Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized viewing heritage as a strategic national asset and leveraging India's diversity to create immersive tourism destinations, with the sector aiming to contribute ten percent to the national GDP under the Viksit Bharat 2047 plan.

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized viewing heritage as a strategic national asset and leveraging India's diversity to create immersive tourism destinations, with the sector aiming to contribute ten percent to the national GDP under the Viksit Bharat 2047 plan.

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized viewing heritage as a strategic national asset and leveraging India's diversity to create immersive tourism destinations, with the sector aiming to contribute ten percent to the national GDP under the Viksit Bharat 2047 plan.

Positioning heritage and tourism within the paradigm of the India narrative story, the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, has said one must begin seeing heritage as a strategic national asset and tourism as a powerful means of bringing that asset to life.

Speaking at the THE WEEK Heritage Awards 2026 on October 27, Shekhawat’s Chief Guest address was peppered with one-liners: “A monument may belong to history. But the civilisation it represents belongs to eternity.”

And then: “Our heritage tells the world who we are, but it also challenges us to decide what we shall become.”

THE WEEK event was themed 'Beyond Monuments: Creating Heritage Destinations for the Future'.

Addressing the audience, the minister pointed out the importance of building ‘experiences’ around India’s historical and tourist sites.

“After COVID, the perspective towards life has completely changed. People have started giving preference to experience over monuments. The lifestyle has changed ... The visitor does not merely see a monument; he encounters an experience—a complete, holistic civilisation. This is the opportunity before us.”

And for this, what is needed is reliable connectivity, clean surroundings, trained guides, compelling interpretation and quality digital facilities, he added.

“India is the most diverse country—whatever any tourist may aspire for, we have something to offer on our platter. That strength of diversity, along with improving infrastructure and a growing economy, is a huge opportunity,” the minister said.

Under the Viksit Bharat 2047 plan, India’s tourism sector aims to contribute 10 per cent of the national GDP which would make it India’s second largest generator of employment after agriculture. Tourism contributes about 6 per cent to the GDP currently.

Shekhawat also focused on the growing potential of the sector with a growing economy, revamped infrastructure and the increasing spending capacity of Indians.

In 2025, total international travel for any purpose across the world was about ₹128 crore. In the same year, total domestic travel within India by Indians was ₹438 crore.

“No other country in the world has that kind of opportunity,” he pointed out.

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