Connect with us

Event

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses post-budget webinar on “Developing Tourism in Mission Mode’

Published

2 years ago

on

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, On March 3, addressed the post-budget webinar on “Developing Tourism in Mission Mode’, organized by Ministry of Tourism. This is a series of post-budget webinars being organized by the Government with an aim to brainstorm ideas for effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget-2023.

In his address, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said that tourism has always been a part of our social and cultural civilization. India`s tourism comprises of multiple aspects and can be promoted as coastal tourism, wildlife tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, beach, mangrove, Himalayan, spiritual tourism and others. This year`s Budget prioritizes the development of tourist destination in a holistic manner and it aims to develop at least 50 tourism destinations which can then be promoted globally. He stated that with the development of tourist amenities at destinations, the tourism sector will definitely flourish. As an example, with the reconstruction of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corrido, 7 crore tourists have visited the city. Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Kedarnath Dham are live models highlighting the fact that ease of travelling encourages increased tourist footfall. Further technological advances and digitalization with better infrastructure and cleanliness will help to boost tourism. Apps for tourists and digital connectivity can be modernized to make it accessible to all tourists. There has been an increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting India. With a proper strategy to promote India globally, the footfall is also bound to increase substantially. The Union Budget 2023-24 has allocated an amount of Rs 2400 crores to the Ministry of Tourism.

Prime Minister described Destination Weddings as an upcoming niche and emerging sector which had the potential for increasing tourism. The exchange of intercultural wedding rituals amongst the States can boost the sector further. Further events like global Conferences and sporting events has the potential to create stupendous level of infrastructure. He cited the example of the recent FIFA World Cup 2022, which benefitted Qatar`s economy massively.

The Post Budget Webinar had 6 breakout sessions deliberating on Destination Centric Approach for Tourism Development, Convergence – The Power of Collaboration, Strengthening Public Private Participation in Tourism Sector, Driving Innovation and Digitalization in Tourism Sector, Impacting lives at grass root level through Tourism and Cultural Heritage for Promotion of Tourism. The sessions saw active participation from different panelists from State, Central Ministries as well as Industry associations, District administrations, local bodies, experts in the field of tourism and hospitality, Invest India etc.

Speaking at the concluding session, Minister of Tourism, Shri G. Kishan Reddy thanked Prime Minister for showing the path for developing tourism sector in mission mode as well as all the panelists and speakers for their suggestion and ideas to overcome the challenges and move towards implementation of the budget announcements. He stated that the biggest employment generating sector could very well be the tourism sector after textiles industry. Government of India, state governments, private stakeholders and civil society should closely work together to promote the tourism industry of the country. This sector is one of the sectors to generate maximum employment with the least capital investment, he said.

Secretary Tourism, Shri Arvind Singh on the occasion said that this year’s budget has given us new vision for tourism development and it focuses on promotion of tourism in mission mode, with active participation of states, convergence of government programmes and public-private partnerships. He also said that the budget proposes facilitation of tourism infrastructure and amenities in border villages under the Vibrant Village programmes and encourages setting up a Unity Mall in the state capital or most prominent tourism center or the financial capital for promotion and sale of their own ODOPs (one district, one product), GI products and other handicraft products, and for providing space for such products of all other States.

Shri Arvind Singh highlighted the fact that this year’s budget advocates a shift from department centric and scheme centric approach to a destination centric approach for planning, development and management of tourism

On the occasion Secretary Culture, Shri Govind Mohan said that the Ministry of Culture has the basic objective of preserving, disseminating and also promoting Indian Culture and Indian culture is a very rich repository of ideas, of places, of facets of our heritage, of performing arts, visual arts, monuments which are of immense interests to the tourists not only within India but also abroad.

He also informed that to begin with the Ministry of Culture will develop 5 big cultural spaces in India and going forward more spaces will be developed. These are the places where the tourists will be exposed to the best of Indian music, dance performances, book reading, painting competitions, quizzing competitions and other cultural activities in the integrated fashion.

