Budget 2024: Lakshadweep On Centre's Radar For Port Connectivity, Tourism Infra

Budget 2024: The FM said the Union Territory of Lakshadweep will get undivided attention from the Centre to improve its tourist infrastructure

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her Interim Budget speech in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, said that projects for port connectivity, tourism infrastructure, and other amenities will be taken up on our islands, including Lakshadweep. According to the finance minister, the boost in tourism will help in generating employment in those regions too.

"To address the emerging fervour for domestic tourism, projects for port connectivity, tourism infrastructure, and amenities will be taken up on our islands, including Lakshadweep. This will help in generating employment also," the FM said in the Lok Sabha. She said the Union Territory of Lakshadweep will get undivided attention from the Centre to improve its tourist infrastructure.

The FM mentioned that the success of organising G20 meetings in 60 places across the country presented diversity of India to global audience. "Our economic strength has made the country an attractive destination for business and conference tourism. Our middle class also now aspires to travel and explore. Tourism, including spiritual tourism, has tremendous opportunities for local entrepreneurship," she noted.

The FM further mentioned that the states will be encouraged to take up comprehensive development of iconic tourist centres, branding and marketing them at global scale. "A framework for rating of the centres based on quality of facilities and services will be established. Long-term interest free loans will be provided to States for financing such development on matching basis," she added.

Now, many Indians have been looking at Lakshadweep as an alternative destination after a diplomatic row with the Maldives. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed for the promotion of domestic tourism and suggested that the Indian islands be developed as a destination for tourism.

On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu, in her maiden address at the new Parliament building, said the growth in India's tourism sector is due because of the country's growing stature and the world also wants to "explore and know India". She said that tourism is a big sector providing employment to the youth.

In the past 10 years, my government has done unprecedented work in the field of tourism, she said. Along with the number of domestic tourists in India, the number of foreign tourists coming to India has also increased," the President said in her pre-Budget session speech.

The reason for the growth in the tourism sector is owed to "India's growing stature", Murmu said. Today, the world wants to explore and know India. Apart from this, the scope of tourism has also increased due to excellent connectivity. Building of airports at various places is also advantageous, she added. She also said that now, the "Northeast is witnessing record tourist arrivals. Now, there is heightened excitement about Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands".