Category Archives: MOT

In a discussion hosted by Indiatourism Guwahati on World NGO Day, panellists concurred that active participation of NGOs in the tourism sector has been a successful phenomenon in the First World, and that their role in the Northeast is evolving. ‘Such associations for the sustainable development of tourism industry has now gradually started in India,’ the MOT also Tweeted.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, attended the 5th Skiing Graduation ceremony at Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, in Gulmarg, Kashmir, where he addressed the gathering and said that sustainable tourism is the only way to expand the sector and bring expected change in Jammu & Kashmir, revealed a tweet from MOT. He also inspected the facility and encouraged the students.

Post the ease in travel guidelines and resumption of domestic tourism, ITDC along with other industry leaders participated in a webinar organised by Indo Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ISCCI) to discuss the overview of tourism industry in Sri Lanka. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, ITDC joined the discussion along with other eminent dignitaries including Dr Krishna Kumar, Former Union Minister, Government of India, Lt Gen Rakesh Kumar Loomba, PVSM, AVSM, Engineer Naseer Ahamed, Member, Parliament in Sri Lankan Parliament, Mr Dushan Wickramasuriya, Director Marketing of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Mr Aamir Ali, ED, Sri Lanka Airlines. While delivering keynote address during webinar organized by Indo Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ISLCCI) on ‘An Overview of Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka’  C&MD, ITDC highlighted that there is a great potential for improving tourism and tourism related activities between India and Sri Lanka during COVID scenario.  He highlighted the importance of various products such as Buddhist circuit and Ramayana Circuit and mentioned the efforts made by Ministry of Tourism in promoting Indo Sri Lanka tourist relations and strengthening the eco system.  He also highlighted the potential growth in cruise tourism between Sri Lanka and India, Ayurveda and Yoga are the other significant areas of mutual cooperation.

Ministry of Tourism organised a three-day Incredible India Mega Homestay Development & Training Workshop in Darjeeling from February 22 to 24, 2021 to enrich the hospitality skills of the Homestay owners of the region and to ensure a better experience for the tourists. It was organised by MOT Regional Office (East), Indiatourism Kolkata, in association with Eastern Himalayas Travel & Tour Operator Association as Resource Partner and IIAS School of Management as Knowledge Partner.

Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, speaking at the ITM 2021 inauguration assured that the government intervention for tourism is necessary and would come at the right time. “Tourism cannot grow in isolation, but will grow with many other sectors, and the infrastructure-focused budget is going to be a catalyst of that growth. Government is fully aware of the challenges of the sector,” he said.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, in his address at the ITM Virtual 2021, said, “After I joined the ministry, I made my customary calls to all senior dignitaries in the Government and the feedback I got was that the top leadership of the government is looking at tourism sector to be one of the major drivers of the economy in the post-COVID world.”

Meenakshi Sharma, DG, Tourism, will be moving from Ministry of Tourism, according to a circular by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. She will now be joining the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and will be availing promotion. She will join as Additional Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General. Sharma joined MOT in May 2016as ADG and was promoted as DG in May 2019.

ADTOI, with support from MOT, is all set to kick-off its 10th Annual Convention today with support from Ministry of Tourism at Kevadia, Gujarat. The inauguration ceremony will start at 5pm today, and will be graced by the presence of Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State, Tourism & Culture. The business sessions will begin tomorrow, which will see Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism addressing a session on ‘Role of Aviation in Promotion of Tourism’. Rupinder Brar, ADG, Tourism will moderate a session on ‘Technology is Future-Travel Real from Virtual’.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism revealed that to fund the various schemes implemented by MoT during FY2021-22, the Ministry of Finance has earmarked Rs. 2026.77 cr in the Union Budget 2021-22, which is 61% higher than the revised estimates of 2020-21. He added out of this, Rs 950 cr will be used for tourism infrastructure and Rs 670 cr on promotional activities. The rest of the allocation would be used for funding other schemes like capacity building for service providers, champion service sector scheme etc and to meet the establishment expenditure of the Ministry.

Sharing updates on the tourism highlights in the Union Budget 2021-22, Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, revealed that developing expressways will offer better connectivity to tourist sites and in turn will contribute to the development of the tourism sector. He added that construction of the 3500km highway will start in Tamil Nadu next year, which will include Madurai-Kollam Corridor and Chittoor-Thatchur Corridor. He highlighted that AAI Airports in tier-II and III cities, NHAI toll roads, and railway infrastructure will also strengthen the tourism might of the country. The new aesthetically-designed Vistadome LHB coach on tourist routes will give a better travel experience to passengers. Singh also highlighted various initiatives to maintain health and hygiene in the country mentioned in the Budget, including vaccination drives, Urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, and opening of wellness centres in urban as well as rural areas.