Category Archives: MOT

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, has said that Kushinagar Airport has been built at a cost of over Rs 260 crores and there will be 17 airports in Uttar Pradesh in the coming years. In UP, 8 airports are already functional before Kushinagar airport. Work is on Jewar International Airport after Lucknow, Varanasi and Kushinagar. Apart from that, airport projects are going on in Ayodhya, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad and Shravasti.

G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, spoke at the opening session of the ministry’s conference “Tourism in Buddhist Circuits – A Way Forward” in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday. “Several seminars focusing on the Buddhist circuit and tourism will be held throughout the two-day conference.” The tourism industry’s stakeholders, academics, and the media are anticipated to attend the conference, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs & Minister of Co-operation,  has said that Goa was the most preferred tourism destination in the world and hence PM Modi has taken a decision to allow charter airplanes to fly into Goa from October 15. Also, he added that Mopa airport should be ready in one year and will enhance tourism. “With Goa achieving 100 per cent vaccination, the situation is conducive for tourism,” he claimed.

In a meeting with industry associations on overseas promotions, Ministry of Tourism has proposed in that they wanted to declare 2022-23 as Visit India year, starting from August 15, 2022. “However, we suggested that it should start from January 1, 2022. If they want Visit India Year to be successful and meaningful, they should provide some incentives to the tour operators or tourists who want to visit India. Otherwise, it’d remain just a slogan,” he suggested.

Ravi Gosain, Vice President, IATO, has revealed that MOT met with inbound tourism associations to create an action plan for overseas promotion after the visa opening announcement by MHA. While Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav will be the common theme for all promotions, MOT is planning to declare year 2022-23 as Visit India Year. For Dubai Expo, all associations have been asked to give presentations on the sector they represent. “While IATO will give presentation on Luxury in India as well as Heritage & Culture of India, ATOAI will be focusing on adventure opportunities, while ICPB will present on MICE.”

Arvind Singh, Secretary, MOT, in his address at the Buddhist Circuit conference in Varanasi, shared that in a ministerial meeting, the Prime Minister has said that at the launch of Kushinagar airport, he would like to invite some Buddhist Circuit tour operators as well, so that they can get information about the circuit. Also, there will be 13 Buddhist countries’ ambassadors, as well as airline operators, since the idea is to promote the Buddhist religious tourism in the region.

As part of the Union government’s ”Dekho Apna Desh” initiative Ministry of Tourism in association with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has organised the Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour. Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Tourism & Defence flagged off the Buddhist Circuit special Train from Safdarjung Railway Station, Delhi on Monday. The focus is to bring out the potential of Buddhist tourism through ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ campaign.

Indian government will be opting for reciprocal treatment to foreigners applying for visa, depending on their country’s visa policy for Indian tourists, reports an official of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In a bid to iron out the issues arising due to the travel policies currently, MHA held a meeting under the Union Home Secretary, where it was decided that reciprocal treatment will be adopted for tourists visiting India. He added, “Many countries have opened for tourists from foreign countries but have posed several restrictions for Indian travellers. The issues have been raised with the diplomats of concerned countries to get issues resolved.”

Ministry of Tourism is shifting its overseas office in Paris to Moscow, revealed Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism. On being asked if there will be another office in France, she revealed that there will be another office in Frankfurt, Germany to manage promotions in the region.

Rupinder Brar, ADG, MOT, has said that in the first week of October, we will be taking a domestic FAM tour on the Buddhist train from Delhi to Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Varanasi and then coming back to Delhi. “The idea is to showcase the IRCTC Buddhist train as a product and these destinations as important part of the Buddhist circuit and beyond. Hon. Minister will also be present in the Varanasi leg of the journey,” she updated.