Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, while stressing the need for improving the tourism sector across the country, said the Central government was focusing on strengthening the facilities at every tourist destination and transit points.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the ‘New Integrated Terminal Building’, popularly known as ‘Garuda Terminal,’ at the Tirupati International Airport here, he said, “For the convenience of tourists, both foreign and domestic, we will be setting up WiFi points, hotel accommodations (under PPP mode) and much more, to make their stay comfortable.”
Urging the States to take up the same, Mr. Modi said, tourism, which was one of the fastest growing sectors in the country, had the potential to offer employment opportunities even to the poorest of the poor. “Right from a fruit seller to a person selling biscuits, tourism destinations help people earn something. Even a ‘tea seller’ can make money,” he said to a huge applause from the crowd.
The PM emphasised the need for building world-class infrastructure to attract tourists as well as making the tourism sector sustainable. Touted as one of the busiest pilgrim destinations, Mr. Modi hoped that the new terminal would increase the frequency and result in the development of the temple city.
Mr. Modi had arrived in the temple city after taking part in the foundation stone laying ceremony of Amaravati. He was accompanied by Governor E.S.L Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Nirmala Sitharaman among others.
Unveils plaque
Later, Mr. Modi unveiled the plaque of Sri Venkateshwara Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Hub in the Industrial Park near Renigunta. The hub spread over 100 acres will have four Indian mobile firms -- Celkon, Micromax, Lava and Karbonn, who have come together to form a electronics manufacturing cluster (EMC). They will produce over seven crore mobile handsets (including accessories such as chargers, headsets and speakers), together per annum and would provide 45,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Narendra Modi inaugurates new integrated terminal building at Tirupati airport
