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Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressing the National Tourism Secretaries’ Conference in Srinagar on Sunday
India aims to expand its tourism sector as part of its effort to become a developed nation, Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Sunday. He noted that the country currently contributes only 5–6 per cent to the global tourism economy.
“Tourism accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the global economy. However, India is currently able to contribute only about 5 to 6 per cent. But to make India a developed nation, tourism will be given maximum priority as it is the sector of immense possibilities,” Shekhawat said while addressing the first-ever National Tourism Secretaries’ Conference in Srinagar.
The two-day conference, which concluded on Tuesday, brought together tourism secretaries and other senior officials from across the country to deliberate on coordinated policy development and long-term strategic planning for the sector.
The Minister said the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has immense tourism potential extending beyond nature-based tourism.
“When we talk about tourism in Kashmir, it is often limited to places like Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Dal Lake. But the region also has rich archaeological remains and historical records that date back thousands of years,” Shekhawat said.
Religious tourism
“Similarly, people know about the Amarnath Yatra and the Shankaracharya Temple when it comes to religious tourism. But from Bhaderwah’s Shiva temple to numerous other places and centuries-old temples that still stand among us today, there is much more to explore,” he added.
Shekhawat also highlighted the region’s potential for water, cultural, craft and agro-based tourism.
“The cultivation of lavender and the unique tourism initiative built around it under the leadership of the Lieutenant Governor have shown remarkable results. Statistics reveal that nearly 2 million people chose to visit the region to experience lavender,” the Minister said.
Speaking at the event, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha highlighted the region’s development trajectory and its growing appeal as a global tourist destination.
He said the secretaries’ conference was a befitting reply to terrorism and symbolised the region’s journey towards peace, development, and prosperity.
Sinha also reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism through the SPREAD (Strategic Promotion and Revamping of Emerging Alternate Destinations in J&K) initiative.
“Our goal is to place nine emerging destinations on the national and international tourism map, generate direct employment for at least five lakh people in the first year, and position these locations to attract high-value tourists,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Published on July 8, 2025
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