Communal peace a must for tourism promotion: Kalraj
MSME LINK Fillip to domestic tourism would promote micro, small and medium enterprises, improving the prospects of small businessmen, says minister
LUCKNOW: Union minister for micro, small and medium enterprises Kalraj Mishra said here on Sunday that communal harmony was necessary for promotion of domestic tourism in the country.
Mishra was in Lucknow on Sunday to attend two-day 12th national convention of the Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress being organised at Lucknow University. Promotion of domestic tourism was the convention’s theme.
Addressing the gathering, Mishra said: “Domestic tourists play an important role in the country’s economy, just like foreign tourists.”
Without citing recent instances of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh, the union minister said: “For promotion of domestic tourism in the country there must be communal harmony.”
Linking his ministry- micro, small and medium enterprises with domestic tourism, Mishra said: “With the promotion of domestic tourism, micro and small enterprises will also prosper in the country.”
Local vendors and regional craftsmen would also have the opportunity to do brisk business if domestic tourism prospered, he added.
Commenting on the promotion of khadi in the country, the union minister said that khadi was associated with swadeshi.
“Khadi is the country’s pride. With the help of domestic tourists we can also promote khadi. At all important tourist places we can have exclusive khadi outlets, ”Mishra said.
Also speaking on the occasion, mayor Dinesh Sharma stressed on promotion of religious tourism.
“In Uttar Pradesh, places of religious importance can be showcased. From Ayodhya to Mathura, Vrindavan and Kashi, Uttar Pradesh has many places of religious importance, ”said Sharma.
He also stressed on the need to promote tourism in the Buddhist circuit, which would attract both domestic and foreign tourists.
Sarnath in Varanasi, Kushinagar near Gorakhpur, Kaushambi in Allahabad and Sravasti in Balrampur district form the famous Buddhist circuit in Uttar Pradesh.
Expressing concern over lowkey approach to tourism industry in Uttar Pradesh, Sharma said that less than 1.5% of the total revenue generated in the state was from tourism industry.
Madhukar Jaitley, incharge of the NRI cell of the state government, also addressed the gathering. In the convention, delegates from all over the country are taking part. On the second day of the convention on Monday, delegates would present papers on tourism.
Prof Manoj Dixit, director, Institute of Tourism Studies, Lucknow University, presented the vote of thanks.
Khadi is the country’s pride. With the help of domestic tourists we can also promote khadi. At all important tourist places we can have exclusive khadi outlets KALRAJ MISHRA, Union minister for micro, small and medium enterprises