Category Archives: States

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma recently inaugurated ‘isolated cottages’ called Orchid Log Houses in New Shillong Township funded under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.  He said, “The idea is to adapt to the changing situation. It is important that we have cottages that are isolated but have good infrastructure.” However, Meghalaya is currently closed for all tourists.

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Government of Goa has started work on getting all its tourism stakeholders under the organised sector. It has outsourced this to Goa Electronics that will do data collection of all tourism stakeholders right from travel agents, tourist guides, taxi drivers as well as hotel owners and bring them on a single platform. Revati Mujumdar, CEO and Executive Director, Goa Electronics, says, “Part of the framework or data structure for collation is already happening. A majority of stakeholders have been brought onto the database.” She also spoke about working on product personalisation for every tourist entering Goa using Artificial Intelligence, but that is a few years down the line. Goa Electronics is associated with GTDC for developing and maintaining its website, its app and the state-owned online hotel bookings.

Government of Rajasthan has restored the free movement of persons in and out of the state, thereby removing the restriction imposed earlier vide its letter dated June 10, 2020. According to the statement released by the state government, the relaxation comes keeping in view that “daily new COVID-19 positive cases have now stabilised, that the recovery rate in the state has improved to being among the best in the country, and that regulations imposed on the inter-state movement of persons is causing difficulty to the people”. Free movement, however, is subject to the condition that all persons entering and exiting the state shall be screened at the point of entry or exit, respectively. There will no longer be any requirement for any person to obtain a pass or NOC for the purpose of entry or exit into or out of Rajasthan.

Madhya Pradesh has re-opened its State Tourism Development Corporation Hotels, Resorts and many private hotels at tourist destinations for tourists and hoteliers, promoting domestic tourism allowing in tourists from within the country. Madhya Pradesh forest department has also issued a circular regarding re-opening of national parks from 15th June 2020. National Park’s Buffer Zone will remain open during monsoon season.  Sonia Meena, IAS, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board said: “Madhya Pradesh being into inbound tourism promotion is very strong with its domestic tourism products, wildlife is one of them. Opening up tourist attractions would also give a sense of ‘returning to normalcy’. We see great potential after re-opening our destinations like wildlife, heritage, pilgrimage, leisure, and adventure tourism opportunities. Following the Health protection, safety and hygiene guidelines. We have sanitised and fumigated our premises. We are ensuring all hygiene and social-distancing norms and SOP issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India. The first segment of the travellers we are looking to attract, are people from within and neighbouring states coming to visit our tourist destinations. Madhya Pradesh is surrounded by 5 states and it is very easy to travel by car from neighbouring states to our state, we also have a very good road network, which connects major tourist destinations in the state. To begin with, people will start taking small/ weekend tours with 3/4 Days ITINERARY and MP will be perfect for that.”

The Odisha government plans to organise cruises in selected water bodies of the state with participation of players in order to promote tourism. Proposals invited to develop daily cruise services at Mahanadi, Bhitarkanika, Satkosia Gorge and Hirakud reservoir. Last date for submission is July 10.

The Maharashtra government has allotted 54.40-hectares of land in Shiroda, Vengurla tehsil of Sindhudurg area to the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which runs Taj Hotels, for developing a five-star tourism centre. The land has been given at 90-years lease at a nominal rent for the construction of cottages in Vengurla for tourism development. The proposal of the allotment of land for the construction of the hotel by IHCL was taken after the state government announced Sindhudurg as a tourism district more than two decades ago. After a decision of allotting land to the Taj Group was taken in 1994, the land was acquired in stages till 1998 by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). Part of the land is in the group’s possession, while it has been pushing for possession of the remaining land. The government has now decided to hand over the remaining part of the plot, which is a connecting track of land to other two plots handed over to the company.

Tourism Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao has said that a new tourism policy will be brought out soon to develop the sector in the state in a month or two. He said that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will be encouraged by conducting an investors’ meet in August. Addressing a press conference, the Minister said that as per the Central Government guidelines, all the tourism department’s hotels, as well as private hotels and restaurants, can be opened from 8th June. He said that guests can book rooms online at all the hotels run by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).

In the first phase of ‘unlock’ across the country, Jairam Thakur, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, has declared that all temples, restaurants and hotels in the state will reopen after June 8. The catch, however, is that these places will be open only for those from within the state and not for those coming from outside Himachal.  Claiming that tourism in the state has been severely hit owing to the extended lockdown, the chief minister added that now they shall reopen the state for business, a large section of which depends on tourism for its livelihood. Citing the hospitality sector, he said that reopening of hotels is necessary.

The government of Rajasthan has decided to open all monuments, museums and forts that were closed for public on 18th March. The Department of Archaeology and Museums of the state has issues guidelines keeping in view of social distancing norms and other requirements. Instructions have been issued to authorities to take required steps. Folk programs to support artists will also be organised in association with tourism departments. The decision on opening monuments falling in the containment zones will be taken by individual district administrators and they will remain shut until further decision. For the first two weeks, entry for all tourists will be free. As far as light and sound shows are concerned, the decision will be taken later depending on the footfall. As per the department, the monuments will be opened on alternate days for the first two weeks.

In a bid to boost tourism post lockdown, Odisha government has decided to identify and enlist land parcels suitable for the development of tourism projects across the State. The land parcels found suitable for tourism projects will be shared with potential investors. Once the land is identified and demarcated, it can be offered for hotels, resorts, restaurants, camping infrastructure, water sports, eco-tourism, adventure projects, museums, convention centres and amusement parks. As part of the initiative, the Tourism department has floated an Expression of Interest (EoI) from potential landowners. Land­ owners (individual or entity) possessing land parcels of minimum 20,000 sq ft with a clear title and free from encumbrance can apply. With Odisha Tourism growing at a fast pace resulting in increasing tourist footfalls and investments especially by the private sector, a number of measures are being considered to tap investment including potential tie-up between investors and local partners particularly those who own land suitable for varied tourism projects. If found suitable, the private investor can directly contact the landowner for purchase of land or joint development of the project. It will be a win-win situation for both.