Category Archives: States

Maharashtra’s tourism department has announced 20 mini festivals across six regions of the state – Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur – in Feb and Mar. An amount of Rs100 lakh has also been earmarked for organising these festivals that will provide tourists an opportunity to celebrate the cultural heritage tourism of Maharashtra.

Kerala Tourism Minister, Kadakampally Surendran while addressing the Tourism Session of  Kerala Looks Ahead Virtual Summit said that they are exploring news strategies for marketing domestic tourism. “A special marketing plan has been developed in the context of COVID, special campaign has been launched to promote domestic tourism where safe environment and achievement in healthcare will be highlighted.”

The State Department of Tourism, Kerala, has given great importance to the Pilgrim Tourism Circuit and it has conceived various projects to construct basic pilgrim amenities at many religious centres. Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran recently laid the foundation for the Rs3-crore pilgrim amenity centre at Madre De Deus Church, Vettukad.

The road from Leh to Kargil in the Union Territory of Ladakh will soon be given a makeover as a tourist highway, according to a plan prepared by the Union Ministry of Culture & Tourism. Under the said plan, all facilities for tourists will be developed at regular intervals on the 230-kilometre stretch of highway between the two towns.

In response to the request by Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI) and FHRAI to allow reopening of spas and Ayurveda centres in the state, Kerala government has said that the same will be allowed to operate with strict compliance of COVID protocols and guidelines, to help overcome the crisis faced by the tourism industry.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism recently organised a virtual roadshow for travel agents and tour operators of Pune. “We are hoping that this roadshow will stimulate their curiosity, and they in turn will lead their guests to explore and experience MP,” said Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary – Tourism, Govt of MP and Managing Director, MPTB.

In a strategic move, the Karvat Group has taken over the reins of the travel ancillary business, and will hereon steer its business in India with sole proprietorship. Dev Karvat will take on the ownership of the entire group’s operations in India as CEO. He says, “The company’s commitment towards the travel trade is as persistent as ever. We are thankful to the Cover-More Group for enriching our experience with their global expertise. We will be happy to welcome them back to India in the future. We are now focusing on India-centric offerings. I am happy to share the launch of a new venture – Asego.”

In a tweet, Maharashtra Tourism revealed that on the occasion of National Tourism Day on 25th January, MOUs were signed with 11 companies for the development of Maharashtra Tourism. These initiatives undertaken by the government will create about 6,754 new jobs with a total investment of Rs. 2905 Crores.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) plans to open two new resorts at Sinhagad Fort and Akkalkot. “There was a resort at Sinhagad fort that we had given on lease. After the lease expired, it was shut for a year. Now, we have renovated that place and we are opening our own resort. Almost 95% of the work has been completed. Once all the finishing touches are done, we will open within a month,” said Deepak Harne, Regional Manager (Pune), MTDC.

The Sikkim government has announced 2022 as ‘Visit Sikkim’ year, a declaration on year-long tourism promotion and marketing for the state focusing on having tourists in Sikkim for the whole year instead of otherwise practised season-based tourism endeavour.