Category Archives: MOT

Andhra Pradesh was declared the best state for comprehensive development of tourism at National Tourism Awards 2015-2016. Rajasthan emerged as second best while the third prize was shared between Kerala and Goa. Commemorating World Tourism Day, the Ministry of Tourism organised the awards at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on September 27, 2017. President of India Ram Nath Kovind graced the occasion as Chief Guest and gave away awards in various categories. K.J. Alphons, Minister of State (IC) for Tourism, Government of India, presided over the function. Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma welcomed the dignitaries and guests including Tourism Ministers of States and State Government Officials, members from the travel and hospitality sector, leading hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators. The President launched the ‘Incredible India 2.0 Campaign’; ‘Adopt A Heritage’ Project and new Incredible India Website on the occasion. ‘Incredible India 2.0 Campaign’ marks a shift from the present generic promotions being undertaken across the world, to market specific promotional plans and product specific creatives, with greater focus on digital presence and social media. ‘Adopt A Heritage’ Project plans to entrust heritage sites to the public sector and private sector companies and individuals for the development of tourist amenities. They will become ‘Monument Mitras’ and adopt bthe sites. The ‘Incredible India Website’ is an advanced version of the website with more useful features.

All travel trade agencies recognised or approved by the Ministry of Tourism are required to submit their data on digital transactions on a monthly basis, positively by the 20th of every month starting August 1, 2017 to the Ministry. The Ministry of Tourism had assigned travel trade associations including IATO, TAAI, ITTA, ADTOI and ATOAI the responsibility to promote digital transactions in the tourism sector. MOT had mailed the associations on Sept 22, 2017, regarding furnishing and submission of the same to the Ministry. The MOT will consolidate the data on digital transactions in the organised sectors for review by the PMO through the Ministry of Electronics and Information & Technology.

The Ministry of Railways has commissioned a second glass-roof Vistadome Coach, funded by the Ministry of Tourism, on the Jan Shatabdi Express plying on the scenic Mumbai-Goa route, to provide a panoramic view of the picturesque Western Ghats. The Vistadome Coach boasts of a glass roof which has electrically-controlled opalescence, that is, it can be made transparent or opaque at the turn of a switch. Passengers seeking a better view can head for a special observation deck. All seats are rotatable by 360 degrees and are pushback chairs. The coaches are fitted with automatic sliding compartment doors, multiple TV screens and wider body side door. Ministry of Tourism provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs12 Crore @ Rs.4 crore per coach to Ministry of Railways for the manufacture of three glass top coaches, for developing rail tourism in the country. The first Vistadome Coach was commissioned by the Ministry of Railways on the Vishakhapatnam–Araku Valley Route in April 2017 and is attracting a large number of tourists.

According to the data released by Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) during the month of August, 2017 were ₹13,922 crore as compared to ₹12,553 crore in August, 2016 and ₹11,411 crore in August, 2015. The growth rate in FEEs in terms of rupee during August, 2017 over August, 2016 was higher, with 10.9 per cent as compared to the growth rate of 10.0 per cent in August, 2016 over August, 2015. The FEEs during the period of January- August, 2017 was recorded at ₹1,16,004 crore, amounting to a growth of 16.5 per cent as compared to the FEEs of ₹99,587 during January-August 2016 which amounted to a growth rate of 13.9 per cent over January- August, 2015.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) this August were 7.24 lakh as compared to FTAs of 6.52 lakh in August 2016, and 5.99 lakh in August 2015, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Tourism. The growth rate in FTAs in August 2017 over August 2016 is 11 per cent compared to 8.8 per cent in August 2016 over August 2015. FTAs during the period January-August, 2017, were 63.98 lakh with a growth of 15.2 per cent over the same period of previous year, as compared to the FTAs of 55.54 lakh with a growth of 9.5 per cent in January-August, 2016, over January-August, 2015. On the other hand, FTAs on the e-Tourist Visa, during the month of August 2017 was a total of 1.13 lakh as compared to 0.66 lakh during the month of August 2016 registering a growth of 71.3 per cent. During January-August, 2017, a total of 9.49 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 6.06 lakh during January-August, 2016, registering a growth of 56.5 per cent.

