Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry Of Tourism, Government of India said that technology will be the game-changer for the travel start-up industry and the government is ready to support new ideas and collaborate with start-ups.
Addressing a webinar on ‘Travel Start-up Accelerator Series – Towards A Self-Reliant India’, organised by FICCI, Brar said that COVID-19 will accelerate the digital transformation in Indian travel and tourism industry that will lead us to be innovative, creative and out of the box thinking.
“We cannot miss out on the software product opportunity that lies in front of India and this is the time for start-ups to ‘Make in India’ and for the world,” she added.
She further stated that as travel restrictions are easing, both the government and industry are coming up with ideas to implement minimum or no-contact set up. “E-visa seems to be the way forward which can act as a supporting tool for the promotional campaigns run by the governments. This will also help in recognizing a tourist destination as a safe destination,” she said.
Highlighting the global competition in the tourism industry, Brar said, “Adopting digital technology provides the best opportunity for the tourism industry to cement their position in the Indian economy. There has never been a better time for the industry to use it and turned out to be globally competitive.”
The slow easing of international travel restrictions in future will result in intense competition as countries will target the same markets. This calls for an aggressive strategy focusing on the intense use of technology, noted Brar.
