Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, represented India at the G20 Culture Ministers’ Summit in Brazil and the World Travel Mart in London. These events align with PM Modi’s aim of encouraging sustainable development through culture.
Shekhawat emphasised India’s rich cultural history and tremendous tourism potential, presenting it as a strategic driver of economic progress. He emphasised how India’s cultural richness and geographic diversity can make it a top tourist destination and a key contributor to the national economy.
During the summit, Shekhawat held bilateral talks with leaders from Brazil, Germany, France, and South Africa, seeking joint opportunities to boost tourism between these countries and India.
The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK, also sponsored the ‘Chalo India’ cultural event on the historic Cutty Sark in London. The event highlighted Indian culture and hospitality while also promoting the Ministry’s new ‘Chalo India’ project. Shekhawat asked the Indian diaspora in the UK to serve as cultural ambassadors, inviting friends to see “New India.” He announced that 100,000 e-tourist visas would be offered to foreign travellers through the ‘Chalo India’ initiative till March 31, 2025.
