About Us Speeches

Ambassador’s speech on Tourism Promotion Event

Posted on: February 28, 2022 | Back | Print

Dear Friends,

    Good afternoon to everyone. I thank you all for taking time out from your busy schedules and gracing us with your presence in an effort of the Embassy towards promoting Tourism to India.  

Tourism has been one of the worst affected sectors of the economy due to COVID-19 in all countries including India and Madagascar. As we are coming out of challenges that the pandemic wrecked on us for the past two years, the Embassy thought this to be the perfect time to promote tourism to India. 

It should come as no surprise that India is a treasure trove of exquisite mountains, forests, and sea beaches. The country has several things to offer, vast beaches with glistening sand, magnificent mountains covered in snow, and adventurous forests boasting of rare and beautiful flora and fauna. Every waterfall, mountain peak, estuary, desert, or forest is unique and no one can fathom how beautiful India is. You may get a glimpse of these beautiful places in the photographs around you. 

For promoting tourism and ensuring that the country is seen, felt, and experienced as warm, welcoming, safe, secure and easy to explore by people, India focuses on its traditional values of “Atithi Devo Bhava – Guest is God”. Efforts have been made to make sure that India is welcoming to its visitors.

India’s rich history and cultural and geographical diversity make the country one of the most popular tourist destinations among foreign travelers. It offers various forms of tourism, including cultural, heritage, cruise, nature, educational, business, sports, rural, medical, and eco-tourism. The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies for the development and promotion of tourism. Concerted efforts are being made to promote niche tourism products such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism. The Ministry of Tourism maintains the Incredible India campaign focused on promoting tourism in India. 

 

From 2021 to 2023, India will be celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is an embodiment of all that is progressive about India’s socio-cultural, political and economic identity. This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable the vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.  

Challenged by COVID-19, India has come out with the resolve to become self-reliant. “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” is a call to become vocal for local. India’s quest for self-reliance is about creating strong enterprises in India. Aatmanirbhar Bharat will use the crisis as an opportunity to take advantage of new technologies, implement green recovery strategies, and shift to policy and business practices that better balance the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism and align tourism development to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

    India requires citizens of most countries to hold a valid passport and apply for a travel visa at the local Indian embassy or consulate, before their visit. With significant improvement in COVID-19 situation in India, the Government of India has decided to ease restrictions on visa for foreign tourists. All due protocols and norms relating to COVID-19 as notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India shall be adhered to by the foreign tourists. For more information about planning your visit to India, you may reach out to the consular section of the Embassy. You can also reach out to the websites of Ministry of Tourism and Incredible India for planning your visit to India!

I thank you for being a part of our humble attempt to encourage people from Madagascar to visit India.  I hope that your next visit will be to explore the beauty of India. 

*****