Secretary Culture also highlighted the importance of technology and said that using AI, VR and other digital techniques the monuments can be developed as more interesting places for the younger generation. He also said that PPP’s have the potential creating value around these monuments and make them living example of wealth and beauty India offers.

A number of suggestions and ideations emanated from the deliberations, which are broadly as follows :-

  1. Planning of the destinations is crucial for the development of the destinations. The model on the lines of Ekta Nagar needs to be replicated.
  2. Destination Management is important which should be done taking into account the government agencies, private partners and local communities.
  3. It is important to device a mechanism which institutionalizes an enabling framework for promoting public private partnership in the tourism and hospitality sector.
  4. Expeditious role of national digital tourism mission which can provide a similar tourism interface between tourism stakeholders and services to the tourists. Convergence of skilling, capacity building and enterprises development at the destination for various cutting edge job opportunities in tourism and hospitality sectors.
  5. Promoting ease of doing business particularly for hospitality sector which is to take various promotions from multiple departments and agencies from the government. Visitor management system should be in place to manage over crowing at the destinations. There is a need to introduce courses of skilling of tour guides across the country and at all the destinations.
  6. India has innumerable heritage monuments which can attract domestic and foreign tourists provided they have quality tourist amenities and tourist experiences. Specific schemes should be introduced for such tourism centric development at these heritage sites.

Link of the webinar : https://youtube.com/live/cOYm5okQjp0?feature=share

Related Topics:

Event

Religious Freedom Violation and Intolerance Spark International Controversy

Published

2 weeks ago

on

November 4, 2024

By

South Korean local government cancels international event with 30,000 participants from 78 countries, causing international damage

On October 29th, an administrative decision by a South Korean government agency sparked international controversy, raising concerns about religious freedom and causing substantial financial loss.

The “Religious Leaders Forum and Graduation Ceremony,” a joint initiative by two prominent religious organizations, was set to take place in Paju, South Korea. The event was expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 57 countries, including 1,000 religious leaders representing Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

However, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, a public entity under Gyeonggi Province, abruptly canceled the venue rental without prior notice. This last-minute decision has resulted in significant financial damage to the international event. Organizers of this event stated that the cancellation constitutes an unconstitutional act of discrimination against a specific religion, violating religious freedom, human rights, and due process of law.

The hosting organizations, the Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, said that they had received official confirmation on October 23rd and 28th that there was no plan of cancellation. They also said that the unilateral cancellation was an unreasonable administrative action targeting a specific religious group. They further emphasize that other events scheduled for the same day were not affected, suggesting that the cancellation was “administrative decision caused by opposition from a specific religious group,” which “violates the principle of separation of church and state guaranteed by the Constitution.”

The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization cited security concerns related to recent North Korean actions and the planned activities of a North Korean defector group as reasons for the cancellation. However, it was pointed out that other events, such as civilian bike rides and foreign tourist visits to the DMZ, were permitted within the same designated area.

The incident has reignited international debate about religious freedom and tolerance in South Korea. The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report has previously highlighted concerns such as the prosecution of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the government’s refusal to approve mosque construction.

The Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus call upon the South Korean government to respect religious freedom, uphold human rights, and rectify this unjust decision. They urge international organizations to monitor this situation and take appropriate action to protect religious freedom.

Continue Reading

Event

Inauguration of School of Engineering at Chanakya University: A New Era in Technical Education

Published

3 weeks ago

on

October 29, 2024

By

Bangalore — 29th Oct 2024 — Chanakya University proudly announces the grand inauguration of School of Engineering on 28th Oct 2024, marking a significant milestone in technical education. The event was graced by distinguished guests, including Dr. S Somanath, Chairman – Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Professor, IIT Madras and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.

The School of Engineering at Chanakya University aims to cultivate innovative thinkers and skilled professionals equipped to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. With a curriculum designed to bridge theoretical knowledge and practical application, the school offers programmes such as Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Electronics Engineering (VLSI and Embedded Systems), Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Civil, Construction and Sustainable Engineering.

