PATA India Chapter, in cooperation with Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, conducted its business development roadshow in six European cities from October 17-27, 2016, which was attended by nearly 80 Buyers from the market. Air India & Jet Airways have contributed to augment the connectivity between important European cities and India. The roadshow started in Helsinki (Finland) on October 17, and moved on to Stockholm (Sweden) on October 18, Copenhagen (Denmark) on October 20, Vienna (Austria) on October 24, Prague (Czech Republic) on October 26, and concluded in Warsaw (Poland) on October 27. PATA India Chapter’s Executive Director, Runeep Sangha, said, “We are more than satisfied with the response we have received from the European market. Since last year we have covered European Countries and hope to firmly establish ‘Share of Mind’. Scandinavia represents a high end long haul market and the interest shown by Travel Agents and Tour Operators from Helsinki, Stockholm & Copenhagen is encouraging. Vienna, Prague & Warsaw are emerging European source markets and demonstrate keen interest in India. The Indian Ambassadors in the Helsinki & Prague spoke to the participating Buyers and assured them of their fullest cooperation to not only facilitate travel to India but also partner in promotional activities. Similarly Consular staff in Stockholm, Vienna & Prague supported the Roadshows with their presence and assurance. At the event, India was represented by 14 sellers including Airlines, State Tourism Boards, Ayurveda Resorts and Destination Management Companies. Dr. U.S. Mishra, Additional Director India Tourism, Amsterdam, and Mr. Jitendra Jadhav, Additional Director, India Tourism, Frankfurt, made significant contribution to the hosting and coordination of these Roadshows were also present in their respective markets. The event brought …
Read More »3rd North India Travel Awards kicks off
The third edition of North India Travel Awards felicitated achievers in the travel and tourism industry of the region during a glittering ceremony held at Hyatt Regency, Gurgaon on October 21, 2016. The Chief Guest for the event, Om Prakash Singh, Tourism Minister, Uttar Pradesh Government, inaugurated the event along with other dignitaries in the presence of the who’s who of the travel industry from North India. The North India Travel Awards salutes the best in the industry and awardees are selected based on a non-biased system of voting.
Read More »MOT & ESOI focus on sustainability
Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, launched the Implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) in association with Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI). He recalled the MoU signed in March 2016 between ESOI and Government of India to launch the STCI programme across the country. Zutshi indicated the importance given to sustainable tourism in the National Tourism Policy that is to be released soon. Speaking on the occasion, Steve Borgia, President, ESOI, hailed the commitment shown by Ministry of Tourism. India is one of the few countries in the world to have a criteria of its own. C.B. Ramkumar, Board member, Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) presented the global picture and also suggested the direction which India could go in this regard. The STCI was curated with the need for developing criteria for sustainable tourism specific to India given the environment that the tourism industry operates in.
Read More »ITDC marks 50th year with great fanfare
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) celebrated the completion of 50 years at a gala event at The Ashok, New Delhi. The event was graced by the presence of Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Umang Narula, Chairman & Managing Director, ITDC. The who’s who of the travel and hospitality industry joined the celebrations and raised a toast to ITDC.
Read More »ITDC declares Rs. 22.55cr profit after tax
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the public sector undertaking under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, recorded net profit before tax of Rs.32.42 crore during 2015-16, profit after tax of Rs.22.55 crore and a total turnover of Rs.465.69 crore during the financial year 2015-16. The information was revealed during the Group’s 51st Annual General Meeting at the Group’s hotel, The Samrat, New Delhi. The highlights of the AGM was the declaration of a dividend of 15 per cent amounting to Rs.12.86 crore approximately as recommended by the Board in the meeting held on May 30, 2016. Out of Rs. 12.86 crore, an approximate amount of Rs.11.20 crore will go to the Government of India. The meeting was chaired by Umang Narula, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, ITDC. The overall occupancy during 2015-16 was 52 per cent as against 47 per cent during 2014-15 with flagship Hotel ‘The Ashok’ recording occupancy of 54 per cent during 2015-16.
