Category Archives: States

The Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism is going to hold a high-level review meeting of tourism secretaries of all states on 7 and 8 July in J&K’s Pahalgam to revive tourism in the Kashmir Valley. The aim is to send out a powerful message that tourists are safe in Kashmir and they can return to their dream destinations in the Valley without fear.

CB Ramkumar, Vice Chair, GSTC, said, “After Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh are also showing interest in sustainability and we are actively conducting training and awareness programs with local tourism boards and officials. We have offered to work with these states to operationalise their policies, provide training.”

The mandatory police approval to run hotels and restaurants in Delhi, will no longer be necessary, according to an official order issued by Government of NCT of Delhi. The requirement of Police Licence/Clearance (Eating House Licence) for operating hotels and restaurants has been removed as stated in the order. This decision is the outcome of continuous representations and sustained follow-up by HRANI on behalf of the hospitality industry of Delhi. HRANI welcomed and appreciated this pro-industry initiative which will significantly enhance Ease of Doing Business in the hospitality sector and create a more enabling environment for growth, investment, and employment in the capital.

Hilton has opened its Hilton Garden Inn Mumbai International Airport, marking the debut of the brand in India’s financial capital. The hotel is strategically positioned within minutes of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Developed in partnership with Fariyas Hotels & Resorts, the 140-room hotel is set to welcome business and leisure travellers with thoughtful amenities, intuitive service, and exceptional hospitality.

Chalet Hotels may look at bringing its own brand of hotels after having firmly established itself among the top-four players in India’s hospitality space with a market cap of more than ₹19,000 crore. Sanjay Sethi, MD and CEO, Chalet Hotels, says the company’s performance, its strategy to diversify into leisure hotels and expansion to more geographies provide a springboard to launch its own brand.

Outlining the government’s action roadmap to ensure safe tourism with a multi-pronged action plan, Paul Lyngdoh, Tourism Minister, Meghalaya, said that all accommodation units across the state – lodges, resorts, homestays or paying guest facilities- must now mandatorily register every traveller through the government’s tourism app. He added that the state will induct 50 new prime tourism vehicles by July.

Chairing the 82nd meeting of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB), Bandaru Dattatreya, Governor, Haryana, said, “Kurukshetra must be turned into a must-see site and suggested celebrating 48 utsavas, or festivals, to that end, annually. The objective is to transform Kurukshetra into a top destination for spiritual and cultural tourism. Also, the board members decided to introduce electric buses in the city, connecting important pilgrimage sites along the 48 Kos Parikrama circuit.”

SOTC Travel has inaugurated its first franchise outlet in Raipur and in the state of Chhattisgarh, reiterating the Company’s strategic focus to expand its retail footprint across India. Chhattisgarh is emerging as a strong source market for the Company’s holiday business and is witnessing promising travel demand with Raipur and its surrounding catchments being key growth drivers. SOTC’s new franchise outlet is strategically situated in the city center, to serve both leisure and business segments. The Raipur outlet offers end-to-end travel solutions with an array of services, including International & Domestic Holidays (Group tours, Personalized Holidays, Cruises, etc.); Value Added Services like Travel Insurance; Visa Services, etc.

WGH Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality arm of World Group, welcomed P Rajeev, Minister for Industry, Government of Kerala to the site of its upcoming flagship project in Kochi. The visit marks a significant milestone for the group, as this luxury development was among the prestigious projects showcased at the Kerala Global Investment Meet, aligning with the state’s vision for sustainable and experience-driven tourism. In 2012 the group made its mark in Kerala’s tourism and hospitality sector with the acquisition of World Backwaters Alleppey. Today, World Group Heritance (WGH) proudly owns and operates distinctive properties across prominent destinations like Alleppey, Munnar and Thekkady. The group is now making bold strides with new developments in Kochi, Varkala, Trivandrum, and Ashtamudi—including an exclusive wellness resort—each uniquely designed to international standards while deeply rooted in Kerala’s cultural richness. During the visit, the minister will be presented with the master plan and design philosophy of the WGH Kochi project, set to launch on 1 January, 2028. This luxury destination will set new benchmarks in hospitality by combining modern infrastructure with authentic Kerala experiences. J Jayakrishnan, Director of World Group and WGH Hotels & Resorts, expressed his gratitude for the government’s continued support and investment-friendly policies. “Kerala’s infrastructure development and progressive tourism policies are perfectly aligned with our vision. Our projects aim to promote responsible and sustainable tourism while gifting guests an immersive experience of Kerala’s unique lifestyle and traditions,” said Jayakrishnan. The World Group, with nearly four decades of entrepreneurial legacy starting from mining and expanding into sectors like DRI, retail, logistics, agriculture and consulting, has invested INR 250 crores in Kerala’s hospitality sector over the past two years. The group has committed an …

New Records Set in 2024 as Madhya Pradesh, the Heart of India, Becomes a Tourism Hotspot Madhya Pradesh, rich in diversity and heritage, continues to emerge as one of India’s most vibrant tourism destinations. Known for its cultural legacy, historical monuments, natural beauty, and rich wildlife, the state has become the preferred choice for travellers. In 2024, Madhya Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourism, recording 134.1 million tourist arrivals — a remarkable increase of 19.6% from 2023, approximately 50.6% from 2019, and an astounding 526% from 2020. Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department, and Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board stated, “Madhya Pradesh is a culturally and ecologically diverse state that offers a complete travel experience to visitors. The arrival of 134.1 million tourists in 2024 is proof that Madhya Pradesh is not only making its mark nationally but is also emerging strongly on the global tourism map. This achievement is the result of visionary policies, development of robust infrastructure, and active participation of local communities.” Foreign Tourist Arrivals In 2024, Madhya Pradesh also welcomed 167,000 foreign tourists. Khajuraho recorded 33,131 foreign arrivals, Gwalior 10,823, and Orchha 13,960. Urban destinations also saw a rise in foreign tourists with Indore receiving 9,964 and Bhopal 1,522. Wildlife parks attracted global visitors too, including Bandhavgarh (29,192), Kanha (19,148), Panna (12,762), and Pench (11,272), reflecting the state’s growing global appeal. Major Tourism Attractions Religious Tourism: A New Centre of Faith in India Madhya Pradesh’s religious destinations attracted 107 million visitors in 2024, a 21.9% increase over 2023. Six out of the state’s top ten tourist destinations were religious sites. Ujjain led with 73.2 million tourists, a …