Category Archives: States

Aligning with India’s regional development goals, the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) is prioritising the Northeast for expansion. With 15 operational hotels totalling 1,348 rooms in the Northeast and 6 hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline, the brand’s strategy focuses on strengthening its footprint in the East and Northeast, Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL, said.

KB Kachru, President, HAI, said, “With the evolving landscape of the Indian tourism sector, the hospitality sector is also adding more authentic experiences rather than services, increasing its engagement with the local communities, sourcing locally largely and supporting the businesses and economies of the region in which they are located.”

To enhance its tourism sector, the Rajasthan government is focusing on untapped niches such as adventure, rural and tribal tourism. Tourism currently contributes 7.45% to the state’s gross value added (GVA) and 11.35% to employment. By 2030, the government aims to increase these figures to 8.5% and 13%, respectively, with new initiatives targeting lesser-explored tourism segments.

Highlighting the potential of Tamil Nadu, T Christuraj, Director, Tourism Department & MD, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, noted that the state has some of the best infrastructure for conferences and exhibitions. To unlock the full potential of MICE tourism, it must extend beyond Chennai to cities like Kanchipuram, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Salem while bridging infrastructure gaps.

Rajiv Mehra, General Secretary, FAITH, emphasised that the upcoming FAITH Conclave will spotlight the need for unified policies, improved infrastructure and global marketing to boost India’s inbound tourism. Addressing issues like visa bottlenecks, taxation, and destination readiness, the event, which is slated to to held on 12 – 13 August in Delhi, will focus on collaboration, sustainability, digital transformation, and skilling to position tourism as a national economic driver.

From August 30, all tourists visiting Mussoorie must register on a portal launched by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department during check-in from 30 August. Hotels, homestays, and guest houses must first register themselves and then their guests. Brijendra Pandey, District Tourism Officer, stated that the initiative aims to control overcrowding, ease traffic and provide real-time tourist footfall data in the hill town and hoteliers and owners of similar facilities have been asked to comply with the new rule.

Manoj Samuel, CEO & Director, Riya Travel, noted that inbound tourism remains slow and infrastructure gaps persist. He highlighted Mumbai’s potential with its new airport and emphasised the need for improvement. “We are actively boosting trade engagement through roadshows and joint promotions, targeting not just tier I cities but tier II and III markets as well”, he said.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, informed Rajya Sabha that the MOT extends financial assistance to approved tourism service providers (TSPs) under the MDA Scheme for overseas tourism promotion. However, no aid was granted to the states or UTs in the past three years. The scheme is currently under review to align with the industry’s evolving needs.

At the 12th Travel MICE and Corporate Show, Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts, emphasised that sustainability in hospitality boosts satisfaction, attracts ESG-focused investors, and drives higher bookings. Eco-certifications, now favoured by OTAs, enhance revenue and brand loyalty, making sustainability not a cost, but a smart, long-term investment for hotels.

The Andaman and Nicobar administration has decided to build 5-star resorts at five locations, including the uninhabited Aves Island, which will be opened for tourism for the first time. The other four eco-tourism properties will come up at Neil Island, Megapode Resort in Port Blair, Long Island and Smith Island.