Category Archives: MOT

During the month of October, 2017, a total of 1.76 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1.05 lakh during the month of October, 2016 registering a growth of 67.3 per cent. During January- October 2017, a total of 12.43 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 7.81 lakh during January- October 2016, registering a growth of 59.2 per cent. The percentage share of top 15 source countries availing e- Tourist Visa facilities during October, 2017 was as follows: UK (18.2%), USA (9.7%), France (6.3%), Germany (6.0%), Australia (4.3%), Russian Federation (4.1%), Canada (3.9%), Thailand (3.7%), China (3.7%), Korea (Rep.of) (2.6%), Spain (2.3%), Oman (2.2%), Italy (2.2%), Netherlands (1.9%) and Malaysia (1.6%). The percentage share of top 15 ports in foreign tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during October 2017 was as follows: New Delhi Airport (53.0%), Mumbai Airport (16.6%), Bengaluru Airport (5.5%), Chennai Airport (5.3%), Dabolim (Goa) Airport (4.5%), Kochi Airport (3.5%), Kolkata Airport (2.5%), Hyderabad Airport (2.4%), Amritsar Airport (2.0%), Trivandrum Airport (1.1%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.0%), Jaipur Airport (0.7%), Gaya Airport (0.6%), Calicut Airport (0.4%) and Tirchy Airport (0.4%).

The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in October, 2017 was 8.76 lakh as compared to FTAs of 7.42 lakh in October, 2016 and 6.83 lakh in October, 2015. The growth rate in FTAs in October, 2017 over October, 2016 has increased to 18.1 per cent, compared to 8.6 per cent in October, 2016 over October, 2015. FTAs during the period January-October 2017 were 79.96 lakh with a growth of 15.8 per cent over same period of the previous year, compared to FTAs of 69.05 lakh with a growth of 9.6 per cent in January- October, 2016 over January- October, 2015. The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during October, 2017 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (21.66%) followed by USA (11.57%), UK (10.23%), Sri Lanka (3.79%), Canada (3.36%), Germany (3.17%), Australia (3.07%), France (2.81%), Russian Fed. (2.81%), Malaysia (2.76%), Japan (2.44%), Thailand (2.10%), China (1.93%), Nepal (1.66%) and Rep. of Korea (1.48%). The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during October 2017 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (32.56%) followed by Mumbai Airport (14.02%), Haridaspur Land Check Post (11.29%), Chennai Airport (6.10%), Bengaluru Airport (5.19%), Kolkata Airport (4.55%), Gede Rail Land Check Post (3.02%), Cochin Airport (2.70%), Dabolim (Goa) Airport, (2.58%), Hyderabad Airport (2.53%), Sonauli Land Check Post (1.86%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.77%), Ghojadanga Land Check Post (1.64%), Amritsar Airport (1.53%) and Trivandrum Airport (1.20%).

Under the ‘Adopt a Heritage Scheme’ of Ministry of Tourism, seven shortlisted companies or Monument Mitras have been given the Letter of Intent for the adoption of 14 monuments, which were presented at the closing ceremony of the three-week-long ‘Paryatan Parv’ at Rajpath Lawns, New Delhi. K.J. Alphons, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Government of India, said, “We had over 1200 events across numerous sites in the country, across schools, monuments etc. In the past 20 days, we have turned India into a land of celebrations with the help of our 18 sister ministries and thanks to the overwhelming participation of our own people.” SBI Foundation was shortlisted for the adoption of Jantar Mantar, Delhi, while TK International Limited would be adopting Sun Temple, Konark; Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar, and Ratnagiri Monuments, Jajpur, Odisha. On the other hand, Yatra Online Pvt. Limited would adopt Hampi, Karnataka; Leh Palace, Jammu & Kashmir; Qutub Minar, Delhi and Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra. Travel Corporation of India Ltd. was shortlisted for the adoption of Mattancherry Palace Museum, Kochi, and Safdarjung Tomb, Delhi. Adventure Tour Operator Association of India (ATOAI) will be adopting Gangotri Temple Area and Trail to Gaumukh, as well as Mt. StokKangri, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. Special Holidays Travel Pvt. Ltd., along with Rotary Club of Delhi was shortlisted for the adoption of Agrasen ki Baoli, Delhi, and NBCC would adopt Purana Quila, Delhi. Arun Jaitley, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister, Government of India, also the Chief Guest presented certificates to the ‘Best Participating Central Government Ministry and Best Participating State Government’ at the closing ceremony. The grand spectacle included cultural performances by different state troops, craft mela showing diverse handicrafts …

