Category Archives: States

Jaiveer Singh, Tourism Minister welcomes Japanese delegation, highlights development of Buddhist circuit and economic opportunities A high-level Japanese delegation, led by Ko Osada, Deputy Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, visited Uttar Pradesh to explore avenues for tourism collaboration, with a special focus on the Buddhist Circuit. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Jaiveer Singh, Tourism and Culture Minister, who highlighted the state’s deep-rooted Buddhist heritage and its significance as a global pilgrimage destination. During a meeting at Hotel Taj Mahal, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, senior officials from Uttar Pradesh Tourism presented a comprehensive overview of the state’s tourism potential. The presentation included insights into the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Land Lease Policy 2024, which aims to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by offering a 90-year land lease to investors. Discussions cantered on enhancing tourism infrastructure, particularly across the Buddhist Circuit, where 179.77 acres of land have been earmarked for development to improve pilgrim facilities. Deputy Governor Ko Osada expressed admiration for Uttar Pradesh’s historical significance, stating that Japan views tourism as ‘spreading the light of knowledge.’ He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthening ties with the state and announced that a larger Japanese delegation would soon visit to further explore tourism opportunities. Adding to the discourse, Neerendra Upadhyay, Advisor, Yamanashi Prefecture Government, emphasised the deep historical and spiritual connections between Japan and Uttar Pradesh. He stressed the potential for enhancing bilateral tourism, investment, and academic exchanges, reinforcing Yamanashi’s enthusiasm in working closely with Uttar Pradesh to foster tourism-driven economic growth. Singh emphasised Uttar Pradesh’s pivotal role in Buddhist history, being home to sacred sites that attract millions of devotees annually. He underscored the long-standing spiritual, cultural, and economic ties between Uttar Pradesh and …

While presenting State Budget FY2025-26, Diya Kumari, Minister of Finance, Rajasthan, announced that tourism infrastructure projects worth ₹975 crore will be taken into consideration. 10 sites to be developed as iconic tourist destinations for promoting heritage tourism. A tribal tourist circuit will be built for ₹100 crore. Further, an Aero City will be set up near the Kota airport.

Underlining Jammu & Kashmir’s new offerings, Omar Abdullah, CM, J&K, says, “Jammu & Kashmir is beyond Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The UT is increasingly becoming a destination for wellness. The destination is not only known for winter tourism and adventure tourism but also for film shoots and videos as well. With better air and road connectivity, we are looking forward to connecting Kashmir to the rest of Indian cities by rail connectivity.”

Speaking about tourism’s role in economic growth, Kandula Durgesh, Tourism Minister, Andhra Pradesh, said, “By the end of 2025, our tourism contribution will be at least 15% of the total employment generation.” The government is focused on infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and sustainability to achieve this ambitious target.

Underlining the state’s strong focus, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte says, “We are pioneering regenerative tourism, going beyond sustainability to focus on culture, environment, and society. By integrating responsible tourism practices, we are creating a model that benefits both travellers and local communities while preserving our heritage.”

As per Indranil Sen, Minister of Tourism, West Bengal, the state has received investment proposals worth ₹5,600 crore in the tourism sector. Apart from these, 70 tourism-related projects will be taken up in the FY2025-26 out of which 38 are in South Bengal. These projects will entail a cost of ₹71 crore.

Presenting the state budget for 2025-26, Charan Majhi, Chief Minister, Odisha allocated ₹820 crore for tourism, up from ₹800 crore allocated in FY2024-25. The budget focuses on infra development and sustainable tourism practices. Additionally, ₹30 crore has been allocated for Shree Jagannath Darshan Yojana.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board signed an MoU with VReal, a Finland-based leader in immersive virtual reality, to showcase the state’s cultural heritage through cutting-edge technology. The MoU was signed by Mohan Yadav, CM, MP and Kimmo Lähdevirta, Finland’s Ambassador to India. The move is expected to promote the state’s tourism sites and heritage on a global scale, increasing international tourist visits.

Kerala welcomed 2,22,46,989 tourists in 2024, which marked a substantial increase of 21 percent from the pre-pandemic period, informed P A Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Tourism, Government of Kerala. The first half of 2024 (January-June) alone saw a total of 1,08,57,181 tourist arrivals from within the country.

Organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, in partnership with the Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS), Karnataka International Travel Expo (KITE) 2025 will be held from 26 to 28 February 2025. The Expo offers opportunity to connect with 150+ International buyers from 25+ countries and 250+ Indian buyers.