25 million jobs for industry status, says Kant

India's G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, addressed participants at the 6th Hoteliers' Conclave organized by the Hotel Association of India (HAI), advocating for the tourism industry to emphasize its role as a significant job creator. Kant emphasized the need for the sector to communicate its potential to politicians, particularly stressing the creation of 25 million jobs by 2030.

Speaking at the event, Kant expressed his agreement with the industry's demand for industry status, highlighting the challenges faced due to the sector's classification as a commercial entity.

He underscored the adverse effects of higher power tariffs and interest rates, urging for the recognition of tourism as an industry to facilitate its growth.

Acknowledging the disparity in benefits extended by different states, Kant emphasized the importance of uniformly treating all aspects of the tourism sector as an industry, emphasizing its substantial contribution to job creation.

Furthermore, Kant encouraged industry players to capitalize on opportunities in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) segment.

Despite India's recent investments in world-class convention and expo centers, Kant noted the country's underrepresentation in the global MICE market, urging for greater participation in this lucrative segment.