New Delhi, 02 May (H.S.): Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday attended the tourism stakeholders conference as the chief guest. The conference saw extensive discussions on critical topics such as tourism, hospitality, heritage, spiritual tourism, digital and medical‑wellness tourism, night tourism, and Delhi’s brand positioning. The Chief Minister said Delhi will no longer be treated merely as a transit hub, but will be developed as a major global tourism destination.

Several experts from the tourism and related sectors attended the programme, including Delhi’s Art, Culture and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra and Sunil Anchipaka, Managing Director of the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC).

On the occasion, the Chief Minister said the active participation of industry leaders, policymakers and experts at the conference brought forward several concrete and useful suggestions. These inputs and feedback will be incorporated into future policies and schemes so as to give a new direction to Delhi’s tourism sector and make it more effective. She added that, as the national capital, Delhi has special significance at the global level and can become a major attraction for tourists visiting India. “The time has come to develop Delhi not just as a transit point, but as a destination city where tourists can stay, experience, and return again and again,” she said.

Highlighting Delhi’s unique features, the Chief Minister said prestigious power centres such as Parliament, the President’s House, India Gate and the Prime Minister’s Museum are located here. Alongside, the rich historical heritage represented by monuments such as the Red Fort and the Qutub Minar, diverse cultures reflecting the whole country, and Delhi’s unique and varied cuisine together offer a comprehensive tourism experience. She stated that the Delhi government is placing special emphasis on the positive branding of the capital so that it can be developed not only as a leading tourism hub but also as a major centre in the fields of healthcare and education. The government’s objective is to attract more and more people from across India and the world to visit Delhi, stay here, and carry the city’s experiences back with them.

The Chief Minister also said the government is actively promoting large‑scale concerts, film festivals and cultural events, which are strengthening Delhi’s global identity. At the same time, through the film policy and a single‑window system, the government is delivering simple, transparent and swift services to the industry.

During this special event, the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) signed several important agreements aimed at promoting cooperation and innovation in the tourism sector. DTTDC has entered into partnerships with Agoda, MakeMyTrip Foundation and the Sambhav Foundation, which will support digital innovation, cultural programmes, infrastructure development and sustainable tourism. She reiterated that the Delhi government is working with complete commitment in this direction and that this conference will prove to be a significant milestone for the tourism sector of the national capital. The positive outcomes of these measures will become clearly visible in the coming period.

Delhi’s Art, Culture and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the Delhi government is moving quickly to turn the capital into a world‑class tourism hub. Concrete steps are being taken to form the Delhi Tourism Board, introduce a single‑window clearance system, beautify major entry points, construct the Unity Mall, and integrate Delhi’s heritage, culture and cuisine into a new tourism experience. He added that, with the cooperation of the central government, Delhi will be developed as a distinct global tourism destination, so that Delhi can become the face of a changing India.

According to Kapil Mishra, the suggestions and recommendations received during the conference will be incorporated into upcoming policies and schemes so that Delhi can be elevated to new heights in the fields of tourism, culture and hospitality.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar