Category Archives: MOT

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and held discussions on promoting the state’s religious sites, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage at the national and international levels. He also requested the Union Minister for cooperation to develop infrastructure in view of the state’s increasing population.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, inaugurated FHRAI’s Centre of Excellence in New Delhi. Billa, said, “It will create a comprehensive data ecosystem and play a vital role in generating analytical insights that can guide government policy and help us better support the industry.”

The union tourism ministry has instructed online travel agents and industry bodies to create transparent refund policies and standard operating procedures to handle air ticket cancellation refunds, following numerous complaints from travellers. The ministry has written to companies such as MakeMyTrip, Yatra, EaseMyTrip, Thomas Cook and Cleartrip and industry bodies including Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), stating there is an “urgent need” to bring in transparency in the cancellation refund process.

Aimed at supporting various states in their tourism development efforts, the Ministry of Tourism ties up with the World Bank to establish a long-term financing for tourism development. Minister of MOT, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat termed the move crucial for enhancing tourism across the country.

Government is exploring visa-on-arrival for countries that send the biggest numbers of tourists to India, said Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism. “We are also working with the MEA to explore ways to engage with top markets to promote India as a global destination,” he added.

Joining in the festive spirit of the city and as the state gears up to commemorate the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland Tourism, supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is all set to host the eagerly anticipated third edition of the Autumn Festival on 18th, 19th and 20th October, 2024 in the lawns of Nagaland House in New Delhi. Following two successful editions, the Tourism department is bringing the festival back with a bang with renewed enthusiasm and extending it to include an additional third day. This festival intends to provide Delhi residents with a glimpse of the vibrant Hornbill Festival, particularly for those unable to travel to Nagaland, while also offering insights for those interested in experiencing this unique festival firsthand. Temjen Imna Along, Minister of Tourism and Higher Education, Government of Nagaland, expressed his delight, stating, “Nagaland is all set to host the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival but before the mega event, our objective is to offer an immersive experience for individuals who are unable to attend in Nagaland through the Autumn Festival. Simultaneously, we aim to enhance the understanding of those who intend to travel for the festival, ensuring they know what to expect. This effort also helps to foster friendships and cultivate a sense of familiarity with each other’s cultures. Given that Delhi is the capital and a melting pot of diverse communities and cultures, it is an ideal location for this festival.” As in past years, the three-day event will feature a diverse array of Nagaland businesses and artists. The best selection of cuisine, handicrafts, textiles, art, and music will be available for everyone to enjoy. Prominent brands …

Ministry of Tourism, along with its India Tourism Offices, IHMs, Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IIT- TM), and ITDC is participating in the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters including 6,331 physical files and 1.803 e-office files that have been identified for review.

The Ministry of Tourism released key statistics recently that stated that over 15 million Indian nationals visited foreign countries in the first half of 2024, compared to over 13.2 million in January-June, 2023. Delhi was the biggest port of departure for Indian nationals, accounting for 24.35 per cent of the traffic. Mumbai was second in the list with 20.09 per cent of the departures. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United States, Thailand, and Singapore were the five biggest destinations for Indian nationals.  

Addressing the World Tourism Day 2024 event, Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice-President, India, stated, “As the tourism sector is booming, MOT & MoCA set to face significant challenges ahead, therefore, the ministers have to be in action 24X7 to fully exploit the enormous potential of Indian tourism.”

Five ministries of Government of India will work with states and UTs to release a masterlist of tourism destinations for development, announced Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MOT, GoI, on the World Tourism Day. The Gol will give free visa to first 1 lakh foreign visitors to India under ‘Chalo India’ drive.