Info Corner
World Tourism Day
India’s tourism story is being rewritten far beyond its iconic landmarks. Today, the journey is reaching remote border villages, rural communities and destinations where local traditions are becoming an important part of the visitor experience. On World Tourism Day, 27 September, this shift offers a glimpse into how travel can connect India’s most diverse communities and geographies.
A significant example is the Vibrant Villages Programme, which places tourism at the heart of development in India’s northern border villages. According to the Ministry of Tourism’s Annual Report 2023-24, 2,963 villages across 46 blocks in 19 districts in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh have been identified under the programme. The Ministry has been tasked with leveraging the tourism potential of these villages, using their landscapes, traditions, crafts and community-based experiences to create new opportunities for local economies.
The approach is already visible on the ground. In Chushul, Ladakh, the Ministry organised a cultural festival featuring traditional performances and conducted workshops introducing local communities to opportunities such as homestays and the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Programme. Such initiatives demonstrate how tourism can create employment and entrepreneurship while allowing communities to remain connected to their cultural identity. Tourism is also being used to encourage cultural exchange across states through Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. The initiative promotes interactions between different regions through food, music, dance, traditions and heritage, encouraging travellers to experience India’s diversity beyond their immediate surroundings. Tourism thus becomes not only a movement of people, but also a movement of ideas and cultural understanding.
The Ministry’s Best Tourism Villages initiative is another indicator of this changing tourism landscape. In 2024, the initiative received 991 applications from 30 States and Union Territories, with 36 villages recognised across eight categories, including adventure, agri-tourism, community-based tourism and crafts. The recognition brings attention to rural destinations where tourism is closely connected with local livelihoods and traditions.
Meanwhile, Swadesh Darshan 2.0 is promoting sustainable and responsible tourism through destination development, including projects such as the Border Tourism Experience at Attari and a rural tourism cluster at Gunji in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. This World Tourism Day, India’s tourism narrative is therefore expanding beyond established destinations. From border villages to rural communities, the country is showing how travel can become a bridge between places, people and cultures.
SPOTLIGHT ZONE
SUPERSTARS
SpiceJet Meet the achievers of the month from the SpiceJet family, who have stood out for their outstanding work.
Internal Appreciation Ranjith is truly a great asset for the team. His value-add as an employee is phenomenal, as it’s not just restricted to the typical job definitions. You can count on Ranjith for anything and everything – be it owning the quality of a product, mentoring the junior resources in the team or even contributing to build great dynamics in the team. We are grateful for all his contributions and good work.
Abhilash is an exceptional team leader and thorough professional with a strong foundation in customer service and security. His commendable career growth reflects a dedicated focus on ensuring safe, secure, and comfortable passenger experiences. As he continues to rise through the ranks, he is undoubtedly on track to set new benchmarks across the aviation industry. Wishing him the very best.
RANJITH RAJAGOPAL
IT Department Experience with SpiceJet Over the past 5-odd years as a Software QA professional, I have led multiple critical projects, driving quality through strong test strategies, automation initiatives, and focused security testing. My journey at SpiceJet has been filled with continuous learning, challenges, and opportunities to enhance both my technical and leadership skills. With the support of our leadership and the highly collaborative, cross-functional teams, I have been able to deliver meaningful outcomes and uphold high standards of quality across various deliverables. I am grateful to be part of an organisation that encourages growth, innovation, and excellence – that’s the very culture so passionately espoused by our Chairman and CTO.
ABHILASH GOPALKRISHNAN
Airport Services I began my career with SpiceJet as a Trainee Security Executive and, through consistent performance and dedication, progressed across Security and Airport Services to my current role as Station Manager at BLR. Over the past 20 years, SpiceJet – my first and only professional home – has provided a dynamic platform to build operational depth, cross-functional expertise, and leadership capability. I am deeply grateful to my seniors and the management for their trust, mentorship, and encouragement, which have enabled me to contribute meaningfully to operational excellence and team success. The collaborative culture and strong leadership support at SpiceJet have been instrumental in shaping my growth and career journey.
