Category Archives: States

Syed Abid Rashid Shah (IAS), is the new Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Jammu & Kashmir. He has served as DC Kulgam, DC Anantnag, DC Pulwama and DC Srinagar and has contributed immensely with his capacities of head and heart for the overall development of the UT of J&K. He was CEO ERA and smart city project as well.

K. S. Srinivas IAS, Principal Secretary – Tourism & Fisheries, Government of Kerala, has said that the carrying capacity of each destination should be considered and tourists should be allowed accordingly. He was speaking at the post budget webinar organised by MOT recently.

The two-day upcoming Global Investors Summit beginning in Visakhapatnam on March 3 will witness the signing of MoUs worth ₹20,000 crore and more in tourism sector alone. Top brands in hotels, resorts, temple tourism, adventure sports, water sports, cruises and ropeways are expected to come up in different parts of the state to make Andhra Pradesh a major destination in south India. Several US brands too are looking at Andhra Pradesh for big investments in hotels and resorts.

Jitul Mehta, Chairman, Western India Chapter, TAFI, says, “TAFI is focusing a lot on domestic and Inbound tourist, as it is a good way to generate revenue for our members. There are lot of new domestic destinations and products training sessions in the pipeline. We recently showcased the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai to our members where they took a tour and learnt about the history of cinema.”  

Manipur CM N. Biren Singh said that a US-based company will spend USD 500 million in the state’s tourism sector with several other foreign investments on the cards. He added, “The state will receive an investment of 500 mn dollars in tourism from a company based in the US.” Citing the willingness of several other foreign investors, particularly from Argentina, Peru, and Bangladesh, to invest in the state, he said Manipur will witness development in all sectors.

The Finance Minister has announced that an app will be developed covering all relevant aspects of tourism. States will be encouraged to set up Unity Malls in state capital as the most prominent tourism centres to promote One District One Product, GI products, handicrafts and products of other states.

Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s Minister of Tourism, speaking at an event, shared that with a focus on the travel industry, Goa is exploring circuit tourism within the state, similar to the concept of the Golden Triangle.

Kerala has made a remarkable comeback by welcoming 1.88 crore domestic tourists in 2022, which is a record in the state’s history, Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas said. Domestic tourism was given prominence in the programmes prepared to be implemented in the post-COVID period and the government achieved its target through coordinated efforts. “As a result, by the end of 2022, it had become the year which Kerala witnessed the greatest number of domestic tourists after its formation. A total of 1.88 crore domestic tourists arrived in the state in that year,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath launched a new global gateway for the state with the inauguration of the first VFS Global Joint Visa Application Centre (JVAC) and the VFS Global Academy in Lucknow. This spacious and comfortable facility equipped with modern amenities and services will have the capacity of processing approximately 1.2 lakh applications a year and will be of immense benefit to the citizens of Uttar Pradesh, who till now had to travel to other cities like New Delhi to submit their visa applications. 

While the industry is happy of tourism being mentioned in Union Budget 2023-24, tour operators in Himachal Pradesh have demanded to be brought uder a special package to boost tourism. Also, they asked for Bharat Bhraman schemes to be extended in the state in addition to ow-interest rates on loans for tourism business.