London, Nov 7 (PTI) Ministers from various Indian states have urged members of the UK-based diaspora to serve as cultural ambassadors, promoting the lesser-known attractions in India to potential travelers.
Representatives from Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa emphasized the enthusiastic reception at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 during a special Travellers’ Paradise event in London.
Organized by the High Commission of India, the event took place on Thursday evening and highlighted India’s impressive presence at WTM 2025, one of the largest annual travel industry gatherings, where India was among the few countries featuring over a dozen stalls showcasing various regional offerings.
The India Pavilion at the WTM, held from November 4-6, portrayed the upward trajectory of the country’s tourism sector, which witnessed over 20.57 million international tourist arrivals in the past year.
During the event at India House, tourism stakeholders were encouraged to highlight India’s diverse tourism opportunities.
"The last two days have been incredible because we all know that our country has everything that you can imagine," said Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
"Even though we know that everyone knows about India, everyone knows we have Yoga, we have spirituality, we have amazing forts, palaces, food, culture, dances, festivals. We have it all and our states are so diverse… but still, I think we need to speak out more," she continued.
Kandula Durgesh, Andhra Pradesh’s tourism minister, noted, "Each country had one stall at WTM, but India had more than 15 stalls, which reflects our unity in diversity."
Dharmendra Singh Lodhi, the Madhya Pradesh tourism minister, and Goa’s minister Rohan Khaunte presented their states' offerings within the broader 'Incredible India' theme.
In his Hindi address, Lodhi expressed India's belief in the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' – the world as one family – and invited everyone to experience their 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (guest is akin to God) ideals.
The Goan minister discussed attracting international “digital nomads,” positioning Goa as an ideal remote work destination.
"Mission Viksit Bharat 2047, set forth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, covers trade, technology, and tourism. All states are actively pursuing these goals," Khaunte stated.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the UK, US, and Australia remain key source countries for tourists visiting India. The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) from major source countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Canada, have shown an upward trend in 2024.
"The World Tourism Market underscores the importance of tourism in promoting art, culture, experiences, cuisine, thereby shaping our multicultural world," remarked Vikram Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to the UK.
"We pride ourselves on being one of the world's largest emerging markets and a leading destination for diverse tourism experiences," he concluded.
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