Category Archives: States

Team India tourism, North East and the officials of Ministry of Tourism (MOT), India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Nagaland government visited Khonoma, an Angami Naga village recently to conduct recce for ensuing ITM 2021in Nagaland. ITM 2021 is scheduled from 28-30th November 2021 in Nagaland, just before the popular Hornbill Festival in its capital Kohima. As per MOT, the idea to conduct the ITM before the event is to take advantage of the festival’s popularity.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Naik inaugurated a week-long campaign of India Tourism, Goa to promote the national festival of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ at Panaji. Venkatesan Dhattareyan; Regional Director, India Tourism and Manager Jitendra Jadahav were also present on this occasion. “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate the occasion of 75 years of Independence with grandeur and enthusiasm befitting the historic nature, glory and importance of the occasion. This Mahotsav of 75 years of Independence is dedicated to the people of India”. Said Naik.

The government of Karnataka announces on Monday that RT PCR reports of international travellers on arrival at airports in Karnataka is not required as the Covid numbers are declining. Chief Secretary, P Ravi Kumar, said passengers would have to mandatorily upload the RT PCR reports on Air Suvidha Portal. Also, the international passengers will not be checked for oxygen saturation level unless they show signs of being unwell.

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, CEO, NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, had an interaction with the Administrative Secretaries of different Departments in Srinagar today. Kant said that long term growth needs the involvement of private players in a transparent and competitive manner.”The industrial sector is the one having a major role in creating jobs, therefore focus on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ which will help bring in private players and that NITI will support the government through transaction advisors in range sectors that may need to involve private players, besides, creating an ecosystem for large companies,” he added.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state government is planning to craft a religious tourist circuit comprising all places travelled by 15th century Vaishnavite scholar Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev. Sarma said that Sankardev was a great Indian and the greatest Assamese of all times. He was a great social reformer who laid the foundation of the greater Assamese society. He added considering the social and religious contributions of Sankardev, there is still ample scope for research on his life and works.

Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs & Minister of Co-operation,  has said that Goa was the most preferred tourism destination in the world and hence PM Modi has taken a decision to allow charter airplanes to fly into Goa from October 15. Also, he added that Mopa airport should be ready in one year and will enhance tourism. “With Goa achieving 100 per cent vaccination, the situation is conducive for tourism,” he claimed.

Guidelines for the Recognition of Tourism Service Providers of West Bengal has been approved and released by the state government. The new guidelines will replace the 2006 policy. Nandini Chakravorty, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department of West Bengal and the Tourism Department of West Bengal have made significant changes in the policy such as categorization of Tour Operators into Inbound, Domestic, MICE, Cruise and Adventure to enable them to specialize and extend superior services. The new guidelines categorically define the different segments of service providers as per the current industry structure.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, MOT, in his address at the Buddhist Circuit conference in Varanasi, shared that in a ministerial meeting, the Prime Minister has said that at the launch of Kushinagar airport, he would like to invite some Buddhist Circuit tour operators as well, so that they can get information about the circuit. Also, there will be 13 Buddhist countries’ ambassadors, as well as airline operators, since the idea is to promote the Buddhist religious tourism in the region.

The tourism department of Goa issued notice to several hotels against putting up in rented villas and bed and breakfast facilities that were not registered with the state tourism department. Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said that booking a non-registered hotel will soon be considered illegal and strict actions will be taken on bookings going ahead. Due to non-registration of such facilities, it was difficult to track the exact number of tourists who visit Goa every year, he added.

Uttar Pradesh government recognised the efforts of Prateek Hira in the field of Tourism on the occasion of World Tourism Day and to mark 50 years of the Department of Tourism in Uttar Pradesh Government. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath on 27 September conferred the State Award to Prateek Hira and his company Tornos, declaring it as the best tour company in the state of UP. Prateek has been in the travel trade since the last 27 years and apart from being in business of operating tours he also chairs the FICCI’s Tourism Committee in Uttar Pradesh and UP Chapter of IATO. Government of Uttar Pradesh in its citation has recognised his efforts in promoting the state of Uttar Pradesh and taking it to new heights in the field of Tourism. His cooperation with the department of tourism and involvement with tourism academia and researches is commendable. FICCI’s report on the potential of Culinary Tourism in Uttar Pradesh authored by Prateek Hira, Manish Ahuja and Anirban Chaterjee was also released and launched on this occasion by the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, in presence of Urban Development Minister, Mr. Ashutosh Tandon , Jal Shakti Minister , Dr. Mahendra Singh, Mayor of Lucknow, Mrs Sanyukta Bhaita and the Principal Secretary Tourism & Culture Mr. Mukesh Meshram.