Category Archives: States

The Department of Tourism has launched its Homestay and Bed & Breakfast Scheme at the hands of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant, in the presence of Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Rohan A Khaunte; Hon’ble MLA Bicholim and Chairman of Infotech Corporation of Goa Ltd., Shri Chandrakant Shetye; Hon’ble MLA Mayem, Shri Premendra Shet; Secretary Tourism, Shri Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS; Director Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik; and Managing Director, Shri Kuldeep Arolkar at the PAC Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim. The launch aimed at promoting community-driven tourism, rural livelihoods, and experiential travel in Goa. The initiative is part of the state’s larger vision to diversify its tourism offerings beyond beaches and strengthen Goa’s positioning as a model for Regenerative Tourism in India. What was earlier conceptualized as a policy has now been reframed and strengthened as a scheme. The revised scheme offers a combination of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, simplified registration processes, and quality classifications, making it easier and more rewarding for local residents to operate homestays in rural areas of the state, paving the way for boosting Rural and Hinterland Tourism in Goa. This scheme also holds the power to foster women and youth entrepreneurship, encouraging self-reliance while preserving our unique Goan heritage. Under the scheme, eligible establishments located in the talukas of Sattari, Sanguem, Dharbandora, Bicholim, Canacona, Ponda, and Quepem will receive a one-time grant of ₹2,00,000, along with access to marketing support, training, listing on Goa Tourism platforms, and subsidized participation in domestic trade fairs. The scheme will remain valid for five years and may be extended further by the Department. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant stated “The Homestay Scheme has been launched with a renewed focus on promoting the …

Announcing the ₹5,600 crore SPREAD project, Omar Abdullah, CM, J&K at the FAITH Conclave said, “We will develop nine new greenfield destinations.” With World Bank support, the plan includes modern facilities, connectivity and sustainable resorts, aiming to reshape the tourist map in Jammu and Kashmir and attract investment in diversified tourism offerings.

Himachal Pradesh will set up a Tourism Investment Promotion Council (TIPC) to fast-track approvals for projects over ₹50 crore. Chaired by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the council aims to attract private investment with a single-window mechanism, ensuring minimum regulation and time-bound decisions.

Animesh Debbarma, Minister, Department of Forest, Tripura said his ministry has chalked out a plan to set up six eco parks to boost tourism in the state. The estimated cost of each eco park to be set up in six districts, except Dhalai and South Tripura, will be ₹10 crore, and the joint forest management group will run the proposed facilities. He said these tourist facilities, to be built on forest land, will provide a livelihood to the local people.

Kerala will soon launch a four per cent interest loan scheme to support women entrepreneurs in tourism. Backed by 4 crore, the initiative is a joint effort of the Responsible Tourism Mission and KSWDC. With 18,000 women registered across 24 sectors, the project aims to set a national benchmark in women-led tourism.

As part of its continued expansion in North India, the Royal Orchid Hotels has signed a new 43-key Regenta Place in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi. The move aligns with the group’s strategy to tap into high-potential, underserved destinations and cater to the increasing demand for premium hospitality experiences beyond metro cities. The resort is likely to open in September this year.

GRT Hotels & Resorts has launched GReaT Ceremonies, the newly transformed wedding and event spaces at Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels in T. Nagar. Formerly known as the iconic GRT Convention Centre, the venue has been elevated into a contemporary celebration destination that blends modern sophistication, timeless tradition, and signature GRT hospitality under one roof.

Balitrip Wisata has kicked off its India roadshow 2025 in Ahmedabad, attracting over 215 travel agencies from Gujarat. The four-city tour promotes Bali as a top outbound destination among Indian travellers. With the theme “Focus. Delivery. Value.”, the B2B DMC aims to strengthen service excellence and trade partnerships in India.

Aligning with India’s regional development goals, the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) is prioritising the Northeast for expansion. With 15 operational hotels totalling 1,348 rooms in the Northeast and 6 hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline, the brand’s strategy focuses on strengthening its footprint in the East and Northeast, Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL, said.

KB Kachru, President, HAI, said, “With the evolving landscape of the Indian tourism sector, the hospitality sector is also adding more authentic experiences rather than services, increasing its engagement with the local communities, sourcing locally largely and supporting the businesses and economies of the region in which they are located.”