21-day Paryatan Parv to celebrate India as tourism destination

As part of Centre’s special drive to promote tourism ,The Tourism ministry launched a 21-day long Paryatan Parv to celebrate India as a tourism destination from October 5-25

• The Parv was inaugurated at the Humayun’s Tomb and heritage walk was organised at the monument with a painting competition for students,and a cultural programme with Meera bhajans and Dastan-e-Amir Khusrau
• The programme was launched in collaboration with the state tourism, Indian Museum, Institute of Hotel Management and stakeholders of the travel and tourism industry.
• The 21-day programme in Kolkata will include debates, film shows, sit and draw competitions, seminars, local sight seeing for orphan children, excursion for the students to Chandannagar, discussion on tourism and culture, folk dance of the eastern region, sensitisation workshop for taxi operators and cruise for disabled students.
• The programme will conclude with a three-day food and cultural festival 

What is Paryatan Parv?

• The idea was conceived following the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guideline to the Ministry of Tourism to launch the campaign from October 5 to 25 to showcase the tourism potential of the country
• The Paryatan Parv will showcase the cultural diversity of the country, with cultural performances, crafts bazaar, food court showcasing folk and classical dance & music, handicrafts & handlooms and cuisine from all regions and States of the country.
• The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with other Central Ministries, State Governments and Stakeholders is organizing “Paryatan Parv” across the country.
• During the period, a series of events will be organized across the country, which include illumination of important sites, cultural programmes, competitions for students and sensitisation programmes for tourism service providers
• In addition, interactive sessions and workshops on varied themes will also be arranged.
• The programme is being organized with the objective of drawing focus on the benefits of tourism, showcasing the cultural diversity of the country and reinforcing the principle of “Tourism for All”.

Paryatan Parv will have three main components:

Dekho Apna Desh: 
Dekho Apna Desh aims to encourage people to visit their own country encouraging them to join  video, photograph and blog competitions of sites visited during the event, stories of India through travelers’ eyes, quiz, essay, debate and painting competitions for students to promote travel to J&K and northeast States,

Tourism for All: 
The Tourism for All will comprise of various cultural activities like dance, music, theatre and exhibitions at various historical sites.

Tourism & Governance: 
Interactive Sessions & Workshops with Stakeholders on varied themes ranging
from skill development in tourism sector, innovation in tourism, for inducting ex-servicemen as service providers for taxi operation, developing rural tourism in locations near established destinations and community sensitisation workshops on homestay and B&B opportunities

Sources:

Ministry of Tourism website
Business Standard
pib
UNI