Page 6 - Tourism

Rajasthan saw over 200 mn tourists till Nov, including 1.9 mn foreigners

According to the tourism department's data, this figure is expected to cross 215 million after including the December footfall, up by almost 52 million from the 2023 figure of over 162.8 million

Diljit Dosanjh's concerts a wake-up call: Is India ready for mega events?

Diljit Dosanjh announced that he won't perform in Chandigarh again until there is better infrastructure, highlighting event management and infrastructure woes seen in Delhi and other cities as well

Global uprisings: Protests and movements which shook the world in 2024

Kenya's cost-of-living crisis, to martial law in South Korea. Here's a look at major protests that erupted across the globe in 2024

Key tourism events of 2024: 'Chalo India' and Kaziranga international mart

Inauguration of the country's first sunken museum at the Humayun's Tomb complex in Delhi, launch of a global campaign that seeks to make diaspora members ambassadors of Incredible India and an international mart at Assam's Kaziranga were some of the highlights of the tourism sector in 2024. With the upcoming Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj next year and a humongous number of pilgrims expected to gather in the holy city for the religious congregation, the tourism ministry is also eyeing to showcase and celebrate the cultural diversity of the country aiming to draw both domestic and international tourists. Held every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh this time will be from January 13 to February 26. The year also saw major changes in the top leadership of the ministry with senior BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat taking charge as the Union tourism minister after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections succeeding G Kishan Reddy who was allotted the portfolio of coal. Soon after taking charge, he had said his

Silver lining: Hotels providing customised deals to senior citizens

From specialised senior-friendly tours to redesigned hotel amenities, the industry is becoming increasingly attuned to the unique requirements of elderly travellers

J&K CM urges south Indian filmmakers to promote state's natural beauty

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stressed the importance of using south Indian cinema to promote the natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir as part of a broader strategy to boost tourism in the region. The chief minister also expressed a desire to engage more with filmmakers from the south Indian industry, which he believes has been overlooked so far. "The places we should be focusing on where the money is there, the budgets are big are actually the south Indian film industry. That, for reasons of arrogance or ignorance, we have consciously ignored up until now. So they are the ones with movie budgets of Rs 300-400 crore," Abdullah told PTI during a recent interview. The chief minister observed the tourism sector would benefit greatly if films depicted the scenic beauty of Jammu and Kashmir, as he highlighted the historical connection with Bollywood that, he said, had played an important role in establishing the valley as a favourite honeymoon destination for generations of Indians. T

Ayodhya overtakes Taj Mahal, becomes UP's top tourist destination in 2024

Ram temple in Ayodhya attracted 135.5 million domestic visitors, overtaking the Taj Mahal as Uttar Pradesh's most visited spot in 2024

Hotel rates hit all-time high in 2024, driven by domestic tourism, weddings

In all, India's metro cities remain the strongest hotel markets, and the strong rate growth experienced last year was largely driven by these markets

Investment summit, events keep hotel industry happily busy in Rajasthan

There are more than 2,500 big and small hotels in Jaipur

India’s year-end travel trends 2024: Luxe stays, solo escapes & top picks

India’s travel habits are evolving this festive season! From luxurious stays and business-class flights to solo international escapes.

How Mauritius is promoting top golf courses to attract high-end visitors

Tourism is Mauritius' main source of foreign currency. The sector was upended by Covid-19 lockdowns and travel bans, and visitor numbers are only expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year

Mahakumbh success vital for Brand Uttar Pradesh, $1 trillion economy goal

The successful management of the Mahakumbh will also help Adityanath earn national and international recognition as an efficient administrator

'Chai and samosas': US hotels welcome Indian tourist boom to revive revenue

Nearly 1.9 million Indian tourists visited the U.S. in the first ten months of 2024, a nearly 48% rise from 2019, according to data from the U.S. National Trade and Tourism Office (NTTO)

Surging global tourism emissions are driven by just 20 countries: Study

The study draws together multiple datasets, including those published directly by 175 governments over 11 years

25% discount on GMVN hotels for tourists in winter season, says CM Dhami

The Chief Minister directed the officials to promote the winter tourist destinations and other hidden destinations in the state

Hilton to expand footprint in India amid boom in leisure travel demand

Hotel operators have been building diverse property portfolios in India, investing heavily in midsize properties that cater to price-conscious, middle-income consumers

Govt asks investors to invest in Andaman & Nicobar's fishery sector

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Thursday urged investors to turn to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which has the potential to emerge as a hub for fisheries exports. Inaugurating an investors' meet here, the Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister stressed on creating modern fishing infrastructure to utilise the untapped resources in the Union Territory, an official statement said. Calling upon investors to seize the opportunities in the region, the minister said the Centre is also working to strengthen trade with Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, he outlined efforts to promote deep-sea fishing and develop post-harvest processing facilities to help achieve the export target of Rs 1 lakh crore. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer a prime opportunity for fisheries development, with about six lakh square km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rich in under-exploited sea resources, particularly tuna and tuna-like high-valued species, estimated at 60,000 tonnes. I

Thailand set to reap $2 bn Rainbow Tourism boon with same-sex marriage law

The same-sex law that's slated to take effect in January will also create 152,000 full-time equivalent jobs and will help lift the nation's gross domestic product by 0.3 per cent

Rising Rajasthan summit to lay foundation of developed state: CM Bhajanlal

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said the 'Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit' to be held in Jaipur will lay the foundation for the developed Rajasthan of the future. He instructed officials to ensure that the preparations are finalised to make this conference, to be held from December 9 to 11, a success. According to an official statement, Sharma was reviewing the preparations for organising the conference at the chief minister's residence. He said with the investment agreements to be signed in this summit, Rajasthan will establish new dimensions of development in various sectors, including renewable energy, mining, tourism and automobile, and will be established as a major centre of investment across the world. During the meeting, the chief minister specially reviewed the various events to be held on December 9 and 10. Sharma discussed the preparations for the sessions based on various sectors including renewable energy, health, mining, water and manufacturing to be held o

J&K CM Abdullah calls for sustainable, high value tourism policy in state

Recognising the role of tourism as the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir's economy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called for a more sustainable and visitor-focused approach in the UTs tourism sector. He highlighted the importance of shifting tourism efforts from high volume to high value, emphasising quality over quantity. Abdullah was speaking at a high-level meeting which was convened to review the functioning of the Tourism Department at civil secretariat here, an official spokesperson said. Asking the department to chart the way forward for a more sustainable and visitor-focused approach, the chief minister highlighted the potential of tourism to create substantial employment opportunities for youth. There is a need to treat tourism as a structured, long-term endeavour, rather than an ad-hoc activity, by adopting a tourist-centric perspective. We need to enhance the tourist experience, so visitors are more likely to revisit and recommend J&K as a destination, he said. The