Delhi should be seen as a tourist destination and not a transit hub, New Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday.
While attending a tourism stakeholders conference, she said that Delhi, as the national capital, has unique advantages.
“We are trying to rebrand Delhi positively in the tourism sector so that tourists see this city as a destination and enjoy its unique features, and not just as a transit point,” the Prime Minister said.
“In Delhi, there are many historical monuments and tourist attractions that tourists want to see. People want to see Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhawan and many other sites,” she said.
Gupta said that in the past year, the Delhi government has taken several steps to improve the tourism ecosystem, including the Delhi Film Festival, developing the Delhi Tourism Board and implementing a robust information system at prominent locations.
“Delhi has cultural diversity; one can find people from different states and identities. Tourists can find cultural sites, temples, food and handicrafts in Delhi,” the Prime Minister said.
Gupta also praised Delhi’s food. “The taste you find in Delhi, you can’t find anywhere else, I challenge that,” she said.
On the sidelines of the event, Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) signed several key agreements with online travel sites, including Agoda and Makemytrip, to promote collaboration and innovation in the tourism sector.
“The partnerships with Agoda, MakeMyTrip Foundation and Sabhyata Foundation aim to promote digital innovation, cultural programming, infrastructure development and sustainable tourism,” an official said.
Emphasizing the government’s commitment, the Prime Minister said that the conference will be a milestone for the tourism sector in Delhi, with tangible results expected soon.
Tourism Minister Kapila Mishra, who also attended the conference, said the government is planning to allow one window to shoot films in Delhi.
