Tag Archives: Tourism Ministry

Union Minister for Culture & Tourism (I/C), Prahlad Singh Patel announced that Culture  Ministry has approved the opening of 820 centrally protected monuments under the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) which have places of worship from 8th June 2020. Minister Patel also said that all the protocols issued by the MHA and the Health Ministry will be followed in these monuments. In its order, Culture Ministry said that ASI shall ensure that preventive measures as stipulated in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, on 4.6.2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the religious places/places of worship are effectively put in place and scrupulously followed while opening and managing these Centrally Protected Monuments. ASI shall also further ensure that it follows all other directions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India in this regard. Ministry of Culture also requested ASI to share the list of these 820 CPMs proposed to be opened on 8.6.2020 with respective States and the Districts concerned and that any state and/or district-specific orders with regard to containment and prevention of the spread of COVID- 19 are also comprehensively implemented.

Alphons Kannanthanam, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism along with a delegation of senior officials attended the 108th session of UNWTO Executive Council from May 23- May 25  in San Sebastian, Spain, in which it was decided that, in order to address new challenge and trends, UNWTO will pay special attention to scaling up innovation and digitisation in the tourism sector. During the three day Executive Council meeting, the minister chaired the ‘Programme and Budget Committee’ meeting of UNWTO.  Kannanthanam highlighted the role of tourism in socio-economic development through job creation, enterprise and environment development and foreign exchange earnings. He also brought out the impact of innovation and new technology, which have become key factor for competitiveness of every economic sector including tourism. The minister also had a meeting with the Secretary-General of UNWTO,  Zurab Pololikashvili and discussed on developing a Joint Action Plan focused on Tourism Innovation and Digital Transformation including the positioning of India on this Action Plan of UNWTO. The discussions also included involving UNWTO in developing tourism as a strong agent for the better future of the world and establishing the Global Public Private Partnerships. The subject regarding strengthening the relationship between India and UNWTO was also discussed in this meeting.

In 2017, 4,85,314 Indian tourists visited Indonesia. The numbers saw a 30 per cent increase from the previous year in 2016, when 376,802 tourists visited Indonesia, said Arief Yahya, Indonesia’s Tourism Minister. He is visiting India from May 6- 9,  2018 along with a delegation from Jakarta. Upon arrival in Delhi the Minister met with top tourism operators and members of the media. In honour of Yahya’s visit, HE Sidharto Suryodipuro, Indonesia Ambassador organised a cocktail reception at the Indonesia embassy. The event was well attended by travel agents, tour operators, wedding planners and media persons. While addressing the guests,  Yahya commended the Indian tourists. He also said, the Indian market has the potential for still more significant growth.    

Alphons Kannanthanam has been administered the oath of office as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Tourism Ministry by the President of India. He will replace Dr. Mahesh Sharma, MoS (I/C) Tourism and Culture. One of the toppers of IAS batch of 1979, Kannanthanam quit the services in 2006, and was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly, from Kanjirappally in Kottayam District, Kerala. He joined the BJP as Member of National Executive Council in 2011. He is also a practicing advocate in the High court and the Supreme Court of India. As the Commissioner of Delhi Development Authority from 1992-1997, he demolished 14,310 illegal buildings in Delhi and reclaimed land worth Rs 10,000 crore, giving him the sobriquet of ‘Demolition Man’.