Category Archives: States

Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley has become India’s first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, a move that puts the trans-Himalayan landscape on the global conservation map. The decision was taken at the 37th session of UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme, held in September. With this, India now has 13 sites in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, while congratulating the state forest department and its wildlife wings, said, “The state government is committed to protecting and conserving Himachal Pradesh’s rich natural and cultural heritage and fragile ecology in the era of climate change, while ensuring harmony between developmental activities and nature.”

At the 69th Annual General Meeting of FHRAI, Surendra Kumar Jaiswal was elected as the new President of the association. Outlining his vision for the tenure, he said, “The GST framework without ITC has created inequities that threaten our competitiveness. By restoring ITC, addressing copyright ambiguities, and granting Infrastructure and Industry status, the government can empower hospitality to support the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”

Summit Hotels & Resorts, Eastern India’s largest hospitality chain, announced its formal entry into the luxury hotel market with the launch of its flagship brand, The Summit, in Siliguri. Scheduled to open in May 2027, this landmark property signals a bold strategic expansion for the brand, long known for its mountain-based portfolio, into the high-end urban hospitality space. Located in the heart of Siliguri, the critical gateway to Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Bhutan, Rhe Summit is conceived as Eastern India’s first true urban luxury resort. The 100-room property, with each room featuring a private balcony, will offer an elevated combination of city convenience and resort indulgence. Designed by Vivek Singh Rathore, Partner at Salient and a Forbes India “Bold Club” honoree, the resort will integrate contemporary global design standards with Eastern India’s cultural and natural heritage, making it both an architectural landmark and the brand’s corporate headquarters. Setting a new benchmark for tier-II hospitality, The Summit will position Siliguri as a premier destination for luxury weddings, large-scale corporate events, and high-end leisure travel. The property will feature the largest banquet facilities in Eastern India, capable of hosting up to 2,000 guests and managing 10 simultaneous events. A complete wedding ecosystem, with multiple indoor and outdoor venues, accommodation for large parties, and dedicated planning services will meet the growing demand in the region’s lucrative ₹1 crore-plus wedding market, which draws families from Bihar and Bengal. In the MICE segment, state-of-the-art conference technology will cater to the increasing corporate presence in Siliguri, offering premium meeting and event solutions previously unavailable in the city. The lifestyle offering at The Summit will further differentiate it from existing hospitality options in the region. Guests will enjoy …

Udaan, a visa concierge and travel services firm with over three decades of expertise in visa concierge, has signed an MoU with Common Service Centres Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) to collaborate on CSC Safar, a travel services programme by CSC E-Governance Services India. The MoU was signed by Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC SPV, from CSC and Rajan Dua, MD & Founder, Udaan in the presence of senior officials. Under this partnership, Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) will be empowered to assist applicants with their visa requirements. To ensure a seamless experience, CSC Safar provides VLEs with a dedicated mobile application and web interface. With a strong presence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India, VLEs will enable customers to access visa services alongside other travel-related needs at convenient, local locations. According to Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC SPV, “this partnership with Udaan Travel to provide visa services on the CSC Safar portal will make the application process simpler and more accessible, empowering VLEs to serve travellers with ease and efficiency.” According to Rajan Dua, Founder and MD, Udaan. “We are proud to collaborate with CSC to simplify international travel for Indian travellers, thereby increasing our reach to a wider base of travellers.  At Udaan India, our longstanding commitment has been to make visa Concierge seamless and stress-free. This partnership enables us to extend our trusted expertise to CSC customers, ensuring they are fully prepared for travel with confidence and ease.” The MoU encompasses all aspects of visa Concierge services for Rural India, including application support, documentation guidance, appointment scheduling, and customer service.

Tamilnadu Travel Expo 2025 will be held from 26–28 September at IDA Scudder Auditorium, Madurai. The event, designed to bring together diverse stakeholders of the travel industry from across the country, invites them to explore Tamil Nadu’s offerings in hospitality, wellness retreats, and wedding destinations, and not just its heritage.

Kandula Durgesh, Tourism Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh, announced that the government is considering a new heritage tourism policy for the state to preserve historic buildings and unlock their revenue generation potential. He also talked about hospitality projects worth ₹723 crore approved in six months, generating nearly 200,000 jobs, while highlighting proactive policies, infrastructure expansion, and global outreach through major platforms like ITB Berlin and WTM London.

The 55ᵗʰ FHRAI Annual Convention has kicked off in Bengaluru with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, projecting India as a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Highlighting hospitality’s rising demand, he noted industry status for 50 iconic destinations and said 18 states had extended this recognition. He stressed investments today will power tourism and hospitality growth tomorrow.

At its roadshow in New Delhi, Michael Dominic, Managing Director, CGH Earth Experience Hotels, revealed the group’s ambitious expansion beyond South India. Upcoming projects include a wellness retreat in Uttarakhand and tea-estate-based properties in Kalimpong and Kurseong, scheduled to open by early 2026. Additional developments are planned in Bandhavgarh, Spiti Valley, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Goa, and Sakleshpur. By the end of 2025, the brand will add four new units, with three more slated for early 2026. The group’s Saha brand is driving growth by converting heritage villas into unique experiential stays, reinforcing its positioning in sustainable, community-driven hospitality.

Noida International Airport (NIA) will be inaugurated on 30 October, revealed KR Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister, GoI. Passenger operations are expected to begin within 45 days of the launch. In its first phase, the airport will connect around 10 cities, largely metros. International operations will start later. He said, “Major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata will be among the first to be linked. Apart from passenger operations, there is also significant potential for cargo flights.”

With the new Mopa airport operational now, Goa is witnessing an expansion in scheduled international flights, especially from countries in the Gulf region and Iran. New direct flight services are being lined up: for instance, the resumption of flights to Gatwick (UK) by September end, and from October 5, three weekly flights from Yekaterinburg, Russia to Mopa. Between January and June 2025, the state welcomed 5.45 million tourists (domestic + international), comprising 5.18 million domestic and 0.27 million international travellers, representing an 8.4% year-on-year increase.