The FAITH Conclave 2025 concluded with a thought-provoking valedictory address by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who placed tourism at the heart of India’s soft power, foreign policy, and cultural diplomacy.
“Tourism is diplomacy at the grassroots,” he asserted, emphasizing that every visitor to India becomes an ambassador abroad—shaping perceptions more effectively than any official campaign. India’s festivals, cuisine, architecture, and traditions, he noted, offer a rich, multi-layered narrative that resonates deeply with global travellers.
Rooting his message in the principle of Atmanirbharta—self-reliance—Dr. Jaishankar highlighted its strategic importance for tourism in an unpredictable world. Positioned at the intersection of heritage, resilience, and modern infrastructure, India’s tourism sector, he argued, must draw strength from cultural continuity and national self-confidence.
He reflected on tourism’s transformative role: beyond economic benefits, it embodies India’s civilizational identity—its customs, traditions, and shared heritage. He commended the government’s achievements in facilitating travel, from expanding e-visa facilities to doubling airport capacity in the past decade, alongside the modernization of the railway network. These structural upgrades, he said, are crucial enablers of tourism growth and self-reliance.
Linking tourism to national resilience, Dr. Jaishankar observed that in volatile global conditions, economies anchored in robust domestic systems—such as tourism supported by internal demand and institutional readiness—weather challenges more effectively. His vision reflected the conclave’s theme, “Invincible Spirit,” underscoring that tourism, when built on local strengths and expanded through global access, becomes a catalyst for economic autonomy and nation-building.
He also tied tourism growth to India’s broader economic and geopolitical objectives, stressing that inbound travel strengthens bilateral ties, fuels people-to-people exchanges, and reinforces India’s image as a confident, welcoming nation.
Closing his address, Dr. Jaishankar urged stakeholders to craft tourism policies that showcase India’s heritage, sustain it through robust infrastructure, and leverage it to expand the country’s soft power footprint—all while remaining anchored in the enduring philosophy of Atmanirbharta. His words drew a standing ovation, bringing two days of vision, dialogue, and collaboration to an inspiring close.
