Category Archives: States

With ₹812 crore budget being sanctioned in the Union Budget for tourism budget in Odisha, Pravati Parida, Dy. CM & Tourism Minister, Odisha has said that they want to develop Odisha as a hub for sustainable tourism. “We are planning eco-friendly stays and eco-tourism projects in Bhitarkanika, Deomali, Similipal, and Konark,” she revealed.

With a strategic intent to capitalise on the strong and growing demand from Kolkata, Thomas Cook (India) with its own store in the city. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India), said, “Kolkata is an important source market for us. The top traveller segments include multi-generational families, couples, millennials and GenZ, as well as GenS (seniors).”

The Iran Tourism Board announced the successful conclusion of its dynamic three-city roadshow in India, aimed at promoting the rich cultural heritage and diverse travel experiences of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The roadshow began in Mumbai on 10th September, continued in Hyderabad on 12th September, and concluded on 13th September in New Delhi. The roadshow featured distinguished dignitaries from Iran, including Aliasghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, Deputy of Tourism, Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Ministry; Moslem Shojaee, Director General, International Tourism Promotion; H.E. Mofidifar, Acting Consul General, Islamic Republic of Iran; and H.E. Rahul Narwekar, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Mumbai. Strengthening Tourism Ties Between India and Iran The primary aim of this roadshow was to foster stronger tourism ties between India and Iran. By engaging directly with Indian travel agents and tourism professionals, the Iran Tourism Board sought to build robust business relationships and promote Iran as a premier travel destination. The initiative featured 11 Iranian hoteliers and travel agents who explored business opportunities and presented a variety of tourism packages to their Indian counterparts. Collaborations with key organisations such as MTOA, TAAI, TAFI, and IATO were also part of the strategy to enhance Iran’s visibility among their members. Aliasghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi remarked, “We are thrilled to present the beauty and historical richness of Iran to the Indian market. This roadshow has provided a unique platform to share Iran’s cultural tapestry, including our historic landmarks and renowned hospitality. We look forward to deepening our partnerships with Indian travel agents and encouraging more Indian travellers to explore the wonders of Iran.” H.E. Mofidifar, Acting Consul General, Islamic Republic of Iran to Mumbai, delivered an inspiring keynote address. He passionately spoke about …

~Set across Chandigarh, Nagpur & Kochi, the initiative will educate over 600 travel partners on new destination offerings~ Aiming to attract 100,000 inbound travellers from India by end of the year, South African Tourism has returned with its 2024 edition of ‘Learn South Africa’ initiative. Entering the tier-2 and tier-3 outbound tourism markets of India, the flagship travel trade training workshop will enlighten the tourism board’s travel partners with renewed strategy and equip them with tools to market the Rainbow Nation effectively. In the recent years, there has been a strong uptick in the number of arrivals from India to South Africa. Capitalising on this momentum and in efforts to target emerging markets from the country, South African Tourism’s 3-city destination workshop is set to commence in Chandigarh on 27th September followed by Nagpur on 8th November and Kochi on 13th December. The workshop not only enables the tourism board to share its learnings with the travel trade fraternity but also support its partners in overcoming any obstacles they experience while promoting the destination. Cognizant of India’s outbound tourism potential and its role in achieving South Africa’s long term tourism goals, India is amongst the top 3 focus markets for South African Tourism. With a strong foothold across key metro cities and observing a trend of rising discretionary spendings from tier-2 and tier-3 cities of India, it is vital for the tourism board to continually target newer markets to uphold the increased inclination towards international travel. Programs such as ‘Learn SA’ are instrumental in projecting the Rainbow Nation as a premier leisure and MICE destination. Commenting on ‘Learn South Africa’ 2024 edition, Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager, Asia, Australasia, Middle …

The Hotel Association of India has launched its Odisha Chapter intending to enhance the state’s tourism. The team of HAI met with Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister, Odisha and discussed the growth of the tourism sector in the state, and asked to give due recognition to the tourism and hospitality sector for its immense potential to generate jobs and promote inclusive growth.

Addressing the Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM) 2024 in Jaipur, Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister, Rajasthan, said, “Our Tourism Unit Policy will be out soon. We are planning to organise roadshows overseas to promote Rajasthan and for that, we need your participation and involvement. A lot more is in the pipeline for the future.”

