However, as I reminisce on the scene from 2001 to 2004, the ministry of tourism, Government of India had a similar zest with a powerhouse team of bureaucrats namely V K Duggal, Rathi Vinay Jha, Amitabh Kant at the helm. This team gave India’s tourism a major boost both nationally and internationally in terms of visibility and value. The renowned Incredible India campaign was coined by the same team around the same period. It was also during the same phase that the department was led by minister Jagmohan who must be credited for his contribution towards the betterment of UNESCO World Heritage site Ajanta and also towards pilgrim tourism by bringing in order at the Vaishno Devi pilgrim destination.
It was action time then and it is action time now. 2015 will see a host of conventions and trade shows starting with the PATA convention in Bhutan and of course, our very own Food Hospitality World happening this month in Mumbai. Being eternal optimists, we at ETW believe that the positive trend witnessed by the tourism industry in 2014 will continue in 2015 with increased vigour and versatility. In this New Year Special, we bring you 15 out-of-the-box travel professionals who with their fresh ideas and new tourism concepts have added a zing to the world of travel and tourism.
On this optimistic note, I wish all our readers a Happy and Prosperous 2015!
Reema Lokesh
Editor
editorial.etw@expressindia.com