Address At The Inauguration Of The Seminar On Tourism

Tourism: Journey of happiness?

I am happy to participate in the inauguration of Seminar on Tourism organized by the Gujarat State Government. My greetings to the organizers, tourist operators, government functionaries, infrastructure developers other participants and distinguished guests.

In India we celebrate a number of festivals. This is our cultural tradition. Maharashtra celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi, Bengal, Karnataka and Gujarat celebrates the Navarathri, Kerala celebrates Onam, Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal, Andhra Pradesh celebrates Ugadi, UP celebrates Ramanavami and Krishna Ashtami, Kashmir celebrates Urs (or Ziarats), Navroz etc. These are some of the examples. Each state and region has some unique festival which is popular among the people. Celebration of these festivals is followed by a number of cultural events which attracts the attention of all the people, especially the Navrathri celebrations in Gujarat is accompanied by a carnival of nine nights involving garba folk dance with devotion and colour. This is celebrated at the best time of the year. Along with the dance the festival involves music, colourful costumes and is participated by all sections of the society. There are large number of Gujaratis staying in different parts of the world. I am sure the diaspora would definitely like to visit their home state during this festival season.

My Recent Experience

Friends, I would like to share with you my recent experience, when I visited Tanzania and South Africa. I started from New Delhi on 11th September 2004 and flew to Dar-es-salam, capital of Tanzania via Mumbai. When I crossed Mumbai, I just saw, what a beautiful scene, the waves of Indian Ocean hitting the shores of Mumbai. After five hours of flight from our soil, I reached Dar-es-salam. Again from air, I could see the waves of same Indian Ocean embracing Dar-es-salam. I could see Indian Ocean unifying both the countries. This was further reinforced, when I went to Zanzibar Island. I saw in their museum, a multi-sails boat which was used by our ancestors from Gujarat who were first to arrive Zanzibar and enriching that Island. Their arrival is mentioned in the Zanzibar records. When I met the Zanzibar citizens, I found in them a mini Gujarat, what a beautiful meet it was. I had a similar beautiful experience in Dar-es-Salaam also.

When I think of 20 million people of Indian origin spread in various countries of our planet, I am reminded of a poem in Tamil epic Purananooru composed three thousand year ago, which says:

It means, ?All places are our native places and all people our relatives?. This is deeply ingrained in the social and political life of India for thousands of years. The message, I would like to convey is that the tourism is multi-dimensional.

Tourism wealth generator for the nation

With vast civilisational heritage of the country, from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, J&K, Central India, North Eastern states, Bihar, Western States, the large coastal line, Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadeep Islands have a lot to attract the tourists. The major tourist attraction could be spiritual tourism, medical tourism, eco-tourism and the festival tourism. After my visit to almost all the regions of the country, I have realized that the tourism industry has a tremendous potential for wealth generation and should operate as a mission with higher targets. To succeed in this mission the infrastructural requirements are very essential and are to be improved. Thrust is required to be given for the inland water navigation, hotels, communication and tourist promotion. If we promote sustainable tourism, it can definitely become India's core competence. These mission areas need action and will provide the multiplier effect and give the necessary momentum to all sectors of the economy.

Status of tourism

I was analyzing the market share of tourism industry in different countries. France tops the list with a share of 11%, followed by 7.4% in Spain, 6% in USA, 5.7% in Italy, 5.2% in China, 3.4% in UK 2.9% in Canada, 2.8% in Mexico and 2.6% in Austria and Germany each. Surprisingly we do not figure in the list of top 30 countries. What is required by a modern tourist is good and comfortable travel conditions, clean reasonable accommodation, and healthy environment, friendliness of the tour operators, vendors, societal harmony and his safety. Last year when I was in Dubai, I met the Ruler of Dubai. He said that Dubai is planning to increase the tourist arrival by five times. Once this decision was taken I found, that the aviation minister was planning for a new airport and also new types of aircraft needed for attracting the tourists. The surface transport minister was planning a number of additional lanes required in the highways. The works ministry was planning for increase in the hotel accommodation for accommodating the tourists without disappointment. The health ministry had a road map for waste management, additional clean water need. This was the type of integrated response that I found in the whole government to fulfill the national objective. We have to take the message coming out of this experience and plan for the multiple requirements simultaneously for promoting tourism in our country.

Civic Awareness

The status of environmental cleanliness is one of the indicators of development of a nation. As a nation, we have to keep our environment clean and tidy. This is essential for better health conditions of all the citizens and also for presenting a wholesome and aesthetic atmosphere for us and also the tourists visiting our country. It is essential that we keep all our places of worship and rivers clean and tidy to preserve their innate divinity. Each one of the States may promulgate appropriate local laws for promoting harmonious environment in their regions. This will be the first step needed to promote tourism in our country. Here I would like to share with you the experience of Kali-Bein River in Punjab cleaning operation.

