Dehradun/Udaipur, 14 Oct: “Tourism plays a vital role in India’s economic and social development. It significantly contributes to employment generation, promotes regional growth, and holds immense potential to boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. Our constant endeavour is to position Devbhoomi Uttarakhand prominently on the global tourism map while creating more livelihood and employment opportunities for local youth.”
These remarks were made by Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj while participating in the two-day Conference of Tourism Ministers of States and Union Territories, which commenced on Tuesday in Udaipur, organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to present Uttarakhand’s rich spiritual and natural heritage on a national platform, he said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is tirelessly working to develop new tourism destinations across the country, Uttarakhand too, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, is witnessing fast-paced development across all segments of tourism.
Maharaj stated that Uttarakhand Tourism is now advancing with innovative programmes across land, water, and air adventure domains. Under Land Adventure, a high-altitude marathon is being organised at the sacred Adi Kailash, located at an elevation of 4,700 metres. Under Water Adventure, new activities such as water festivals and eco festivals are being introduced for tourists. In the Air Adventure category, paragliding courses are being conducted for children for the very first time, grooming them to become future tandem pilots and soar to new heights in the tourism sector.
He further added that special training initiatives are being implemented for youth by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department. Sponsorships are being provided for basic and advanced courses in land expeditions. First-aid courses and exclusive training programmes for women are being organised under water expeditions. Under air expeditions, paragliding courses for children will open up new avenues of opportunity for them.
The conference also witnessed discussions on several key topics related to cultural heritage preservation and tourism development, in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and tourism ministers from various States and Union Territories.
