Tourism Sector

G20 meet will help India maximise its potential in tourism sector: Minister

The second G20 Tourism Working Group meeting is focused on projecting domestic tourism in mission mode and will help India maximise its potential in the sector, Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Sunday. The meeting, being held in Darjeeling and Siliguri in West Bengal from April 1 to 3, is being attended by more than 130 participants, including delegates of G20 members, invitee countries and international organisations, industry partners, state tourism officials and local tour operators. Speaking on the second day of the meeting, Reddy said the vision of the conference is to project domestic tourism in mission mode. "It will also make India maximise its potential in the tourism sector," he said. "The Union Ministry of Tourism has also formulated a comprehensive tourism policy with holistic flavour for a sustainable and responsible growth of the tourism sector in the country," he stated. Welcoming the delegates to Siliguri, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Ba

Tourism sector demands rollback of mandatory Char Dham Yatra registration

Traders, hotel owners, priests and others associated with the Yamunotri Dham in Uttarakhand burnt effigies of the state government on Tuesday, protesting against its decisions to limit the number of pilgrims and make their registrations mandatory. They staged a protest in Barkot Naga here, demanding that the government withdraw its decisions. They sent a memorandum to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami through the District Magistrate, stating that the decisions would affect their livelihoods. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has sought the Centre's approval to a Rs 500-crore scheme for strengthening and expanding health services on the Char Dham Yatra routes. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the scheme was finalised in a meeting in Dehradun on Tuesday. After the meeting, State Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat said the DPR is being sent to the Centre for its approval.

Out-of-box thinking, long-term vision to take tourism to new heights: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said "out-of-the-box thinking" and "long-term vision" can take tourism to new heights, and added that villages in far-flung areas of India have now come up on the map of tourism. Addressing a post-budget webinar on 'Developing Tourism in Mission Mode', he also pitched for devolving apps which will have information in multiple languages of India, besides multi-lingual signage at tourist sites. The prime minister elaborated on how this year's Union Budget would help the tourism sector and create many economic opportunities for the youth. "This webinar is for transformation of the tourism sector, and when all stakeholders come together, we reach desired results and within the time frame," he said. "An out-of-the-box thinking and long-term vision can take tourism to new heights," Modi said. He also emphasised that rejuvenation of religious sites has boosted tourism, and seven crore people visited the Kashi Vishwanath Dham last year. "Some people

MV Ganga Vilas puts India-Bangladesh on world river cruise map: Minister

The successful 50-day journey of MV Ganga Vilas has put India and Bangladesh on the river cruise map of the world, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday. The minister was speaking at an event here organised to welcome the tourists of the world's longest river cruise that reached Dibrugarh on Tuesday, concluding its 50-day river journey that started from Varanasi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the vessel on January 13 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The river cruise also shows the investment potential in the river tourism in the entire South Asia region, the Union Minister of Shipping, Ports and Waterways said. "It as a historic and path-breaking event to be witnessed in the Inland Waterways sector. MV Ganga Vilas has put India and Bangladesh on the river cruise map of the world. It has opened a new vista and vertical for tourism and freight carriage in Indian sub-continent," he said. The successful completion of 3200-km long river journey opens up new ...

Asian Development Bank agrees for funding Rs 1,311.20 cr tourism projects

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed in principle to provide Rs 1,311.20 crore under phase-1 of the proposed infrastructure development investment programme, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday. The State Government has been laying special emphasis for making Himachal the best tourist destination in India by developing unexplored tourist places in a phased manner. The Chief Minister said that this would help in the sustainable development of the tourism sector. The projects components to be covered under the first phase are beautification of Palampur, convention centre at Dharamshala, thematic cum green Park at Pragpur, wellness centre at Dharamshala, Shimla, Nadaun and Kullu-Manali, high end fountain tourist facility at Dharamshala. Besides, wayside amenities at Mandi-Kullu National Highway, Nadaun and Kaleshwar Mahadev Kangra, rafting cum water park complex at Nadaun, Water sports equipment as shikaras, house boats, jetties, water biking at Pong Dam, at ..

