Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel said that with increased allocation in the budget of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism the tourism sector is expected to grow rapidly as the budget emphasizes on rail, road and air connectivity.

Patel has been working towards getting global recognition to the tourist destinations in the country. His focus is specially on Leh-Ladakh and Kargil. He is the first minister of the Modi cabinet who has spent a night at Kargil.

In an exclusive interview to IANS on Monday, he said, "For the 1st time in the budget, an allocation has been made for the iconic site scheme. Two important schemes of the Ministry of Tourism - 'Prasad' and 'Swadesh Darshan' - have also been continued. This will boost the tourism sector which was adversely aected due to Covid. The budget shows that the Modi government is focussed towards the tourism sector."