Tourism In India

'Special focus' on destinations related to the life and teachings of Lord Buddha

Goa continues to be India's leading leisure destination, as MakeMyTrip saw a 12 per cent rise in searches for the place on its platform and 14 per cent growth in hotel room bookings in October-December, the travel booking firm's co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow said. The MakeMyTrip's data assumes significance as it comes in the backdrop of rising concerns about a decline in Goa's tourism, particularly from foreign visitors and viral social media posts, showing images of empty beaches and closed shacks. Several social media users have also claimed exploitation by taxi drivers and rising hotel costs, with many reportedly opting for alternatives abroad, especially in Southeast Asian nations. "Our data from the last quarter of 2024 highlights Goa's continuing appeal as India's leading leisure destination. Searches for Goa on MakeMyTrip grew by 12 per cent year-on-year, showcasing sustained travel interest despite an already large base. This intent has translated into bookings as ..

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

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"

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

A total of 226 roads, including three national highways, were closed in Himachal Pradesh following snowfall in several districts, officials said on Wednesday. People shivered under piercing cold wave conditions as minimum temperatures dropped by a few notches in Jot, which received 10 cm of snow in the past 24 hours, followed by Khadrala (5 cm), Pooh (2 cm), Sangla (1.2 cm) and Keylong (1 cm). Tabo in the Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh, recording a night temperature of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius. A total of 226 roads, including three national highways including Attari and Leh, Sanj to Aut in Kullu district, Khab Sangam in Kinnaur district, and Gramphoo in Lahaul and Spiti district were closed for traffic, officials said. According to the state emergency operation center, a maximum of 123 roads were closed in Shimla district, 36 in Lahaul and Spiti and 25 in Kullu. Additionally, 173 transformers were disrupted, affecting power supply across the

India, the US and China, were together responsible for 60 per cent of increase in tourism emissions between 2009 and 2019, a study has found, attributing it largely to population and a strong growth in travel demand. China's domestic tourism expenditure expanded by 17 per cent per year over the past decade and pushed global emissions up by 0.4 gigatonnes, followed by domestic tourism in the US (0.2 gigatonnes) and India (0.1 gigatonnes), the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, found. Rising income levels, especially among the "emerging economic powerhouses of China and India", too could be a driving factor, researchers led by those at the University of Queensland, Australia, said in the study. They tracked international and domestic travel for 175 countries during 2009-2019 and found that greenhouse gas emissions from tourism have been growing more than two times faster, compared to those from the rest of the global economy. Carbon footprint from tourism was foun

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

Forty projects worth over Rs 3,295 crore and spanning 23 states have received nod from the Centre for developing lesser-known destinations into iconic sites and promote a more balanced distribution of tourists across the country. As per the directives of the Department of Expenditure, the Ministry of Tourism issued operational guidelines for Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI) for the development of iconic tourist centres, officials said. The Ministry of Tourism circulated the SASCI guidelines to the state governments with a request to formulate and submit the project proposals to the ministry, which are iconic in nature and can create impactful destinations, they said. By the last date of submission, October 15, 2024, a total of 87 project proposals were received costing more than Rs 8,000 crore, a senior official in the ministry said. Thereafter, the Ministry of Tourism in line with the guidelines and as per the procedure or criteria, ...

Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has called on the Indian diaspora in the UK to embrace the Chalo India campaign to encourage more travellers to explore the abundance of tourist sites on offer in the country. During his visit to London for the World Travel Market (WTM) last week, the minister highlighted the Chalo India initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year to support members of the Indian diaspora around the world in showcasing the rich bounty of destinations on offer in India. I feel with this Chalo India campaign you are going to work as travel and tour ambassadors of our great nation, Shekhawat said during a special Indian-themed gathering on the sidelines of WTM. All our diaspora Bharatiya in the UK will be brand ambassadors of this initiative and invite their non-Indian friends to witness new India in all its glory, he said. Shekhawat highlighted his ministry's offer of one lakh gratis e-tourist visas for foreign guests travelling unde

According to CAIT survey, the period from November to mid-December is likely to witness 3.5 million weddings in India

The Goa tourism department has lodged a police complaint, alleging that entrepreneur Ramanuj Mukherjee 'disseminated false data' to 'undermine' Goa's image

"I had a cordial meeting with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ji today. He is a visionary. He has an effective roadmap of development for Devbhoomi," Shekhawat said

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met Consul General of France Jean-Marc Sr-Charlet and discussed possibilities of investment by the European country in trade, industry and tourism sectors. The consul general called on the chief minister at the latter's residence on Friday evening, and principal secretary to the chief minister, Sanjay Shukla, was also present on the occasion, an official said on Saturday. Sr-Charlet first met officials of the state tourism board and discussed the possibilities of promoting exchange in the cultural and tourism sector between France and Madhya Pradesh, he said. Madhya Pradesh is known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. Bhedaghat, Sanchi, Bhimbetka and Khajuraho are popular among French tourists. "The state is set to strengthen its tourism ties with France. The French embassy and Madhya Pradesh tourism board will work together to promote culture and tourism," the official said. During an interaction with the tourism board

Travelling across India is safer and easier for tourists, Indian tourism industry leaders have said, promoting the country, especially Uttar Pradesh, as a premier tourist destination for Singaporeans. Their remarks came as they participated in the ITB Asia, a travel trade show held in Singapore From October 23 to October 25. We need to educate global travellers about the attractions in Uttar Pradesh and make UP known more and above the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, said Rahul Wadhwa who leads CAL India Tours and Travel. He estimated a growth of 10 per cent across the UP travel agency business. Further, Wadhwa said his Agra-based travel business was seeking collaborations globally to tie up travel arrangements and promote the state as well as India as a tourist destination. There are a growing number of five-star hotels and continuing investments in highways that make travelling across India, including UP, as seamless as the tourists expect, said the travel industry veteran of 33 ...

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

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

The tourism sector has the potential to resolve 50 per cent of the country's employment challenges with the right government support, Lemon Tree Hotels Chairman and Managing Director Patanjali Govind Keswani said on Saturday. Delivering his address at the first National Conclave on India 2047, organised by IIM Calcutta, he said India's tourism sector is on the verge of hitting the inflexion point. Keswani pointed out that several countries have seen that the tourism sector contributes as much as 15-20 per cent to their GDP and account for 25 per cent of employment. Expressing disappointment over the government's approach towards the tourism sector, he said, "In India, tourism contributes only 6.5 per cent to GDP and a similar share in employment. This sector holds enormous potential for creating jobs." "If the government can leverage this opportunity effectively, it could address up to 50 per cent of our employment challenges," he said. Discussing India's current economic landscap

The land piece was 'discovered' during a review of old communications with the land and revenue department, as part of the tourism department's initiative to identify and develop its land holdings

Spending on outbound tourism is expected to grow from USD 18.82 billion in 2024 to USD 55.39 billion in 2034, a report said. The 'Navigating Horizons' report jointly prepared by Nangia NXT and Ficci said packaged tours still dominate the outbound market in India, with a share of 39.20 per cent in 2024, as there is a preference for choosing pre-planned tour packages from travel service providers due to greater convenience and customisation. The report said that availability of Indian or vegetarian food options as well as awareness about niche tourism will help increase the number and frequency of Indians engaging in foreign travel in the coming years. The market has already seen robust growth with rising disposable incomes, an expanding middle class, systemic ease and flexibility in obtaining visas, and a desire for international experiences. "Countries like Egypt, Azerbaijan and Georgia, among others, known for their rich history, cultural heritage, natural beauty and unique ...