Dr. S Somanath, a pioneering figure in India’s space endeavors, delivered the inaugural address, emphasising the importance of engineering education in driving technological advancements. Prof. Abhay Karandikar highlighted the role of academia in fostering research and innovation, crucial for the nation’s progress in science and technology.

“Today, we ignite a beacon of innovation and excellence with the inauguration of School of Engineering. Our vision is to nurture talented engineers who will harness technology to transform lives. An engineer must be capable of providing remedies for the complex problems of the society. A constant learner who is rooted in the culture, heritage and traditions has a better exposure for solving complexities around. I urge the students to embrace curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Let us bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering solutions for a better tomorrow” – Dr. S Somanath said.

Prof. Karandikar added, “The foundation of any great institution lies in its commitment to inspire innovation, nurture critical thinking, and empower future leaders. Today, with the inauguration of the School of Engineering at Chanakya University, we embark on a journey to create a vibrant ecosystem where technology meets purpose, and knowledge transforms into impactful solutions for the society. Let us strive to make this school a beacon of excellence, where every student not only learns but also contributes to the advancement of our nation and the world.”

Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Professor, Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras said “The opening of the School of Engineering at Chanakya University marks more than just the start of a new academic chapter; it represents a commitment to shaping future innovators, thinkers, and leaders who will drive meaningful change. We are building a place where ideas flourish, collaboration thrives, and knowledge is transformed into action that addresses real-world challenges. Together, let us foster a community that is dedicated to engineering a better tomorrow.”

Founder Chancellor and Padma Shri Awardee Prof. M. K. Sridhar, Pro Chancellor Sri M P Kumar, Vice Chancellor Prof. Yashavantha Dongre, Director – Academics, School of Engineering Dr. Vineeth Paleri, Chief Operating Officer Sri Nagaraj Reddy, and Registrar Prof. Sushanth Joshi, were present during the inauguration.

About Chanakya University:

Chanakya University, located in Devanahalli, is renowned for its innovative approach to higher education. With a strong emphasis on research, interdisciplinary learning, and community service, the University aims to develop well-rounded individuals who can contribute positively to society.

For details, contact:

School of Engineering

Sri Chandrashekar, Media and Communications

chandrashekar.km@chanakyauniversity.edu.in

www.chanakyauniversity.edu.in

Continue Reading

Event

HackerEarth and Amazon Team Up for the Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024: Empowering India’s SMBs with AI Solutions

Published

3 weeks ago

on

October 28, 2024

By

28th October 2024, Bangalore: HackerEarth, a global leader in developer assessment and engagement solutions, is excited to announce its collaboration with Amazon India to host the highly anticipated Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024. 

This nationwide event will bring together a large number of participants from diverse backgrounds, leveraging AI and GenAI to create groundbreaking solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). 

The hackathon, designed to transform the e-commerce landscape for SMBs in India, will challenge participants to develop innovative tools and solutions that empower SMBs to expand both domestically and internationally. By using AI-powered technologies in their solutions, innovators will focus on real-world challenges such as navigating cross-border trade, compliance with international regulations, and creating AI-powered solutions that enhance SMB efficiency and sustainability.

Key Highlights of the Hackathon:

  1. SMB Empowerment through AI: Participants will harness the power of AI and GenAI to develop solutions that enable SMBs to optimize their business operations, from product listings and multi-channel fulfillment to cross-border trade and sustainability. These tools will be aimed at making businesses more competitive on Amazon’s platform, both in India and globally.
  2. Collaboration to create Real-World Impact: Participants will work alongside successful Amazon sellers and e-commerce experts to refine their ideas and create transformative solutions that align with the real needs of the e-commerce ecosystem.
  3. Driving India’s Digital Economy: The hackathon supports India’s ambitious goal of becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy by unlocking growth opportunities for SMBs through cutting-edge AI-driven solutions.

