Category: India

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands hopes to keep tourism to move on, despite the alleged killing of the US national by aboriginal tribals on North Sentinel Island. MHA is planning to further liberalize e-visa for foreign visitors intending to go to the islands. As per a senior MHA official, after lifting the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) tag from 29 islands, including North Sentinel Island where the incident took place, the government is now looking at further liberalizing the e-visa system by ‘embedding in it the automatic permission to foreign tourists to visit the islands’, ... Read more

Daringbadi – Kashmir of Odisha The eco-tourism programmes implemented by Odisha has been proved to be rewarding as the revenue generated from tourism activities is expected to reach Rs 6 crore by the end of the current financial year. The total investment in eco-tourism projects by the state government is around Rs 34 crore, which has utilized for the development of 37 eco-tourism destinations from 2016-17 to 2018-19 with an objective to increase the inbound tourism and to strengthen the local economy. “The revenue generation from tourism activities in these spots within this period has touched Rs 4 crore. Considering ... Read more

The Goa Government has started work on developing two heritage tourism circuits in an attempt to showcase the state’s historical sites and promote tourism in the region. It reported that the State Archives and Archaeology Department has been working and making efforts to create such tourism circuits, where tourist will be given an opportunity to visit various architectural landmarks and historical monuments. Saptakoteswara Temple The heritage tourism circuits will be developed in association with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). “The first circuit will cover the Saptakoteshwar Temple at Narve village in Bicholim taluk and the monuments surrounding it, which ... Read more

Union Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma interacting with delegates in the 7th International Travel Mart, Tripura The government is taking several steps to boost the tourism potential of northeastern states and the Union Home Ministry is very supportive in this regard, Union Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma said here on Friday. Verma was speaking at the 7th edition of the International Tourism Mart, in which 52 foreign delegates from 18 countries are taking part. “Compared to 2016, the flow of foreign tourists visiting the northeastern states increased by 16.7 per cent last year while the domestic tourists visiting the region increased by ... Read more

India attained third position in the tourism sector after China and the US and 13.92 million jobs have been created in the sector in the last four years, Union Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons said. He was speaking at the 7th edition of the International Tourism Mart at Agartala, Tripura. “We want to achieve more, both in foreign tourists’ arrival in the country and earning from tourism sector. Last year domestic tourists increased by seven per cent from the previous year while foreign tourists increased by 14 per cent. Over 13.92 million jobs have been created in the tourism sector in ... Read more

Bajaj’s quadricyle- RE 60 The government has included ‘Quadricycle’ as a ‘non transport’ vehicle in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, paving the way for such vehicles to carry passengers. The government has allowed non-transport usage of quadricycles with a view to providing a safe and cheap mode for the last mile connectivity, an official statement said. The press release posted on 23rd November 2018, states “Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified the insertion of the item ‘Quadricycle’ as a ‘non transport’ vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. A Quadricycle is a vehicle of the size of a ... Read more

WCCB members on an awareness programme on illegal trade of endangered animals United Nation Environment has awarded the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of India’s ministry of environment, forest and climate change with the Asia Environment Enforcement Awards, 2018 for excellent work done by the bureau in combating transborder environmental crime. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, congratulated the Bureau for the achievement. “The Asia Environmental Enforcement Award recognizes the excellent work done by Government officials and teams from the team, who is diligently involved in combating transboundary environmental crime,” said the minister Illegal possession of ... Read more

The picturesque town of Gulmarg is all set to be developed into an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable tourist destination, envisaged the Gulmarg Master Plan-2032, approved by the Jammu and Kashmir government. The State Administrative Council (SAC) met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik has approved the Master Plan. The plan proposes to maximise the contribution of Gulmarg and its surroundings to the state’s economy, while preserving its rich natural and cultural heritage, the official said. At the same time, it proposes to provide the best hospitality, excellent value for money and memorable experiences to every visitor and develop ... Read more

KJ Alphons, Minister of Tourism (I/C), Government of India, will inaugurate the South Asia’s largest travel trade exhibition, SATTE 2019. The 26th edition of the event, will be held at a different venue. This edition of the event will be held at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida. In order to boost the image of India as the most sought-after tourism destination in the global tourism market, earlier this year the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Govt of India has also continued its support to SATTE’s buyer programme for 2019. The objective is to bring more and more international buyers and ... Read more

Photo for representative purpose only Tripura will host three-day 7th International Tourism Mart from November 22. As many as 80 international tour operators from 21 countries including Bangladesh, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Thailand, South Africa and Russia will attend the fair and engage in dialogue with the state tour operators, attend seminars and visit different tourist spots of the state. The event is organised with an estimated budget of Rs 2.60 crores, which is provided by the Ministry of Tourism. Union Minister of State for Tourism K J Alphons will inaugurate the International Tourism Mart on November 22. The event will ... Read more

Yogendra Tripathi IAS In a reshuffle by the Government of India, Yogendra Tripathi has been appointed as the Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. Tripathi will replace Rashmi Verma. A 1985 Karnataka Cadre IAS, Tripathy has been Chairman & Managing Director of Food Corporation of India prior to his new appointment as Secretary Tourism. Prior to his position in the FCI, he has served as the Joint Secretary in the Department of School Education. He has also served at various levels of the government at the State, Karnataka, and in the Central departments during his more than three decade long career.

The 2018 Men’s Hockey World Cup will be held in Bhubaneswar, India, starting from November 28. In the run-up to the much-awaited hockey event, AR Rahman, renowned Indian musician, took to Twitter on Sunday and uploaded a teaser video of the official song of the Men’s Hockey World Cup. “Presenting the promo for ‘Jai Hind India’ the song for Hockey World Cup 2018 with Shahrukh Khan and wonderful musicians who have collaborated for this track” tweeted the music maestro. The song is composed and produced by A R Rahman and lyrics by Gulzar.  Shahrukh Khan, Nayanthara, Sivamani, Neeti Mohan, Shweta ... Read more

Bihar government plans a number of developmental programs in the Valmiki Nagar of West Champaran district to make it an eco-tourism destination. Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar has inaugurated the programme on Sunuday. 200 acres of land has been allotted by the The Water Resources department to Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, for developing eco-tourism in Valmiki Nagar Tiger Reserve (VTR). “There will be a convention center in Valmiki Nagar, where people can hold programmes and also enjoy the natural beauty of the place”, said Nitish Kumar. “A cabinet meeting will be held to discuss the programme; the ... Read more

Ujjayanda Palace, Agartala Tripura will host the 7th International Tourism Mart from 22nd November 2018 at Agartala. The three day event, which aims at propagate tourism potentials of the northeast states, will have tour operator delegates from 18 countries. It was announced by Singha Roy, Tripura Tourism Minister on Sunday. As per the minister, Ministry of Tourism has allocated Rs 2.6 crores for conducting the event. “K J Alphons, Union Minister of State for Tourism will inaugurate the 7th International Tourism Mart on October 22 at Prajna Bhavan. The event will include cultural festivals and discussions on the theme for ... Read more

Sohra Town, Meghalaya As part of the state’s efforts to provide better health care facilities to the people, Meghalaya government is setting up an Ayush Hospital at Wahshari, Sohra (Cherrapunji). Alexander Laloo Hek (AL Hek), Health and Family Welfare Minister, has laid the foundation stone for the 50-bed Integrated AYUSH Hospital on Saturday, 17 November 2018. Delivering his address, the health minister expressed happiness that after years of continuous efforts and proposals, the Ministry of AYUSH under the National AYUSH Mission has allotted sanction for the setting up of two hospitals, one in Sohra and the other at Ri Bhoi ... Read more