Category Archives: MOT

The Ministry of Tourism has clarified that the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India from the USA during 2017 have registered a positive growth of 6.17 per cent over 2016. Since 2010, the number of FTAs from the USA in India has never declined. However, it is observed from the report of National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO), USA, that the outbound tourists from the USA to India have declined by 7 per cent in 2017, as compared to 2016. The figures of outbound travellers in the report are 1,195,000 and 1,111,000 for the years 2016 and 2017, respectively. In the said report released by NTTO, it is also mentioned that traveller volume is based on the US Department of Homeland Security Advanced Passenger Information System wherein all airlines are required to electronically submit passenger data on flights arriving into and departing from the United States. Thus, it is obvious that the source of data for the report is only airlines reporting. In the cases where direct flight between the USA and India is not operating, it is not known whether the final destination is reported as India by the passengers. Moreover, departures at international check posts other than airports are not captured in the report.

The maiden India Tourism Mart (ITM) is being organised from September 16-18, 2018 by the Ministry of Tourism, along with Federation of Associations in Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) at The Ashok, New Delhi. The mart will be formally inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Railways, Coal and Corporate Affairs, in the presence of KJ Alphons, Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Tourism. The mart is being attended by 250 delegates from 60 countries, who also attended the Paryatan Parv at the Rajpath Lawns. The buyers were welcomed at The Ashok by Nakul Anand, Chairman, FAITH, who met with all the presidents of associations under the FAITH umbrella, as well as the exhibitors. ITM will give an opportunity to the buyers to see world-class tourism facilities available in the country such as airports, hotels, tourist destinations, MiCE facilities, potential in the field of adventure tourism and other niche products.

The Paryatan Parv by the Ministry of Tourism was inaugurated by Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister, in presence of KJ Alphons, Union Minister for Tourism; Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and other dignitaries from participating Central Ministries and State Governments at Rajpath Lawns, New Delhi. This is the second edition of Paryatan Parv — a nation-wide celebration of Tourism, from September 16-27, 2018. Inaugurating the Parv, Singh said that India is the only country where all major religions of the world, diverse culture, customs and cuisines are found, and we should see and experience this Incredible India. The Home Minister added that the Government has ensured ‘ease of travel’ through various steps like simplification of process of e-tourist visa application. The Minister also urged Indians to visit various places in the country and thereby understand its rich and varied culture and heritage, while also enjoying its natural beauty. Speaking at the event, Alphons said that Indians have made 1.8 billion domestic trips in the last year and added that the Ministry is aiming for twice these visits in next 3 years. The Tourism Minister also called upon everyone to see, experience and get transformed by travelling across India.

The Ministry of Tourism’s second edition of Paryatan Parv from September 16-27, 2018, will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Rajpath Lawns, revealed Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. She also said that the event will happen on the sidelines of the maiden India Tourism Mart to be held at The Ashok, New Delhi, which will be inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways on September 17, 2018. Sharing details of the 12-day long Parytan Parv, Verma said, “This year’s event will be much bigger in scale than the one organised last year. With Paryatan Parv, we want to create awareness about the importance of tourism amongst the people of the country and how it’s a major sector for creation of jobs and contributor to the economy of the country. We want to explain to the people that tourism is not an elite activity but it is for people from every strata of the society. Themed on ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, Paryatan Parv is being held in collaboration with all the 32 states and Union Territories as well as many other ministries. The idea is to encourage people to visit the touristic sites around the country. The event will feature 18 pavilions, 54 food stalls and 76 handicraft stalls from across the country through which, people will be able to experience the culture, food and crafts from various states.”  

K J Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Government of India will be inaugurating the project ‘Development of Tribal Circuit: Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat- Kamleshpur- Maheshpur- Kurdar-Sarodadadar- Gangrel- Kondagaon- Nathiya Nawagaon- Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh’ implemented under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, in Gangrel, Chhattisgarh on September 14, 2018. This is the second project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme being inaugurated in the country. This project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in February 2016 for Rs 99.21 crores. The project covers 13 sites in Chhattisgarh, namely, Jashpur, Kunkuri, Mainpat, Kamleshpur, Maheshpur, Kurdar, Sarodadadar, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Nathiya Nawagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot, Tirthgarh. Development of Tribes and Tribal Culture is one of the prime area of focus for the Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry is carrying out an array of activities for development and promotion of tourism in the tribal region.  The Ministry is developing the tourism infrastructure in the region under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan. Under the tribal circuit theme of the scheme, the Ministry has sanctioned four projects to Nagaland, Telangana and Chhattisgarh for Rs 381.37 crores. Major components sanctioned include eco log huts, craft haats, souvenir shops/ kiosk, tourist reception & facilitation centres, open amphitheatre, tribal interpretation centres, workshop centres, tourist amenities centres, last mile connectivity, wayside amenities, viewpoints, nature trails, solar illuminations, signages solid waste management, etc. These components are perceived to improve existing tourist facilities and enhance the overall tourist experience.  

