Category Archives: States

Himachal Pradesh will set up a Tourism Investment Promotion Council (TIPC) to fast-track approvals for projects over ₹50 crore. Chaired by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the council aims to attract private investment with a single-window mechanism, ensuring minimum regulation and time-bound decisions.

Animesh Debbarma, Minister, Department of Forest, Tripura said his ministry has chalked out a plan to set up six eco parks to boost tourism in the state. The estimated cost of each eco park to be set up in six districts, except Dhalai and South Tripura, will be ₹10 crore, and the joint forest management group will run the proposed facilities. He said these tourist facilities, to be built on forest land, will provide a livelihood to the local people.

Kerala will soon launch a four per cent interest loan scheme to support women entrepreneurs in tourism. Backed by 4 crore, the initiative is a joint effort of the Responsible Tourism Mission and KSWDC. With 18,000 women registered across 24 sectors, the project aims to set a national benchmark in women-led tourism.

As part of its continued expansion in North India, the Royal Orchid Hotels has signed a new 43-key Regenta Place in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi. The move aligns with the group’s strategy to tap into high-potential, underserved destinations and cater to the increasing demand for premium hospitality experiences beyond metro cities. The resort is likely to open in September this year.

GRT Hotels & Resorts has launched GReaT Ceremonies, the newly transformed wedding and event spaces at Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels in T. Nagar. Formerly known as the iconic GRT Convention Centre, the venue has been elevated into a contemporary celebration destination that blends modern sophistication, timeless tradition, and signature GRT hospitality under one roof.

Balitrip Wisata has kicked off its India roadshow 2025 in Ahmedabad, attracting over 215 travel agencies from Gujarat. The four-city tour promotes Bali as a top outbound destination among Indian travellers. With the theme “Focus. Delivery. Value.”, the B2B DMC aims to strengthen service excellence and trade partnerships in India.

Aligning with India’s regional development goals, the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) is prioritising the Northeast for expansion. With 15 operational hotels totalling 1,348 rooms in the Northeast and 6 hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline, the brand’s strategy focuses on strengthening its footprint in the East and Northeast, Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL, said.

KB Kachru, President, HAI, said, “With the evolving landscape of the Indian tourism sector, the hospitality sector is also adding more authentic experiences rather than services, increasing its engagement with the local communities, sourcing locally largely and supporting the businesses and economies of the region in which they are located.”

To enhance its tourism sector, the Rajasthan government is focusing on untapped niches such as adventure, rural and tribal tourism. Tourism currently contributes 7.45% to the state’s gross value added (GVA) and 11.35% to employment. By 2030, the government aims to increase these figures to 8.5% and 13%, respectively, with new initiatives targeting lesser-explored tourism segments.

Highlighting the potential of Tamil Nadu, T Christuraj, Director, Tourism Department & MD, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, noted that the state has some of the best infrastructure for conferences and exhibitions. To unlock the full potential of MICE tourism, it must extend beyond Chennai to cities like Kanchipuram, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Salem while bridging infrastructure gaps.