Category Archives: MOT

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.

Thanking the govt to offer foreign tourists GST refund for local shopping, FHRAI has proposed to extend this to all shopping. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI, says, “The government is considering piloting the system to offer GST refund on purchases made by foreigners at only Cottage Industries Emporium. This is a welcome move and we request that the benefit be extended to all purchases that they make in the country.”

The government is working on mission mode to foster air, road, train and political connectivity in the North East region. Union Ministrer G Kishan Reddy said, “In the North East more than 80,000 cr has been spent on road connectivity, and 1190 km of railway track projects are underway. In the coming four years, the government plans to establish 100 more airports, and seaplane networks and increase airways connectivity to hilly regions.”

Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism & Culture has informed that to harness the potential of Cruise Tourism in the country, a Task Force has been constituted with Secretary (Tourism) as the Chairman and Secretary (Shipping) as the Co-chairman.

Parliamentary Committee on Tourism has recommended the Ministry of Tourism that a Visa guidance Helpdesk should be present at all the Overseas Tourist Offices as well as the Indian Missions for effective guidance of tourists, as visa rules change from time to time.