Page 12 - Tourism

Lakshadweep to Digha: India's best beach holiday destinations beyond Goa

Dotted across India's vast coastline, these places are less crowded and culturally vibrant

Kerala to see Rs 3 trn investment in three years: State FM K N Balagopal

The budget has estimated the revenue for the financial year at Rs 1,38,655 crore and expenditure of Rs 1,84,327 crore

Domestic tourism in Rajasthan up 12 times, foreigners' numbers see spike

The number of domestic tourists visiting Rajasthan has increased about 12 times in the last four years, with the footfall of foreign tourists also witnessing a sharp uptick since the Covid-induced slump. According to the Tourism Department, in 2020, more than 1.51 crore domestic tourists visited the state. The number shot up to over 17.90 crore in 2023. A total of 32.44 crore domestic tourists visited Rajasthan from January 2020 to December 2023. On the other hand, over 22.20 lakh foreign tourists visited the desert state to witness its historical heritage during the same period. "Rajasthan has been a major tourist attraction among the tourists. After the corona pandemic, a large number of domestic tourists have started visiting the state. The number of foreign tourists have also significantly risen," Deputy Director of Tourism Department, Daleep Singh Rathore, said. The freshly elected BJP government's focus is to make the state a leader in the tourism sector in the country. Rece

After consecration ceremony, 2.5 mn devotees visited Ram temple in 11 days

After the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple on January 22, around 25 lakh devotees visited the temple in the past 11 days and the amount of offerings and donations has crossed Rs 11 crore. According to Prakash Gupta, office in-charge of the temple trust, in the last 11 days, about Rs 8 crore rupees were deposited in the donation boxes, while the amount received through cheque and online is around Rs 3.50 crore. He said that in the temple's sanctum sanctorum, where the deity is seated, four big size donation boxes have been kept near the 'darshan path' in front of the sanctum sanctorum, in which the devotees are donate the amount. Besides, people also donate at 10 computerised counters. He said that the temple trust employees are appointed at the donation counter and they submit the account of the donation amount received in the trust office after the counter is closed in the evening. A team of 14 people, which includes 11 bank employees and three from the temple trust, counts

Thailand airport operator expects 8 million Chinese visitors this year

The announcement comes after the two countries mutually waived visa entry requirements for their nationals effective in March. Thailand removed visa requirements for Chinese late last year

Tax roadblock to tourism drive: India isn't 1st choice for foreign tourists

India is still not the first choice for foreign tourists and operators because it levies higher taxes and Southeast Asian countries promote themselves more

Reached mutual visa cooperation deal with Maldives to boost tourism: China

China on Wednesday said it has worked out a comprehensive mutual visa cooperation agreement with 23 countries, including the Maldives amid Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's efforts to woo more Chinese tourists to the Indian Ocean island nation. Beijing is currently trying to work out either visa-free or liberalising visa procedures with various countries to boost the declining number of international tourists to China and to enable its citizens to travel abroad more freely. China's visa-free 'circle of friends' continues to expand, and more and more countries have officially entered the 'visa-free era'," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told the media here. He said that so far China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries. So far, China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries, reached agreements or arrangements on simplified visa procedures with 44 countries, and .

Uber launches operations in Jammu & Kashmir; starting with Srinagar

Residents of Srinagar and visiting tourists can now book Uber Go and Uber Intercity rides for their mobility needs

Amid diplomatic spat, India slips to 5th spot on Maldives' tourism chart

In 2023, India was the biggest tourism market for Maldives, with a market share of 11.1%

Nearly 180 million domestic tourists visited Rajasthan in 2023: Govt

Nearly 18 crore domestic and about 17 lakh foreign tourists visited Rajasthan last year, the state assembly was informed on Monday. According to a government reply in the Rajasthan Assembly, about 32.44 crore domestic tourists and over 22.20 lakh foreign tourists came to the state from January 2020 to December 2023 to visit its heritage sites. In the year 2023, more than 17.90 crore domestic tourists and about 16.99 lakh foreign tourists visited Rajasthan, the government said in its reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf. A total of 1,51,17,239 domestic tourists and 4,46,467 foreign tourists visited Rajasthan in 2020, 2,19,88,734 domestic and 34,806 foreign tourists in 2021 and 10,83,28,156 domestic and 39,684 foreign tourists visited in 2022, the government said. Notably, the Covid pandemic had affected the tourism industry during the period from 2020 to 2022. MLA Saraf had asked for year-wise details of domestic and foreign tourist visits made in the state from .

Assocham appeals to Centre to focus on spiritual tourism in Budget

The Budget session of Parliament, the last session before the general elections expected in April-May, will begin on January 31 and is likely to continue till February 9

Eying more tourists, CM Sukhu sanctions Rs 100 crore for Shimla infra

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday sanctioned Rs 100 crore for enhancing and strengthening the infrastructure of Shimla town with an aim to increase tourist footfall and facilitate the local people. "Rs 55 crore would be spent on underground power cables in Shimla which would ensure proper ducts facilities," the chief minister said in a press note issued here. He noted that the move will help provide uninterrupted power supply to the consumers even during heavy snowfall and adverse weather in the town. Sukhu said the Himachal Pradesh government would also spend Rs 45 crore for improvement and widening of Circular Road in the state capital. He said the decongestion of the road would go a long way in facilitating the local public and tourists and ensuring smooth flow of vehicular movement. He directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to remove all the bottlenecks on this road for the convenience of the commuters. "The present state government had .

