Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 18: Tourism generates the highest number of jobs per dollar invested and holds immense potential for India’s next growth wave, said Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal while addressing ASSOCHAM’s 105th Annual General Meeting on Thursday.

Goyal urged greater investment in the tourism and hospitality sector to attract high-spending visitors and unlock India’s full tourism potential. He noted that the world faces a post-pandemic aircraft shortage, with most flights running full, limiting international travel capacity.

The minister revealed that India’s international tourism has doubled in the last decade and that the government is identifying the top 50 tourist destinations to develop world-class infrastructure and connectivity.

Addressing other issues, Goyal highlighted the global financing gap in renewable energy, saying developed nations had fallen short of their commitments. He reiterated India’s focus on clean energy, including exploring small modular nuclear reactors.

Goyal also called MSMEs the “backbone of the Indian economy” and urged banks and funds to provide more capital support. He appealed to large corporations to ensure timely payments to MSMEs, helping them manage working capital and stay competitive.