Tourism sector has generated 14.6 million jobs over the past four years and now it supports 84 million jobs in the country, claimed the Union Minister of State for tourism K J Alphons while interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the Destination Uttarakhand Investors Summit-2018 here on Sunday. He said that the department is planning to make tourism a 100 million dollar industry by the year 2020. He pointed out that Uttarakhand can move far in Yoga, adventure tourism and trekking, given the huge potential it enjoys.
Uttarakhand Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said that the Union MOS for tourism has assured to convene a meeting of the officials of the Union forest ministry and the Uttarakhand tourism department to sort out environment and forest- related issues hindering further growth of the tourism sector in the State. He, further, said that possibilities of setting up an international airport in the State are being explored. Maharaj added that the Union Government is planning to expand the capacity of Gauchar, Chinyalisaud and Pithoragarh airstrips. He, further, said that the State Government has rolled out a new tourism policy and a large number of people have shown interest in the home stay scheme.
Earlier on the day, the Union MOS for tourism Alphons urged the investors to come forward to invest in the adventure tourism sector.
He ,further, said that the State Government should be motivated to develop the sector appropriately.
Founder and managing director Ibex Expedition Mandeep Singh Soin said that eco-tourism is the engine of responsible tourism strategy for the State. Terming eco-tourism as the next step of the tourism sector, he advised the entrepreneurs to ‘go sustainable and get certified’ to get its maximum benefit. The State tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar reminded the investors that the Uttarakhand government has given a status of industry to the tourism sector and memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the tune of Rs 30000 crore has been signed under the tourism sector during the summit.