Union tourism minister seeks tour operators' support to promote culture
He was speaking through videoconference at the inaugural of the 32nd edition of the Iato being held for the first time in Chennai.
Chennai: Averring that tourism should not be construed as mere money-spinner but a vehicle to effectively 'market' the country's culture and civilisation, Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma called upon the travel segment, especially the Indian Association of Tour Operators (Iato) to be part of the Narendra Modi government's initiative to take India's culture and her ancient civilisation across frontiers.
“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji is working with a mission: tourism should not only be a revenue generator but we should also take our culture and civilisation to other nations and also from one part of the country to another,” Mr Mahesh Sharma who is currently in Australia attending the Confluence Festival of India, said on Monday.
He was speaking through videoconference at the inaugural of the 32nd edition of the Iato being held for the first time in Chennai, since the association’s inception about three decades ago.
Acknowledging the role of Iato in fostering development, he said big organisations like Iato and those involved in the tourism and travel sector should aim to promote India’s culture and that the government would be willing to accept Iato as its partner in development.