Category Archives: States

Starting July 11, people can travel from Delhi and nearby NCR cities all the way to Pokhara in Nepal from the Anand Vihar bus terminal, without any breaks. The Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has joined hands with agencies in Nepal to ply direct AC buses between Ghaziabad and Pokhara. According to reports, the initiative is an outcome of an agreement signed between India and Nepal for regulation of passenger traffic between the two countries in November 2014. The bus service will undertake a journey of around 1,300km in 28 hours.

According to a state report, almost 12 million tourists visited Telangana last year. And the major part of this number is of religious tourists—almost 3.6 million tourists visited the popular Buddhist, Jain and other religious sites in the state, the report reveals. In 2015, the state attracted double the number of pilgrims as compared to that of 2014. And a huge part of the tourist footfall last year is because of the Godavari Maha Pushkaram, which is observed once in 12 years and received plenty of pilgrims and travellers alike. According to the report, almost 10 lakh domestic and international tourists had taken a dip in the Godavari during the festival.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has been selected as a facilitator for the ‘Hunar Se Rojgar Tak’ scheme, launched by Ministry of Tourism – Government of India, to impart valuable courses at state level in the hospitality sector. MTDC has associated with identified hospitality institutions in Maharashtra for the Hunar Se Rojgar Tak scheme which primarily focuses on providing economic empowerment of the youth in the remote parts of Maharashtra. The programmes running under the scheme are free of cost for the students with an aim to empower the under privileged youth of the country ensuring economic benefit through employment generation and to reduce the skill gap that affects the hospitality sector. Dr. K. H. Govinda Raj, IAS, Managing Director, MTDC, said, “We have conducted various courses at Pune, Nasik, Baramati and Nagpur regions under the ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ scheme which has benefitted thousands of students belonging to low economic strata. MTDC has associated with reputed hospitality institutes to provide a skill based training programme in categories like food production, bakery and housekeeping which will help these students to be financially independent. Many students have benefitted from this course and are already employed and started their own career in the hospitality sector. MTDC believes in contributing towards state economy and work hard to enhance the opportunities and support youth’s contribution in the hospitality sector.”

In a bid to attract more tourists to its shores, Andhra Pradesh has launched a host of water sports and adventure tourism facilities. In line with the surge in tourist interest in water sport activities, the state has already introduced a plethora of such facilitates for example parasailing, jeep parasailing, para-motoring, water skiing, speed boat etc. in Bhavani Islands in Vijayawada. Work is also well underway to replicate the same across other key beaches such as Rishikonda, Bheemili, Mangamaripeta, Thotlakonda, among others. Also, two houseboats have been launched with one and three bedroom capacities respectively in the popular tourist destination of Papikondalu in Rajahmundry. To strengthen the tourism development in the state, Andhra Pradesh is also launching 33 hotels offering more than 2766 rooms and with a total investment of Rs. 2400 Cr. Notable global brands such as Taj group, ITC group, Accor group Holiday Inn Associates and JW Marriot Associates etc. has already invested in such projects. Tourism in Andhra Pradesh is also geared up to add a new feather in its cap with the launch of amphibious vehicles in Vijayawada and Rajahmundry. These special kinds of vehicles which can operate on both land and water will give visitors an unforgettable experience. Encouraging Heli tourism, the state is also coming up with sea planes to be functional in Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kakinada. In Vizag, one of such helicopters will be operated from one of the most prominent tourist attractions of Kailasagiri Hills. Site for setting up sea plane jetty has been identified in all the destinations and currently design work is underway. Neerabh Kumar Prasad, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism & Culture, said “We are extremely proud to …

The Odisha Travel Bazzar will be held for the first time on November 27-28 in Bhubaneshwar this year, informed Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister of State – Tourism & Culture, Govt. of Odisha. The event will be held on the lines of Great Indian Travel Bazaar where tour operators from across the world would participate in the mart. Funds to the tune of Rs 2 cr have reportedly been allocated for the travel bazaar. Odisha Travel Bazaar will be held in association with FICCI and will target potential consumers of Odisha’s tourism products from across the globe.

Indian Ambassadors to Croatia, Iceland and Israel have extended an invitation to Goa to promote its tourism products in their respective countries. Welcoming  the  initiatives  for  an exchange  of tourism ties between  Goa  and Croatia,  Iceland and Israel, Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Nilesh Cabral, spoke about Goa’s new tourism  initiatives  recently launched by GTDC. He also impressed on Goa Tourism’s efforts made to augment tourism infrastructure, safety measures and hygiene for tourists visiting Goa. Cabral said, “We would also  like travel and tour operators  from Croatia,  Iceland and  Israel to visit Goa to witness and experience the various tourism facets so that they go back and  enthuse their nationals to visit this State. Goa is now a 365 day tourist destination. We have recently launched a new interactive Website and Mobile App which enables tourists to access information on Goa and plan their vacations accordingly at the click of a button.” Representatives from the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) were also present for the interaction session where several suggestions and ideas were shared on promoting tourism and cultural ties between Goa and the three countries. Insights were also given into monsoon tourism and night life in Goa.

The newly elected Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has brought back Dr. V. Venu, IAS, as the new Tourism Secretary. A Kerala cadre IAS, Dr. Venu was Tourism Secretary in the State during the last Left government between 2006 and 2011. The election manifesto of the Left Front has unequivocally stated its target to double tourist numbers in the next five years. Known for his progressive ideas, Dr Venu was behind the Kerala Tourism’s popular Rural and Responsible Tourism initiatives, which received global acclaim in recent times.

The Maharashtra Government has appointed K.H. Govindraj as Managing Director of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). He will take charge of the new office from June 6, 2016. Govindraj takes over from Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, IAS, who had taken charge as MD in January 2015. He earlier held the post of Secretary of Revenue snd Forest Department.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is offering various tourism services to Infosys employees in Pune at concessional basis. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated this first-of-its-kind project, MTDC’s Tourism Pavilion at Infosys in Pune. Valsa Nair Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, said, “Over 40,000 IT employees work in this campus and this pavilion will provide various tourism-related services under the banner of MTDC, to them on a concessional basis. We plan to provide one-two day short tours on every weekend, special heritage tours, souvenir shop, air tickets, train tickets, passport and visa facilities, adventure tours, all kinds of travel kits, a travel lounge area, selfie point and an experience to wear various Maharashtrian traditional costumes. We can provide bookings for amusement parks, hot air balloon rides, MTDC-backed Asia’s first scuba diving institute (PADI), jungle safaris, the luxury heritage train Deccan Odyssey, Helicopter rides in Mumbai and the opportunity to experience festivals.” Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, IAS, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation highlighted “Sixty per cent of employee strength is not from Maharashtra. We found an opportunity to introduce those to one of the great states of our country. Our aim is to provide them the best tourism facilities. MTDC has already invested around Rs 25 lac to set up this infrastructure.”

Madhya Pradesh Tourism has been sanctioned Rs 98 crores for wildlife circuit project, and Rs 75 crore for Buddhist circuit under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Tanvi Sundriyal, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation informs, “We have been sanctioned Rs 98 crores for Wildlife Circuit, Rs 75 crores for Buddhist circuit and Rs 98 crores in principle for Heritage circuit.” Sundriyal informs, “Wildlife circuit is the one in which we are adding value to the people visiting the wildlife places by giving them something extra. Buddhist Circuit looks at infrastructure development in various Buddhist oriented sites in Madhya Pradesh. These two have been completely approved but the third one, the Heritage circuit has got an in-principle approval. The places which fall under this circuit are Orchha, Khajuraho, Gwalior, Chanderi, Mandu and lesser known destinations in and around these places.”