State tourism to be brought on world map: Shekhawat

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said an action plan would be prepared to bring Haryana's rich civilisation, culture, and tourism on the global stage. He also emphasised the need to enhance the grandeur of the 38th Surajkund International Crafts Mela and to involve major partner countries in the event in the future.

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State Heritage and Tourism Minister Arvind Sharma met Shekhawat in New Delhi today. During the meeting, Sharma invited Shekhawat to the inauguration of the mela, scheduled to be held in Faridabad from February 7. The two ministers also discussed various topics related to tourism and cultural initiatives.

Shekhawat said the time had come to showcase Haryana's tourism on the global stage, similar to the recognition of the Surajkund mela. He said the Central and Haryana Governments would collaborate to develop a special action plan to ensure that the world experienced and appreciated the richness of Haryana’s culture.

He highlighted that to enhance the grandeur of the mela, prominent countries would be added as partner nations in future editions, fostering greater cultural, handicraft, and handloom exchanges. He also suggested that the program calendar for the mela be fixed, ensuring that global participants, artists, and tourists could plan their visits during the period. To promote the mela on a global platform, he proposed organising theme-based fairs in Surajkund, similar to those held in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata.

Sharma said this year, digital platforms would be extensively utilised at the mela, from online ticket booking to QR codes for artists and stalls, ensuring complete transparency in monitoring. He said artists, weavers, and craftsmen from theme states Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, as well as from BIMSTEC countries and 50 other nations, would participate in the event.