Category Archives: MOT

Rupinder Brar, ADG, Tourism, recently informed the tourism stakeholders recently that MOT, in partnership with the Public Health Foundation of India would be organising a series of workshops and seminars for various segments of the travel and hospitality industry on health and safety during and post COVID times. She urged all Associations to ensure that their members participate in these workshops. Further, if there was any segment for which they would like these workshops to be arranged, they may inform MOT.

In a meeting held between industry stakeholders and Ministry of Tourism, chaired by Rupinder Brar, ADG, MOT, it was shared that SOPs are required for the segment of transport operators as well, since these are not included in the present SOPs. The meeting was held to discuss preparedness of stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries to received international tourists once the e-Tourist Visa is restored, with required protocols in place.

Virtual Bharat Parv 2021 was inaugurated in New Delhi by Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State, Tourism and Culture. The event will continue till 31st January. “Every state apart from West Bengal has participated in the Virtual Bharat Parv. The aim behind the event is that we analyse the year-long activities done with our executives and also plan the activities of the coming year and how we will move forward,” he said.

Giving fresh boost to tourism and adventure sports, the Union Ministry of Tourism & Culture Prahlad Singh Patel visited Kargil on the occasion on National Tourism Day on January 25, 2021 to inaugurate the National Event of Adventure Tourism (NEAT Kargil 2021). He also announced a branch of the Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering (IISM) in Kargil to encourage the local youth to take up adventure.

Arvind Singh, Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI) and a 1988 IAS officer of Maharashtra Cadre, has been appointed as the new Secretary of Tourism, GOI, and will be taking charge on February 1, 2021.  He will be replacing Yogendra Tripathi, who, after more than 2 years as Tourism Secretary, will be joining as Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. Singh, had also served as Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) in Government of Maharashtra.

Ministry of Tourism will organise Bharat Parva 2021 on a virtual platform. There will be a small physical event, and the main event will continue till 31st January, which will have state pavilions showcasing various handicrafts, culinary attractions, culture, activities, etc. Attendees can explore the event at bharatparv2021.com. There will also be cultural performances, which could be viewed online.

Tourism Minister PS Patel recently conducted a presentation on the development of tourism across the Ganga Basin, where Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, DG, National Mission for Clean Ganga and senior officers of the ministry were also present. In a tweet, Patel revealed that decisions were taken on the location and components of the project.

Tourism Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel informed that they are developing Tourism Maps for tourists to get alerts for monuments and tourism destinations on their route. “We have asked Google to make tourism maps. Google Maps is already there, but if someone is on a tourism highway, it would give an alert,” he said.

To promote inbound tourism, the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) has released the revised guidelines for the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) for overseas promotions by tourism service providers. Under the new guidelines, the service providers will be entitled to more financial benefits and simple claim process. The guidelines will be effective from 1st January 2021.

Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Wednesday virtually attended the 39th Board of Governors Meetings of the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) along with other office bearers at the Ministry of Tourism headquarters in Delhi. He announced the commencement of a national competition in Kargil from January 25 during the meeting.