Every year, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, observes ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ from September 16-30 by organising various cleanliness programmes at the premises of its offices, educational institutions, prominent tourist places, etc. This year, ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ (Cleanliness is service), to be held from September 15, 2018 to October 2, 2018, coincides with the ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’. Indiatourism Mumbai invited Indore Municipal Corporation to interact with Mumbai and neighbouring municipal corporation representatives, travel and tourism fraternity and students to show how the Indore Municipal Corporation has achieved this feat by undertaking cleanliness drive. Indore has worked on retaining its “Cleanest City in India” title for the Swachh Sarvekshan Survey best city award for two consecutive years. The survey aims to encourage large-scale citizen participation and create awareness amongst all sections of society about the importance of working together towards making towns and cities a better place to live in. Dr Uttam Yadav, Health Officer, Indore Municipal Corporation, gave a detailed presentation on the initiative and scientific approach taken in mission mode for bringing Indore the status of cleanest city in India. He focussed on the minute detailing like changing the behaviour of citizens, changing mind set and using services of rag-pickers for loss of work due to cleanliness drive. Further, he highlighted the after effect of the cleanliness drive, which saw decline in the number of cases of health-related issues. Indiatourism Mumbai will be organising cleanliness drive at important tourist sites during the period, including clean-up activities, pledge swearing, awareness activities, essay competition, nukkad natak, etc.

The venue for the upcoming India Tourism Mart (ITM), scheduled to take place from September 16-18, 2018, has been changed by the organisers. The much-awaited travel trade event, which was earlier slated to be held at Vigyan Bhavan, will now take place at The Ashok, New Delhi. Informing about the updated schedule, Subhash Goyal, Hony Secretary, FAITH and Chairman, India Tourism Mart said, “The venue for ITM has been changed by the Ministry of Tourism looking at the overall security arrangements. It will now be held at The Ashok, New Delhi. Other programmes remain intact as per schedule.”  

The collective government spending in India on travel and tourism is expected to reach Rs 367.9 billion (US$ 5.85 billion) in 2028, according to a report by Tourism and Hospitality report by “Collective government spending on tourism by IBEF”. In 2017 the collective spending was Rs 169.8 billion (US$ 2.81 billion), the report said.    

The upcoming India Tourism Mart (ITM), jointly organised by Ministry of Tourism and Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), have selected a total of 274 buyers out of over 600 applications received for the same. MOT and FAITH, with representatives of its various member associations held a curtain raiser of the India Tourism Mart in New Delhi, where updates were shared on the progress of the event scheduled to be held from September 16-18, 2018. Subhash Goyal, Honorary Secretary, FAITH, shared, “We have selected 274 buyers out of over 600 applications by a screening committee to ensure that we only have genuine buyers. For sellers, we have about 16 participating states, out of which the major partner states are Punjab and Gujarat. Around 70 small booths have been taken by tour operators, worth Rs 60,000 on individual basis and Rs 30,000 each on sharing. This totals to about 100 tour operators. Besides, IATO has taken six booths with 12 operators each, for whom IATO has subsidised the rates at around Rs 15,000 each. Similarly, ATOAI has taken a number of booths. We have even given booths for operators in the Northeast.”

The proportion of FTAs in India has not changed much in the last few years. In 2016, the highest numbers of FTAs in India were from 35-44 years age group (21.1 per cent) followed by the age groups of 45-54 years, according to a report by Ministry of Tourism. The proportion of FTAs for the age group of 25-34 years has been the highest from East Asia, West Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Central and South America in 2016,  according to a report by Minsitry of Tourism. The report also says that for Australasia, South Asia and South East Asia was the age group of 35-44 years. The percentage share of the age-group of 45-54 has been the highest for North America and Western Europe.