“Empowering India’s Tech Talent to Drive Innovation”

“We’re excited to partner with Amazon India for this important initiative,” said Vikas Aditya, CEO of HackerEarth. “The Amazon Smbhav Hackathon gives India’s developers, innovators, and entrepreneurs a chance to solve real-world problems using AI. By bringing together the brightest minds, we’re helping SMBs grow while contributing to India’s digital economy. This has been made possible by HackerEarth’s long-standing commitment to building a strong community of developers and problem-solvers.”. 

Azad Tripathi, Sr. Manager, Seller Experience, Amazon added “The Smbhav Hackathon is more than just a competition; it’s a launchpad for innovation that can shape the future of e-commerce in India. We’re looking for bright minds who can turn challenges into opportunities, creating solutions that will empower millions of SMBs across the country”.

Commitment to a Digital India

Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India), the hackathon underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and digitisation for SMB growth. This is expected to be one of the largest tech events in India, attracting a vast community of developers, students, and entrepreneurs. It presents a platform where India’s best minds can showcase their creativity, collaborate with experts, and develop solutions that drive meaningful change.

Phases and Recognition:

Participants will progress through multiple stages—from idea submissions to prototype development, culminating in a virtual Demo Day on December 5-6, 2024. The winners will be celebrated at the prestigious Amazon Smbhav Summit 2024 in New Delhi on December 9-10, where they stand to win cash prizes up to ₹10 lakh and a trip to Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle. Winning solutions could potentially be implemented on a larger scale on Amazon’s platform, impacting millions of SMBs and customers worldwide.

About HackerEarth:

HackerEarth is a global leader in developer assessment and engagement solutions, empowering enterprises to hire, evaluate, and upskill developers based on their skills. With an active community of developers, HackerEarth’s platform enables companies to find the best talent, streamline recruitment processes, and foster continuous innovation. For more information, visit www.hackerearth.com.

For more details on the Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024 and to register, please visit: Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024 Registration.

Continue Reading

Event

Ban Ki-moon Attends Chery RIDE GREEN LIFE in the Tiggo 9 PHEV, Promoting Green Travel

Published

3 weeks ago

on

October 25, 2024

By

On October 20th, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, visited Wuhu, China, to participate in Chery’s large-scale RIDE GREEN LIFE, which drew thousands of participants. During the event, Mr. Ban arrived at the venue in a Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV, praising its innovative practices in the field of new energy vehicles. He highlighted that the green cycling event is significant for promoting the concept of sustainable development and enhancing public awareness of environmental protection. Furthermore, he called for global cooperation to advance the green transition and achieve a low-carbon future.

About Chery

Founded in 1997, Chery Group operates in over 100 countries and regions worldwide and has remained the top Chinese passenger car exporter for 21 consecutive years. In the 2024 Fortune Global 500 list, Chery Group ranked 385th. Chery was also one of three Chinese automakers to be listed in the “2024 China ESG Impact List” published by Fortune.

Since 2024, Chery Group has continued its high-quality development, with cumulative sales reaching 1.75 million vehicles from January to September, reflecting a 40% year-on-year increase. Of these, 830,000 vehicles were exported, a 25% year-on-year growth. As of the end of August 2024, Chery Group’s global automotive user base has exceeded 15 million.

Mr. Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Group, explains the vehicle to Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

Chery’s export product lineup includes the TIGGO, Arrizo, and eQ series, covering mainstream powertrains such as ICE, BEV, and PHEV. With a brand core focused on “Green, Technology, Family, and Companionship,” Chery remains committed to a green and low-carbon strategic direction, accelerating its presence in new fields such as new energy, intelligent connectivity, shared mobility, platforms, and ecosystems.

Chery is actively engaged in public welfare, participating in various global initiatives such as environmental protection, targeted poverty alleviation, and educational donations. For instance, Chery donated $6 million to support UNICEF’s “Global Education Thematic Programme,” demonstrating its commitment to fulfilling the social responsibilities of a Chinese brand in the international community.

