Category Archives: MOT

India’s foreign trade policy will offer a slew of incentives for hotels, tourism, transport, education, and healthcare industries, sectors that were the worst hit by the pandemic. “We are mulling a package for the services sector. But we are yet to finalize it, and discussions are still on. We want to support sectors that really require it, like tourism, hospitality, education, etc., and not those unaffected by the pandemic,” revealed a government official. According to estimates by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), shared with the government, travel and transportation services, one of the worst hits during the pandemic, are set to make a strong recovery in the current fiscal.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, has said that the Ministry of Tourism will be setting up a National Tourism Board, which will have a CEO at the helm. It will formulate specific strategies for promotion in different countries by coordinating with respective international missions. He was speaking at the Hospitality and Tourism Conclave organised by Services Export Promotions Council (SEPC).

Travel experts at Bounce analysed the world’s landmarks on a variety of factors including annual visitor numbers, entry prices, Tripadvisor ratings, and Instagram posts, to reveal the world’s most loved landmarks. in Taj Mahal in India is the 2nd best-loved landmark in the world, with 6,532,366 annual visitors, following Niagara Falls in Canada with 11,700,000 visitors annually.

G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism & Culture, has said that Green Tourism Mission is making sustainability the premises of the tourism mandate. He also informed the recent initiatives including the setting up of resource centres to guild our villages to learn global practices & listing Green Tourism on the priority list of the G20 presidency to encourage responsible hospitality.

The central government has issued new guidelines for the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) availed by employees, which will now include air tickets. The Centre in a missive sent to all central ministries and departments said that the Department of Expenditure’s circular from June regarding air travel on government duty will also be applicable for air travel for LTC. The circular stated that air tickets to be availed under LTC shall be only bought from three Authorised Travel Agents (ATAs), which are Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited, Ashok Travels and Tours and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation. LTC is an allowance given to employees for meeting travel expenses when the employee is on leave from work. The same is exempted from tax under the Income Tax Act.

G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture & DoNER, recently visited and reviewed works at Tourist Facilitation Centre and amphitheater funded by GoI at Srisailam in AP. It will be the biggest amphitheatres in the country with a capacity of 2000 guests and will showcase the cultural & spiritual connection of the place.

G Kamala Vardhan Rao, Director General, Tourism, has revealed that the Ministry of Tourism is working towards increasing the number of guides and tourist facilitators by training them in a big way because the country will be taking residency for G20 from December onwards.

Addressing the second international conference on hospitality and tourism- revival strategies, Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism said, “The worst of the pandemic is behind us and it is time for us to rethink and reboot our strategies given the experience we have gone through in the past two years.” 

Rupinder Brar, former ADG, Tourism said, “Tourism is truly a game changer for India, both in terms of showcasing to the world the cultural and the varied heritage that we have, thereby also creating tremendous job opportunities, and entrepreneurial opportunities that exist.” 

The union government plans to develop 75 sites along the banks of River Ganga and its tributaries as eco-tourism hubs. This initiative is aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and will boost the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the move aims to promote sustainable tourism. Under this initiative, the government will promote activities like village tours, river walks, jungle safaris, and biodiversity watches. The government will also help homestays, and health and wellness centres at the chosen sites.