Govt's requisite support to India's tourism and hospitality sector lacking: Kharge

New Delhi: Alleging that the government's requisite support to India's tourism and hospitality sector is lacking, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday called for a collective effort to reform the sector, including filling the infrastructure gaps and aggressively promoting inbound tourism.

On National Tourism Day, Kharge said the country boasts of a rich diversity of natural beauty, ancient monuments, multitude of culinary traditions and multi-faceted cultures, making it an ideal destination for global travellers.

India's Tourism and Hospitality sector is a cornerstone of our National Economy. It can create millions of jobs.

Our country boasts of a rich diversity of natural beauty, ancient monuments, multitude of culinary traditions, and multifaceted cultures, making it an ideal… pic.twitter.com/6GOY5smVWo

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 25, 2025

However, the true potential of India's tourism industry is far from being fully realised and foreign tourist arrivals in the country have remained well below the pre-COVID-19 levels, he said, adding that this is "extremely worrying".

Despite the Centre's stated commitment to revitalising this crucial economic segment, the requisite support and impetus have been lacking, a situation that demands immediate attention, Kharge said.

"Therefore on #NationalTourismDay, we urge for a collective effort to reform the sector, including filling the infrastructure gaps and aggressively promoting inbound tourism," he said.