Category Archives: States

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.”

Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) has launched the revamped version of its official website www.delhitourism.gov.in. Keeping in mind previous year’s overarching theme of World Tourism Day, “One Billion Tourists – One Billion Opportunities,” DTTDC refurbished its website to attract more number of visitors to its website and encourage them to visit the city to explore the city and thus increase tourism in the state. The new look for DTTDC website was launched today by Padmini Singla, MD & CEO, DTTDC along with other senior officials of DTTDC at DTTDC Headquarters. Singla said, “Dotted with historical monuments and ruins, there is a lot that Delhi can boast about. The new look for Delhi Tourism official website will not only provide ease of access but will encourage tourists to plan their trip as per their preference.” The website’s features, such as ‘About the city, How to travel, Modes of transportation available, Best season to visit, Hangout zones, Cuisines, Events, Accommodations, Planning Itinerary, Packages, HO-HO Bus Service, Historic and Heritage Places to visit, Regular Walks & Tours, Museums and Dilli Haats, besides various other properties of Delhi Tourism like Garden of Five Senses, Azad Hind gram, GTB Memorial, etc. The e-commerce based booking services for the national & international packages offered by DTTDC and its travel partner provides various services like booking of Air Fare, Booking of Accommodation, booking of Car/Coaches, booking of Tour Packages & providing Travel Insurance. Downloadable Tourist Literature & Informations about the city and Photo Galleries to enable visitors to become acquainted with the city and encourage them to explore the rich heritage and magnificent monuments, savour various Indian delicacies and thus increasing tourism within the city. …

Madhya Pradesh Tourism is organising multi-city roadshows in the country in order to strengthen relations with the travel fraternity and the various private players. With the roadshow starting from Delhi on May 27, it will move to Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru. Tanvi Sundriyal, Addil. Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, says, “Roadshows are a way in which we are bidding partnerships with our private sellers and the buyers in the form of travel and tour operators of various cities. We’ll start with Tier I cities and then move on to the Tier II cities.”

A delegation from the Wakayama Prefectural Government led by Hiroshi Shimo, Hon. Vice Governor of Wakayama Prefectural Government, is on a Maharashtra visit (Mumbai–Aurangabad) from May 17 to 23, 2016 with the key agenda of facilitating familiarisation tours bilaterally of Maharashtra and Wakayama. The tours will cover key places in Maharashtra from the Mumbai-Aurangabad circuit and Mumbai-Nagpur circuit (including Tadoba) along with seven travel trade professionals. As part of the MoU between Maharashtra and Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding the Ajanta-Ellora Development Phase 3 and showcasing their full support towards development of tourism in Maharashtra. Shimo said, “We have successfully implemented various projects in the field of tourism through our MoU. The Maharashtra Corner developed at Wakayama Prefectural Government is instrumental in giving out knowledge about Maharashtra and its offerings to concern authorities in Japan. We are thankful to Hon. CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis for providing us an office space in Aurangabad office which provides us with a similar opportunity to promote Japan tourism in Maharashtra. Our Omotenashi Project has given us a chance to host the MTDC officials in our country and give them an experience of the Japanese hospitality through a seven day programme. We are keen to renew our MoU which has proved mutually beneficial to both countries.” Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia IAS, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, commented, “The renewal of the MoU term will help increase tourism inflow in Maharashtra and Wakayama through the agreement. It will further help maintain mutual cooperation between both states for expansion of tourism ties to enhance economic growth and job creation. We thank Hon. Vice Governor of Wakayama, Mr. Hiroshi Shimo for providing …

The Department of Tourism,  Govt. of NCT of Delhi has appointed JPS Associates as a consultancy firm for development of tourism policy and master plan for promotion of tourism and tourism infrastructure development in Delhi. The company has sought feedback from the industry stakeholders to take the matter forward. The consulting assignment is mandated to improve tourism in Delhi and to support the GNCT of Delhi in preparing the Tourism Policy and Master Plan for Promotion of Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development in Delhi. The master plan shall provide a comprehensive strategic plan for 20 years based on which the infrastructure could be planned for the Tourism Infrastructure Development in Delhi. The Master Plan shall also provide a Capital Investment Plan (CIP), based on which the concerned departments would be able to access funds from GoI/GNCTD based on priority actions and projects identified. This work will be carried out in 3 phases spreading over 9 months. The company has proposed a first phase workshop to discuss provisional aspects/points to be covered in Phase one with all industry stakeholders. The discussion in workshop will be focused on objectives of study for Phase-I. The first focal point of discussion would be the Tourism Policy for Delhi and second discussion point will be views of participants on provisional aspects/points and identified Tourism Themes/areas of Delhi.