DreamFolks has announced the launch of its newest service – highway dining for travellers. This service will be available at over 600 outlets along key highways across the country.  This new offering marks DreamFolks’ expansion beyond airports and railway stations to provide enhanced convenience for highway travellers. DreamFolks members can now enjoy specially designed meals at popular restaurants on more than 60 key highway routes emanating from major cities,      including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. The service offers travellers a seamless, hassle-free dining experience while on the road. Commenting on the launch, Liberatha Kallat, Founder and CMD of DreamFolks, said,“At DreamFolks, we are committed to delivering premium experiences to travellers. With this launch, we’re excited to extend our services to highway travellers, providing them with access to quality dining options throughout their journeys. As we continue to identify opportunities to enhance the travel experience across multiple touchpoints, expanding our offerings to highways is a natural progression. This new service reflects our vision of creating seamless and elevated travel experiences at every mode of the journey.” The DreamFolks highway dining service offers travellers an exclusive range of thoughtfully crafted meals, combining gourmet flavours with unparalleled convenience. Designed to elevate the dining experience for discerning road travellers, this service ensures that every meal reflects our commitment to quality and sophistication. As highway networks continue to grow and road travel gains popularity, DreamFolks is proud to extend its premium hospitality to ensure travellers enjoy exceptional dining at every stop along their journey. With this latest offering, DreamFolks reinforces its commitment to delivering a seamless travel experience and expanding its footprint in India’s growing travel ecosystem. From airports and railway stations to …

More than 20 travel industry specialists travelled down to Goa onboard FLY91 and were hosted at IHCL’s Goa Resorts during the familiarisation trip.  The familiarisation trip is aimed at promoting Goa, which is focused on sustainable and regenerative tourism, as an immersive leisure tourism destination with diverse potential to host destination weddings and MICE events.  During the familiarisation trip to Goa onboard FLY91, travel operators were acquainted with the airline’s customisable travel arrangements for large travel groups, including weddings and MICE events  In a move aimed at enhancing the Goa experience beyond the state’s beaches, India’s pure-play regional airline, FLY91, has partnered with Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) to offer an enriched and multi-faceted travel experience to the coastal state.    To showcase this vision, FLY91 and IHCL recently organised a familiarisation trip for a delegation of leading travel agents and event planners from Hyderabad, that is designed to provide firsthand experience of Goa’s hospitality and regional connectivity, already reckoned as a leading destination for weddings, leisure, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions).  As part of the familiarisation trip, the delegation of travel industry stakeholders who flew down to Goa onboard FLY91 were hosted at IHCL’s multiple properties, namely Taj Fort Aguada Resort and Spa and Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon. During the trip the team visited Taj Holiday Village Resort and Spa, Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage and the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa.  This collaboration is a key step in building a sustainable tourism model that combines luxury accommodation with seamless travel options, ensuring Goa remains a sought-after destination. It aims to enhance the visitor experience by showcasing that Goa offers much more than just its beaches and …

Appealing to the states to collaborate for tourism acceleration, Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (South), Ministry of Tourism, GoI, said that he believes the interstate travel circuits with bundled packages promoting multiple states or two states in one itinerary should be encouraged with a focus on lesser known destinations for the ease of travellers. It will help in equitable distribution of tourists and will benefit the region.

Siddharth Jain, Founder, Director, Chalo DMC LLP, Director, Membership Development, SKAL Pune shared his excitement for the upcoming Pedal for Purpose Cyclothon in Pune. “Pune is one of the fastest-growing markets for the tourism industry. SKAL is organising a unique event called Pedal for Purpose Cyclothon for the travel fraternity in Pune. It is a blend of fun and social impact that will kick off World Tourism Week on 22 September. I invite all industry members to join this grand affair, which will be a wonderful experience for both participants and their families.” SKAL International Pune’s Pedal for Purpose will celebrate World Tourism Week 2024 with a thrilling cyclothon. The cyclothon aims to promote sustainability, foster networking within the travel fraternity, and contribute to important causes such as road safety, tree planting and reducing plastic use. Participants can look forward to a scenic route, impactful stopovers, and a grand celebration with food, games, entertainment, and networking opportunities. Unite, celebrate, and impact as the travel fraternity comes together for Pune’s first-ever cycle marathon. Registration door to open soon. YouTube SKAL Pune I India