By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun/London: The three-day World Tourism Market (WTM) at ExCel London witnessed a strong presence from India, with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Uttarakhand’s Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj actively participating in the event.
On Thursday, the WTM saw Uttarakhand make a significant mark, with Minister Maharaj, alongside India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, and the Director-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Mugdha Sinha, inaugurating the “Incredible India” stall at the India Pavilion. The stall showcased the culture and tourism attractions of various Indian states, including Uttarakhand, drawing significant attention from visitors.
Speaking at the event, Minister Satpal Maharaj emphasised that the UK is the second-largest source market for tourists coming to India. With a large Indian diaspora of nearly 1.9 million, the UK has a strong connection to India. He highlighted that the participation of nearly 50 stakeholders from various sectors, including state governments, inbound tour operators, airlines, and hospitality businesses, in this prestigious international event aligns with India’s strategic goal of boosting domestic tourism and establishing the country as a global tourism hub.
Minister Maharaj further pointed out that the India Pavilion, in addition to the Ministry of Tourism, features representation from various state tourism departments, tour operators, airlines, public sector enterprises, and others. Co-participants include the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu, along with tourism departments from states such as Goa, Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, showcasing their unique tourism offerings.
He also reminded attendees of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Chalo India’ initiative, which encourages the Indian diaspora to promote India among their non-Indian friends and networks, further strengthening India’s tourism potential.
