Category Archives: States

Minor Hotels announces the arrival of the Avani Hotels & Resorts brand in India with Avani+ Sunray Beach Visakhapatnam Resort, an exclusive new-build resort and branded residences development set along the scenic Sunray Beach in Visakhapatnam, India. The project will feature 117 hotel rooms and 58 branded residential villas, alongside a suite of premium amenities designed to set a new benchmark for hospitality in the region. The announcement comes as Minor Hotels significantly accelerates its expansion strategy in India, targeting 50 new openings in the country over the next decade.

Rikant Pittie, CEO & co-founder, EaseMyTrip, “For FY26, we plan to significantly scale up our EasyDarshan vertical and expand curated pilgrimage offerings across all major religious circuits like Char Dham, Jyotirlingas, Shaktipeeths, and key temples in South India. The plan is to tie up with temple trusts and local administrations to ensure pilgrims’ safety and comfort.

To enhance tourism and connectivity in the state, Sushanta Chowdhury, Tourism and Transport Minister, Tripura, announced that the state government has initiated plans to introduce seaplane tourism in the state. The initiative aims to leverage the state’s abundant water bodies to attract both domestic and international tourists with a unique aerial and aquatic travel experience.

Calling on Agoda to immediately reverse the recent changes to its commission structure, K Syama Raju, President, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), said, “We strongly urge Agoda to uphold equitable business practices and maintain complete transparency in their engagements with Indian hotel partners.”

Highlighting Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh’s initiatives to promote sustainable tourism through the introduction of a 50 per cent subsidy on GSTC certification fees, CB Ramkumar, Vice Chair, GSTC, raised concerns about the practical challenges of these policies, pointing out that despite the announcement, ‘no fiscal allocations had been made to fund the subsidy, which leaves the policy lacking in execution.’

Uttar Pradesh government has approved 13 projects worth ₹118 crore for tourism development in Agra, including the construction of a memorial for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Additionally, Varanasi will also see development with 14 projects worth ₹74.31 crore. Projects include enhancements to Kailash Temple, Dariyanath Temple, Balkeshwar Temple and various other temples.

The vibrant city of Surat witnessed a landmark moment as the Installation and Inauguration Ceremony of the newly formed Skål International Surat – South Gujarat club took place at Emerald 1, Orange Megastructure LLP (formerly TGB) at 1900 hrs. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Skål International India board members and was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and commitment from all participants. This newest addition to the Skål India family marks a significant step in the organization’s mission to establish active clubs in every state and union territory of the country. The event was characterized by valuable discussions, forward-thinking suggestions, and a shared vision for collaborative growth in the tourism and hospitality sector. “It is heartening to see the spirit with which Surat has embraced the Skål movement. This club is set to become a beacon of positive change for the region’s tourism community. Our mission remains to be the unified voice of progress and cooperation in Indian travel and hospitality,” said Sanjeev Mehra, President, Skål International India. The Skål International Surat – South Gujarat team also expressed their eagerness to contribute actively to the network. “We are honored to become part of this global movement. With passion, purpose, and partnership, we aim to elevate Surat’s presence in the international tourism map,” said Rajiv Shah, President, Skål International Surat – South Gujarat. The Office Bearers of the newly inaugurated Club Are Rajiv Shah – President, Vikas Gupta – Vice President, Sumit Bansal – Secretary, Vimal Vaghani – Treasurer, Sumit Saluja – Director-PR, Communication& CSR, Nitin Gupta – Membership Development Officer. Skål India continues its journey with renewed zeal to foster professional camaraderie, build bridges across borders, and create opportunities that …

Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu & Kashmir, revealed plans to develop nine new tourist destinations with multilateral funding. Speaking at ICC Aviation and Tourism Conference, he emphasised shifting from volume to value tourism to ease pressure on saturated hotspots like Gulmarg and Srinagar. “We must move up the value chain,” he said, adding that newer sites would boost sustainable growth and tourist experience.

While speaking at Goa Tourism’s roadshow in Muscat, Oman, Rohan A. Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa, said, “Through this roadshow in Oman, we aim to strengthen ties with the Middle East market, inviting travellers and businesses alike to discover Goa’s vibrant culture, natural beauty, and growing potential as a holistic tourism destination.”

Nikhil Sharma, MD & COO– South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “In terms of rate dynamics, I foresee continued growth in Average Daily Rates (ADRs) across metros and leisure destinations, despite a possible short-term dip in occupancy during Q2 of FY2025. But other than that, I don’t see any drop in ADRs in India.”