Tourist

Two Indian men jailed in Singapore for robbing and assaulting sex workers

Arokkiyasami Daison and Rajendran Mayilarasan sentenced to over five years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for targeting women in hotel rooms during a holiday in Singapore

Delhi govt cuts film shoot fees to attract filmmakers, boost tourism

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has brought down its filming fee from Rs 75,000 to Rs 25,000 for a day, while shooting inside the Delhi Metro can cost up to Rs 3 lakh depending on the location and timing, according to an official. The Public Works Department (PWD) has kept its base charges at Rs 10,000, while locations such as Dilli Haat (INA) and the Garden of Five Senses can now be hired for Rs 80,000 plus GST a day. The Delhi Metro, almost synonymous with the city's identity, remains among the costlier options, with charges ranging between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh depending on the line, station and timings of the shoot, an official from the tourism department said. The MCD has slashed its filming fee from Rs 75,000 a day to Rs 15,000 for eight hours and Rs 25,000 plus GST for 24 hours. But despite the revised rates and subsidies promised under the Delhi Film Policy 2022, only 39 shoots have taken place under the scheme in the last three years, government records show. Launche

Uttarakhand rains leave 2,500 tourists stranded; CM vows quick relief

Around 2,500 tourists were stranded in Uttarakhand's Mussoorie on Wednesday as the road from Dehradun to the popular hill station remained closed for the second consecutive day following cloudbursts and heavy rain in the capital. Meanwhile, Delhi witnessed a cloudy sky on Wednesday, with parts of the city receiving showers. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert, advising that the situation be monitored and updated in line with its colour-coded guidelines. Heavy showers ravaged the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, already bruised by a string of deadly natural calamities over the past couple of months, on Tuesday. The cloudbursts and heavy rains left 15 people dead, 16 missing, and more than 900 stranded in Uttarakhand, while in Himachal Pradesh, three members of a family were killed as rains triggered massive landslides and flash floods. As rehabilitation work picked up pace on Wednesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dha

India granted over 9.6 million e-visas since 2020: Govt tells Parliament

India has granted over 96 lakh e-visas to foreigners from 2020 till July 20 this year, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. In a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also said the number of countries eligible for the e-visa facility has increased from 171 in 2020 to 181 in 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was asked for the total number of e-visas granted and the increase in the number of countries eligible for the facility since 2020. "Total number of e-visas granted from 2020 to 20.07.2025 is 96,44,567," Singh said. The MEA was also asked about its role in assisting international pilgrims, including details related to Hajj and Sikh pilgrims. "Each year, the Saudi authorities announce a Hajj quota for India. In recent years, this quota has, on average, been set at 1,75,025 Indian pilgrims," Singh said. Regarding the Kartarpur Corridor, the Minister of State said, "Since its inauguration,

Goodricke eyes alternate crops, tea tourism for future diversification

Following a turnaround in FY25, Goodricke to explore turmeric, dairy and tea tourism using non-tea land, while continuing to strengthen its core tea business

Tourist boat capsizes during thunderstorm in Vietnam; 34 dead; 8 missing

A boat carrying tourists capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon during a sightseeing excursion, killing 34 people, state media reported. Eight others remain missing. The Wonder Sea boat was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members all of them Vietnamese during the tour of Ha Long Bay, a popular destination for visitors, according to the reports. Rescue workers saved 11 people, and recovered the dead near the site of the capsizing, VNExpress newspaper said. Twenty-three people remain missing. Authorities had earlier reported that 12 people had been rescued, but later revised the figure to 11. The boat turned upside down because of strong winds, the newspaper said. A 14-year-old boy was among the survivors, and he was rescued four hours after being trapped in the overturned hull. The newspaper said that most of the passengers were tourists, including about 20 children, from Hanoi, the country's capital. A tropical storm is also moving toward th

Travel operators stay nimble as monsoon throws consumers' plans off track

Tourists look for flexible bookings, no-penalty cancellations, and weather insurance

Madhya Pradesh, France sign PoU to boost cultural, tourism ties for 3 years

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Madhya Pradesh, France and a French language institute here on Friday to strengthen long-term cooperation in the field of culture and tourism. This will make Madhya Pradesh a new centre of cultural and tourism cooperation between India and France, an official said. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and French Ambassador to India Dr Thierry Mathou hailed the agreement and said it will further strengthen cultural relations between the two countries, which already share strong ties in multiple fields. The agreement, signed in the presence of Yadav at his residence 'Samatva' in Bhopal, seeks to strengthen long-term cooperation between France and Madhya Pradesh in the field of culture and tourism, the official said. The tripartite MoU was signed by French Ambassador Mathou, MP's Principal Secretary (Tourism and Culture) Shiv Shekhar Shukla and President of Alliance Francaise de Bhopal, Akhilesh Verma. The language institute, ..

Southeast Asia courts Indian travellers with easier visas, flight deals

While Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia remain the top destinations in terms of passenger seat capacity in flights, Vietnam has emerged as the biggest gainer

India's travel and hospitality industry gears up for Kashmir's comeback

Industry executives said 100-150 tour operators and agents from across India have been identified to visit the state over the next few weeks

1,500 tourists stranded in North Sikkim, rains halt search for missing

At least 500 tourists were stranded in various parts of North Sikkim on Saturday as the main road was blocked by landslides due to incessant rains, officials said. On the other side, the search for the missing eight tourists was disrupted by heavy rains, and it was finally called off after the water level in the Teesta river increased, they said. One person was killed, two injured, and eight others went missing when a vehicle in which 11 tourists were travelling plunged into the Teesta river in Mangan district on Thursday night. The vehicle plunged more than 1,000 feet into the river near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway. As multiple landslides have struck the main road connecting Chungthang to Lachen and Lachung, at least 500 tourists are stranded in various parts of North Sikkim, an official said. "No tourist permits have been issued today, and will also not be issued tomorrow for visiting north Sikkim," he said. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has .

Indian tourism sector to contribute 10% to India's GDP by 2030: Shekhawat

Tourism minister says rising aspirations, infrastructure and policy support will drive India's tourism sector towards 10% GDP share by 2030, in line with global benchmarks

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"