Category Archives: States

New Records Set in 2024 as Madhya Pradesh, the Heart of India, Becomes a Tourism Hotspot Madhya Pradesh, rich in diversity and heritage, continues to emerge as one of India’s most vibrant tourism destinations. Known for its cultural legacy, historical monuments, natural beauty, and rich wildlife, the state has become the preferred choice for travellers. In 2024, Madhya Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourism, recording 134.1 million tourist arrivals — a remarkable increase of 19.6% from 2023, approximately 50.6% from 2019, and an astounding 526% from 2020. Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department, and Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board stated, “Madhya Pradesh is a culturally and ecologically diverse state that offers a complete travel experience to visitors. The arrival of 134.1 million tourists in 2024 is proof that Madhya Pradesh is not only making its mark nationally but is also emerging strongly on the global tourism map. This achievement is the result of visionary policies, development of robust infrastructure, and active participation of local communities.” Foreign Tourist Arrivals In 2024, Madhya Pradesh also welcomed 167,000 foreign tourists. Khajuraho recorded 33,131 foreign arrivals, Gwalior 10,823, and Orchha 13,960. Urban destinations also saw a rise in foreign tourists with Indore receiving 9,964 and Bhopal 1,522. Wildlife parks attracted global visitors too, including Bandhavgarh (29,192), Kanha (19,148), Panna (12,762), and Pench (11,272), reflecting the state’s growing global appeal. Major Tourism Attractions Religious Tourism: A New Centre of Faith in India Madhya Pradesh’s religious destinations attracted 107 million visitors in 2024, a 21.9% increase over 2023. Six out of the state’s top ten tourist destinations were religious sites. Ujjain led with 73.2 million tourists, a …

Atmosphere Core has announced its debut in Himachal Pradesh’s Kufri with a luxurious boutique resort, Atmosphere Kufri. The property is set to open in early 2026, offering an exclusive retreat in one of India’s most picturesque hill stations. It will feature 58 opulent accommodations in its first phase, including deluxe rooms, suites, and presidential suites, with plans to expand to 100 keys in the second phase.

To revive tourism and the region’s economy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, key stakeholders in Ladakh’s tourism industry met with Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, GoI, who is on her four-day official visit to Ladakh. They advocated special relief for tourism and allied sectors in the UT and demanded restoration of budget allocations to FY 2025-26.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published the GSTC-Certified Hotels Directory, a comprehensive resource designed to help destinations, businesses, and consumers identify accommodations that have been certified as sustainable by GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies. It reinforces the importance of traceability and transparency from an assurance perspective, providing credible validation of sustainability certifications.

The Indian hospitality industry is experiencing significant growth in branded hotel rooms, particularly in major cities and popular tourist destinations. According to Hotelivate data, Dehradun leads this growth, with a staggering 67.5% increase in branded rooms, reaching 1,236 rooms in FY2023/24. Average occupancy rates remain strongest in tier-I cities, at 73.6%.

Uttar Pradesh government is launching a special soft skills training initiative for people associated with the tourism industry in the state. To accelerate this initiative, the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) will conduct the training for a wide range of tourism stakeholders, including boatmen, vendors, tour guides, auto-rickshaw drivers, handicraft sellers, tour operators, and hosts of paying guest accommodations.

IATO has taken a delegation of 22 members to Pahalgam & Srinagar, as part of its ‘Rubaroo with J&K’ initiative with an idea to revive tourism in the valley after the unfortunate terror attack some time back. In fact, LG, J&K has announced the reopening of many destinations in Pahalgam.

TAAI President Sunil Kumar announced a series of initiatives to revive tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. These include member and media meetings across 20 regional chapters, a special ‘Family and Friends’ package by the TAAI J&K Chapter, and a dedicated session on Kashmir at the TAAI Convention 2025. To enhance travel confidence, TAAI will also produce promotional videos and content highlighting the region’s offerings and safety, encouraging wider participation in the revival of Kashmir tourism.

Seasonal travel trends reflect customer preferences across many destinations, says Hussain Patel, Director, TripJack. He explains, “For instance, Asia Pacific, one of our top-selling regions, sees strong demand. Destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali experience peak interest from September to May. Year-round favourites such as Dubai and Singapore see a sharp rise during school summer holidays, especially among families. Luxury destinations like Mauritius and Seychelles see increased bookings from September to December. In Europe, France, Italy, and Switzerland are especially popular between April and June, as travellers seek scenic summer getaways. A combination of preferred travel windows and holiday seasons strongly influences these patterns.” To make the most of seasonal demand, Patel says, the company focuses on expanding global inventory. “With over 2 million hotels, our travel partners have easy access to top properties across key destinations. Our 5,000+ directly contracted hotels and Check-In Guarantee program ensure attractive rates and a seamless experience for the end customer. Additionally, our curated holiday packages make it easier for travellers to plan and enjoy stress-free travel. Yes, advance booking and planning are beneficial—our travel partners often book early to secure the best rates. The earlier the booking, the better the pricing, especially during peak travel seasons,” he adds.

Debjit Dutta, Chairman, IATO West Bengal Chapter, has clarified that the recent news reports of a 3-month tourist ban in the Sundarban Tiger Reserve that created panic across the trade is false. “Upon intervention by IATO West Bengal, the Forest Department has officially confirmed that the news is false and unverified. Such misinformation available on social media severely impacts tourism, disrupts local livelihoods, and damages the reputation of sensitive destinations. Media must verify facts with competent authorities before publishing,” he adds.