Category Archives: States

Bird Group is set to make significant strides in the Quick Service and Casual Dining sectors. With an ambitious plan to launch 20 outlets by the end of 2024, 35 by the end of 2025 and 50 by the end of 2026, Bird Foods, a dedicated business vertical of Bird Group, is poised to redefine the dining experience across India. These outlets will be strategically located in popular locations across tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Dehradun, and Bhubaneswar. At present, Bird Foods boasts a promising retail presence with four QSR brands: Spice Nama at Omaxe Mall, Chandni Chowk; The Indian Stories at Pebble Downtown Mall, Faridabad and the Mall of Dehradun, Uttarakhand; KaChing at Mega Mall, Gurugram; and Eat.co at various locations, including Lucknow Airport Metro Station, Tughlakabad Metro Station and Old Delhi Railway Station (IRCTC Food Plaza). All these and future outlets will boast of proprietary technological initiatives redefining customer experience. “We are diligently executing strategic initiatives across all our business verticals, ensuring we not only meet but potentially exceed these targets. By staying true to our core values of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, we are confident in our ability to achieve these significant milestones and continue driving growth for our company,” said Rahul Sehgal, Business Head, Bird Foods. Bird Group has always been at the forefront of innovation in the Indian business landscape. Their foray into the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector is a natural progression, rooted in their belief that good food, good value and excellent service have the power to bring people together, create memories, and elevate everyday moments. This new venture has quickly grown into a dedicated business vertical, offering a diverse range of …

Unfolds new products ahead of festivals & holiday season Riding on a high-growth trajectory, Kerala Tourism has unfolded a range of fresh products and packages to whip up new interest among travellers from both inside the country and outside in the upcoming festive and winter holiday seasons. Alongside the new projects, the state’s core assets like beaches, hill stations, houseboats and backwater segment will continue to have a mesmeric charm for the visitors. Kerala’s unique touristy appeal lies in providing a diverse range of experiences for tourists like houseboats, caravan stays, plantation visits, jungle lodges, homestays, Ayurveda-based wellness solutions, adventure activities, countryside walks, and trekking to verdant hills. Kerala’s resilience in putting its pandemic-hit tourism industry back on the rail is evident from an appreciable surge in domestic arrivals. In pre-COVID times, it was the year 2019 when the state registered the highest growth rate in domestic and total tourist arrivals in 24 years with their number pegged at 1,95,74,004, comprising 1,83,84,233 domestic tourists and 11,89,771 visitors from abroad. In 2023, it witnessed a record surge in the number of domestic tourists with as many as 21,871,641 people visiting the state. The number of international tourists was pegged at 6,49,057. As for the first quarter (January-March) of 2024, Kerala attracted 50,37,307 domestic tourists compared to 49,36,274 visitors in the corresponding period a year earlier, registering a 2.05 per cent increase, in a rousing endorsement of its touristy appeal. Equally assuring for Kerala is the uptick in international tourist arrivals, which are expected to reach the pre-COVID levels by 2025. Tourism Minister Shri PA Mohamed Riyas says the focus will no longer be confined to beaches, backwaters and hill stations. “We …

Speaking at the 39th IATO Convention, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary,  Culture and Tourism, Madhya Pradesh, said that the state will develop 50 offbeat destinations to boost tourism along with training over 40,000 women in tourism-related jobs to boost employment.

SKAL International Pune, in collaboration with TAAI, TAFI, IIHM and PHA, is set to host “Pedal for a Purpose,” a unique cycle marathon on 22 September, 2024, aimed at bringing together the travel fraternity and their families for a day of fun, networking and social impact. Pedals United for a Meaningful Impact This monumental event will mark the beginning of World Tourism Week celebrations in Pune and is designed to create a meaningful social impact on the city. Participants will embark on a dynamic 15-20 km cycling journey through central Pune,  with impactful stopovers dedicated to various social causes including, road safety, tree planting and reducing plastic use. Purpose Beyond the Finish Line “Pedal for a Purpose” is about more than just cycling. It is a platform for the travel fraternity to come together and make a difference. The day will conclude with a grand celebration featuring food, games, music and a flea zone, providing ample opportunities for networking and socialising. Join SKAL Pune in Pedalling a Difference If you’re a part of the travel and tourism industry in Pune, don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while celebrating the spirit of travel. Join “Pedal for a Purpose” on 22 September, 2024 and be a part of something truly special.

Underlining the challenges in attracting more FTAs, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, MOT, says, “We need to understand how we can ramp up air connectivity and ease the visa process for foreign tourists. We also need to work on the cost of reaching India as it is also one of the entry barriers for inbound tourists.”

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “As tourism is a state subject, we have asked all state governments to develop new tourist destinations. The Centre will provide all possible help in the holistic infrastructure development of these places. Whether it is connectivity for commutation or connectivity for communication, we will work on it.” The minister also expressed his desire to collaborate with tourist guides to enhance tourism efforts across the nation.

Rohan Khaunte, Minister, Goa Tourism, met with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, Govt of India, to discuss improving international connectivity and expediting the PRASHAD scheme for the Basilica of Bom Jesus. He emphasised the need for more direct international flights and robust support from the Centre to enhance Goa’s tourism infrastructure and promotional efforts to attract more foreign visitors.

The Ministry of Tourism has formulated guidelines for ‘Challenge Based Destination Development’ as a sub scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme to enhance tourist experience and to transform tourist destinations as sustainable and responsible destinations. It has selected 42 destinations under four categories: Spiritual Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Vibrant Village Program, Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites for development under the above scheme.

Appreciating the response on investment and subsidies offered in Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy 2022, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, UP Tourism, said, “We have received a tremendous response following the implementation of our new policies. The Global Investors Summit attracted over ₹1 lakh crore in investment in the tourism sector.”

Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI, said that he was happy with Maharashtra’s Tourism Policy 2024, adding, “The annual financial allocation of INR 1,666 Cr for incentives and operational support underscores the Government’s commitment to enhancing tourism and hospitality infrastructure. This progressive framework, aimed at positioning Maharashtra as a global tourist destination, is a game-changer for our industry.”