‘Hotel motel Patel wallas’ in US should promote ‘Incredible India’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed the Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to contribute for the growth of the country when it is on the ‘rapid path of progress.’ He was addressing Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj of the US via video-conference. PM urged each NRI to inspire five foreign families to visit India to give a boost to tourism.  He said the Gujarati Patel community in the US, popular as “hotel motel Patel wallas” can contribute much for the promotion of India’s tourism among their guests by putting slides about the our country on their hotel TVs.

“Whenever you get a guest in your hotel or motel, why don’t you put a few slides of India on TV. When the guests turns on the TV they will be able to see what India is,” Modi said.

Homewood Suites NJ, owned by Binita Patel and family

Patel community, one of the prominent communities in Gujarat, are mostly into the motel business in the US. An article in the reputed Smithsonian magazine in 2014 had said that at least half of America’s motels are owned by Indian Americans, and of that 70 per cent are owned by Patels.

If the community cannot invest in India, they can contribute to development of the country by encouraging others to visit India. Modi further said that this is the year of Kumbh Mela, which occur once in twelve years and NRIs can inspire people to visit India to witness this distinctive gathering.

HawkEye Hotels owned by Ravi Patel and family

“There are elements in our neighbourhood who tried to defame us all over the world. For the last five to seven decades they adopted various means, they used money. They have only one job and that is to defame our country,” Modi said.

Modi lauded the NRI’s contribution in convincing the world about India’s point of view. He said their behaviour, thinking and capacity to acclimate to different cultures and take all the people together, have created an image for themselves to the entire world.

“The people of world who come in contact with person of Indian origin have seen that you contribute to the growth of their country, you do not create problems, wherever our children are, in school or colleges, the authorities there are sure that they will be toppers and our doctors have created image of being sincere and hardworking people,” Modi said.