Ministry of Tourism celebrated World Tourism Day on Sunday through the virtual platform. Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan was the chief guest of the event, Union  Minister of Tourism and Culture (I/C) Prahlad Singh Patel also graced the occasion. Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Yogendra Tripathi, Director General,  Tourism Meenakshi Sharma, joint Secretary, Tourism Rakesh Kumar Verma, Addl DG(Tourism), Rupinder Brar and other  officials of  Tourism  Ministry also participated in the virtual event.

This year United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural Development. This Year is an opportunity to promote the potential of tourism to create jobs and opportunities. It can also advance inclusion and highlight the unique role tourism can play in preserving and promoting natural and cultural heritage and curbing urban migration.

During the event, SAATHI Application was launched by the chief guest Dharmendra Pradhan. SAATHI is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism with Quality Council of India to assist the hospitality industry to continue to operate safely and thereby instil confidence among the staff, employees and the guests about the safety of the hotel/unit.  Pradhan also launched a film ‘Pathik’, an initiative on Incredible India Tourist Facilitators Certification Programme (IITFC) and an ICPB MICE Promotional film.

The objective of the ICPB Mice Promotional film is to communicate a positive message for welcoming events to India when competing destinations are already actively marketing their products. The tone of joy and confidence in getting back to business, warm hospitality, safety protocols in place and assurance of a delightful experience is the core message of the film.

Speaking on the occasion, Dharmendra Pradhan appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism in launching the SAATHI application and the online learning module IITFC.  He also lauded the Ministry’s effort of showcasing our culture, heritage, lesser known destinations, cuisine etc through the webinar series Dekho Apna Desh.  Talking about the sustainable environment he was keen to take it further by substituting Petrol, diesel, kerosene etc in operating boats at tourist sports with CNG/LPG which are pollution free.  He also emphasised upon using battery operated vehicles in and around tourist spots. Pradhan also appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, in launching the Incredible India  Tourist Facilitators (IITF) Certification Programme, a Pan-India online learning program that is open to all and can be undertaken from anywhere in the country. The Programme aims at creating a pool of trained professionals for facilitating the visit of tourists at destinations across the country.

Addressing the event, Prahlad Singh Patel reiterated the vision of the Prime Minister of India asking every citizen to visit at least 15 destinations by the year 2022 to promote domestic tourism. He said that the Ministry of Tourism has launched the Dekho Apna Desh (DAD) initiative in January 2020 with the objective of creating awareness among the citizens about the rich heritage and culture of the country, encouraging citizens to travel widely within the country and enhancing tourist footfalls leading to the development of the local economy and creation of jobs at the local level. During this pandemic, the Ministry has been organizing a series of webinars under the overall theme of DAD, showcasing the diverse culture, heritage, destinations and tourism products of the country.

The Minister informed that as on date 54 webinars covering different States/Union Territories have been organized as part of the initiative. To create mass awareness, the Ministry has also launched an online DAD pledge and Quiz on the MyGov.in platform. The online pledge and Quiz are open to all for participation.

Patel further said that the programme will help in enhancing the overall experience of the tourists, who would benefit from the knowledge of the local tourist facilitators and it will also help in creating employment opportunities even in the remotest parts of the country.