Page 2 - Tourism In India

Meghalaya honeymoon horror: Accused wife produced in Ghazipur court

An Indore-based woman accused of hiring men to get her husband killed while on honeymoon in Meghalaya surrendered before Uttar Pradesh Police in Ghazipur on Monday, while another accused man was arrested from Lalitpur district, police said. Sonam Raghuvanshi (24), who has been accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, was produced before a local court in Ghazipur on Monday night for transit remand permission, following which she was expected to be taken into custody by a Meghalaya Police team that reached here in the evening. The court proceedings continued till late in the night. Earlier in the day, Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang said Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based transport businessman whose body was found a week back in Meghalaya, was allegedly killed by men hired by his wife Sonam. Apart from Sonam, police have arrested three men -- Akash Rajput from Lalitpur and two others from Indore -- in connection with the case. A total of five persons have been ..

J-K LG inaugurates control centre in Katra to oversee tourists activities

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday launched a control centre to boost real-time surveillance on pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi to ensure their safety. The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) has been set up at the cave shrine in Reasi district. "The security forces had conducted a joint review of the route and all aspects related to security, safety, and smooth yatra. Based on the joint suggestions made by the Police, Army, and CRPF, an Integrated Command and Control Centre has been set up here from a security perspective," Sinha told reporters in Katra. Built at a cost of Rs 20 crore, the centre will unravel "a new era of safe and seamless pilgrimage begins," he added. The ICCC has been housed at the Spiritual Growth Centre in Katra, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Anshul Garg said. The centre has a network of 700 CCTVs, with features like gesture recognition, facial recognition, and PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom),

IATO urges govt to set up ₹1,000 cr board to boost foreign tourist inflow

This request follows IATO's repeated concerns over India's slow recovery in FTA numbers compared to 2019 levels

J-K CM urges PSU, parliament meets in Kashmir to boost tourism, trust

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday proposed a dual approach to resuscitate Jammu and Kashmir's tourism sector, severely impacted by the Pahalgam terror attack, urging the Centre to mandate PSUs to hold meetings in Kashmir and to convene parliamentary committee meetings there. Speaking at the Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abdullah also raised the issue of recent shelling from Pakistan that claimed 23 lives in Poonch, Rajouri and north Kashmir and underlined that the construction of individual bunkers for residents is necessary. Acknowledging the severe impact of the recent events on the vital tourism sector, Abdullah proposed that as an immediate step, the government should direct its public sector undertakings (PSUs) to hold their meetings in Kashmir. He also strongly pitched for holding of parliamentary consultative committee and parliamentary standing committee meetings in Jammu and Kashmir. These concert

Domestic travellers redirect their travel plans to northeastern states

India-Pakistan tensions and IPL match suspensions are prompting travellers to cancel trips to border states and shift focus to the northeast, say industry executives

Tourists feel 'safe' in J&K's Srinagar, Pahalgam deserted after attack

While Dal Lake remains lively with visitors enjoying the picturesque landscape of the valley, nearby Pahalgam appears deserted, with a heavy security presence replacing the usual tourist crowds

Pahalgam attack triggers mass cancellations of trips from eastern India

The Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives has triggered widespread panic in eastern India's travel industry, with tour operators reporting widespread cancellations of scheduled tours to Jammu and Kashmir. Industry leaders in Kolkata, a key hub for travel to Jammu and Kashmir, claimed that the incident could undo years of recovery and growth that followed a long period of militancy in the valley. The attack marks the first time in recent memory that tourists were specifically targeted, heightening safety concerns among travellers. "This is madness," said Bilolaksha Das, chairman of the eastern chapter of the Travel Agents Federation of India. "There had been terror attacks in Kashmir before. But never before were tourists identified and killed. The entire tourism industry and all its partners revolving around Kashmir, both in the valley and various parts of India, will go for a toss after this incident," he said. Das told PTI that tour operators have been receiving calls non

Doing our best to minimise dent on J&K tourism: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday said some people with nefarious intentions have tried to again "incite separatism and terrorism" in the Valley and asserted that his ministry will do the best to "minimise the dent" on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology (CABA) here, he said he and his office are in "continuous touch" with the chief secretary and the tourism secretary of the Union Territory and keeping an eye on the situation. Terrorists struck at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday, killing at least 26 people, mostly tourists, and injuring several others. The deceased included two foreigners -- from the UAE and Nepal -- and two locals. The entire nation is pained and feeling hurt in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam yesterday, and loss of many innocent lives in it, Shekhawat said. "This ..

Over 50 tourists from Goa stuck in J&K after terror attack: Officials

More than 50 persons from Goa who were on a vacation to Jammu and Kashmir were stranded at hotels in Srinagar after the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam and efforts were on to bring them back, officials said on Wednesday. Terrorists struck at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday, killing at least 26 persons, mostly tourists, and injuring several others, according to officials. The terrorists opened fire at tourists who were milling around eateries, taking pony rides or just picnicking at the Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, touted as 'Mini Switzerland' for its serene beauty. After the incident, all visitors were transported from Pahalgam and other places to hotels in Srinagar, a Goa government official said. More than 50 persons from Goa were currently in Jammu and Kashmir, the official said, adding that "all are safe". Efforts were on to bring them back, the official said. Tour operators from Goa were also working out plans to bring all tourists back f

