Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced plans to increase the number of airports in India to 350 by the year 2047 as part of India's goal to become a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed nation). Speaking at an event marking World Tourism Day at Vigyan Bhawan, he highlighted the ministry’s efforts to boost tourism by improving domestic air connectivity and focusing on hinterland locations near unexplored sites.
Naidu stressed the importance of enhancing airport facilities to welcome foreign tourists, describing airports as "gateways to a country." He emphasized the government’s goal of increasing the number of airports from the current 157 to 350 within the next 20-25 years.
The event also saw Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announce that under the 'Chalo India' campaign, one lakh foreign tourists would soon be exempted from paying visa fees. Naidu noted that India had seen a significant rise in air traffic, with 4.6 crore travelers landing in 2014, increasing to almost 7 crore today, thanks in part to the growth in airports.
Naidu praised the UDAAN scheme, which has made air travel more accessible to the common man, and expressed the ministry's intent to connect previously "unserved" and "underserved" airports located near beautiful landscapes. He also mentioned plans to improve seaplane and helicopter connectivity, aligning closely with the tourism sector’s goals.
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