Category Archives: MOT

Gurpal Singh Chahal (IAS), Deputy Commissioner – Ferozepur District, Government of Punjab, informed that recently Punjab Government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore for developing light and sound show at the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala Border. The Indo-Pak Retreat Ceremony at Hussainiwala Border is a popular activity and can be witnessed from as close as 100 feet from the Zero Line. If developed and marketed properly, this can outshine the retreat ceremony at Wagah Border.    

The Directorate of Tourism, Jammu is now trying to promote a little-known destination in the UT called Kishtwar. Rupinder Brar, Additional DG, MoT, said that Kishtwar is blessed with beautiful geaography and rich culture, and has immense potential with regard to several types of tourism, ranging from nature to ethnic tourism. She said, “We need to work with the local administration and develop connectivity to the destination, hospitality units workforce quality and marketing strategy for Kishtwar. We are planning roadshows and other promo activities to promote the region extensively.”

G Kishan Reddy, Cabinet Minister for Tourism & Culture, held a review meeting with ministers and senior officials of the northeastern states on development of tourism and promotion of the culture of the region. At the meeting held in the Assamese city of Guwahati, representatives shared their commitment to the holistic and inclusive development of the tourism sector in the Northeast.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has said that the Ministry will participate in World Expo 2020, being organised from Oct 2021 to March 2022 in Dubai. “We will especially be undertaking a major promotion during the tourism fortnight, which will be organised from December 31, 2021 to January 13, 2022 at the Expo. We look forward to participating as an important stakeholder at the India pavilion in Dubai,” he added.

Cabinet Minister for Tourism & Culture, G Kishan Reddy, along with Ministers of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal and Meenakshi Lekhi, recently reviewed the various initiatives undertaken at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, including the virtual museum and the audio-visual App.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism (MOT), has revealed that in order to promote tourism and to augment tourist arrivals to the Buddhist sites in India, the MOT is proposing to organise the 7th International Buddhist Conclave in November 2021. “The exact dates will be revealed when we are proposing it at Delhi, Bodhgaya and Rajgir,” he shared.

Eco-tourism has been identified as one of the niche tourism areas by Ministry of Tourism for development in the country. Recognising the potential for the development of eco-tourism in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has identified ‘Eco Circuit’ as one of the 15 thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. MOT has been laying stress on maintenance of environmental integrity, considering the importance of developing tourism in an ecologically sustainable manner.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has shared that the goal with the MICE tourism strategy would be to increase the number of MICE events that take place in the country. We see that we have a very small percentage of the global MICE market, and that a large number of Indian groups and Indian MICE events are held abroad as people like to Southeast Asia, Middle East or Maldives to hold MICE events. Hence, the short terms strategy would be to attract some of them because of the restrictions on travel, and if they are doing any MICE events, to encourage them to hold them at many places in India, instead of going to neighbouring countries.”

Rakesh Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has said that they will be appointing international marketing representatives within 3-4 months. “We have done preliminary work before 2nd wave . We identified some of the markets, where we need to position these representatives. We are working on it, and in about 3-4 months, we would be having them in position, so that whenever international travel happens, we will have them on ground to really help us,” he added.

G Kishan Reddy, Cabinet Minister, Tourism & Culture, met with ML Khattar, CM, Haryana, where they discussed several matters pertaining to the overall development of tourism in the state & propagation of its cultural heritage. Also, he met Oinam Lukhoi Singh, Minister of Tourism, Manipur, and deliberated on key issues in improving tourism in the state of Manipur.