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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Indian states to develop at least one global-standard tourist destination and focus on building “future-ready” cities, as he chaired a Niti Aayog meeting with chief ministers in the capital.

 

In a major tourism pitch amid heightened security concerns following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi called on states to adopt the mantra of “One State, One Global Destination”. He said such efforts would not only boost tourism but also aid development in nearby cities and towns.

 

“Each state should work towards developing at least one tourist destination that meets global standards. This would include full infrastructure and facilities, making the area attractive and accessible for international tourists,” Modi said at the meeting.

 

The high-level gathering marked Modi’s first formal interaction with state leaders since the launch of Operation Sindoor and rising tensions with Pakistan.

 

Despite the recent militant attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people and triggered a mass exodus of tourists, the prime minister’s message signalled that India would not let terrorism derail its economic and tourism ambitions.

 

Chief ministers from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir were in attendance, while several southern leaders — including those from Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry — skipped the meeting.

 

Modi also renewed his call for stronger Centre-state collaboration under the vision of “Team India”, saying such unity is essential to achieve the goal of a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047.

 

“We must accelerate the pace of development. If the Centre and all states work together as a team, no goal is out of reach,” he said.

 

Focusing on India’s rapid urbanisation, Modi called for innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth to guide the development of cities.

 

“Future-ready cities should be our goal. We must aim to make each state, city, municipality and village developed,” he said. “If we move in this direction, we may not have to wait until 2047 to see a developed India.”

 

Modi further stressed the importance of increasing female participation in the workforce and urged states to frame policies that promote respectful and equitable inclusion of women in economic activities.