Places linked with Lord Ram to be developed as tourist spots: MP CM Yadav

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday night said the Ram Lalla idol consecration at the newly built temple in Ayodhya was a historic event and announced that places connected with the Hindu deity in the state will be developed as popular tourist spots. Talking to reporters, he said the mega idol consecration ceremony in the Uttar Pradesh town heralds the coming of 'Ram Rajya', an ancient concept that denotes a harmonious society without discrimination. "The Ram temple idol consecration ceremony was a historic event. The places where Lord Rama set his foot in Madhya Pradesh will be developed as tourist places," he said at his official residence here which was lit up with 11,101 'diyas' (lamps) and soaked in religious fervour to mark the Ram temple inauguration. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, good governance has been established. In real terms, the coming of 'Ram Rajya'. Nearly 142 crore people stood by the government and demonstrated an example .

IHCL hospitality group to build hotel spread over 1.3 acre in Ayodhya

Indian Hotels Company Ltd announced the signing of the third hotel in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on the day of the Ram temple inauguration. Spread over 1.3 acre, the 150-key brownfield project will be branded as an Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) SeleQtions hotel, the hospitality group said in a statement. "Ayodhya's remarkable transformation to a world-class pilgrimage destination, marked by the inauguration of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, is poised to draw an influx of tourists from around the world," IHCL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Puneet Chhatwal said. "We will now offer three distinct brands in Ayodhya of about 400 rooms and we are delighted to collaborate with KM Vyaparfor this SeleQtions hotel," he added. With the addition of this, IHCL will have three hotels across SeleQtions, Vivanta and Ginger brands in Ayodhya.

Rajasthan govt likely to seek PM Narendra Modi's help to promote tourism

Tour operator Sanjay Kaushik said that Rajasthan is very famous for its heritage and the state has the highest number of heritage properties in the world

Ayodhya pins hopes on 'Pran Pratishtha' for quantum leap in tourism

The city, which has decked up to welcome top dignitaries and visitors from across the country and overseas, is counting on the mega event to help harness its tourism potential

Goa govt introduces regenerative tourism to focus on 11 spiritual sites

The Goa government has introduced the concept of regenerative tourism, which will revolve around 11 places of worship in the coastal state. Talking to PTI on Saturday, state Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the concept of regenerative tourism will redefine the approach towards travel and tourism. Our model of regenerative tourism will revolve around eleven spiritual sites or Ekadasha Teertha, he said. By involving local communities, especially women and youth, in exploring, understanding, and projecting their culture, cuisine, and lifestyle, Goa tourism aims to harness the commercial and economic potential of their history and heritage, the minister said. Regenerative tourism isn't a luxury but a necessity, a transformative approach that transcends the limitations of traditional tourism models, he said. This type of tourism isn't just about safeguarding the environment; it is about fostering a deeper connection between travellers and the places they visit, he said. It encourag

N Korea to welcome Russian tourists, country's first since pandemic: Report

Russian tourists reportedly going on a ski trip to North Korea will be the first international travelers to visit the country since its borders closed in 2020 amid the global pandemic lockdown. The report, published Wednesday by the Russian state-run Tass news agency, underscores deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. It also follows the meeting last September between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a cosmodrome in Russia's Far East. Tass did not specify a timeframe but the report brough some surprise to Asia observers who had expected the first post-pandemic tourists to North Korea to come from China, the North's biggest diplomatic ally and economic pipeline. According to Tass, an unspecified number of tourists from Russia's far eastern region of Primorye will first fly to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, where they will visit monuments such as the Tower of Juche Idea, named after the North's guiding philosophy of juche or

India-Maldives spat: Foreign tourists, locals vouch for Indian destinations

Amid the ongoing rift between India and the Maldives, the foreign visitors here shared the experiences of their visits to various Indian states and lauded Indian tradition, culture and colour

Airbnb, U'khand Tourism sign initial pact to enhance hospitality standards

Airbnb on Thursday said it has inked an agreement with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) to build host capacity in lesser-explored destinations. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Airbnb will undertake capacity building activities in the selected pilot locations to enhance local hospitality standards, the company said in a statement. This partnership will focus on onboarding homestays onto the Airbnb platform. "This partnership with Airbnb will further expand our efforts to promote homestay culture in our state. "Individuals in the tourism sector will receive training on responsible hosting which will unlock their potential to attract guests from India and abroad. Through this partnership, we're confident the travellers will be presented with enriching, immersive experiences," Uttarakhand Tourism Secretary and UTDB CEO Sachin Kurve said. Airbnb will conduct workshops in the identified pilot destinations to train 'model hosts', will conduct a thorough revie