Category Archives: States

Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, inaugurated the Odisha Travel Bazaar in Bhubaneswar. He announced that they have identified 17 priority destinations encompassing beaches, biodiversity zones, heritage monuments and areas of religious and cultural importance for integrated master-planning based development.

Jammu and Kashmir has registered a tourist footfall of 1.62 crore for the first time in the history of 75 years of independent India. Reports have revealed that the tourism sector has seen a significant boost in April 2022 with the highest-ever record of 102 to and fro flights as well as around 15,199 average daily passengers.

In a country first initiative, Kerala is set to become a fully women-friendly tourism destination by implementing a comprehensive project to encourage the participation of women in all tourism activities and attract more women tourists to the state, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said. Launching the state-level ‘Women-Friendly Tourism’ project, an initiative of State Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission), Shri Riyas said Kerala already enjoys the reputation as the safest destination for women tourists. Noting the significance of the project,  Riyas said the state needs a paradigm shift at a time when the world is witnessing a sharp increase in solo trips by women as well as in groups. The Minister said this initiative is conceived not just as stand-alone package, but as a comprehensive project to ensure presence of ordinary women in various tourism activities and bring more women travellers to the state.   “Through this project, RT Mission ensures safe and hygienic places and tourism destinations for women tourists. The all-women tour packages will be controlled and operated by women, including food, accommodation, transportation and community guides” he said. The Minister also inaugurated a one-day workshop organised as part of the project. Delivering the key-note address, Deputy Representative, UN Women India, Kanta Singh, said creating a safe, reliable and hygienic infrastructure that addresses the needs of women is vital while implementing the project.  UN Women will sign an MoU with RT Mission regarding gender inclusive tourism, she said. Kerala Tourism Director, P B Nooh said while ensuring the safety of women tourists, the project will bring about a holistic change in tourism sector. Nooh called for more debates to evolve solutions for the problems regarding safe journey of …

Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has declared 2023 as the year to visit Andhra Pradesh, and the campaign will be called ‘Visit Andhra Pradesh 2023’. The campaign kickstarted on World Tourism Day and a grand launch will be done in the first week of December.

Minister of Tourism, Culture & DoNER, G. Kishan Reddy Ji said that India’s tourism sector is recovering well with strong contribution from domestic travel. He shared that the various schemes like Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD scheme initiated by PM Narendra Modi Ji has helped in holistic development of the tourism sector. He also mentioned that the National Tourism Awards have over the years emerged as a prestigious recognition of achievements in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors, that has helped motivate the stakeholders involved here.

To support Unique Tourism Projects under Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2016, DoT signed an MoU with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) with a desire to light up (sound and light show) the Gateway of India, thus making it a destination to further attract tourists. The IOCL will finance the project through the CSR funds and facilitate the operation of sound & light show through its technical expertise. Similarly, another MoU was signed with Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) to begin the concept of Mining Tourism in Maharashtra to explore the state’s mineral treasure. Tourists will get to experience mine tourism at Saoner (UG) and Adasa (OC) in Nagpur Area, Niljai (OC) Wani Area and Bhatadi (OC) in Chandrapur Area.

Ministry of Tourism facilitated the efforts of industry stakeholders and conferred the National Tourism Awards 2018-19 to winners in different categories on the occasion of World Tourism Day at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The Chief Guest of the prestigious event was Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India, who honoured the excellence of members in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, including State Governments. G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, along with Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Tourism, also graced the ceremony. Ministers, representatives of states, travel trade and tourism organisations were in attendance to receive the awards. MOT also commenced its Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) iconic week to celebrate 75 years of independence with the National Tourism Awards.   List of Award Winners 2018-19 States Best State / Union Territory : Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) First Prize (Hall of Fame) Uttarakhand Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) 2nd Prize Maharashtra Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Third Prize Telangana Best State/ Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Hall of Fame Andhra Pradesh Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Hall of Fame Kerala Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Hall of Fame Goa Best District Tourism Promotional Council Kozhikode Best Maintained and Differently Abled Friendly Monument Shiv Temple, Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh Best Tourist Friendly Airport in Class X Cities Kolkata Best Tourist-friendly Railway Station Secunderabad Best Tourist-friendly Airport in other cities Indore Best Heritage City Ahmedabad Civic Management of a Tourist Destination in India (Category …

To fuel the rise in demand for both domestic and international travel, Global Panorama Showcase announces its 9th edition for 2022-23 across 10 cities. Global Panorama Showcase (GPS) is an initiative to unleash the tourism potential that lies in tier 2 and tier 3 cities of India. GPS provides an opportunity for the travel trade to meet, network, educate and conduct business with tourism providers, hotels, DMCs, technology providers, airlines, cruise companies, tourism board, etc.  

Nikhil Desai, MD, GTDC, has said that a 1400 seat convention centre is being built in the capital city of Panjim. “That will take care of the medium sized conventions, both domestic and international. Apart from that we have plans to have a 5000 seater convention and expo centre right in Dona Paula, which is on the outskirts of Panaji City, with all facilities like hotels, parking and entertainments features.”

Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI), a 105 Year old organisation started during Nizams era, elected its new tourism committee and Valmiki Harikishan, MD, Valmiki Travel & Tourism Solutions, has been elected as the leading chairman of the committee for the fourth consecutive year in row. He says this year, they have plans to initiate 2nd edition of Telangana Tourism Conclave. The Tourism Committee will work more closely with Govt of Telangana in rolling out and announcing Tourism Policy, promoting UNESCO Heritage site Ramappa Temple in Warangal, UNWTO recognised Pochampally Village and many more historical sites, as per the tag line of Telangana State- ‘For all reasons and all seasons’.