Synergy Mission for Environmental Upgradation

The place where Gurunanak Dev is said to have received enlightenment and which had over the centuries turned literally into a sewage ridden, weed choked drain, is today flowing clean and proud due mainly to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal in partnership with the Punjab State Government. From the discussions, I understand that he organized people?s participation in stopping the massive flow of sewage into the Bein and cleaned 160 km long polluted and choked rivulet within the last three and a half years by deploying on an average 3000 volunteer workers per day. Today one can feel the flow of fresh water in this rivulet released from the Tarkina Barrage by the government about a year ago. The revival of the rivulet has recharged the water table as the hand pumps that had became dry for the past 4 decades are now pumping out water. Baba not only did the cleaning up operation by clearing Bein from the weeds and hyacinth, but also built bathing ghats at five places. He also built more than 100 km long kutcha road on the bank of the rivulet.

While I was thinking how we should solve the problem of improving the environment of rivers and religious places, I find one of our enlightened citizens has taken the initiative and demonstrated the power of ignited individuals to solve societal problem. Let this model spread in all the places of divine worship and inspire the pilgrims to participate in the divine task of clean environment in water and air which will attract large number of tourists into our tourist destination. ?Thousands of local initiatives will definitely make our country an attractive place?.

Infrastructure

When the tourists come to India he would like to realize maximum value for the duration of his stay which can come only through reliable and fast travel conditions. Many of our tourist spots are located in interior areas which involves travel by road. To enable fast travel what we need is air connectivity to majority of the places. Complimentary to the air travel we can also plan fast train services like Shatabdi express. Creation of these facilities will involve infrastructural development such as airports, railway line and multi lane roads to interior India. The road connectivity can be linked with the PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) programme. In addition to this we can also think in terms of inland waterways which can attract certain class of people. This mission has to be accomplished through government- private partnership.

Balancing in power generation

Many of our cities do not have continuous availability of power. This gap has to be bridged through use of adding generating capacity using solar power and power produced out of municipal waste. I should also point out that actions do not stop at increasing generation alone. It has to be of good quality. No voltage fluctuation or frequency variations should be there. In addition, transmission and distribution has to be efficient with low loss. Above all at the consumer end energy efficiency should be the key word. We generate power for good use and not to be wasted as useless heat or sound. The lesser we use energy more kind we are with the environment. Therefore, for each watt used we should get maximum end use. Providing quality, reliable and uninterrupted power is essential for providing minimum comforts to our tourists.

Quality Accommodation

Another important infrastructural need is quality clean accommodation. Private/public sector participation should plan adequate number of hotel rooms with various amenities at different tourist centers. The accommodation apart from being central in location should also provide a good environment to attract the tourists. Communication facilities in the accommodation should be such that the guests should feel that he is in touch with the outside world. Recently, during my visit to South Africa, I found that each room had a e-connectivity through which the Hotel was in touch with the guests. The guests can also send messages to any part of the world. Also the hotel must be able to provide all the information needed by the guests to plan his visits within his prescribed budget and also available time. In addition the hotel authorities must ensure safety and security of the guests including their belongings. It is also essential to provide the type of food which the tourists normally prefer in their country.

People friendly tourist operators

Tourists must be made to feel at home in our country. They generally come in contact with taxi drivers, airline staff, railway staff, shopkeepers, tourist guides, hotel staff and the response from these people becomes a bench mark for the tourists. Hence, it is essential that all the people whom a normal tourist is likely to come in contact should be trained in the way they should interact with the tourists. They should ensure that the tourist get all support and he is made to feel fully at home. This is a vital requirement for attracting the tourist inflow into the country.

As tourism in India is increasing, people from foreign countries are coming to India and Indians also love tourism and visit number of countries. I would suggest, just like spiritual tourism within our country, we can consider promotion of multi-national spiritual tourism connecting important Buddhist centers in India, Nepal and Thailand operated by a single air-line.

Important destinations in Gujarat

Gujarat has many interesting places which can become a good tourist destination. Some of them are the ancient remains of Indus valley civilization at Dhola Vira in Kutch district, the desert lands of Kutch, the only abode of ancient lion Gir forests, sanctuaries of rare species of birds and animals, beaches along the sea coast, Lord Krishna?s temple at Dwaraka, Jain Temple at Palitana. I am sure these places can be definitely converted as exciting tourist spots which will attract both national and international tourists. The tourist inflow during the Navarathri season will get enhanced due to the cultural value of variety of dances presented by the locals.

Conclusion

Dignified human life is characterized by probity in every facet. Irrespective of one?s station in life whether in politics, civil services, social work or any other one is expected to conduct oneself in a civilized manner. Everyone is entitled to self-respect, and showing due respect to others is the only way to earn that self-respect. This is very much applicable to all the tourists whom we receive. Let us set standards for ourselves in keeping with our hallowed past and glorious traditions. All of us must realize the nation is bigger than any individual. With this thought in mind we should treat each tourist as our personal guest which in my view is the only way to attract tourists from all parts of the world to our noble land. Atithi Devo Bhava that is our culture.

With these words I inaugurate the Seminar on Tourism and my best wishes to all of you.

May God bless you.