According to the data released by Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) during the month of September 2017 were recorded at Rs.13,867 crore as compared to Rs.11,642 crore in September 2016 and Rs.10,415 crore in September 2015. The growth rate in FEEs in rupee terms in September 2017 over September 2016 was 19.1 per cent as compared to the growth of 11.8 per cent in September 2016 over September 2015. FEEs during the period January- September 2017, was recorded at Rs.1,29,871 crore, amounting to a growth of 16.8 percent over same period of previous year. The FEEs during January-September 2016 were Rs.1,11,229 crore and amounted to a growth of 13.7 percent over January- September, 2015.

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with other central ministries, state governments and stakeholders has organised a nationwide celebration of tourism from October 5-25, 2017, called ‘Paryatan Parv’. As a grand finale to the 21-day celebration, a three-day event is being organised at the Rajpath Lawns, New Delhi (between Rafi Marg and Janpath) from the 23rd to 25th October 2017. The event will be open to the public from 12 noon to 10 pm on all three days and will include cultural performances, a crafts bazaar, multi-cuisine food court and other interactive activities to keep visitors engaged at the event venue. The food court will have 50 stalls set up by the states/UTs, each showcasing their distinctive cuisine, the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) with street food from different regions as well as by the Institutes of Hotel Management and ITDC. The crafts mela with 50 stalls will showcase the diverse handicrafts and handlooms of the country, arranged by the state governments and Ministry of Textiles through the Office of the Development Commissioners of Handicrafts and handlooms. There will be 15 Theme State Pavilions where each state will showcase their tourism products and destinations. Cultural performances by troupes from the different states/UTs of the country will be staged from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm on all three days. In addition to the cultural performances by the states/UTs, special cultural events will be staged from 6:00 pm onwards on all three days. These will include ‘Purani Dilli Ki Dastan’ presented by Begum Zakia Zaheer, Syeda Hameed and Rene Singh on 23rd October 2017, “Dhrupad Vocal” by Prashant & Nishant Mallick (Mallick Brothers) on 24th October 2017, …

M. M. Sadana, Dy. Director General, Ministry of Tourism, has been promoted to the post of Joint Director General . He will continue to operate from India Tourism’s Delhi office.

As per latest data released by the Ministry of Tourism, FTAs on e-Tourist Visa during September 2017 was a total of 1.18 lakh tourist as compared to 0.69 lakh during September 2016, registering a growth of 71 per cent. During January-September, 2017, a total of 10.67 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 6.75 lakh during January-September, 2016, registering a growth of 58 per cent. The percentage shares of top 15 ports in tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during September 2017 were New Delhi Airport (53.4 per cent), Mumbai Airport (18.5 per cent), Chennai Airport (6.7 per cent),  Bengaluru Airport (6.3 per cent), Kochi Airport (4.2 per cent), Hyderabad Airport (2.8 per cent), Kolkata Airport (2.2 per cent), Amritsar Airport (1.1 per cent), Trivandrum Airport (1 per cent), Ahmadabad Airport (0.9 per cent), Tirchy Airport (0.8 per cent),  Dabolim (Goa) Airport (0.6 per cent), Calicut Airport (0.5 per cent),Jaipur Airport (0.4 per cent) and Pune Airport(0.2 per cent).

