Jaipur, July 11: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, announced on Saturday that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the central government aims to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy from the current six percent to ten percent by 2047.
As an interim goal, the government is working to raise tourism’s share to seven percent by 2030.
Addressing the media at his residence, Shekhawat stated that India’s growing global reputation under Modi has positively impacted the tourism sector.
He noted a consistent increase in foreign tourist numbers, while domestic tourism has seen unprecedented growth in recent years.
Describing tourism as a key driver of a decentralized economy, the central minister emphasized that this sector ensures that the benefits of development reach local communities directly.
He further mentioned that tourism creates job and income opportunities across various sectors, including transport, handicrafts, food and beverages, and local products.
Shekhawat highlighted that tourism has the potential to generate the most employment opportunities after agriculture.
In line with this, the central government is prioritizing the strengthening of tourism infrastructure and improving tourist facilities across the country.
The minister also noted that due to the government’s welfare initiatives, over 250 million people have risen above the poverty line.
He added that since 2014, the size of India’s economy has more than doubled, with increases in per capita income and farmers’ earnings.
Effective inflation management has led to increased purchasing power, resulting in a significant boost in domestic tourism.
In response to a question regarding transfer processes in Rajasthan, Shekhawat mentioned that after a long-standing freeze on transfers was lifted, many employees reached out to him citing family circumstances, health issues, and other genuine difficulties.
He stated that his office has forwarded such applications to the relevant ministers for consideration. According to the central minister, most eligible employees have benefited from the transfer process.
However, applications related to difficult transfers or other administrative issues are still being received. He described the transfer process as a regular administrative procedure that will continue over the next few days.
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