An Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) delegation, comprising President Rajiv Mehra, Vice President Ravi Gosain, and Honorary Secretary Sanjay Razdan, paid a courtesy visit to Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the newly appointed Cabinet Minister of Tourism, Government of India. The meeting took place yesterday at the Minister’s office, where the delegation congratulated him on his new role.
The Tourism Minister was highly receptive and expressed a keen interest in understanding the reasons behind the decline in international tourist arrivals. He assured the delegation of full support from the Ministry of Tourism to help boost inbound tourism to India, said IATO in a communication.
Future plans discussed
IATO plans to have a detailed follow-up meeting with the Tourism Minister to discuss the various challenges faced by the tourism industry, particularly in terms of inbound tourism. The association aims to share ideas on how the Ministry of Tourism and other government bodies can support the industry more effectively.
“Under the dynamic leadership of the new Tourism Minister, we are confident that inbound tourism to India will flourish. We look forward to significant growth in international tourist arrivals, aligning with the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister to attract more foreign tourists to India. IATO is committed to supporting the government and the Ministry in achieving this goal,” said Mehra sharing optimism.
Industry reactions
The travel and tourism industry is hopeful that with the new ministerial leadership, significant strides will be made in promoting India as a top tourist destination. The collaborative efforts between industry bodies and the government are expected to drive sustainable and inclusive growth, further enhancing India’s global tourism footprint.
The Hotel Association of India (HAI) also welcomed Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Suresh Gopi, the new Minister of State for Tourism.
Looking at other key portfolios, NDA ally TDP’s MP from Srikakulam, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has been appointed as the New Civil Aviation Minister of India. The 36-year old leader is the youngest Minister in the new Modi cabinet. Whereas, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Sarbananda Sonowal will continue from the last cabinet as Minister of Railways and Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways respectively.
KB Kachru, President of HAI and Chairman – South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group, expressed, “HAI felicitates and welcomes the newly appointed Tourism Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. With his roots in Rajasthan, a state known for its robust tourism sector, we anticipate great advancements for the industry. The tourism sector is pivotal for both domestic and international tourism, contributing significantly to employment and GDP growth.”Rohit Khosla, Vice President of HAI and Executive Vice President (Ops.), Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), highlighted the association’s commitment to working closely with the Ministry. He emphasised, “HAI looks forward to strengthening India’s hospitality sector under the new leadership. Indian hotels are globally recognized, and our industry is poised to contribute USD 1 trillion to the projected USD 3 trillion tourism economy by 2047.”
MP Bezbaruah, Secretary General of HAI, added, “We welcome Shri Gajendra Shekhawat as the Honourable Minister for Tourism & Culture. Hailing from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and with his prior experience in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, we are optimistic about collaborative efforts to advance the National Tourism Policy 2022 and other key initiatives.”
