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CII conference to focus on creating India tourism brand
NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of increased focus on tourism as a promoter of economic growth, the government and the industry has embarked on effective promotion, marketing and building the India brand.
As a step towards that the third International Conference cum Showcase on India Tourism and Heritage: Challenge 21, organised by CII in association with Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Tourism, would be held in New Delhi from October 17th to 19th, 2002. N K Singh, Member, Planning Commission would set the ball rolling by addressing the CEO’s conclave. Industry leaders would debate on the important role that business plays in tourism and building the India tourism brand.
The conference would help building the India tourism brand and suggest ways and means to make the tourism industry competitive in view of the perceptible shift in consumer preference in the changing global environment.
With the changed perception of the government and increased budget allocation for tourism in the Ninth Plan, the summit would discuss in detail the various challenges and shortcomings faced by the tourism industry. It would also evaluate the important role that corporates can play to revive the tourism business in the country and promote India as a secured and attractive tourist destination of the world.
Jagmohan, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture would address the inaugural session of the conference. N K Singh, Member, Planning Commission and Ajay Maken, Tourism Minister, Government of Delhi would also address the inaugural session. Jaswant Singh, Union Minister for Finance, would address a special session on Tourism — The Economic Growth Accelerator.
Other speakers of the conference would include Rathi Vinay Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; V K Duggal, Director General, Ministry of Tourism; Amitabh Kant, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Romesh Sabharwal, Chairman, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Ltd; Rajeev Talwar, Managing Director, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Ltd; Harsh Varma, Regional Representative for Asia and Pacific, WTO; Arun Goyal, Commissioner cum Secretary (Tourism) Andaman & Nicobar Administration; A K Gujadhur, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Air Mauritius; Ravi Saligram, Former Brand President, America Division of Six Continental Hotels; Rajan Chhibba, Managing Director, KSA Technopak (I) Pvt Ltd; Santosh Desai, Executive Vice President, McCann-Erickson India among others.
A special focus of this year’s Tourism Conference would be on Heritage Tourism. India’s share in world tourism is only 0.38% and it ranks 50th in world list of international arrivals with only 2.64 million arrivals. Its share in world tourism receipts is a minimal 0.66% with US $ 3.3 billion. To promote India as an attractive tourist destination, there is an urgent need for rationalisation of taxes and a homogenous tax structure should be imposed across all states, CII has suggested.
CII has also pointed out that tax level in India should be in synchronisation with other South East Asian countries. Moreover, tourist facilitation centres comprising information centre, assistance, currency exchange, emergency facilities should be set.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