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) this September were 7.23 lakh as compared to FTAs of 6.08 lakh in September 2016 and 5.43 lakh in September 2015, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Tourism. The growth rate in FTAs in September 2017 over September 2016 is 18.8 per cent as compared to 12.1 per cent in September 2016 over September 2015. FTAs during the period January-September 2017 were 71.20 lakh with a growth of 15.5 per cent over the same period of previous year, as compared to the FTAs of 61.63 lakh with a growth of 9.8 per cent in January-September, 2016 over January-September, 2015. The percentage share of FTAs in India during September 2017 among the top 10 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (29.65 per cent) followed by USA (10.24 per cent), UK (7.04 per cent), Sri Lanka (3.98 per cent), Australia (3.50 per cent), Malaysia (3.32 per cent), Germany (2.57 per cent), Japan (2.50 per cent), China (2.46 per cent) and Canada (2.40 per cent).

K.J Alphons, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism along with Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Culture, officially inaugurated the ‘Paryatan Parv’ celebrations at Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi. A microsite on the project ‘Adopt a Heritage’, www.adoptaheritage.in, was unveiled during the inauguration of the event jointly by the ministers. Speaking on the occasion, Sharma stressed on the close linkage of culture and tourism in the country and how we need to work on making India’s rich cultural heritage as tourism attractions. Alphons in his address highlighted the need to drastically improve the tourist arrivals in the country. He also said that tourism is needed for two reason namely providing employment to the people and to become an engine of growth. The ‘Paryatan Parv’ activities began with the flagging of the cycle rally by Rashimi Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, from India Gate to Qutab Minar on the morning of October 5. Approximately 80 cyclists from across Delhi including members of tourism industry stakeholders, officials from central ministries, doctors, teachers, students participated this rally. The other activities in the capital included a guided Heritage walk at Humayun’s Tomb & painting competition for children etc. Tourism awareness ‘Walk & Run’ were organised in Shillong , Bhubaneswar , Kovalam (Kerala), Hajipur (Bihar), Gurudaspur, Chennai, Guwahati, Mumbai, Ahmedabad , Jaipur, Imphal, Lucknow, Agra, Hyderabad , Gwalior, Bhopal, Panaji (Goa), and Delhi. Hundreds of student from Institute of Hotel Management in these cities and other local stakeholders enthusiastically participated. The various State Tourism Departments also joined the celebrations by organising various events like trekking programme, photography contest, essay competitions, sensitisation program etc. In Guwahati , the students took to rowing in the Brahmaputra …

Alphons Kannanthanam, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Tourism has said that the Ministry of Tourism observed ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ during September 16 to October 2, 2017, by organising various cleanliness activities/programmes at the premises of its offices/educational institutions/prominent tourist places, etc. All educational institutes under Ministry of Tourism adopt at least one tourist place to maintain cleanliness in a sustainable way. Addressing the media, he said that the Prime Minister called upon the nation to begin a campaign, ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’, ‘Cleanliness is Service’, from September 15 to October 2, 2017 which coincided with the “Swachhta Pakhwada” of M/o Tourism. Ministry had organised Swachhta Drive at various tourist/pilgrim places all over the country through the its India tourism offices. The campaign had been organised at more than 80 places all over the country during the period which was kick started at Juhu Beach on September 15, 2017. Besides, major clean-up activities, pledge swearing, awareness activities, essay competition, nuked natak etc were organised during the campaign. The Minister said that he himself volunteered various cleanliness activities at India Gate on September 17, 2017, at Janpath Market on the World Tourism Day (September 27, 2017) and at Smith village, Shillong, Meghalaya on  September 30, 2017. Officers of Ministry of Tourism as well as Students from Institutes of Hotel Management (IHM) were also present. The cleanliness activities carried out by the the Minister at various spots drew the attention of visitors as well as shopkeepers/ vendors and conveyed the importance of maintaining the places clean to the public. Minister interacted with the visitors as well as shopkeepers and urged everyone to contribute to make the country clean and beautiful. He also administered the …