Category Archives: MOT

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.

Rohan Khaunte, Minister, Goa Tourism, met with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, Govt of India, to discuss improving international connectivity and expediting the PRASHAD scheme for the Basilica of Bom Jesus. He emphasised the need for more direct international flights and robust support from the Centre to enhance Goa’s tourism infrastructure and promotional efforts to attract more foreign visitors.

“Kashmir region has experienced a surge in tourism, with footfall increasing by over 15% since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic”, said, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, Govt of India, at the 25th Annual National Convention of the Tourist Guides Federation of India, held at the SKICC in Srinagar while emphasising the robust growth in domestic tourism across India.

The Ministry of Tourism has formulated guidelines for ‘Challenge Based Destination Development’ as a sub scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme to enhance tourist experience and to transform tourist destinations as sustainable and responsible destinations. It has selected 42 destinations under four categories: Spiritual Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Vibrant Village Program, Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites for development under the above scheme.

Addressing hoteliers, Dr. Sagnik Chowdhury, DDG & Regional Director (Western & Central), MOT, said, “Guests from all parts of the world visit India, and the hospitality sector is essentially a melting pot of cultural exchanges. Enhancing guest experiences is our core offering; we are more than just venues to stay. I emphasize on the need for the hospitality industry to focus on sustainability and community ties and implored the industry to dovetail its trade with the tangible heritage and intangible cultural heritage which are India’s core strengths.

Mugdha Sinha, a 1999 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed as the new Director General, Ministry of Tourism. Before this, she was the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture and has replaced Manisha Saxena, IAS (AGMUT:96), who is now the Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Sinha was the first woman officer to be posted as ADM-1 (Additional District Magistrate) in Jaipur, second-in-command to the Collector. She also served in the CM’s office for two years.

Addressing hospitality industry stakeholders at the HRANI annual conference in Greater Noida, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, said that he understands the pain points of the tourism and hospitality industry and will take up the long-standing demands like infrastructure status and GST with PM and FM to find a lasting solution.

A visa-on-arrival facility is available to citizens of Japan, South Korea, and the UAE if they are visiting India for tourism, business, conference, and medical purposes. This visa is valid for 60 days with the flexibility of double entry, said MOT. However, it is available only at 6 designated airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.