-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) 
During his keynote address at the Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI’s 20th Regional Convention at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, asserted that tourism and hospitality are far more than just economic engines; they are “mirrors of a nation’s soul.” The event commemorated HRAWI’s 75 years of hospitality excellence and featured prominent industry leaders and government dignitaries.
Underscoring India’s ambitious Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, Dr. Tharoor called for decisive national action focused on three critical foundational pillars, collectively referred to as the “three I’s”: Image, Infrastructure, and Immigration.
Dr. Tharoor detailed the need to urgently address these areas:
- Image: Ensuring safety and actively working to dispel outdated perceptions that travelers may hold about India.
- Infrastructure: Building not only more hotels but also a wider variety of accommodation types to meet a projected massive room shortfall in the country.
- Immigration: Streamlining systems to ensure that India’s borders are as welcoming and efficient as its hotel lobbies.
He strongly advocated for a shift in national tourism promotion strategy, stating, “We must move from promoting one ‘Incredible India’ to celebrating many ‘Incredible Indias,’ each offering a unique story.” He concluded by emphasizing the sector’s role as a powerful engine of employment and soft power, arguing it must be treated as a national priority to build not just a developed nation, but a truly hospitable and welcoming one.
The convention, which featured Maharashtra Tourism as the State Partner, also included remarks from other dignitaries. Dr. Atul Patne, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, highlighted the proactive Maharashtra Tourism Policy, 2024, which offers robust fiscal and non-fiscal incentives—including capital investment subsidies and tax reimbursements—to propel the state from an “emerging” to a “leading” global tourism destination. Similarly, Dr. B. N. Patil, Director of the Directorate of Tourism, stressed the state’s commitment to ‘Ease of Doing Business’, including a single-window clearance system to expedite investments in areas like MICE and wellness tourism.
Jimmy Shaw, President of HRAWI, welcomed the Government’s move to allow some businesses to operate 24/7 but urged the inclusion of hospitality establishments. He also pressed for the crucial issue of allowing the industry to avail Input Tax Credit (ITC) under GST, a critical roadblock for the sector’s growth, despite sharing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
