Category Archives: States

Jaiveer Singh, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated the Saryu Mahotsav in Ayodhya at Ram ki Paidi today. The Tourism and Culture Minister said that, “the aim of the festival is to raise public awareness about the conservation of water, forests, and land while promoting our harmonious coexistence with nature.” He also highlighted the adverse impacts of increasing urbanization and industrialization on the environment. Rivers are drying up and traditional water sources such as ponds, tanks, and wells are getting depleted of water levels. He also stressed the urgent need for prudent use of water resources and the protection of forests to ensure a healthy environment and sufficient natural resources for future generations. Growing issues of global warming, climate change, and ecological imbalance due to increased human interference are posing a significant threat to nature and its resources. He remarked that rivers are lifelines; great civilizations have thrived along their banks. To rejuvenate these vital water bodies, collective awareness and efforts are necessary. In maintaining a balance with nature, it is imperative to save rivers, ponds, and natural water sources. The Saryu Mahotsava is being organized to foster public awareness about the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Nature is essential for human survival. Therefore, it is crucial to keep our rivers, forests, land, and natural water sources alive. Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department in order to create awareness about the same is inviting people to take part in this Mahotsava.

Sharing latest insights on domestic tourism, Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) said, “Domestic tourism has been powering our growth trajectory this summer. We have achieved both our top-line and passenger numbers of 12 months of 2023, within the first six months of 2024.Indians are displaying keen appetite to explore their own country and we are witnessing exponential demand for multiple domestic trips – Young India’s working professionals and DINKs are opting for multiple mini-cations, combining public holidays with weekends for short getaways, in addition to longer domestic vacations lasting 15 days.”

Speaking at the 17th Outlook & Update Meeting by PATA India Chapter in New Delhi, Manisha Saxena, DG, Tourism, has said that it is important to segment the offerings across India. “We cannot offer everything to everyone. We need to work with state governments to create more accommodation as this is a big bottleneck, especially for MICE,” she said.

Rohan Khaunte, Minister of Tourism, Goa, assured that the number of visitors to Goa has surged in the just-concluded tourist season touching the one crore mark. There has also been a rise in the number of international tourists, which is 150 per cent above pre-COVID figures. Goa continues to see the arrival of tourists in monsoon season as well.

Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister, Meghalaya, announced at Convocation 2024 of ICFAI University Meghalaya that the state government is planning to invest ₹5,000 crore in the tourism sector, expecting to create around 50,000 jobs. He urged the youth to leverage the upcoming changes and contribute in the sector for better future.

Addressing ‘Dakshin Bharat Utsav,’ DK Shivakumar, Deputy CM, Karnataka, said that the southern states should come together and have a common policy to promote tourism. He raised concerns about the Centre’s role in promoting tourism in South India. He stated, “The 18 per cent GST and other revenue cuts are killing the sector.”

Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Culture Minister, Jaiveer Singh, has directed tenders for all projects approved by the Department for 2023-24 must be issued by June 30. Stressing the vital role of tourism in the state’s economy, he highlighted the potential for significant employment opportunities and income generation through tourism.

Highlighting key trends in the Indian hospitality industry, the HVS ANAROCK Hotels & Hospitality Overview – May 2024, states that Goa witnessed the largest year-on-year decline in occupancy rate, while Kolkata registered the highest growth during the month. After a long hiatus, Mumbai recorded higher average rates than Goa, exceeding INR 10,000 and INR 9,500 respectively.”

ITC Hotels recently signed a management agreement with Jaipur based Dangayach Group, for a property under brand Storii, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Storii by ITC Hotels, Jaisalmer is set to be a 119-key resort located towards the east of the city on Jodhpur-Jaisalmer Road. The resort will feature a restaurant, bar, approximately 7000 sqft of banquet and meeting space. Jaisalmer is one of the largest tourism districts in Rajasthan and is featured as a “must-visit” destination in most Rajasthan desert circuits. The city offers a perfect blend of art, architecture, hospitality, scenic beauty, and cuisine. Jaisalmer is renowned for its unconventional desert safari with camel rides, cultural performances, and adventure activities. The city’s yellow sandstone is known to glow during sunset, making it a high point in every tourist’s itinerary. The resort’s yellow-stone fort architecture is inspired by the regions landscape. The plush interiors and elegant décor shall provide an ambiance be-fitting the cultural significance of the city and showcase the very essence of brand Storii. Anil Chadha, Chief Executive, ITC Hotels, said “This project is a tremendous leap permitting a quick entry into a high visibility and popular leisure market with our cherished brand Storii. We are already present with over 800 keys across our various brands in Rajasthan. These include hotels in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Khimsar, Jaisalmer and Udaipur. Storii Jaisalmer will enable us to offer yet another unique destination experience in the Rajasthan desert circuit”. Harimohan Dangayach, Chairman & Founder and Atul Dangayach, Managing Director of Dangayach Group, expressed happiness at the signing ceremony and said, “We are delighted to sign Storii for our latest resort project in Jaisalmer. The resort’s positioning in a strong leisure market aligns well …

Forward ticket data for July and August 2024 indicates that European travellers are increasingly choosing to venture further afield to explore New Delhi with an 9 per cent increase compared to the same time in 2023. Highlighted by ForwardKeys, outbound travel from Europe is displaying clear trends, with year-on-year growth in long-haul travel to a diverse range of Asian markets.