India's heritage site footfall up 19% since 2019, ticket revenue down 2.83%

India's centrally protected ticketed monuments experienced an over 19 per cent surge in footfall in 2023-24 compared to the pre-pandemic levels but this did not translate into higher revenue from ticket sales, which dropped by 2.83 per cent, official data shows. An analysis of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) data, presented in the Rajya Sabha, covering 143 monuments shows a complex recovery picture for these key heritage sites, contextualised by broader national trends reported in the Ministry of Tourism's 'India Tourism Data Compendium 2024'. The total footfall across these listed monuments increased by 19.35 per cent from approximately 4.60 crore in 2019-20 to 5.49 crore in 2023-24, the data showed. However, despite the surge in the number of visitors, the combined revenue from ticket sales at these monuments saw a decline of 2.83 per cent during the five-year period, dropping from Rs 312.54 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 303.70 crore in 2023-24. This suggests a shift in the ...

India's sustainable tourism market to touch $216 mn: MakeMyTrip founder

India's sustainable tourism market is set to grow to USD 216 million in a decade from a modest USD 37 million at present, MakeMyTrip Founder and Chairman Deep Kalra said on Wednesday. Addressing a travel conclave organised by the MakeMyTrip Foundation, Kalra highlighted the enormous potential presented by the sustainable tourism growth opportunity. "India's sustainable tourism market is still modest in size. It's about 37 million in dollar terms. Today should be in crores ... about Rs 320 crores right now, but growing to USD 216 million in 10 years time, will be among the fastest growing markets," he observed. The MakeMyTrip founder and chairman further shared that in terms of sustainability, today, only 1 to 2 per cent of all tourism in India can be called sustainable, and that's a stark contrast from international numbers in terms of enablers. He informed that globally, sustainable tourism is set to grow to a whopping USD 11.4 trillion in ten years time, from about USD 3.12 trill

Taj Mahal tops ASI ticket revenue list for five years straight: Govt

Mughal-era mausoleum Taj Mahal was the top earning ASI-protected monument through ticket sales in the last five years, according to data shared by the government. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the data in a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. He was asked the amount that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received from selling entry tickets to various monuments in the last five years, year-wise and monument-wise; and the monuments that have received the highest income through sale of entry tickets in the last five years. In his response, the minister shared the data in a tabular form for cycles of financial years ranging from FY19-20 to FY23-24. According to the data, Taj Mahal earned the top slot for all five years. The Mughal-era architectural wonder was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century and it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. In FY19-20, the Agra Fort in Agra and Qutu

U'khand CM Dhami announces Ganga, Sharda river corridors to boost tourism

The proposed river corridors aim to enhance infrastructure and provide better facilities for pilgrims visiting Uttarakhand, reinforcing the state's status as a major spiritual destination

Nearly 24.4 mn tourists visited state in last 4 yrs: Assam tourism minister

Assam Tourism Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said in the state assembly that, more than 24.3 million domestic tourists and 60,306 foreign tourists visited Assam in last four years

Concept of 'concert tourism' can boost growth: Rajasthan Dy CM Diya Kumari

Speaking at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), the Deputy CM said that the state government has come up with the concept of "concert tourism" to promote tourism in the state

PM Modi pitches for year-round tourism in Uttarakhand to boost economy

Making a strong pitch for round the year tourism in Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there should be no off-season in the picturesque hill state and this would strengthen the state's economy in a big way. Addressing a rally in Harsil after offering prayers at the village of Mukhwa, the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district, the prime minister said visitors will get the true flavour of Uttarakhand if they come to the state in the winter. "The government's vision of round the year tourism will strengthen the economy and create jobs for the youth," he said. "We want border areas to reap the benefits of tourism," Modi added. Some villages were evacuated during the 1962 war with China and efforts are being made to rehabilitate them, the prime minister said. He also referred to the two ropeway projects approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday -- Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji -- and said they would reduce travel time

Budget 2025 to develop 50 tourist places, give Mudra loans to homestays

'Special focus' on destinations related to the life and teachings of Lord Buddha

Search for Goa grows 12% in Oct-Dec, hotel bookings up 14%: MakeMyTrip

Goa continues to be India's leading leisure destination, as MakeMyTrip saw a 12 per cent rise in searches for the place on its platform and 14 per cent growth in hotel room bookings in October-December, the travel booking firm's co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow said. The MakeMyTrip's data assumes significance as it comes in the backdrop of rising concerns about a decline in Goa's tourism, particularly from foreign visitors and viral social media posts, showing images of empty beaches and closed shacks. Several social media users have also claimed exploitation by taxi drivers and rising hotel costs, with many reportedly opting for alternatives abroad, especially in Southeast Asian nations. "Our data from the last quarter of 2024 highlights Goa's continuing appeal as India's leading leisure destination. Searches for Goa on MakeMyTrip grew by 12 per cent year-on-year, showcasing sustained travel interest despite an already large base. This intent has translated into bookings as ..

Social media flags record low tourist numbers in Goa; what does data say?

Debunking fake reports, new data concludes that the state has witnessed record-breaking visitor numbers, both domestically and internationally. Here's all you need to know

Noise from music, firecrackers relentless: Japanese tourist on India travel

A Japanese woman shared her India experience, claiming that she was visiting Agra, Rajasthan and Punjab. She complimented India's food and clothing but complained on the "loud environment"