Chery has been honored five times as one of the “Top 20 Best Overseas Image Enterprises” by SASAC and CICG. In the 2024 Kantar BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Global Brand Builders report, Chery was ranked first in the automotive category. Chery once again secured the top spot for the highest-ranked domestic brand in J.D. Power’s 2024 China Initial Quality Study (IQS), marking the brand’s third major achievement in 2024, following its first-place rankings in the China Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) and the China Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) studies.

Continue Reading

Event

GS Lab | GAVS welcomes Harmeet Chauhan as the CEO in its Journey to be a Scaled Purposeful AI-led Services Organization

Published

4 weeks ago

on

October 23, 2024

By

Princeton, New Jersey, October 23, 2024: The Board of Directors of GS Lab | GAVS (the “Company”) is excited to announce the appointment of Mr. Harmeet Chauhan as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective October 7, 2024. Harmeet succeeds Mr. Sumit Ganguli, who will continue to support the Company’s growth as the Vice Chairman of the Board after steering the Company through a transformative phase. The Board extends its gratitude to Sumit for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment.

This strategic appointment is in line with GS Lab | GAVS’ commitment to continue to be the most trusted partner for its clients and stay at the forefront of technology, including AI, across its service offerings and competencies to enable its clients’ growth and aspirations.

Keith Pitts and Pramod Bhasin, members of the Board of Directors, GS Lab | GAVS, said, “We are delighted to welcome Harmeet at GS Lab | GAVS. We are witnessing innovation at an accelerated pace in technologies around us across Cloud, Automation, Data, and Generative AI. With Harmeet’s leadership and experience across technology product and services businesses, GS Lab | GAVS will continue to operate at the forefront of technology with an AI-first approach in its service offerings. Harmeet will build on the strong foundation laid by Sumit on GS Lab | GAVS’ journey towards becoming a world-class client centric AI-first organization.”

Harmeet brings a wealth of experience from both product and technology services sectors, having held key roles at Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, HCL, Altran (now Capgemini), and Wipro. Harmeet has a passion for technology and driving outcomes for clients’ businesses through a robust technology-driven service-oriented approach.

Sumit Ganguli, Vice Chairman of GS Lab | GAVS, commented, “All of us will immensely benefit from Harmeet’s stewardship at GS Lab | GAVS. He will be a strong force multiplier in GS Lab | GAVS’ purposeful growth and value creation journey. I will continue to serve our clients and colleagues as the Vice Chairman and Board Member of GS Lab | GAVS. I am extremely excited about the future of GS Lab | GAVS.”

Under Harmeet’s leadership, GS Lab | GAVS aims to further enhance its offerings across product development, cloud, cybersecurity and data, leveraging automation and AI. “I am excited and truly honored to join GS Lab | GAVS at this inflection point in its journey,” said Harmeet Chauhan, CEO, GS Lab | GAVS. “I deeply resonate with the Company’s values of Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Empathy, its commitment to purpose-led growth, and will build on their AI-led strategy to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.”

Harmeet will be based out of GS Lab | GAVS’ Silicon Valley office in Santa Clara, California.

About GS Lab | GAVS

GS Lab | GAVS is a global AI-led digital transformation company focused on creating business impact for its 200+ customers across the USA, Europe, APAC, and the Middle East. It offers digital product engineering, AI-led managed services, and digital transformation services to customers across Healthcare, Hi-tech, and BFSI segments.

With 4000+ technologists spread across 10+ global delivery centers and a robust talent-nurturing culture, it is a trusted growth partner to its customers. Known for its innovative win-win business models, customer success focus, and deep tech engineering skills, the company invests heavily in emerging technologies such as 5G, edge computing, AI/ML, cloud, and IoT. Its IPs, such as ZIF, zDesk, Rhodium, and zIrrus help accelerate technology adoption for enterprises.

Contact:

Anand Paramasamy

anand.paramasamy@gavstech.com

Continue Reading

Trending