KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23: To mark the first anniversary of the India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership, which was established during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait launched an “Incredible India” tourism promotion campaign on Monday, December 22 at the iconic Kuwait Towers. The event was inaugurated by the Ambassador of India to Kuwait, Paramita Tripathi, and CEO of Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) in Kuwait Anwar Abdullah Al-Hulaila.

The event was attended by members of the Kuwaiti and Indian media, travel agencies, tour operators, and prominent figures from the Indian community. As part of the launch, Ambassador Tripathi and CEO Al-Hulaila flagged off 20 buses to launch the month-long tourism campaign for promoting India’s diverse tourism offerings. The buses showcase iconic destinations such as adventure tourism in Rishikesh (white water rafting), wildlife experiences at Gir Forest National Park, the serene backwaters of Kerala, and luxury travel on the Maharajas’ Express.

Scenic and heritage sites including the tea estates of Munnar, Nubra Valley in Ladakh, Gulmarg in Kashmir, Charminar, Hawa Mahal, and Jal Mahal are also showcased as part of the month-long campaign, which aims to spread the message of “Incredible India” throughout Kuwait. On the occasion, Ambassador Tripathi planted a Neem (Azadirachta indica) tree sapling at the Kuwait Towers grounds in celebration of the India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership. The act was part of the ‘Plant for Mother (Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam)’ initiative launched by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day in 2024, which encourages planting trees in honor of mothers. The initiative has already seen over 1.4 billion saplings planted worldwide till date. India’s tourism sector continues to attract millions of visitors each year, with 20.94 million foreign tourists recorded in 2024, alongside nearly 3 billion domestic tourist trips.

The country offers a rich and varied landscape, including the great Himalayas, cold mountains of Ladakh, hot deserts of Rajasthan, pristine islands of the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, wildlife safaris of lions, tigers, elephants and one-horned rhinos, river islands, beaches, lakes, and waterfalls. There are 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 96 Ramsar sites in India. Tourism contributes around 5.2 percent of India’s GDP and supports millions of jobs while generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. Over the past decade, India has invested roughly USD 1 billion in tourism infrastructure, enhancing visitor experiences through development of tourism destinations, circuits, major projects, and rural tourism initiatives.

Programs like the “Incredible India” campaign, the establishment of national and state tourism boards, and the recent introduction of e-visa facilities for Kuwaiti citizens aim to facilitate travel and further strengthen India’s tourism sector. The “Incredible India” bus campaign is part of the Indian Embassy’s strategy to position India as a preferred destination for Kuwaiti tourists during the upcoming travel season. The campaign is set to run for one month, bringing a visual celebration of India’s tourism to the streets of Kuwait while encouraging stronger cultural and tourism ties between the two nations.

The embassy has been actively organizing a range of tourism promotion activities for this purpose. Meanwhile, a lucky draw will be held for participants who post photographs of the Incredible India buses on social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and Instagram. They must use the hashtag “#IncredibleIndia” and tag the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times/Al-Seyassah Staff