Tourist

Have asked for hassle-free refunds to tourists: Tourism Min Shekhawat

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Centre has urged airlines, hotels, and tour operators to offer hassle-free refunds to anxious tourists reconsidering travel to Kashmir

26 tourists killed in terror attack in J&K's Pahalgam; at least 20 injured

At least 12 tourists were injured in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. The attack took place at Baisaran, a meadow accessible only by foot or ponies, where a group of tourists had gone visiting this morning, they said. According to an eyewitness, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the tourists from close range, resulting in injuries to several persons. "My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack," a woman survivor told PTI over phone. The woman did not identify herself but pleaded for help in evacuating the injured to the hospital. Authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured, the officials said, adding some of the wounded were brought down from the meadows by local people on their ponies. A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital said 12 injured tourists were admitted there and the condition of all of them was stable. A little earlier, security forc

Govt issues alert about online frauds targeting Char Dham pilgrims

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting Char Dham pilgrims and tourists, across the country. These frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, Facebook posts, and paid advertisements on search engines such as Google, the home ministry said in a statement. The scams involve the creation of professional-looking but fake websites and social media profiles and WhatsApp accounts offering various services. These include helicopter bookings for Kedarnath, guest house and hotel bookings for Char Dham pilgrims, online cab or taxi reservation, holiday packages and religious tours, according to the statement. Unsuspecting individuals, upon making payments through these portals, often realise they have been duped when no confirmation or service is received and the contact numbers become unreachable. People are advised to exercise ..

Extended Holi weekend paints busy travel scene, flight bookings up 50%

According to travel platform ixigo, flight bookings have seen a year-on-year surge of 45-50 per cent, driven by a mix of homebound travel, leisure getaways, and spiritual tourism

Goa tourism drop: What's driving tourists away from India's beach paradise?

Because Goa is constantly crowded, it can be difficult to find a peaceful spot. However, compared to 8.5 million foreign visitors in 2019, only 1.5 million came to Goa in 2023, according to CEIC

Budget 2025 will help make India a top global tourism destination: Industry

Industry experts on Saturday said the Budget announcements for the tourism sector will help make India a top global tourism destination and will create new opportunities for growth, jobs, and innovation. The Union Budget 2025-26 proposes that the top 50 tourist destinations in the country will be developed in partnership with states in a "challenge mode", as tourism is a driver of employment-led growth and unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at boosting infrastructure, skill development and ease of travel. "The plan to develop the top 50 tourism destinations in partnership with state governments is a major initiative. This collaboration will not only improve infrastructure but also help spread tourism across the country, attracting more visitors and benefiting local communities," Pradeep Shetty, spokesperson, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India - and Vice President, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, said. The focus on medical and wellness ...

Social media flags record low tourist numbers in Goa; what does data say?

Debunking fake reports, new data concludes that the state has witnessed record-breaking visitor numbers, both domestically and internationally. Here's all you need to know

Noise from music, firecrackers relentless: Japanese tourist on India travel

A Japanese woman shared her India experience, claiming that she was visiting Agra, Rajasthan and Punjab. She complimented India's food and clothing but complained on the "loud environment"

Himachal celebrates 'White Christmas', but snowfall triggers road closures

The recent snowfall in Himachal Pradesh has led to the closure of more than 200 roads, including key national highways

Escape to Rajasthan: Tourists flock to desert state as Delhi chokes

Hoteliers said while some people are flocking to the state for brief stays of two to seven days, some are working remotely

Rishikesh in list of 40 major global tourist spots, CM expresses gratitude

Earlier on Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has approved an amount of Rs 66.12 crore for the construction of roads and bridges in various assembly constituencies

Indian tourist arrivals in Singapore in October reach one million mark

Indian visitor arrivals to Singapore surged past the one million mark in October, two months earlier than in 2023, the city-state's tourism body said on Wednesday, marking a strong recovery in its tourism sector. This milestone was achieved when Singapore Airlines flight SQ-421 from Mumbai touched down at Changi Airport on October 31, bringing Singapore's millionth Indian visitor for 2024, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said. With a 12 per cent increase in Indian visitors from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, India is Singapore's third-largest source market for tourism, it said. Commenting on this significant milestone, Regional Director of STB for India, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, Markus Tan, said, "Welcoming our one-millionth Indian visitor two months earlier than in 2023 demonstrates Singapore's enduring appeal as a premier short-haul destination for Indian travellers." This milestone not only reflects our strong tourism recovery but

World Tourism Day 2024: Five best off-beat sites to explore in India

On this World Tourism Day 2024, explore these five off-beat destinations offering serene views in India that will be quenching the thirst of all fellow travellers and adventurous

World Tourism Day 2024: Over 100 best wishes, messages and quotes to share

The world celebrates World Tourism Day every year on September 27 to spread awareness about social, economic and environmental benefits of travelling

Inbound tourists trail pandemic levels, but forex earnings up: Report

Inbound tourism in the country is trailing the pandemic levels as foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in January-June this year stood at 4.78 million, which is about 90 per cent of the first half of 2019, a report said on Wednesday. However, forex earnings are up indicating that per person arrival spending is more, according to a report by Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics. The report said that the post-pandemic recovery in India's inbound tourism is lagging the global trend as in the first half of calendar 2024, FTAs in the country stood at 4.78 million, about 90 per cent of that in the first half of calendar 2019. In comparison, globally, FTAs in the first seven months of 2024 were at 96 per cent of the pre-Covid levels of 2019, implying India is behind the curve, it added. The report stated that reduced demand from Bangladesh on account of the current political scenario there and suspension of direct flights from China impacting tourist footfalls. Both these countries were a

Saudi Arabia achieves 73% increase in international tourist arrivals

The Kingdom achieved a 56 per cent growth in the number of international tourists in 2023 compared to 2019, with the number of tourists reaching 27.4 million

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

Taxi operators' strike at Mopa airport to continue; meeting with CM fails

A proposed meeting between protesting tourist taxi operators attached to the new international airport at Mopa in Goa and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant did not materialise on Friday afternoon, with the latter terming their agitation politically motivated. The taxi operators from Manohar International Airport at Mopa have been protesting since Thursday, pressing for their various demands, including complete stoppage of illegal transport at this greenfield airport, operated by GMR Goa International Airport Limited. The agitation was expected to be resolved on Friday afternoon after CM Sawant invited a delegation of the taxi operators to meet him at his official residence at Altinho in Panaji. Around 25 agitators went to meet the CM but were denied permission. Officials asked them to come with 8-10 members, said Chetan Kamat, a leader of the taxi operators. The protesters demanded that the entire delegation be allowed to meet the CM, or else the meeting should be cancelled, he said. K

Barcelona and beyond: How Europe's tourism boom is sparking unrest

Central to these protests across Europe is the escalating issue of rising rents and house prices, making homeownership unattainable for residents

Qutub Minar dethrones Agra Fort as tourist magnet in historic shift

Draws 220,017 foreign visitors to become second most visited monument