ET WLF: With our cultural power, we will be world's most respected nation by 2047, says Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

People want to see India and learn more about it as the country stands on the cusp of endless possibilities, said tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Saturday.

"We are working on new schemes to attract more tourists. We are encouraging states to promote new experiences and opportunities, and the tourism sector will undergo significant transformation," he said.

"By 2047, on the basis of our cultural power, we will be the world's most respected country," he added.


He mentioned that India has set new benchmarks under Prime Minister Modi's leadership in the past 10 years.

"India has improved on financial parameters in a post-Covid-19 pandemic world. Through Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reforms, we are being recognised as the world's fastest-growing economy," he said.

If more work is done on showcasing India's strengths and its varied offerings and cultures, India would be among the top ten destinations in the world, said Shekhawat.

"Our historical forts and palaces stand out. We have wildlife, safaris, walking trails, agro tourism. There is culture, music, cuisines. There is everything that tourists want.

India has been at the forefront of spiritual tourism and there are so many possibilities in spiritual tourism. We can develop infrastructure further on these lines. We are discussing all this with states," he added.

He said the country needs to focus more on responsible tourism.

"The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan under PM Modi has become a nationwide movement, but we need to work more on it. If we address such areas and work on our strengths better, our ranking can improve significantly," he added.

While India has been attracting travellers from across the world for ages, India's perception has improved dramatically and foreign delegates are amazed to see the country's hospitality.

"Within 35 days after the government was formed, we organised the World Heritage Committee meeting in India, which had attendees from 165 countries. Because of the improved infrastructure created under PM Modi, we were able to host an event of this scale, and from UNESCO's director general to representatives of other countries, everyone was amazed to see India. They were amazed to see the level of hospitality in India," he added.