Govt launches pan-India best tourism village competition, new web portal

The Centre on Thursday launched a competition to select the best tourism village from across the country, and also a new website to promote rural tourism. The launch took place here in the presence of Union Culture and Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy and Minister of State for Culture and Defence Ajay Bhatt. The 'Best Tourism Village Competition' helmed by the tourism ministry will be held in three stages, and will seek entries at district level, state level and finally at the national level, officials said. The evaluation criteria have been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they said. On the occasion, a new web portal to promote rural tourism in India was also launched. Reddy also launched the website of the first Global Tourism Investors Summit which will take place at Pragati Maidan here later this year.

To promote tourism, Uttarakhand CM to stay at a homestay in with locals

In a bid to promote homestays in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will be staying tonight in the house of locals at Rawat Village of Pauri Garhwal district

Tourism sector nets Rs 35K-crore investment proposals in Uttar pradesh

The intended investments pertain to a plethora of projects, including hotels, resorts, river cruise, wellness hubs, ecotourism, entertainment zones, theme parks, etc.

Singapore tourism expects to bounce back to pre-Covid level by 2024

When the final numbers are in, tourism receipts (TR) are expected to reach between SGD 13.8 to 14.3 billion which is 50 to 52 per cent of the pre-pandemic level achieved in 2019

India ranked second-largest market for Singapore tourism sector in 2022

India has been ranked the second-largest tourist market for Singapore in 2022 behind Indonesia, with 686,000 Indian arrivals, according to data provided by the country's tourism authority here on Tuesday. Tourists from Indonesia, India and Australia were among the top spenders in the first nine months of 2022 with a spending of 8.96 billion Singapore dollars (SGD), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said. India was the second-largest tourist market for Singapore in 2022 with 686,000 Indian visitors. Indonesia was the largest tourist market with 1.1 million arrivals from the country. Malaysia with 591,000 tourists was in third place. Singapore's tourism receipts are estimated to reach SGD 13.8 billion to SGD 14.3 billion for 2022 - about 50 to 52 per cent of 2019 levels, said the STB. Final figures for tourism receipts will be available in the second quarter of 2023. The STB said the number of tourist visitors to Singapore reached 6.3 million in 2022, exceeding its forecast of between

Arunachal's Republic Day tableau to showcase state's tourism potential

Arunachal Pradesh's tableau for the Republic Day celebrations this year in Delhi will feature the prospect of tourism in the northeastern state, an official said on Wednesday. The tableau will highlight various initiatives taken by the state government to build infrastructure such as road, rail and air connectivity that has facilitated tourism boost in the state, he said. It will feature newly constructed Donyi Polo Airport, the Shingpho festival and the 1962 War Memorial of Tawang, said the official of the state Information and Public Relations (IPR) department. During the Republic Day parade on January 26, as many as 36 artistes donning the traditional attire of various tribes of the state will be part of the programme, he said. The Donyi Polo Airport' in the state capital opened in November last year and has facilitated the arrival of domestic and international tourists into the state. The upgradation of advanced landing grounds with civil terminals has also improved the lives

Maharashtra government to develop tourism circuit in Nanded: Minister

The Maharashtra government will develop a tourism circuit in Nanded district by connecting its popular travel destinations, state Tourism Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said here on Sunday. Work in this direction will commence in the next three months, he told reporters. The minister was in Nanded to visit the Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurdwara. "There are popular tourist spots in Nanded, including temples, gurdwaras and forts. A circuit will be planned to connect these places that are located within the radius of 100 km. Facilities for tourists will be created," Lodha said. A committee of local stakeholders will be set up in Nanded and it will meet every month. The Hottal Festival in the district will be celebrated on a grander scale henceforth, he said. The tourism ministry is also planning to form a tourist facilitation centre in Nanded, Lodha added.

