Page 4 - Tourism In India

Lakshadweep tourism: Island to receive Rs 3,600 cr infrastructure upgrade

Infrastructure upgrade initiative to include port facilities, roads, and beachfront amenities across Lakshadweep islands to boost domestic tourism

Govt says 27 new sites identified for development under PRASHAD scheme

Twenty-seven new sites have been identified for development under the Centre's PRASHAD scheme, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Union Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy said this in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha. He said 57 destinations have also been identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. The Union Ministry of Tourism launched the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and the Swadesh Darshan schemes in 2014-15 for developing infrastructure at tourist destinations, including religious sites. The primary objective of the PRASHAD scheme is to develop tourism infrastructure at pilgrimage and heritage sites, ensuring a more enriching experience for pilgrims and heritage enthusiasts. The Swadesh Darshan scheme aimed to develop theme-based tourist circuits, Reddy said. The ministry has now revamped Swadesh Darshan as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible

Budget 2024: What did FM Nirmala Sitharaman say on domestic tourism

From interest-free loans to Lakshadweep and island connectivity, here is everything Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on tourism in the Interim Budget 2024

Assam Cabinet approves new bill for development of tourism sector

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired the cabinet meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur

Focus on developing beach tourism, enhance hospitality standards: Kerala

The Kerala government has affirmed its commitment to align beach tourism projects with current demands, leveraging the significant potential of this specialised sector while enhancing hospitality standards. Speaking after opening the renovated Samudra Kovalam, the beachside resort of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) that now flaunts a whole range of world-class features on Tuesday, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said that it is important to adopt novel ideas in the tourism sector. "The refurbished sea-front resort will boost Kerala's standing as a fast-emerging hub of destination weddings and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism," the Minister was quoted as saying in a release here. He said at a time destination weddings are becoming a global trend, the state has picturesque locations for promoting this niche area, with the government making all efforts to create the best facilities for that segment. In his presidential address, KTDC

Republic Day weekend: Places to go near Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata

Planning a last-minute getaway for the upcoming long weekend? Nothing to worry, we have you covered. Here is a driving distance guide for Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata

National Tourism Day 2024: History, importance, theme and quotes of the day

National Tourism Day is celebrated to enhance awareness among the worldwide community on the significance of tourism. India offers many types of tourism like cultural, natural, and others

MakeMyTrip launches 'Beaches of India' campaign after India-Maldives row

The online travel platform reported a 3,400 per cent increase in searches for Lakshadweep after PM Modi's visit last week

EaseMyTrip suspends flight bookings to Maldives over tourism row with India

Maldivian ministers mocked PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, stating that India could not compete in terms of tourism

Envoy takes up minister's remarks against PM Modi with Maldivian govt

Earlier in the day, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed condemned the derogatory remarks made by the Shiuna and urged President Mohamed Muizzu to distance the government from the comments

Foreign tourist arrivals in 2023 at 7.24 million till October, says govt

More than 7.2 million foreign tourists arrived in India this year till October, the government said on Monday. Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said this in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha. He was also asked if the government is developing some tourist destinations for the promotion of tourism and attracting foreign tourists. Reddy shared data on foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during the five years since 2018. Foreign tourist arrivals stood at 10.56 million (in 2018), 10.93 million (in 2019), slipping to 2.74 million (in 2020), 1.52 million (in 2021) and 6.44 million (in 2022), according to the data sourced from the Bureau of Immigration. In 2023, the (provisional) foreign tourist arrival figures till October stood at 7.24 million. "The (Union) Ministry of Mines has taken up the proposal to develop infrastructure/facilities of erstwhile Bharat Gold Mines Limited (Kolar Gold Fields) into tourist destination/site with the Ministry of Tourism," Reddy added. In

