When you open the pages of this Independence Day special issue, you will be transported into a setup that celebrates India’s glorious past. It also encourages you to look into the future with confidence. The heritage trails of India are not just any other leisure trail, for they speak about stories and sacrifices that helped build our great nation. From Punjab in the North to Karnataka in the South, from Ahmedabad in the West to Kolkata in the East, these heritage walks take you through a journey pan-India. It is crucial for us to share this rich past with the generation next and hence it would be a good idea for educational institutions to introduce heritage tourism and walks in their curriculum.
When it comes to teaching and students, India surely lost its extraordinary ‘son of the soil’ amidst a crowd of students way up in the hills. From Rameswaram to Rastrapati Bhawan, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s journey is all about humility and humanity transcending borders. Developmental politics was something that is spoken of constantly and his thoughts on providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) is something that will help the country to reach the next level. Infrastructure development is the need of the hour and the recently held FICCI Tourism Investor’s Meet only spoke about promising infrastructure development in tourism. From single window clearance to funding facilities being provided by TFCI, if even one fourth of what was promised is delivered, it will give a refreshing picture of tourism in the country. The minister for civil aviation also sounds buoyant and progressive, just like his tourism counterpart. Doing away with the 5/20 rule in aviation is the need of the hour and displaying the right image of India to the world and practising safe and honourable tourism is a must, emphasised the ministers.
Finally the IATO convention goes back to MP after 22 years. The state has come of age with respect to its tourism development and its present head is all set to give the state a further impetus by working better than a private sector setup. Enjoy this issue that takes you into the past but also promises a future that is bright if we do our ground work right. Happy Independence Day!
Reema Lokesh
Editor