Category Archives: States

Rajasthan tourism department has initiated the formulation of a new tourism policy. Nihal Chand Goel, Additional Chief Secretary-Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, informed that the department has started consultation process with various stakeholders on a range of elements to be incorporated in the new policy and the tourism department plans a huge campaign in the coming days in the conventional as well as new emerging mediums to lure tourists to the state in a big way. “Rajasthan tourism will kick-off a multi-modal and a multi-crore global marketing campaign, inspired by the Incredible India campaign, and the success of states like Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in recent times,” he said. Besides organising music and folk festivals, new exhibitions and events for tourists will be organised to allow enable tourists to spend more time in the state. Goel further added that upgrading tourist facilities are a priority for the department which includes infrastructure like integrated plan for roads, tourist police, cleanliness drives and government-to-government partnerships. The launching of intra-state aviation connectivity between Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur is also part of the initiative to save time for tourists who require speedy travel modes, added Goel.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has opened Maharashtra Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology in Solapur district, approved by Ministry of India Tourism in collaboration with Central Government and State Government. It was inaugurated on 5 January. Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, Jaykumar Jitendrasinh Rawal, stated, “The hospitality and tourism industry in Maharashtra is expected to grow at a rapid pace between now and 2025. This institute will be a prime institute in the field of hospitality education in Solapur. The decision to foray into hospitality education comes with the intention of bridging the demand supply gap created within the food service sector,  particularly the restaurant and fast food business outlets, which lack skilled manpower. MTDC intends to provide food services in clean and hygienic environments, mainly in the interiors of Maharashtra. The institute will try to address these critical issues by training students. The institute will also have tourism MTDC branch for tourists. The tourism department is also working on constructing a textile museum which will offer the new generation a glimpse of the bygone era. We also plan to build a resort for tourist in Pandharpur, Solapur district which will be operational soon.   Solapur district will soon be announced as the spiritual destination place and will have a tourist circuit available for all. MTDC will soon implement on building an information center near Siddheswar temple which will provide appropriate information to the tourists.

The cash crunch has severely affected the tourism sector since demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 currency notes came into effect from November 8 last, stated Kadakampally Surendran, Minister – Co-operation, Tourism and Devaswoms, Govt. of Kerala. There has been a decrease of 10-15 per cent in the number of foreign tourists arriving while the number of domestic tourists dipped by 20-30 per cent, he added. He pointed out that the state netted a revenue of Rs 25,000 crore every year from the tourism sector. “The currency crunch arose during the tourism season itself and so, things went wrong to a great extent,” Surendran said, adding that foreign tourists were not getting enough cash at airports on their arrival. Tourists were also spending very little money in the state now which had affected the local traders, he stated. The houseboat business, one of the main attractions of backwater tourism in Kerala, was “on the verge of collapse”, he said and added that the state government would do “everything possible” to boost the tourism sector. Surendran, who also holds the Co-operation portfolio, said the cooperative sector was in a “bad shape” and alleged that even though the Supreme Court had directed for provisions for cash in the sector, no step had been taken in that regard.

Tour operators from across the country visited Kashmir recently as part of a three-day familiarisation tour organised by the state tourism department with an aim to revive tourism in the valley. The visiting team expressed satisfaction over the return of normalcy in the Kashmir Valley and hoped that the tourists would return as the situation is conducive for sightseeing. Representatives of travel companies like Cox and Kings, Pooja Holidays, Raja Rani, Kaisri Travel, Thomas Cook, etc. were taken to Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The travel agents came from West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Mahmood Shah, Director of Tourism, J&K Government, says, “People would often ask if Kashmir is safe. Now that the situation is getting better, we invited leading tour operators here. We hosted them around Christmas.” (Source: ANI)

Goa is all set to have the sixth edition of its two-day tribal festival, which will be organised by the Adivasi Sangatna, Quepem on January 7-8, 2017. The festival aims at reviving, promoting and preserving the state’s traditional games, culture and cuisine, especially the customs of the tribal population. There will be various events, competitions, folklore programmes and special programmes for children. The festival is being organised at the Village Panchayat Ground, Xeldem, Quepem.

