Tourist spots in India to be opened from Jan 2022: Kishan Reddy

The Ministry would identify the traditional festivals celebrated in each State and ensure that such festivals are celebrated across the country, Reddy said.

Hyderabad: Tourist places across the country would be opened from January 2022, said Union Minister of Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy on Saturday.

Speaking to media persons after his ongoing ‘Jana Ashirwada’ yatra reached Bhongir town, he underscored the need for improving the tourism sector since India has excellent tourist places. Tourists from foreign countries could not visit India because of Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

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Reddy, who is also the Minister for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), said the North-Eastern States have popular tourist places similar to New Zealand and plans have been chalked out to ensure that every family visit at least 15 tourist places in the country.

In Telangana, people celebrate Bonalu festival while tribals celebrate Sammakka-Saralamma jatara on a grand note. The Ministry would identify the traditional festivals celebrated in each State and ensure that such festivals are celebrated across the country, Reddy said.

“Since we have 40 tourist places recognised by UNESCO in the country, we are making efforts to improve infrastructure facilities at these places,” he said, adding that necessary steps would be taken to protect ancient monuments to facilitate future generations to know more about these structures. In all, India has as many as 3,700 ancient monuments.

“Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faith in me, he gave me a chance to work as a Cabinet Minister and allocated the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and DoNER. I took it as a challenge,” Reddy said.

“We are making efforts for the development of North-Eastern States with various development and welfare schemes of the Central government. We are also taking necessary steps to develop infrastructure facilities in these States at a cost of Rs.67,000 crore,” Reddy said.

The Central government was encouraging organic farming in North-Eastern States, Reddy said, stating that an action plan was also chalked out to provide marketing facilities for selling handicrafts made in these States.