Category Archives: States

Jaiveer Singh, Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, claimed that home- stays will become a new centre of attraction for tourists coming to the state. Under Uttar Pradesh Bed and Breakfast (B&B) and Homestay Policy, 2025, Lucknow residents have shown interest in registering their homes as homestays in a bid to offer affordable stays to guests.

Underlining the importance of the use of vernacular languages in travel marketing, Romil Pant, Executive Vice President & Head – Holidays, Thomas Cook India, says, “Travel is all about comfort, confidence, and convenience, and nothing delivers those better than communicating in one’s own language. Our data shows why regional language marketing has been such a success story for large operators like us. From websites to social media, print ads to face-to-face conversations, the adoption of local languages has consistently driven higher engagement and bookings, especially with Thomas Cook’s new initiatives like Bengali-language group tours during Durga Pooja.”

Booking.com’s latest search trends reveal that 58 per cent Indian travellers opted for short domestic trips this year, while 36 per cent chose international trips. Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi were the top searched domestic destinations. Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok were the top searched international destinations on Booking.com by Indian travellers from 1 Jan–30 Jun 2025 for stay dates 1 Jan–30 Jun 2025.

West Bengal’s tourism sector attracted private investment worth ₹5,710 crore last year, driven by new luxury hotels, homestays and festival-driven growth, said Nandini Chakravorty, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), GoI. In the same period, 42 new luxury hotels have opened in the state. She also added that Bengal ranked first in homestay registrations with 5,322 operational units and 3,755 more in the pipeline.

Skål International Delhi has announced its new executive committee for the 2025–2027 term, with all members elected unopposed. Homa Mistry, CEO, Trail Blazer Tours India, takes over as President, succeeding Ranjit Vig, who now serves as Immediate Past President. “I hope I’m able to add value to the Skål club in the coming future,” said Mistry, while the committee expressed confidence in driving Skål Delhi’s vision forward under his leadership.

The Odisha government is planning to come up with a new heritage policy for conservation, preservation and beautification of 3,000 monuments across the state, said Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister. The decision, aimed to attract more tourists, was made at a meeting organised to discuss conservation and beautification of the unprotected heritage monuments of Odisha.

Speaking at the 40th IATO Convention in Odisha’s Puri, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said, “India needs three times the current number of hotel rooms to meet future demand. Unless we are able to unlock that and push the needle, it is going to be a challenge.”

40 Rural Hosts Honoured; Minister Calls Village Tourism the Future of India’s Global Appeal Rural tourism revives India’s living heritage of community and culture, says Jaiveer Singh In a world racing forward, villages offer the pause people seek: Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh In a major push to position Uttar Pradesh as India’s next rural tourism capital, the Department of Tourism organised the Rural Tourism Conclave 2025 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow. The event witnessed participation from various stakeholders, with Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh presiding as Chief Guest. Senior officials, policy experts, farm stay operators, and innovators from across the country joined the conclave to chart the roadmap for a vibrant village-led tourism economy. In a key highlight, more than 40 farm stay and homestay owners were felicitated for redefining hospitality in rural Uttar Pradesh, setting new benchmarks in experiential tourism. Among the dignitaries were MLC Dharmendra Singh, Padma Shri awardee farmer Ram Sharan Verma, Cooperative Registrar Yogesh Kumar, Director of Eco Tourism Prakhar Mishra, and sustainability champion Annadani Malligavad. India’s Story Begins in Villages, says Minister Jaiveer Singh Addressing the gathering, Minister Singh remarked, “India’s stories of gods, values, and culture begin in villages. From Lord Ram to Krishna, the soul of Bharat lies in its soil.” Emphasising that tourism must go beyond monuments, he noted that “Tourists today seek the warmth of rural kitchens, the simplicity of village life, and the joy of authentic hospitality.” He added that under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, rural tourism is central to Viksit Bharat @2047 and will fuel empowerment, entrepreneurship, and environmental consciousness across villages. 234 Villages Identified, 750 Plus Homestays in Pipeline …

Speaking at the Rural Tourism Conclave 2025, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary Tourism, UP said 234 villages are being developed as tourism hubs with homestays and incentives. “Rural tourism is India’s soft power,” he noted, urging the trade to design immersive, culture-led experiences.

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), representing the hospitality industry across the country, has requested Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Union Finance Minister and Chairperson of the GST Council, for the rationalisation of GST in the tourism and hospitality sector. The appeal seeks to position Indian tourism as a driver of economic growth while enhancing its global competitiveness in alignment with India’s Vision 2047. FHRAI welcomed the landmark GST reforms announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on August 15, 2025, describing them as a reflection of the Government’s commitment to strengthening India’s tax regime, simplifying compliance, and paving the way for sustained growth. Tourism has long been one of India’s most strategic growth pillars, contributing nearly five per cent to the nation’s GDP, with the potential to double this contribution if supported by conducive policy measures. It remains one of the largest employment generators, offering extensive opportunities for youth and women, and is recognised for its high multiplier effect, where every rupee invested in hospitality generates a return of 3.5 rupees in output, while one direct job in the sector creates an additional 3.2 indirect jobs. Despite this strong potential, India’s current GST structure makes the tourism sector less competitive compared to its Asian peers. Countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia operate under lower tax regimes, ranging between 6 and 10 per cent, which helps them attract significantly larger tourist inflows. In contrast, India’s higher GST structure reduces affordability and weakens its appeal for international travellers. FHRAI has therefore emphasised the need for uniformity and simplicity in GST to make tourism services more accessible and globally competitive. It has recommended the introduction …