New Delhi witnessed an insightful discussion on India’s tourism future as Dr Lalit Panwar called for deeper integration between tourism, academia and skill development systems to unlock the country’s next phase of growth.

Speaking at the launch of “Jewels of India – Bharat Ki Shaan, Bharat Ka Abhiman”, Dr Panwar underlined tourism’s unique capacity to generate employment across diverse geographies from the deserts of Rajasthan to the high-altitude regions of Ladakh.

Dr Panwar, who served as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, described tourism as “the only sector that creates jobs where no other jobs are possible.” With more than 55% of India’s population under the age of 35, he stressed that the real challenge lies not in opportunity, but in alignment. “With over 55% of India's population below 35 years, the challenge is not opportunity but alignment. We must connect classrooms with the shop floor and education with enterprise,” he said.

A retired IAS officer with deep experience in tourism governance, Dr Panwar played a pivotal role in strengthening India’s global tourism positioning through heritage, experiential and high-value tourism initiatives.

Addressing the growing role of technology, he observed, “Artificial Intelligence is a powerful tool, but Human Intelligence must lead it. Technology should empower our youth, not replace their relevance.”

He further added that with the right synergy between skills, policy frameworks and enterprise ecosystems, India has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. The address was delivered at the launch of “Jewels of India – Bharat Ki Shaan, Bharat Ka Abhiman”, an initiative by Maneesh Media, a leading diaspora publishing house.

Founded in 1999 in Jaipur by Shri Chandmal Kumawat, Maneesh Media has documented the journeys of over 2,000 Indian families across 40 countries and published more than 70 books celebrating global Indian achievements and cultural roots.

Now operating from Jaipur, New York and Toronto, the organisation is led by the founder’s sons, Manish, Abhishek and Siddharth, who continue to expand its international presence while preserving India’s stories for future generations.

As India pushes toward becoming a global tourism powerhouse, Dr Panwar’s message was clear: the future lies in connecting policy with people, skills with opportunity and technology with human potential.