Tourism growth must align with environmental goals: Vice President

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan Tuesday addressed the Tourism Leadership Summit organized by the US-India Partnership Forum in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation in New Delhi.
The Vice President appreciated the organizers for convening a platform that not only celebrates the promise of tourism but also charts a strategic roadmap for strengthening the India–US economic corridor in travel and hospitality.
Emphasizing that tourism is more than an industry, C.P.Radhakrishnan described it as a bridge between cultures, a driver of economic opportunity, and a powerful instrument of soft diplomacy.
He noted that the tourism between India and the United States reflects deep people-to-people ties, shared values, entrepreneurial spirit, and the vibrancy of the Indian diaspora.
Referring to India’s forward-looking initiatives, he stated that under the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has announced Tourism Vision 2029, aimed at developing at least one world-class tourist destination in every State with robust infrastructure and global standards of hospitality. He emphasized that this initiative goes beyond beautification and focuses on holistic tourism ecosystems with seamless connectivity, smart amenities, safety, sustainability, digital integration, and enriched visitor experiences.
Underscoring India’s civilizational heritage, diverse landscapes, and youthful demographic dividend, he said the country is poised to redefine tourism globally. He called for special focus on the preservation and world-class development of India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites through enhanced visitor amenities, interpretation centres, last-mile connectivity, sustainable practices, and digital storytelling.
C.P.Radhakrishnan stressed that tourism growth must align with environmental goals, advocating climate-conscious infrastructure, community-led tourism models, and preservation of natural and cultural heritage.
He also highlighted the importance of developing new-age tourism destinations that showcase India’s achievements in space, digital public infrastructure, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. He also emphasized the integration of emerging technologies such as AI to enhance Tourism experience.
Describing tourism as one of the largest generators of employment, the Vice-President called for greater investment in training, entrepreneurship, and women-led enterprises to ensure inclusive and community-driven growth.
Concluding his address, C.P.Radhakrishnan expressed hope that the Summit would mark a new chapter in India–US cooperation defined by sustainability, innovation, inclusivity, and shared prosperity.