Aug 14, 2025: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday highlighted the vital role of tourism, trade, and technology in India's foreign engagement during the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) Conclave 2025.
He emphasized that the government is increasingly considering the significance of this connection, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the use of the three Ts - tourism, trade, and technology - as benchmarks for evaluating international relationships. He stated, "His constant message is to encourage them to bring their friends along on their next visit to India." Jaishankar highlighted that tourism plays a crucial role in connecting nations and shaping their understanding of each other. He noted that tourism determines a nation's image in the eyes of others, making it a vital aspect of diplomacy.
"Like any other field, tourism and hospitality have a broader context, which actually brings them closer to my job. Sometimes, however, we don't fully visualise the larger relevance of what we are doing to our national and international objectives," Jaishankar said.
"My job is to engage the foreign community and advance India's interests," he continued, explaining the significance of the sector to diplomacy. But I do want to say that tourism connects a nation to the rest of the world far more than diplomacy does. Because not only does it shape the understanding of other countries of us, but it actually determines our own image in their eyes."
He mentioned India's ongoing efforts to raise awareness of its heritage and culture around the world, including the regular addition of new sites to the UNESCO World Heritage list. "Almost every year, there are Indian additions to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Maratha Military Landscape is the most recent one, followed by the Moidams of Assam. In the last decade, this expanded list has included Shantiniketan, Hoysala heritage, Dholavira, Jaipur city, old Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Nalanda, and the Khangchendzonga National Park," he added.
Jaishankar made a connection between promoting culture and tourism and being self-reliant and resilient. He emphasized how important it is to be able to stand on one's own two feet when things don't go as planned. He emphasized the self-belief and strengths of the Indian people, which have enabled the nation to overcome difficulties and address numerous issues. "We are a society that has stood the test of time and nurtured its culture, traditions, and heritage. We are a civilizational state." Our people and their self-belief have been our real assets. Throughout our journey toward progress and prosperity, we have confronted numerous obstacles and overcome adversity. There is so much for us to be proud of and so much for the world to see... While we will always benefit from such openness, it is essential in times of unpredictability to stand firmly on our own feet. Atmanirbharta is, of course, the mindset to deal with global turbulence. But it is also the basis to strengthen our self-confidence, to increase our resilience, and to lay the foundation for Viksit Bharat," he said.
Jaishankar mentioned that the "Heal in India" initiative is gaining traction all over the world and that India is becoming an increasingly popular destination for medical tourism. The minister also spoke about the rising number of foreign students and the growing prominence of India as a destination for medical tourism.
"Heal in India is catching on in the world with an increasing number of medical tourists," Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar further noted improvements in travel infrastructure, which he said have boosted India's tourism appeal.
"The use of e-visas has greatly enhanced the enjoyment of traveling to India. India clearly sends a stronger message to the world, but it also makes traveling in India much easier. In the last ten years, the number of our airports has doubled alone. The railways have undergone a sea change, both in terms of reach and in terms of quality. Again, highways have undergone significant transformations, EAM stated.