Gauri Chavan, Director, Grape County Eco Resort & Spa, while receiving the ‘Best Wedding & MICE Resort-Maharashtra’ award at the India Travel Awards 2024, said, “It is a testament to our commitment to showcasing Nashik as not only the wine capital but also the wedding capital of India.”

“India is on the path to become the third-largest economy by 2027,” said Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL at the 54th FHRAI Convention, adding that the contribution of tourism can be significant in this. He predicted the sector could double its $250 bn contribution to the GDP in the coming years.

Government is exploring visa-on-arrival for countries that send the biggest numbers of tourists to India, said Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism. “We are also working with the MEA to explore ways to engage with top markets to promote India as a global destination,” he added.

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The winners of the contest will get a chance to win free tickets to India’s first astro tourism campaign Nakshatra Sabha Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board in collaboration with Starscapes, India’s leading astro tourism company, announced the launch of the Nakshatra Sabha astro photography contest, inviting astronomy enthusiasts to capture the beauty of the cosmos. The winner will have the opportunity to win an exclusive ticket to the Nakshatra Sabha, a collaborative astro tourism campaign by Uttarakhand Tourism Board and Starscapes. This initiative is part of the Nakshatra Sabha campaign, which will run throughout the year until mid-2025. The campaign features a series of immersive events held at dark sky locations across Uttarakhand, including the stunning locales of Benital, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and the renowned Kartiswamy temple in Rudraprayag. Each location is thoughtfully selected to highlight the unique characteristics of the region, providing participants with extraordinary celestial views. As part of the contest, participants are encouraged to submit their best astronomy-related photographs, showcasing their creativity and passion for the night sky. The grand prize includes a ticket to Nakshatra Sabha, offering an opportunity for winners to engage with astronomy experts and fellow enthusiasts during an unforgettable experience under the stars. The contest, with a prize pool of ₹5,00,000, offers the highest-ever rewards in the field of astrophotography in India. Each category features exciting prizes: the first prize includes ₹25,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to any Nakshatra Sabha event, covering flights, accommodations, meals, and local travel—valued at ₹75,000. The second prize offers ₹15,000 along with the same all-expenses-paid trip, while the third prize consists of ₹10,000 and the all-expenses-paid trip to Nakshatra Sabha. Entries open on 20th October 2024, and the submission deadline …

Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, projected that the hospitality industry will contribute US $250 bn to India’s GDP by 2030, supporting 137 million jobs. He stressed on the role of long-term financing and regulatory reforms to achieve this vision, aiming for a US $3 tn contribution by 2047.

While receiving the ‘Best Travel Brand – South India’ award on the behalf of GT Holidays, Yamini Karthik, Co-Founder, Director, Operations, GT Holidays, said, “India Travel Awards is one of the most prestigious travel awards and today we are honoured to receive this accolade.”

To highlight Goa as an international tourist destination, the state is planning to conduct roadshows in Poland, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. The state’s tourism department is expected to spend ₹2 crore on the roadshows to enhance the foreign tourist influx attracting visitors of all segments and ages.

Maharashtra government released ₹72.45 crore for the development of eco-tourism in the state recently. Out of ₹273 crore allotted by the state for the period 2024-25 to develop tourism sites, ₹101.31 was released between May to September. Overall, 30 eco-tourism sites will benefit under this.

The Indian hospitality industry is primed to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy, according to Pradeep Shetty, President, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). Addressing the 54th FHRAI Annual Convention on Day 1, Shetty projected that the sector will contribute a substantial $250 billion to India’s GDP by 2030, supporting 137 million jobs. To achieve this ambitious target, Shetty emphasised the need for long-term financing and regulatory reforms. The industry aims to contribute $3 trillion to the GDP by 2047. FHRAI Calls for Regulatory Reforms Shetty highlighted the critical need for long-term financing in the sector, noting that current funding options are limited to 7-8 years. He urged the government to implement regulatory reforms, such as streamlined licensing procedures and single-window systems, to unlock the industry’s full potential. Hospitality Sector Outperforms Other Industries The Indian hospitality industry is already making a substantial impact on the economy, contributing 12-13 per cent to the GDP and employing over 12 per cent of the workforce. These figures surpass those of the automobile and IT sectors, highlighting the industry’s economic significance. Sector to Add 50,000-60,000 Rooms in Next Five Years The President announced that the hospitality sector is set to expand significantly, with plans to add between 50,000 and 60,000 new hotel rooms over the next five years. This expansion will further boost employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic growth. FHRAI Submits Ease of Doing Business Report To address the challenges faced by the industry, FHRAI has submitted a comprehensive report on the ease of doing business in hospitality to the government. The report focuses on critical areas for reform, including simplifying regulatory compliance, reducing licensing burdens, …