Category Archives: States

The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) will offer 15% commission to Andhra Pradesh-based travel agents and agencies for promoting the ‘Statue of Unity’ at Kevadia in Gujarat. TCGL Tourism Officer (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) Ajit Kumar Sharma, said, “Our state government is welcoming travel agents from Andhra Pradesh to be registered with the TCGL to give a fillip to the tourism at the Statue of Unity. Post COVID-19, we will offer a maximum of 15% commission to the agents from Andhra Pradesh.”

The sixth edition of the Bengal Travel Mart (BTM) will be held from 10th April, 2021 to 12th April 2021 at Mayfair Tea Resort, Siliguri – the gateway to the North Eastern part of India. Bengal Travel Mart is an initiative of the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators Association (EHTTOA), West Bengal Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to showcase tourism in Siliguri, West Bengal.

Kerala Tourism today launched a pioneering travel initiative led by ten influencers from around the country who will carry out a new-media campaign to attract domestic tourists in the post-Covid era. Rani George, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism, flagged off the Kerala Blog Express, titled ‘My First Trip 2021’, which is slated to conclude on March 29. The influencers will tread different itineraries for six nights and five days, facilitating production of exclusive contents for Kerala Tourism.The images, videos and literature generated by them will be shared on social-media platforms as #MyFirstTrip.  They will announce to the world that destinations in God’s Own Country continue to be open for tourists. Kerala Tourism Director V.R. Krishna Teja, IAS, and Biju. B.S, Deputy Director, Marketing, Kerala Tourism, were also present at the function held at the Hotel Mascot in the city. “The trip will give the participants a chance to not just visit the famous tourist destinations in Kerala, but experience the cuisine, culture, art and other popular activities around,” Smt George said. “Tourism industry was struck by the pandemic and Kerala was no exception. Gradually, we learned to live on with Covid-19. We started to see visitors coming to Kerala from November-December 2020. Now, these vloggers can also spread the word to the world that Kerala is safer to explore since Covid-19 cases are on the decline in the state. So, people would understand the situation,” she added. Teja, in his address, said that through the trip, the vloggers would certainly experience the warmth of people and understand how safe the state was to explore. While the previous editions of the Kerala Blog Express had only international bloggers and social media influencers, …

Sharing his views on the potential of Kevadiya and the Statue of Unity, Nirav Munshi, Manager Commercial (Tours, Travels & Hotels, Marketing, PR), Gujarat Tourism, says, “Kevadiya and the SoU are a two-day destination but it can be more since there are many attractions to be visited at Kevadiya. A night trip to SoU is even more fantastic with colorful lightings. We believe international tourists will also enjoy these attractions at Kevdiya due to the high level of cleanliness and hygiene, proper security and amenities that will suit their standards.”

Manmeet Singh, Chairman, IATO Punjab Chapter & ADTOI Haryana & Chandigarh Chapter has shared that he, along with other tourism stakeholders of the region met with Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, and apprised him with the issues plaguing the industry. “We had a meeting with the honourable Chief Minister of Punjab, where we reiterated the points which we had earlier emphasised. The CM gave us a patient hearing to our points, which were pending. He also wanted to know what is the current scenario in which we were facing problems, especially the movement restriction owing to night curfew in the region. The said that he will get back to us. We have also been sharing things with the bureaucracy,” he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Dr Bhagwat Karad in the Parliament said that it is necessary to build infrastructure for the growth of tourism and economic development at the Ajanta, Ellora caves. “At the same time, efforts should be made at the government level to advertise these places. Accordingly, this can be made possible through various mediums and initiatives,” he said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a new order and said that international passengers are exempted from the mandatory week-long institutional quarantine on arrival at Mumbai Airport if they have received both the doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

TRS member K R Suresh Reddy, during the recent Rajya Sabha session asked Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C), Tourism & Culture, “I would advise that instead of selling PSUs, instead of selling LIC, why don’t you sell Indian tourism? That is where you will really get money. Convince the Prime Minister. Make him the face of tourism so that the Ministry can benefit.” Patel announced that they will be unveiling the new tourism policy soon.

Tourism Secretary, GOI, Arvind Singh at the Closing ceremony of ‘Hazaar Baar Dekho, North East Dekho’ event said for developing tourism infrastructure in the region, MOT has invested Rs 1,565 crore under Swadesh and PRASAD scheme in 22 projects covering all 8 northeast states. “A number of these projects are complete or are near completion,” he said.

Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism, will be chairing the first meeting of the Northeastern committee of tourism stakeholders in Guwahati on 19th March. “We have created a small dedicated group of people to work in the Northeast. We will bring the people who will help us craft itineraries and small promotional campaigns for the entire Northeast” she said.