Tourism

A 22-member delegation, led by UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, is in Kerala to attend the Invest Kerala Global Summit

Critics have downplayed the campaign's slogan, with some saying it sounds like a discount store promotion or even a public restroom sign

Industry reports estimate that India's medical tourism market was valued at $7.69 billion in 2024, with approximately 7.3 million foreign patients travelling to India for medical treatment

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 ...

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is in discussions with the Indian government for a 'group-free visa regime,' allowing a specified number of tourists travelling together in a group to enter Russia without a visa. "When there is a group of tourists travelling together to Russia, the particular number should be mentioned in the document for the visit to become visa free. For example, in the Chinese document, the group should be 10-20 people. We are in talks with the Indian External Affairs Ministry for a final agreement on the number of people comprising a group from India to avail this facility," Moscow City Tourism Committee Chairman Evgeny Kozlov told PTI on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday evening. Kozlov further said India is an important country and ranks second in terms of source market among far abroad countries after China. "India is a priority market for us. For us among the far abroad countries, China ranks at the number one position, followed by India. Indians are .

India is the second largest overseas market for the US in terms of tourist arrivals and the healthy growth in Indians visiting America is expected to continue in 2025, Brand USA CEO Fred Dixon has said. India is one of the fastest growing markets in the world for US tourism and 2.2 million Indians travelled to America in 2024, which is a 24 per cent growth over the previous years. It's almost a 50 per cent growth since 2019, he told PTI. Asked about the share of Indian tourists among all tourists who visited the US, he said India has climbed each year in terms of its importance to the US in ranking. "In 2024, India has moved to the second largest overseas market. Just behind the UK and just ahead of Germany," said Dixon, who was in Hyderabad for an India sales mission. Given the rapid growth in the last two years, Indians visiting the US is expected to continue in 2025, he said. A record number of visitor visas were issued to Indians last year and five million Indians today hold v

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

A record 71.7 per cent increase in travellers from India to Malaysia was witnessed in 2024, attributed to the rise in flight connectivity between the two nations, Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai, Saravana Kumar Kumaravasagam, said here. With Malaysia extending the 30-day visa exemption for Indian nationals until December 2026, he described it as a "significant milestone" in enhancing connectivity between India and Malaysia. "This is a golden opportunity for the people of Tamil Nadu and across India to explore Malaysia's rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches, and vibrant cities without the hassle of applying for a visa," Kumar said in a press release on Saturday. As Malaysia remains a key destination for Indian travellers, this extension of the 30-day visa exemption ensures seamless travel, he added. Tourism Malaysia's Chennai Director, Hishamuddin Mustafa, noted that the visa exemption not only simplifies travel but also reaffirms Malaysia's commitment to being a preferred

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday inaugurated the four-day International Kite Festival, which has drawn 143 participants from 47 countries. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said Gujarat has a 65 per cent share of the country's kite market, with exports to countries like the US, UK, and Canada. The 'International Kite Festival-2025' is being organised at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad from January 11 to January 14. Apart from Ahmedabad, the festival has also been organised at the Statue of Unity (Ekta Nagar), Rajkot and Vadodara on January 12 and Surat, Shivrajpur, and Dhordo on January 13. State Tourism Minister Mulu Bera said this year, 143 international kite flyers from 47 countries and 52 kite flyers from 11 states in India are participating in the festival. Patel said as the then chief minister of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced modern elements to the festival by integrating it with tourism. "Thus, this kite festival has given .

He added that Oman is particularly well-known in the Indian market as a popular wedding destination

Karnataka's Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil unveiled a range of travel packages on Wednesday, marking a milestone for Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL). A Karnataka state government enterprise, MSIL has taken a significant leap by venturing into the public tourism sector. Previously, MSIL was conducting study tours exclusively for government officials over the past two decades, said a press release from the Ministry for Large and Medium Industries. Speaking at the launch event here, Patil said MSIL's offerings blend affordability with quality, ensuring safety, comfort, and reliability for the public. MSIL's reputation as a government enterprise ensures trust and reliability, and is likely to make it a preferred choice for Indian families. With this foray into public tourism, MSIL aims to redefine affordable travel while upholding the highest standards of service, he added. For individual travellers, particularly senior citizens, MSIL offers a door-to-door ...

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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