Category Archives: MOT

Appreciating the MICE potential in Karnataka, Mohamed Farouk, Director, MOT, Bengaluru, GoI, said, “Karnataka government is establishing a state-specific Karnataka International Travel Bureau, modelled after the framework of MOT’s ICPB, to boost MICE tourism. To further enhance this initiative, the state government should participate in prominent global MICE events to attract more business.”

Appealing to the states to collaborate for tourism acceleration, Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (South), Ministry of Tourism, GoI, said that he believes the interstate travel circuits with bundled packages promoting multiple states or two states in one itinerary should be encouraged with a focus on lesser known destinations for the ease of travellers. It will help in equitable distribution of tourists and will benefit the region.

Ministry of Tourism is aiming to create a tourism assets bank, a new initiative that maps India’s tangible and intangible attractions. From Hyderabad’s biryani to the beaches of Goa, the project will categorise what makes each destination special. V Vidyavathi, Secretary, MOT, said, “The aim is to develop tourism products that resonate deeply with travellers, offering them more personalised and experiential journeys.”

Ministry of Tourism has ramped up efforts to boost tourism across southern states, with a mega conference of South Indian tourism ministers set to take place in Vizag today. Notably, the Ministry has already approved various projects, including ₹30.02 crore plan for Mamallapuram.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 39th IATO Annual Convention that witnessed around 1,200 delegates, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, said, “We need to understand the changing needs of tourists and need to develop products and new destinations from the perspective of the people. With growing opportunities, India is going to become the largest market for tourism in the world.”

Keeping with the Indian tourism industry’s objective of positioning India as a global tourism brand, Mugdha Sinha, DG, Tourism, GoI, urged the tourism stakeholders to work together with the government while inviting them to come up with a draft of code of best practices and ethics by 27 September which is ‘World Tourism Day’ so that the MOT will try to adopt it and advertise and popularise it.”

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) concluded its highly anticipated webinar on 27 August 2024,  titled “Safe Journeys: Enhancing Women’s Safety in Tourism.” Organised by the ATOAI Women’s Collective and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the event marked a significant milestone in the pursuit of safer travel for women. The event saw a robust attendance from various segments of the travel trade, including tour operators, travel agents, and hospitality professionals. Representatives from state tourism departments, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, also participated, underscoring the significance of the event. Mugdha Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in her opening remarks, emphasised the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for women, both as travellers and professionals within the tourism industry. She highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to addressing safety concerns and promoting gender equality across all levels of the sector. The distinguished panel of experts, Hannah Pearson, Regional Director APAC, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), Dilshad Master Kumar, Director Bull’s Adventures & Outward-Bound India Himalaya, Outdoors Leader, TEDx Speaker and Mohit Aggarwal, CEO, Asian Adventures shared profound insights and forward-thinking strategies on safeguarding women in the tourism sector. The discussion left participants with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in enhancing women’s safety within this industry. The key takeaways from the session included several critical areas essential for advancing women’s safety in tourism: First, the importance of adhering to internationally recognised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) was emphasised. These guidelines help ensure consistent and reliable safety practices across different regions and sectors, creating a unified approach that travellers and service providers can trust. Second, the …

Underlining the challenges in attracting more FTAs, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, MOT, says, “We need to understand how we can ramp up air connectivity and ease the visa process for foreign tourists. We also need to work on the cost of reaching India as it is also one of the entry barriers for inbound tourists.”

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Azzan Qassim Mohamed Al Busaidi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, in Delhi. The meeting aimed to boost tourism between the two countries, fostering cultural ties.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “As tourism is a state subject, we have asked all state governments to develop new tourist destinations. The Centre will provide all possible help in the holistic infrastructure development of these places. Whether it is connectivity for commutation or connectivity for communication, we will work on it.” The minister also expressed his desire to collaborate with tourist guides to enhance tourism efforts across the nation.