Digital tourism gets boost
Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy launched e-Marketplace as part of the digital tourism solution for IITFs and IITGs on International Women’s Day to bridge the gap between customers and service providers.
GKishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, has launched the e-marketplace platform at a special event organised to coincide with the International Women’s Day at Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Gwalior.
The digital platform (e-Marketplace) has been launched as part of digital tourism solution for IITFs/ IITGs (Incredible India Tourism Facilitators/ Guides), to provide web and mobile app based interaction mechanism, which is to be used by the tourists and certified tourist facilitators/tourist guides. This e-Marketplace portal would be similar to platforms such as OLA, UBER among others which would help IITFs/IITGs to get business opportunities and would work as a bridge between the customer and the service provider.
Also present at the event was Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State of Tourism & Defence; Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar, Member Parliament, Gwalior. Also, virtually the event was attended by Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation; Narendra Singh
Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare and Usha Thakur, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Madhya Pradesh. In his address, Reddy said that India has great variety of tourism destinations and tourism has immense potential in generating employment and business opportunities. “Students at IITTM have several avenues in tourism sector and they will play a critical role in the growth of the tourism sector. Under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vikas (development) is our only mantra and that will lead us to more tourism opportunities. Our government is working shoulder to shoulder with all states to develop tourism in the country,” he adds.
aspect which India is offering to the world. From wellness tourism, Ayurveda, Himalayas, desert in Rajasthan and Gujarat or the wildlife, backwaters of Kerala and a history of 5,000 years —India has everything. However, looking at the recent trends, it’s wellness, Ayurveda and yoga, which has been popular, particularly post pandemic. Medical tourism is also getting popular,” he adds. Rao claims that the MOT is following an inclusive approach. “We are developing niche tourism, spiritual tourism, rural tourism and creating thematic circuits,” he informs.
He further adds that there are a number of wildlife sanctuaries, where people from Middle East countries are showing interest apart from adventure tourism.
We are developing niche tourism, spiritual tourism, rural tourism and creating thematic circuits
Dekho Apna Desh
Under the Dekho Apna Desh campaign, says Rao, the number of tourists travelling within India has grown three fold in the last two years. “They are exploring places which were hitherto neglected. Especially students, are going to forts and not just going for recreational tourism. Current generation is showing interest in going to historical sites,” he claims.