Sumita Saroch, JD, Tourism, Rajasthan, speaking at the Expo 2020, has said that Rajasthan offers multiple picturesque settings and culture. During her presentation, she showcased Rajasthan as a social events destination. “Rajasthan Tourism Policy 2020 strongly focuses on promotion of wedding tourism in the state,” she said while presenting the various offerings and facilities for such events.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released latest guidelines for international arrivals from 11th Jan, 2022, under which all international arrivals to India to undergo mandatory home quarantine for 7 days. This must be followed by a RT-PCR test to be carried out on 8th day, and the report has to be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal. All arriving passengers must have ‘Arogya Setu’ App downloaded on their smartphones. Before travelling they have to upload a self-declaration form and a negative RTPCR report of test conducted 72 hr prior to travel. Those arriving from at risk countries have to go for a COVID test at the point of arrival. If negative they will go for 7 day home quarantine and undertake RTPCR test on 8th day, the result of which has to be uploaded on Air Suvidha portal.

Kashmir recorded the highest tourist footfall of decade with a total of 1,27,605 tourists in November in 2021. According to J&K govt officials, the number is more than all the figures in the month in the past seven years. As per officials, only 6327 tourists visited Kashmir in November 2020 which is a lot lesser than the present number of nearly 1,27,000. Dr GN Itoo, Director, Kashmir Tourism, revealed that almost 1,27,000 tourists visited in November and almost 93,000 tourists visited in October and that it is the first time in the past seven years that Kashmir recorded such large numbers of tourists in these two months.

FHRAI has signed MoU with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) to promote hospitality and related infrastructure in the Union Territory. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President represented the hospitality industry at the event and signed the joint MoU for FHRAI at the Real Estate Summit 2021. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs graced the event.

Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UNWTO, said that there is a need to rethink the whole sector, boost rural tourism, and improve safety for travellers. “This has been very tough two years, but we see that in the future, we need to rethink the sector fully and that maybe an opportunity,” she said.

IFEMA MADRID has reconfirmed the dates for the International Tourism Trade Fair: from 19th to 23rd January. The decision has been unanimously approved at a meeting convened by the Chairman of IFEMA’s Executive Committee, José Vicente de los Mozos. The meeting had representatives of the Government of Spain, the Madrid Regional Government, Madrid City Council, the World Tourism Organisation, and private sector organisations. Everyone agreed that “holding FITUR is the best way to ensure support for the tourism sector at a critical time for its full recovery and a return to pre-pandemic business activity levels. Once again, in January, Spain and Madrid will send out a hopeful and unambiguous message about the potential of this industry that needs to get back to normal business activity, an industry that in recent months has demonstrated its tremendous resilience.”

Suba Group is the first pan India hotel group to operationalize EVCS  (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations) on their premises. Electric Vehicles (EV) can now get a quick charge with the DC Fast Charging system at reserved parking areas on the property and get ready for their journey forward while guests enjoy the hospitality of Suba Group. You can have a quick refreshment and avail special F&B offers while your vehicles are getting recharged.

Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has claimed that they are bringing out new hotels almost every day. He informs, “We just signed a contract for another Taj Wellington Mews. We signed another property in a resort in India. We are very much on track to deliver one hotel a month, which can also become 1.5 or 1.3 hotel a month, owing to the lockdown or construction bans because of pollution.”

Puneet Dhawan – Senior Vice President – Operations, Accor India & South Asia, has said that they want to focus on expanding their luxury and premium brands portfolio in India. “Also, we look forward to some of our much-awaited new openings like Novotel in New Delhi City Centre and Jodhpur, an ibis in Mumbai Thane and another in Hebbal, Bangalore,” he said.

Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, visited the Red Fort Museum and claimed that he was delighted to see the museum,w which was developed by Dalmia Cements under the ‘Adopt A Heritage’ scheme. “It is highly experiential, interactive, immensely creative and is the best designed museum in India. My compliments to PM Narendra Modi for promoting PPP in heritage,” he added.