Alphons Kannanthanam, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Government of India, has said that he is very happy to meet and exchange “radical” ideas on tourism with the travel trade in New Delhi. He said, “I am going to have a meeting at Transport Bhavan in New Delhi on Septmber 18, 2017, and I invite the travel industry to come and share their ideas. But they need to come with radical ideas, not the time-tested, overdone suggestions. Please get in touch with the Secretary Tourism with these ideas. Not suggestions like GST has to be abolished, etc. No, that all we know. Please come up with something new and imaginative.” He announced this at his first official event that he attended after taking on the role as the tourism minister – the 33rd IATO Annual Convention held in Bhubaneshwar from September 7-10, 2017.

Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma reportedly said that the Ministry of Tourism is considering setting up government-run offices in key markets such as the US, the UK and Russia to attract more visitors to India. It will also set up facilitation centres to address queries of tourists at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. With Incredible India 2.0 campaign expected to be launched in September, Verma reportedly said the ministry will run market-specific campaigns on it in different countries through local and electronic channels as well as digital media. “A synergy between Incredible India campaign and overseas markets will get us better results. Our offices in different countries would work on a hub and spoke model which will be in sync with our PR agency. This time the states are also complementing our plans and the industry can plan campaigns around it. Our spends are higher than last year,” said Verma. Source: Economic Times

Satyajeet Rajan has been appointed as the Director General – Tourism, Government of India. The IAS 1987 Kerala cadre official was previously Principal Secretary of Personnel & Administrative Reforms – Government of Kerala; Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and has been associated with the Ministry of Defence and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the past.

Alphons Kannanthanam has been administered the oath of office as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Tourism Ministry by the President of India. He will replace Dr. Mahesh Sharma, MoS (I/C) Tourism and Culture. One of the toppers of IAS batch of 1979, Kannanthanam quit the services in 2006, and was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly, from Kanjirappally in Kottayam District, Kerala. He joined the BJP as Member of National Executive Council in 2011. He is also a practicing advocate in the High court and the Supreme Court of India. As the Commissioner of Delhi Development Authority from 1992-1997, he demolished 14,310 illegal buildings in Delhi and reclaimed land worth Rs 10,000 crore, giving him the sobriquet of ‘Demolition Man’.  

The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in July 2017 were 7.88 lakh as compared to FTAs of 7.34 lakh in July 2016 and 6.28 lakh in July 2015. The growth rate in FTAs in July 2017 over July 2016 is 7.4 per cent compared to 16.8% in July 2016 over July, 2015. During July 2017 total of 1.19 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 0.68 lakh during the month of July 2016 registering a growth of 73.3%. During January-July 2017, a total of 8.36 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 5.40 lakh during January-July 2016, registering a growth of 54.7%. FTAs during the period January- July 2017 were 56.74 lakh with a growth of 15.7%, as compared to the FTAs of 49.03 lakh with a growth of 9.6% in January-July 2016 over January-July 2015. The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during July 2017 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (20.12%) followed by USA (16.26%), UK (10.88%), France (3.01%), Malaysia (2.81%), Canada (2.66%), Sri Lanka (2.56%), China (2.32%), Oman (2.27%), Germany (2.21%), Australia (2.17%), Japan (2.10%), Nepal (1.84%), UAE (1.82%) and Singapore (1.69%). The percentage shares of top 15 source countries availing e- Tourist Visa facilities during July, 2017 were as follows: UK (12.9%), USA (12.0%), UAE (7.2%), France (6.4%), Oman (6.1%), China (5.4%), Spain (4.3%), Korea (Rep.of) (3.9%), Germany (3.1%), Australia (3.1%), Canada (3.1%), Italy (2.4%), Singapore (2.3%), Netherlands (2.2%) and Thailand (1.8%).