Category Archives: States

According to Michael Lobo, Minister in the Goa government, the state will make it mandatory for tourists to be fully vaccinated with both doses and a COVID negative RT-PCR report. “We have to wait till July and let the number of cases go down to zero. We will reopen Goa for tourists with proper screening. Both doses of vaccines and a negative RT-PCR report will be made mandatory for tourists for the first three months after reopening of tourism in the state,” he said.

Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Tourism Minister, Andhra Pradesh, has announced to reopen all the prime tourist attractions as the numbers of positive cases have dropped in the country. He also said that they will plan a roadshow across the country to popularise state’s tourist attractions. Also, the tourism department’s Blue Bay hotel at Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam will be developed with INR 164 crore, he shared. Some of the attractions that have opened, include Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati; Rushikonda Beach, Visakhapatnam; Ramakrishna Beach, Visakhapatnam; Undavalli Caves, Amaravati; and Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam.

Tourism Minister of Kerala, PA Mohamed Riyas has said that Kerala will complete its tourism projects in a time-bound manner by giving top priority to those under the government’s 100-day programme. “The government would initiate ways to increase the arrival of tourists by appointing Keralites residing in Arab countries, Europe and the US as brand ambassadors of state’s tourism,” he added.

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani visited Nadabet on India-Pakistan border and inspected various border tourism development works under the ‘Seema Darshan’ project. It is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 125 crore and is expected to be completed before 15 August, 2021. Under this project, the Gujarat Tourism Corporation has completed the work of shelter development near Nadeshwari Mata temple. Tourism amenities are being developed in four phases.

The Yaas relief and health check-up camp organised by ETAA Eastern India Chapter in association with CAS, NatureMates and The Rotary Club of Calcutta (South Central) was completed smoothly in June 2021 in Mousuni Islands, Sunderbans despite the challenges of the bad weather, flooded roads, partial lockdown, and unavailability of public transport. Koushik Banerjee, Chapter Chairman (East India), says, “This couldn’t have happened without the co-operation of the forest department. The local people of Mousuni islands amazed us with their hospitality, humility and discipline.”

IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) National Committee & Kerala State Committee, in their online meetings held on 15th June 2021, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Kerala for taking a step to form Welfare Board for the employees working in tourism industry. The formation of a Welfare Board for Travel and Tourism Industry employees was one of the essential demands submitted by IAAI to CM & Tourism Minister on 31st May 2021.

Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM) is organising a COVID vaccination drive in collaboration with the Kerala Tourism Department, to give priority to those who are working in the tourism sector. The aim is to make Kerala the first 100% tourism vaccinated state in India by providing complete vaccination to those working in the tourism sector and other tourism associates. The motive of KTM is to declare the tourism sector safe by vaccinating everyone who is a part of it. This is essential for the re-opening of tourism in Kerala. To reach this goal, the tourism department has introduced priority vaccination for the age group of 18-44 years and has appointed nodal officers to carry out this task. In addition to this, district-wise KTM members have been appointed as liaison officers to assist nodal officers with this initiative. Baby Mathew Somatheeram, President, KTM Society, has informed that KTM has also launched a vaccination drive in collaboration with private sector hospitals to expedite the vaccination of people of all age groups who are working in the tourism sector. For more information on this vaccination drive and its coordination, KTM has launched a help desk (Phone No. 9747720077). Somatheeram has requested all members of the tourism sector to utilise this opportunity and get vaccinated. This will help the industry prepare for a safe re-opening of the tourism sector in Kerala and restart businesses soon.

Pramod Sawant, CM, Goa, has informed the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) that the state’s hospitality sector would open fully only after the positivity rate drops below 5%. Tourism activities will not be reopened in Goa until everybody in the state gets at least one dose of the vaccine, he said. The CM added that the administration is aiming to achieve this goal by 31 July. “The government will permit full-fledged opening of the industry when the case positivity rate is below 5%.”

The government of Bihar has allocated a little over Rs13 crore for the development of a new theme park and museum in Prakash Punj, dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh. Prakash Punj covers a 10 acre area at Patna Sahib. It will have two exhibition halls, an auditorium, and even galleries. The development is planned to commemorate the 350th birth anniversary of the Guru.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has asked officials to prepare a roadmap for reviving the tourism sector while utilising the budget allocated to the state tourism department. In a review meeting of the tourism department, Gehlot stressed on effective marketing and promotion of key tourist destinations, fairs and festivals of the state at international level.