Page 2 - Tourism Industry

Govt aid to help MP attract highest investments from tourism: Minister

The incentives offered by the Madhya Pradesh government will help the state attract the highest investments from the tourism and hospitality sector in the coming years, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Tuesday. Addressing the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit (MP GIS) 2025 here, the Tourism Minister said Madhya Pradesh has the power to meet the aspirations of tourists looking to explore all kinds of experiences from spirituality to mountains, etc. "We are sitting on the gateway of a bright future in this (tourism) sector. I would appeal to all of you for maximum investments, wherever there is a possibility in Madhya Pradesh as well as in India. Your investment will certainly not disappoint you," he said and urged the tourism industry to invest in the state. Asserting that India is standing at the cusp of unlimited possibilities, he said, "the kind of incentives offered by Madhya Pradesh will help it attract the maximum investments from India's hospitality, travel

EaseMyTrip, Korea Tourism join hands to woo Indian tourists to South Korea

Travel tech platform Easy Trip Planners Ltd on Friday said it has signed an initial pact with the Korea Tourism Organisation to enhance South Korea's visibility as a key outbound destination for Indian travellers. The partnership seeks to drive Indian tourist arrivals to Korea by leveraging EaseMyTrip's digital reach, industry expertise, and extensive customer base, Easy Trip Planners, which operates under the brand EaseMyTrip, said in a regulatory filing. Through a targeted marketing approach, EaseMyTrip and Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) will work together to increase awareness, improve accessibility, and create seamless travel experiences for Indian travelers exploring Korea, it added. "Korea is a potpourri of history, vibrant city life, and breathtaking landscapes, making it a highly desirable destination for Indian travellers. Our partnership with Korea Tourism Organisation will allow us to bring exclusive travel opportunities to Indian tourists while ensuring seamless bookin

India among top three countries on Singapore's tourist list in 2024

India has emerged as one of the top three markets for visitor arrivals in Singapore with 1.2 million Indians visiting the city-state in 2024, the tourism board here said on Tuesday. China topped the tourist list with 3.08 million arrivals to Singapore followed by Indonesia with 2.49 million arrivals. International visitor arrivals continued a steady recovery from 2023, increasing by 21 per cent to 16.5 million in 2024, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in its year-in-review report. Singapore's pre-pandemic peak in 2019 saw 19.1 million arrivals. China (3.08 million arrivals), Indonesia (2.49 million) and India (1.2 million) emerged as the top three source markets for visitors, with a mix of short-, mid- and long-haul markets such as Japan, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States showing 'healthy year-on-year growth', said the STB. Tourism receipts or spending for the full year are likely to reach the upper bound of the statutory board's forecast of SGD 27.5 billion to

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

Tourism industry regains 5% GDP contribution in FY23: Economic Survey

Religious tourism accounts for over 60 per cent of domestic travel in India, according to a report by KPMG

Indians exploring wallet-friendly routes amid rupee dip against US dollar

The depreciating rupee makes India more attractive to foreign tourists, potentially boosting inbound tourism

Puri, Varanasi, Haridwar top spiritual destinations in 2024: Oyo report

Puri, Varanasi and Haridwar are the most travelled spiritual destinations while Hyderabad is India's top-booked city this year, according to OYO's 'Travelopedia 2024' annual report unveiled on Tuesday. The report delves into travel patterns and trends, with its findings based on the booking data of the travel tech major for the entire year. "In India, religious tourism continued to be a key focus, with Puri, Varanasi, and Haridwar dominating the pilgrimage sector. However, a significant trend emerged with Deoghar, Palani, and Govardhan experiencing substantial growth, indicating a shift towards less explored spiritual destinations..."OYO stated. Following Hyderabad, cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata rounded out the top spots for bookings, with Uttar Pradesh maintaining its position as the most popular state for travel. High volume of bookings were reported from Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka, which continue to be dominant travel contributors. Smaller towns like Patna

Maha Kumbh 2025 to give Uttar Pradesh chance to showcase tourism potential

The state tourism department will set up a 'Digital Kumbh Museum' to showcase the cultural heritage of India and offer insight into the mythological and historical significance of the Kumbh

40 tourism projs get approval to boost lesser-known destinations in India

Forty projects worth over Rs 3,295 crore and spanning 23 states have received nod from the Centre for developing lesser-known destinations into iconic sites and promote a more balanced distribution of tourists across the country. As per the directives of the Department of Expenditure, the Ministry of Tourism issued operational guidelines for Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI) for the development of iconic tourist centres, officials said. The Ministry of Tourism circulated the SASCI guidelines to the state governments with a request to formulate and submit the project proposals to the ministry, which are iconic in nature and can create impactful destinations, they said. By the last date of submission, October 15, 2024, a total of 87 project proposals were received costing more than Rs 8,000 crore, a senior official in the ministry said. Thereafter, the Ministry of Tourism in line with the guidelines and as per the procedure or criteria, ...

