourist sites of “Incredible India” globally, the Government will soon release a “dedicated master list” for holistic development, exempt one lakh foreign tourists from visa fees under the “Chalo India” campaign, and launch the “Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi” initiative across 50 destinations across the States.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat outlined these plans during his address at an event here marking World Tourism Day on Friday. Through these initiative, the Ministry of Tourism aims at elevating the overall experience for tourists at these destinations by having them meet “tourist-friendly” people who are “proud ambassadors and storytellers for their destinations”. “This is being done by providing tourism-related training and awareness to all individuals who interact and engage with tourists in a destination,” the ministry announced.

World Tourism Day is celebrated every year with a special theme. This year’s theme is “Tourism and Peace”. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar who was the chief guest at the event highlighted that the entire world is traumatised by conflagrations as it disrupts supply chains and planning and  people-to-people connect brings harmony and tourism plays a crucial role in it.

About the “dedicated master list” to be soon to be released for a holistic development of tourist sites”, the Tourism Minister said that the list will be jointly prepared by the tourism ministry, culture ministry, civil aviation ministry, railway ministry, transport ministry and ports, shipping and waterways ministry.

“… In the next three years, development of these tourist sites and new tourist sites will be taken up on priority.

This will be a new effort to bring the unbelievable sites of Incredible India on a global platform,” Shekhawat said.

“We will make this list public so that private investment and industry stakeholders can also contribute to it.... And the Dekho Apna Desh sites will also be included in it,” he said, adding that a “big jump” in domestic tourism is being witnessed after the “Dekho Apna Desh” campaign was launched.

In her address, Union Tourism Secretary V Vidyavathi said, “Our efforts from the ministry and the Government are to promote the five Ps of tourism — people, place, product, planet and promotion.”

She said “our strength is our people” and diversity is the hallmark of destinations in India. From museums to temples, India offers everything for everyone.