Hyderabad most booked city, UP most visited state this year: Oyo Report

Hyderabad was the most booked city in India followed by Bengaluru in 2023, while Uttar Pradesh was the most visited state in the year, followed by Maharashtra, according to hospitality tech platform OYO's Travelopedia 2023. As per the year-end annual travel trends index, Travelopedia 2023, the period from September 30 to October 2 recorded the highest bookings among all long weekends in the year, OYO said in a statement. "Hyderabad emerged as the most booked city in India followed by Bangalore, Delhi, and Kolkata...Smaller towns like Gorakhpur, Digha, Warangal, and Guntur experienced the highest year-on-year growth in bookings compared to 2022," it said. Among leisure destinations, OYO said Jaipur took the lead as the most visited in 2023 followed by Goa, Mysore, and Puducherry. On the other hand, Puri secured the top spot as the most booked spiritual and pilgrimage destination, followed by Amritsar, Varanasi, and Haridwar. "Lesser-known spiritual destinations like Deoghar, Palani

Foreign tourist arrivals to reach pre-pandemic level by 2024: Govt to LS

Foreign tourist arrivals are likely to reach pre-pandemic level by 2024, according to data received from the Bureau of Immigration, the the government informed Lok Sabha on Monday. In response to a query Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy also shared data on Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in the last three years which stood at 1.52 million in 2021 and 6.43 million in 2022. The FTA provisional figures for 2023 stood at 6.43 million from January till September, according to data shared by him. Reddy also said no projection has been made by the Ministry of Tourism about the number of tourists expected to arrive in India in the next five years. "As per the study 'India and the Coronavirus Pandemic: Economic Losses for Households Engaged in Tourism and Policies for Recovery', conducted by the Ministry of Tourism, domestic tourism is likely to reach the prepandemic level by 2024-25. "Further on the basis of data received from BOI (Bureau of Immigration), Foreign Tourist Arrivals are

India among San Francisco's top market for tourism growth recovery

The city witnesses a large number of Indian tourists visiting friends and relatives, staying in the nearby Silicon Valley

Tourism recovery in Asia-Pacific region strong, robust post pandemic: PATA

The recovery in tourism in the Asia-Pacific region after the COVID-19 pandemic has been "strong and robust" and the numbers have reached about 80 per cent of 2019's figures, the chief of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) said on Thursday. Peter Semone was interacting with reporters during the second day of the 46th edition of the PATA Travel Mart being hosted here from October 4-6. The physical version of the PATA Travel Mart is being held after a hiatus of three years due to the Covid pandemic. "Recovery from 2019 numbers... in the Asia-Pacific region, we are running at about 80 per cent. So there is a recovery and I have to say its strong and robust recovery. "The quality of tourism, in terms of lengths of stays, is better. It seems, when people are travelling, they are travelling a little bit more seriously and in a bit more committed way," Semone said when asked about the recovery made in tourism sector in the Asia-Pacific region. Later on the sidelines, he also shared so

PM Modi slams Gehlot government, launches projects worth Rs 5,000 cr

Ahead of Rajasthan state Assembly elections, Prime Minister Modi promises to boost tourism sector in the state

Rajasthan CM approves Rs 18 crore for panoramas of great personalities

The chief minister announced the initiative during the 2023-24 state budget and will be financed by the state's Tourism Development Fund

PM Modi to inaugurate development projects in Rajasthan worth Rs 7,000 cr

Union Minister Piyush Goyal accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of hindering Rajasthan's development

World Tourism Day 2023: Theme, history, importance, celebration, quotes

World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27 to promote and bring issues to light about the significance of the travel industry, both financially and socially

Centre should consider lowering TCS on overseas tour package: Report

The government should consider lowering TCS on overseas tour packages and allow foreign cruise vessels to operate on Indian waters besides other steps to increase outbound tourism, a report said on Sunday. The report titled "Unlock the Potential: A Look into Outbound Tourism", drafted by Nangia Andersen LLP in collaboration with FICCI said that India's outbound tourism market is projected to rise by 11.4 per cent CAGR between 2023 and 2032. The growth in the Indian travel and tourism industry is driven by a combination of rising income levels and changing lifestyles, development of diverse tourism offerings and policy and regulatory support by the government authorities, it added. The report suggested a few measures that the government may implement to support this expanding sector, including rolling back TCS (Tax Collected at Source), enhancing opportunities for partnership with foreign countries, collaboration with airlines, and allowing foreign cruise vessels to operate on Indian