Himachal tourism sector expects over 90% occupancy on Christmas, New Year

The tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh is hopeful of high footfall during Christmas and New Year despite a fresh Covid scare. With both Christmas and New Year on weekends, hotel occupancy is expected to be over 90 per cent, people associated with the tourism industry said and added that tourist influx would also increase as many would come to enjoy snowfall. There is a possibility of light snowfall in the state's upper areas and Lahaul and Spiti on Christmas and Shimla, Manali and the higher reaches on December 29 and 30, said Shimla Meteorological Centre Director Surender Paul. Weekend occupancy in Shimla is near 70 to 80 per cent and, with Christmas and New Year both on weekends, the hotels will be packed to capacity, Shimla Hotel and Restaurant Association Vice-President Prince Kukreja told PTI. Hotels are receiving online bookings in large numbers and the snowfall will be an added advantage, he said and added that the new Covid variant was, however, a cause for concern. With

Labour pain for travel sector: Agencies poaching staff to beat shortage

Smaller outfits losing customers, many firms outsourcing to larger players to stay afloat

Rajasthan govt implements new rural tourism scheme, promises jobs

Agriculture tourism units will be set up on farm land on areas ranging from 2,000 square metres to two hectares (one hectare is roughly 10,000 square metres)

Hospitality industry sees welcome boost from India's G20 presidency

As President, India will host nearly 200 meetings across the country that thousands of delegates are expected to attend along with media, govt officials, event managers, private sector representatives

Sri Lanka earns over $1,129 mn this year as revenues through tourism

Sri Lanka's earnings from tourist arrivals stood at well over USD 1,129 million in the first eleven months of this year, the cash-strapped country's central bank has said, an impressive surge buoyed by the resumption in international flights and easing of curbs related to the coronavirus. The tourism sector is the main source of foreign exchange earnings in the country. However, the onset of the pandemic in 2020 severely crippled this sector, and one of the major reasons for Sri Lanka's economic travails. Sri Lanka welcomed 59,759 tourists to the country in November, an impressive 42 per cent rise compared to the previous month, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said in a statement on Sunday. Consequently, the island nation's earnings from international tourist arrivals for November touched USD 107.5 billion, with the cumulative tally in the first ten months of the year notching up to a whopping USD 1129.4 million, it said. In October this year, the country had earned USD 75.6 million

After Covid-induced lull, HP logs over three-time rise in tourist footfall

Tourism in the hill state has picked up pace after a Covid-induced lull with footfall surging over three times this year till October 31 compared to the corresponding year-ago period. According to data procured from the Tourism department, Himachal Pradesh witnessed the arrival of 1.28 crore tourists, including 28,232 foreigners, between January 1 and October 31. In the corresponding year-ago period, the state had welcomed 41.03 lakh tourists, the data showed. The maximum tourists -- 20.63 lakh -- visited in June while January recorded the lowest footfall at 7.69 lakh. At 30.4 lakh, tourist arrivals in the twin districts of Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti accounted for 23.8 per cent of the total footfall in the first 10 months of 2022. The Atal Tunnel -- an all-weather road beneath the 13,058-foot-high mountain in Rohtang Pass -- has emerged as a tourist hotspot. Visitors are also making a beeline to Sissu in Lahaul and Spiti. Amit Kashyap, tourism director and Himachal Pradesh Tourism

Modi govt fully committed to develop tourism in Northeast: G Kishan Reddy

Union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy says Modi government is fully committed to make Northeast a world-class tourism hub

Tourism sector bounced back with 'great resilience' after pandemic: Govt

The tourism sector was hugely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has "bounced back" from various adversities and crises with "great resilience," a senior official of the Indian government has said. Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Rakesh Verma, part of the Indian delegation that is taking part in the three-day World Travel Market (WTM) in London, also said the delegation is showcasing varied tourism offerings of India to the global tourism industry stakeholders such as tour operators, travel agents and media, among others. India is also being promoted as a "safe tourist destination post-COVID-19", at the WTM, the ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday. During a press meet here on Tuesday, Verma said India is also gearing up for the G20 Presidency which is scheduled to start from December 1. Under its Presidency, the country is expected to host over 200 meetings across 55 cities of the country. The G20 Presidency will give India's tourism sector