Category Archives: MOT

While addressing the 3rd edition of ‘Virasat,’ Mugdha Sinha, DG, Ministry of Tourism, GoI, said, “There is a ‘symbiotic relationship’ between culture and tourism and the latter pillion rides on cultural assets as destination pullers. Culture and tourism are the two sides of the same coin, like Janus, the Roman god.” She noted India attracted 1.45 per cent of global tourists in 2023.

Expressing his hope on revamped Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) to increase foreign footfall in India, Subhash Goyal, Founder & Chairman, STIC Travel & Air Charter Group, said, “The government should reopen Indian Tourism offices abroad and increase the publicity budget to promote foreign tourism in India otherwise it will depend only on digital platforms.”

Tourism minister of Andhra Pradesh, Kandula Durgesh, has requested Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for fast-track approvals for Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for proposed Swadesh Darshan projects. He informed the minister that tourism development in AP would proceed through central government schemes like PRASAD, Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and the special assistance to states for capital investment Scheme. “Development work at the Simhachalam temple in Visakhapatnam is complete by 60 per cent and the tendering process for the Annavaram temple development in Kakinada district has been finalised,” he said.

The Ministry has launched a revamped version of Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) as a comprehensive resource for stakeholders. Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, says, “IIDP offers real-time weather updates, city exploration, and essential travel services. The portal has also partnered with several OTAs for bookings. The ministry encourages state governments to include soft components involving the use of technology to enhance visitor experience at major tourist destinations.”

Uttar Pradesh government is planning to invest nearly Rs 50,000 crore in seven new expressway projects in the next 2-3 years. This will connect about 30 districts to the vast expressway network in the state. The combined length of these expressways is 866 km, connecting areas with Lucknow-State Capital Region and the Delhi NCR. At present, UP accounts for the largest network of expressways in India, either operational or under construction.

Digi Yatra has ambitious plans for 2025. Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation, reveals, “Our partnership with IATA for the IATA One-ID X Digi Yatra for enablement of Digi Yatra for International flow will drive growth in 2025. The platform intends to support all 22 official Indian languages. It also aims to conduct an international pilot project, enabling foreign passengers with e-passports to experience its seamless ecosystem.”

Union Tourism Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “The ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh is expected to attract 30 lakh international visitors.” He added, “Initially, we had estimated around 15 lakh foreign visitors, which does not include non-resident Indians. However, looking at the response we have revised this to double our earlier estimate.”

Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Culture, UP, informed that under the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy 2022, the state has received investment proposals worth ₹1 trillion in the hospitality sector in the last two years. The proposals were received after the state organised the Global Investors Summit in February 2023.

Skyscanner has observed a significant increase in travel interest for the Maha Kumbh, with elevated booking volumes from January 12 continuing through February 26 aligning with key dates of the holy dip rituals. It also sees huge interest from international travellers, and the top five international cities that have searched for travel to Prayagraj around these dates are Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Doha. This data underscores how travellers across India and the world are gearing up to immerse themselves in the spiritual grandeur of the Maha Kumbh, making it a pivotal travel moment for 2025.

Highlighting the tourism growth, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, said, “The govt is taking decisive steps to decongest bottlenecks and facilitate budget travellers. Our focus on integrating state tourism policies ensures a robust and unified approach to infrastructure development across India. In the past six months, I have witnessed tremendous efforts across states to harness tourism potential. Together, we must work collectively to elevate India’s tourism to new heights.”