Category Archives: States

A unique integrated limited validity tourist pass has been introduced by the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal in Association with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to facilitate easy and convenient access initially to 21 places of tourist interest across Kolkata for both domestic and international tourists visiting the city of joy. This project has been initiated by the Department of Tourism as part of the FAITH policy recommendations and will soon be made available online or obtained through recognized tour operators or at any other authorized POS. The access and the validity of the pass will be managed digitally through a specially designed QR-based application. The visitor can pick and choose the places of interest and obtain the same through an online payment. Truly an effective and meaningful initiative and I am super delighted to be part of this project.

The Kerala government is planning to create a woman-friendly tourism network with over one lakh women travellers and entrepreneurs as members, said state tourism minister P A Mohammed Riyas. More than 1000 women have already registered in the programme. 

Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) has announced a financial incentive scheme of up to Rs.5 lakh per tour operator for tour operators booking international tourists for the upcoming International Yoga Festival (IYF) 2023 to be held at Rishikesh from March 1 to March 7, 2023. This incentive will be offered to tour operators for bringing international tourists to the International Yoga Festival 2023.  For this, UTDB has decided to provide incentive to these tour operators from Rs.10,000 per international tourist up to a maximum of Rs.5 lakh.

Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) Managing Director B Manohar said, “Our target is to increase international tourist arrivals by 20 per cent, and domestic tourist arrivals by 30 per cent by 2023-end as compared to pre-COVID level.” 

TOFTigers India Wildlife Association & Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) sign an MOU in an event held at Hotel Ashok, today at the Assam Tourism Road Show in New Delhi to training Wildlife Park guides and Safari Vehicle drivers in Guest Handling and to promote and support the strategy and concept of sustainable tourism. With a vision to create a sustainable future for tourism, TOFTigers has taken several steps to achieve this goal since 2005. The MoU is yet another milestone in this journey of change and improving environmental and economic sustainability in the state of Assam. TOFTigers will actively support and promote the introduction of the training for improving the guides’ and drivers’ knowledge of conservation, ecology, and storytelling skills for better visitor experience – which will potentially help them generate more income, while also furthering conservation awareness among tourists. TOFTigers and ATDC have a strong view towards promoting sustainability and social responsibility within the travel sector. The MoU was signed in the presence of dignitaries from the state of Assam and leaders from national tourism industry who had gathered in a large number at the event. Sustainable tourism practises are about putting local communities and the environment at the heart of business operations, in addition to economic factors. “TOFTigers is dedicated sustainable tourism organisation in India and would like to support the travel industry in India towards sustainability,” said Mr. Vishal Singh, Director TOFTigers. The travel and tourism industry are one of the largest industries in the world and contributes enormously to the economic well-being and development of many countries by helping to alleviate poverty throughout the world. It has recognised cross-cultural benefits as well as educational, health …

The Rajasthan Cabinet approved the Rural Tourism Scheme 2022. to create employment opportunities in the villages and protect the handicrafts industry by establishing rural guest houses, agricultural tourism units, camping sites and caravan parks. The scheme will also acquaint domestic and foreign tourists with Rajasthan’s rural culture. 

Tourism Principal Secretary KS Srinivas said the state’s tourism and hospitality industry has already regained the pre-pandemic robustness. “This is evident from the fact that Kerala recorded a staggering 196% spike in domestic tourist arrivals during the first three quarters of the current year as compared to the corresponding period a year earlier,” he says. Kerala recorded a total of 1,33,80,000 domestic tourists in the nine months till this September, registering a 1.49 per cent increase as compared to the same period of pre-COVID 2019.

J&K Pilgrim & Leisure Tour Operators Forum (PILTOF), the premier Tourism body of J&K having iconic members with more than 40 years’ experience in travel trade held the season’s first interactive session with top 140 Travel Agents of Thailand & members of Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA). In his welcome address, the Chairman Showkat Pakhtoon while welcoming the guests emphasized the need for marketing India and Kashmir aggressively since all the travel trade fraternity has suffered due to the pandemic and it is our responsibility that PAN India destinations are to be sold in THAI market aggressively. Dharmendra Singh, First Secretary (Economic & Commerce) and Head of Chancery, Embassy of India in Thailand who was the Chief Guest assured Thai agents all support from Embassy for facilitation to visit India. The Indian Embassy Official present Bhaskar Kalra also gave a presentation on Incredible India. The TTAA was represented by its Vice Presidents Shivek Sachdev and Sittichai Odomkitthanakul, Asstt Secretary NINA, besides other Office Bearers. PILTOF was represented by Chairman, Showkat Pakhtoon, Vice Chairman, Noor Shangloo, Event Head Nasir Shah and senior members Mohammad Akram Siah, Mir Anwar and Ather Yameen.

Rohan Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa, has said that they have started eco-tourism on a big scale. “We are moving into the hinterlands, trying to gather local communities, which will touch upon the homestay segment. Also, we are looking at wellness, adventure, as well as spiritual tourism,” he added.

Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary Tourism and Director General, Uttar Pradesh Tourism, said that the Government of Uttar Pradesh, is ready to lease forts on a very nominal fee for them to be converted into heritage hotels. The state is also open for hosting weddings at these forts to promote the destination and leverage the potential of the state.