Total foreign tourist arrivals stood at 9.52 million in 2023: Govt

The contribution of tourism sector to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) for 2022-23 stood at five per cent, the government informed Parliament on Monday. In a written response in the Lok Sabha, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also said that in 2023, the total foreign tourist arrivals stood at 9.52 million. Among these, tourists who travelled for leisure holiday and recreation accounted for 46.2 per cent while the share of Indian diaspora was 26.9 per cent, according to data shared in the response. The minister said as per the third Tourism Satellite Account, 2015-16, the percentage contribution of tourism sector to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) for 2018-19 stood at 5.01 per cent, while the share for 2022-23 was five per cent. For 2020-21, it was 1.50 per cent and 1.75 per cent for 2021-22. In response to another query, the minister said that to facilitate the visit of foreign nationals to come to India for medical treatment, the government

SC grants 8 weeks to Manipur govt to respond to plea against ILP in state

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted eight weeks to the Manipur government to respond to a plea challenging the system of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime is applicable. To visit ILP-regime states, outsiders, including people from other states of the country, need permission. A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti gave time to Manipur after the counsel for the state government sought time. The top court on January 3, 2022 had issued notices to the Centre and the Manipur government and others on a plea filed by an organisation called 'Amra Bangalee'. The plea contended that the ILP provides unrestrained power to the state to restrict entry and exit of non-indigenous people or those who are not permanent residents of Manipur. "The draconian ILP system is fundamentally opposed to the policies of social integration, development and technological advancement in the area beyo

Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma invites UK investors to boost tourism

During the event, CM Sharma highlighted that Rajasthan is known for its rich cultural heritage, historic landmarks and scenic beauty

World Tourism Day 2024: Date, theme, history, significance and more

Started in 1980 by the UNWTO, World Tourism Day celebrates the global impact of tourism. The day is dedicated to the significance of tourism in promoting cultural exchange and economic growth

Moscow is focused on attracting business travellers from India

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Statsguru: Tourism industry shows recovery but challenges remain

The tourism sector is facing a year-on-year decline in the share of jobs created

Rahul Gandhi urges people to visit Wayanad, help revive tourism there

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged people to visit Wayanad and experience its beauty, help to revive tourism, rebuild livelihoods and restore its vibrancy. He stressed that while the recent landslide tragedy affected only the Mundakkai area, it has led to a misconception that all of Wayanad has been impacted, causing a sharp drop in tourism. "Wayanad's beauty is undisputed, but it is the compassion and kindness of its people that has always drawn me to it. Today, so many of those people who rely on tourism for their livelihood are looking to you all for help," the former Congress chief said in a Facebook post. "Let me assure you, Wayanad is still vibrant and welcoming, with its spirit unbroken. I urge you to visit and experience its beauty, helping to revive tourism, rebuild livelihoods, and restore its vibrancy," he said. Earlier this month, Gandhi said it is imperative to make a concerted effort to revitalise tourism in Wayanad and encourage people

EaseMyTrip enters medical tourism; board approves Rs 90 crore acquisitions

EaseMyTrip has acquired a 30% stake in Rollins International for Rs 60 crore and a 49% stake in Pflege Home Healthcare for Rs 30 crore

Bali imposes construction freeze to tackle overtourism, protect environment

Bali reportedly deported 340 foreign nationals last year for violations, including illegal activities and inappropriate behaviour

Free on-arrival visa scheme to be implemented after Parl nod: Sri Lanka

The commencement of granting free on-arrival visas to tourists from 38 countries, including India, can only be implemented in October as it needs parliamentary approval, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles has announced. The minister said on Monday that a new gazette to implement the change requires parliamentary approval. Last week, the presidential advisor on tourism, Harin Fernando, said the scheme was to be implemented with immediate effect following a proposal approved by the Cabinet. The Parliament is not scheduled to meet before the September 21 presidential election. The island's tourism industry has demanded an immediate end to the long delays experienced by travellers to the country. In April, a foreign company was engaged to issue on-arrival visas. However, it has caused much heartburn to the tourism industry that says travellers are made to spend hours before being allowed entry at the immigration at the Colombo International Airport. The tourism industry demands

Surge in demand of 'Visa at Your Doorstep' among UK travellers to India

There has been a significant surge in demand for the "Visa at Your Doorstep service amid a growing number of UK visitors choosing India as a travel destination, visa facilitation service VFS Global said on Tuesday. According to the latest Ministry of Tourism statistics, Britain featured among the top three source countries for foreign tourist arrivals making up a 9.82 per cent share between January and June this year. It comes as overall foreign tourist arrivals to India increased by around 64 per cent compared to previous years. The Visa at Your Doorstep (VAYD) service has recently experienced a significant surge in demand, said Anirudh Singh, COO of Europe and CIS region at VFS Global the technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions, including the Indian mission in the UK. "The demand for convenient and personalised services is rising, and our VAYD service is perfectly positioned to meet this growing need. Equipped with mobile kits for biometric capture, o