Tourism Industry

Maharashtra to set up 'Namo Tourism Centres' at four heritage forts

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved the establishment of four 'Namo Tourism Information and Facility Centres' at prominent heritage forts in the state to boost regional tourism infrastructure and provide modern amenities to visitors. The centres will come up at Raigad, Pratapgad, Shivneri and Salher forts under the Regional Tourism Development Scheme for 2025-26, according to a government resolution (GR). The Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department has sanctioned Rs 20 crore for the project, of which Rs 5 crore will be released initially to the Directorate of Tourism for implementation. "The Namo Tourism Centres will become an integral part of Maharashtra's tourism landscape and help visitors access heritage sites comfortably," a senior official said, adding that the government intends to expand the initiative to 75 tourist locations in future phases. Each Namo centre is expected to serve as a one-stop information and service point for visitors, showcasing the site's .

Andamans witnessed 200% rise in domestic tourism post-Covid: Lt. Guv Joshi

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lieutenant Governor Admiral D K Joshi has said tourism in the archipelago witnessed a massive surge in post-Covid years. Addressing a tourism conclave at Udaipur in Rajasthan on Tuesday, the Lt. Governor said, "I would like to highlight that there has been a post-COVID tourism resurgence in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with domestic arrivals rising nearly 200 per cent and international tourists up 157 per cent since 2022." "The Andaman and Nicobar administration is poised to set three Guinness World Records in diving to position the islands as a premier scuba diving hub in the Indian Ocean Region," he said. He added that there are plans to develop unique diving circuits around the Button Islands (North/South/Middle Andaman), Barren Island (South Asia's only active volcano), and the pristine beaches of Swaraj Dweep. The Lt. Governor informed about the core strategic initiative for Heritage Tourism Circuit encompassing National Memorial sites, which includ

Tourism in J&K, Ladakh struggling to recover after Pahalgam terror attack

Passenger traffic at Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh airports remains below last year's levels as terror attacks, floods, and bans hit the tourist season

International travel, tourism to support 90 million new jobs by 2035: WTTC

The international travel and tourism sector will support 9.1 crore new jobs in the next 10 years, accounting for one in every three jobs created globally, according to a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 4.3 crore people if left unaddressed, says the report, Future of the Travel and Tourism Workforce', which focused on 20 economies. The Council works with governments on issues of the travel and tourism industry, and is the global authority on the economic and social contribution of the sector. The report, released at the 25th WTTC Global Summit in Rome recently, is based on extensive global research, including a large-scale survey of business leaders and in-depth interviews with the tourism body's members and other key stakeholders, a release said. In 2024, demand for travel and tourism was stronger than it has ever been. The sector's GDP contribution grew 8.5 per cent to reach .

Thomas Cook share price increases 3% on inking deal with Tourism Ministry

Thomas Cook shares gained in trade after the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Tourism, in a strategic move to strengthen the domestic tourism ecosystem.

Tourism in Ladakh suffers as Leh remains under curfew following clashes

Ladakh's tourism sector, already reeling from setbacks earlier this season, has been dealt another blow with the curfew in Leh following last week's violence. Stakeholders said the industry was first hit by widespread cancellations after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and the fresh disturbances have further dented travellers' confidence. An indefinite curfew was imposed in Leh town on September 24 following clashes during a shutdown called by a constituent of Leh Apex Body, which has been spearheading an agitation for statehood and the extension of Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. Four people were killed and over 150 others injured in the violence. Barring a four-hour relaxation in two phases on Saturday afternoon, the town remained under strict curfew for the sixth consecutive day on Monday with mobile internet services suspended. This has triggered booking cancellations and caused hardships to tourists and local stakeholders. "The cancellation of advance booki

Climate change drives rise of 'coolcations' as tourists flee heatwaves

Heatwaves forced closures of sites like the Acropolis and Eiffel Tower, with Europe facing a growing tourism divide as climate change impacts north and south differently

IndiGo CEO urges visa, travel reforms to boost India's inbound tourism

Pieter Elbers says India must simplify visas, improve ease of travel and revive campaigns to attract more foreign visitors

Tourism minister urges collective action to clock 20 million FTAs

Over the three years, India has moved up to the 39th position in 2024 from 54th position on the World Economic Forum's TTDI

Independence Day long weekend: Hotel occupancy, room rates set to surge

Hotel occupancy rates and room tariffs are set to rise this Independence Day long weekend as travellers across India head to various destinations, major industry players said. Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip told PTI, Independence Day has emerged as a key travel occasion over the years. "This year too, the search and booking trends point to strong intent to travel over the Independence Day weekend. With Independence Day on a Friday, travel demand appears to be peaking two days earlier, on Wednesday (13 August), giving early travellers a five-day window," he shared. According to him, the top trending domestic destinations are Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur, Puri, Lonavala, Varanasi, Coorg, Mahabaleshwar, Ooty and Pondicherry, while the leading international destinations are Pattaya, Bali, Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, Phuket, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Zurich and London. Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the country's biggest hospitality firm, wh

New Zealand to charge foreign tourists up to NZ$40 at popular sites

The country's pristine national parks and great walks are "truly special to New Zealanders" and foreigners should pay a fee at high traffic sites, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a speech

Hotel sector grows on surging room rates, shows HVS Anarock data

In May 2025, the country's average rates showed resilience, holding firm despite the seasonal slowdown and the height­ened tensions with Pakistan

Uttar Pradesh expects tourist inflow to double to 1.3 billion in 2025

To accommodate the growing number of backpackers, about 100,000 new hotel rooms have been added to the existing inventory across UP

West Asia conflict sends India tourists to safer Southeast destinations

Online travel portals, tour operators, agents have reported a sharp rise in rescheduling over the past few days, with 25-30% of Indian travellers postponing or altering plans to Western destinations

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 ..

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

Tourism in border areas revived after ceasefire in J-K: CM Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said tourism activities in the frontier areas of the Union Territory have revived after ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border (IB). Replying to a supplementary question raised by National Conference member Sajad Shafi in the Legislative Assembly here regarding his Uri constituency, Abdullah said as the border areas are slowly opening after the ceasefire, tourism is witnessing a positive trend due to the prevailing peace in the region. Shafi also used the opportunity to inform the House about Abdullah's birthday. Most of the members from the treasury and opposition benches wished the chief minister who acknowledged the greetings and thanked the members. "It is true that Uri has huge border tourism potential. Tourists have started visiting areas like Uri and are eager to explore places such as Aman Setu and other scenic locations. Our priority is to enhance tourism infrastructure in these regions," t

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