Udaipur, October 14, 2025:A two-day ‘States and Union Territories Tourism Ministers’ Conference’ is being held in Udaipur on October 14–15, focusing on the Development of Destinations of Global Standards. The conference is being attended by Tourism Ministers and senior officers from across the country and aims to foster collaboration among States and Union Territories to realise the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision that each State should develop at least one tourist destination at par with global standards, equipped with world-class facilities and infrastructure.

The conference witnessed the distinguished presence of Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, who shared the stage with Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of India.

During his address, Sh. Kataria expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism for hosting this significant event in Udaipur and highlighted his personal connection with the State of Rajasthan.

The Hon’ble Administrator spoke about Chandigarh’s diverse tourist attractions and its immense potential to emerge as a world-class destination. He described Chandigarh as a shining example of modern urban planning and architecture, while emphasizing the Administration’s commitment to cleanliness and environmental sustainability. He noted that the city’s green cover has increased from 45% to 51% over the last two years, setting new benchmarks in sustainable urban development.

Secretary Tourism, Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, IAS, presented Chandigarh’s strategy to position itself as a world-class tourist destination through an integrated tourism circuit approach. He outlined plans to enhance infrastructure and facilities at key attractions such as the Capitol Complex, Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Le Corbusier Centre, and the Government Museum and Art Gallery, under the Performance Linked Incentive Framework of the Ministry of Tourism. He also proposed the development of a Tourism Hub featuring an Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre and Concert Hall with the Ministry’s support.

The conference serves as a significant platform to establish guidelines for sustainable and responsible tourism, develop new tourism circuits, and strengthen coordination between the Centre and the States to collectively promote India as a premier global tourism destination.