Read More »Tourism Policy gets PMO nod, awaits cabinet approval: Billa
The highly-anticipated National Tourism Policy has been approved by the Prime Minister’s Office and is waiting for a formal cabinet nod, revealed Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. “The tourism policy has been concurred to by all the ministries. It has been to the Prime Minister’s Office and they’ve approved it too. Now we are just waiting for the process of placing it before the cabinet for formal approval,” Billa informed on the sidelines of the Kerala Travel Mart, being held in Kochi from September 27-30, 2016.
Read More »9th Kerala Travel Mart opens in Kochi
The ninth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) was inaugurated in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan; Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Abraham George, President, KTM Society, V. Venu Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism, among other dignitaries at Le Meridien, Kochi. 57 countries besides 20 Indian states are participating during the three-day biennial event, which is being organised by the KTM Society in association with the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala on September 27, World Tourism Day. Ten countries will be represented at the Mart for the first time, with Mexico, Georgia, Japan, China, Chile, Greece, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Botswana. The 560 total international delegates registered for KTM 2016 features the biggest-ever contingents from 10 highly-prized traditional markets, including the US, Canada and Australia. Domestic participation too has seen an uptick, buoyed by aggressive marketing campaigns. Some 1,304 Indian buyers will participate this year.
Read More »MOT treats differently-abled children to Delhi tour for World Tourism Day
On occasion of World Tourism Day, the Ministry of Tourism organised a special sightseeing tour of the monuments and heritage places of Delhi where 35 differently abled students from of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya School for Divyang Children participated. The World Tourism Day theme was ‘Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility’ on which Dr. Mahesh Sharma said, “Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. May that be due to a disability, even temporary, families with small children, or the ageing population, at some point in our lives, sooner or later, we all benefit of universal accessibility in tourism.” Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism said, “On this year’s World Tourism Day help us spread the word of both the importance and immense benefits universal accessibility has and can bring to society at large.” The celebrations continued with an awards presentation acknowledging the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism offices and its organisations, where India Tourism, New Delhi held a painting competition. Finally, the minister flagged off the ‘Swacch Paryatan Run’ from Transport Bhawan to India Gate, New Delhi in an effort to promote cleanliness and the Clean India campaign.
Read More »MOT launches ITDC’s Golden jubilee logo
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a PSU under Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on completion of its 50 year of inception on October 1, 2016, launched a logo marking the golden jubilee of ITDC. The logo was unveiled by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture in presence of Vinod Zutshi, Tourism Secretary, and other senior officers of Ministry of Tourism and ITDC. In order to commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebrations, various activities have been introduced during the fortnight starting September 24, 2016 till October 8, 2016. Special offers on room tariff and food & beverage outlets in all ITDC hotels, issue of Elite Card to every 50th guest during this period, plantation of 50 saplings each in some hotels of ITDC, painting and slogan competition, lighting of all Delhi based hotels, presenting souvenirs to guests visiting ITDC hotels on 1st October 2016 are certain activities planned during the celebrations.
Read More »Incredible India Tourism Investors’ Summit 2016 begins
Ministry of Tourism’s maiden Incredible India Tourism Investors’ Summit 2016 kicked off in New Delhi. Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs inaugurated the three-day summit. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism & Culture delivered the key address. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also addressed the audience on the occasion. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). IITIS is a platform for domestic and international investors to meet project owners from across Indian states and the private sector. Highlights of this summit will be state presentations encompassing all investible properties, session on “Why invest in India?,” MSME in tourism sector, panel discussions on core infrastructure for tourism, session on start-ups, digital India, investing into Swadesh Darshan, PRASAD, MICE and niche tourism products, B2B meetings and signing of MoUs. Four Knowledge Partners i.e. Ernst & Young, KPMG, Yes Bank and Invest India will assist States and UTs for identifying projects, suggesting tourism policy updates and presenting these to the potential investors during the summit. Around 250 domestic and overseas investors are set to participate in the summit. More than 2000 delegates have registered for the event.
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