Along with its successful ‘God’s Own Country’ campaign, Kerala will now be promoted as the ‘Land of the Biennale’ as well, says U.V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism. The new moniker comes in line with the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) by the Government of Kerala, which allocated Rs. 7.5 crore towards operational expenses for the KMB’s ongoing third edition – besides committing to finding India’s only Biennale a permanent venue. “Kerala Tourism has allotted around Rs. 6 crore to promote both the biennale and the state through ad films, national and international road shows and campaigns as well as other initiatives,” Jose said. Noting that the theme of the new campaign would be related to art, he said the Tourism Department had sanctioned Rs 60 lakh for a film to promote Kerala as the land of the Biennale. “For the next three months, over the duration of the Biennale, Kerala Tourism will showcase it at national trade fairs, international road shows and tourism and trade conventions. We will also roll out the ‘Live Inspired’ campaign, which is themed around the inspiration and pride of having the chance to view and experience such top class artworks here,” he added. The Director said that while the state was known for such distinctive offerings as its Ayurveda therapies and houseboats, the Biennale would be added to that list of iconic Kerala products. He noted that there were already links between the Biennale and the Muziris Heritage Project with Kottapuram fort in Kodungallur being one of the 12 venues for KMB 2016.

Maharashtra Tourism’s new initiative — Maharashtra Unlimited — is an umbrella programme to boost tourism infrastructure in the state. Jayakumar Rawal, Tourism Minister, Government of Maharashtra, informed that as part of the initiative, Mumbai-Lonavla-Pune circuit and Mumbai-Igatpuri-Nashik circuit will be developed as tourist stretches where tourism events will be promoted and roads and five-star hotels will be developed in order to promote the same. A heritage policy on 450 forts in the state is also in the pipeline. “The upkeep and development of the forts has been the focus of the tourism department since long. Sambhaji Raje, descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and social reformer Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj of Kolhapur have been chosen as the brand ambassador for the same. Plans are afoot to develop the government area around forts by introducing tourist amenities like tents and hotels,” said Rawal. The state also plans to develop Konkan coast on the lines of amenities and tourist facilities seen in other coastal regions like Goa and Kerala. “Wellness centres in Lonavla and Igatpuri are in order, apart from starting a boating competition in Mumbai on the lines of ‘Boat Grand Prix’,” he said.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) have entered into an agreement to allow tourists to visit the depth of a WCL coal mine in Saoner, tour an eco-park and visit the open cast mine in Gondegaon. To raise awareness about the importance of coal mining, the tourists will be taken inside Saoner Underground Mine No. 1 up to 1.5km from its entrance which is located about 37km from the city. A man riding system will take the tourists inside and WCL and a guide will facilitate this trip, taking them about 100m down from the ground surface. According to the five-year MoU signed between MTDC and WCL, the tourism facilities for visitors, bookings and marketing of the concept will be done by MTDC. Source: Economics Times

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) recently organised its first ‘Sarangkheda Festival’ from December 13-27 in order to boost tourism in Nandurbar. The festival witnessed the arrival of more than 2,000 horses at its market place which is also one of the largest horse fairs in the country. The festival also showcased horse dance show and powra, a tribal dance by the locals of Nandurbaug district. MTDC also organised a host of initiatives such as the Tourism Conclave, Uttar Maharashtra Ratna Gaurav Puraskar and Horse Painting exhibition. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis mentioned that the government is committed to take the Sarangkheda horse fair to a global platform and that the fair should become a brand on the lines of Pushkar’s camel fair. The Chief Minister and the Tourism Minister also spoke about positioning Nandurbaug as a tourist hub through Sarangkheda Festival. Jaykumar Jitendrasinh Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra said, “To give the state a further impetus in terms of tourism, Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra and MTDC organises various festival like Ajanta Ellora Festival, Nagpur Festival, Koradi Festival, Kalidas Festival and now the Sarangkheda Chetak festival and many more. To highlight the array of destinations and varied facets of Maharashtra, we plan to work towards development of proper infrastructure for tourists and utilise the budgets for the development of these destinations. One such festival, Sarangkheda Chetak Festival, which is a 500-year-old fair but, remained ignored for so many years. But, now, we are committed to take it to a global platform through development of infrastructure, marketing and branding. We also plan to have a horse museum for tourists that will enlighten them about the various qualities of breed, …

Assam Tourism has appointed leading Bollywood lady Priyanka Chopra as its brand ambassador. She has signed a two-year contract with the state government to promote Assam tourism both at the national and international levels. This was informed by Himanta Biswa Sarma, Tourism Minister, Government of Assam. Sarma said “She would arrive here on Saturday and address an international tour operators’ meeting. She will also feature in still and video commercials of Assam tourism and promote Assam tourism wherever she goes.” Talking about the marketing plans of the state tourism, Sarma said, “This time, our tourism campaign will go global instead of being confined within the country. We will focus on countries like the UK, the US, Japan and Germany.” He further informed that the financial component of the tourism campaign will be included in the next budget and while Chopra will not charge anything for being the brand ambassador for Assam tourism, she will be paid a fee for the time she spends shooting for commercials and for whatever activity she undertakes for promotion of state tourism.