BJP election manifesto identifies tourism as key sector for India s development
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – Mumbai – The much-awaited election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition party in India, released Last monday identifies tourism as a key sector to drive socio-economic progress and earn foreign exchange for the country.
This is the first time in the history of the country that tourism has become a talking point in the national manifesto of a political party. The manifesto identifies five Ts to drive future growth of the economy, comprising Talent, Tourism, Trade, Tradition and Technology.
“BJP recognises the role tourism and hospitality can play as a foreign exchange earner and their ability to create millions of jobs every year. Tourism plays a key role in socio-economic progress through creation of jobs, enterprise, infrastructure development, and foreign exchange.
BJP realises that the tourism sector needs a clear plan for growth, and BJP commits to initiate a mission mode project to create 50 tourism circuits that are affordable and built around themes like a) Archaeology and Heritage, b) Culture and Spirituality, c) Himalayas, d) Desert, e) Coasts, f) Medical (Ayurveda and Modern Medicine). This will lead to the creation of infrastructure and employment around each tourist circuit and help boost revenue.
Specialised course in tourism will be started for capacity development. Safety and security of tourists would be accorded due priority,” the BJP manifesto reads.
Releasing the manifesto in Delhi, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Chairman, Manifesto Preparation Board, BJP, said that if elected to power, the Party will also constitute regional councils for different geographical regions like deserts, coastal areas, forests, Himalayas, islands, etc., for looking into the development requirements of each region.
Another major announcement made in the manifesto is vision to promote Rail Tourism through special trains for the convenience of tourists, including pilgrims. The manifesto also talks about the vision to start the Diamond Quadrilateral project of high-speed train network.
The manifesto lays special emphasis on the development and conservation of Himalayas considering it is a unique eco-system. A dedicated fund will be created for the integrated and planned development of the Himalayas, Dr Joshi said.
Source : HBI Staff
