During her interim budget presentation in Parliament on Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled plans to bolster tourism infrastructure and facilities on Indian islands, with a special focus on enhancing the appeal of Lakshadweep. The initiative aims to cater to the rising interest in domestic travel while concurrently creating employment opportunities.
“To address the emerging fervour for domestic tourism, projects for port connectivity, tourism infrastructure, and amenities will be taken up on our islands, including Lakshadweep. This will help in generating employment also,” Sitharaman said.
The move comes in the wake of a recent campaign to promote Lakshadweep and other undiscovered islands across the country, initiated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in early January. PM Modi shared picturesque images showcasing the “stunning beauty of its islands” and highlighted his experiences, from “early morning walks” to engaging in snorkeling, describing his visit as “an enriching journey of learning and growing.”
Sitharaman said that states will be incentivized to undertake the comprehensive development of iconic tourist centers, promoting them globally through branding and marketing efforts. Additionally, she announced the provision of long-term interest-free loans to states, facilitating matching contributions for financing such developmental initiatives.
To ensure the holistic development of these centers, Sitharaman outlined the establishment of a framework for rating them based on the quality of facilities and services offered.
“The success of organizing G20 meetings in sixty places presented diversity of India to global audience. Our economic strength has made the country an attractive destination for business and conference tourism. Our middle class also now aspires to travel and explore. Tourism, including spiritual tourism, has tremendous opportunities for local entrepreneurship,” she said.
(Inputs from ANI)