Tourism Ministry

Wedding industry holds potential to push economic growth: Tourism minister

The wedding industry in India holds immense potential and is poised to become a key driver to push the economic growth, Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Friday. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 1st Wedding Tourism Summit & Expo hosted here by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). Age-wise, about 54 per cent of India's population is under 30 years. And a large part of household income is spent on weddings, the minister said. "And, if we consider those aged 25 and under, about 68 crore people in India are eligible to get married in the next few years, creating huge potential for the wedding industry," Shekhawat was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the PHDCCI. The wedding industry in the country holds huge potential and is set to become an important driver of economic growth, the minister said. "If we combine tourism with the wedding industry and leverage existing infrastructure, we can multiply this sector's growth ...

Jan-Jun FTAs in India at 4.78 mn, B'desh, US top sources: Tourism ministry

Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India from January to June stood at nearly 4.78 million, with Bangladesh and the US being the top two source countries, according to official data issued by the Ministry of Tourism. The data sheet was shared on Friday on the occasion of the World Tourism Day and figures showed that inbound tourism in the country is trailing the pandemic levels. The ministry shared the figures for the month of June as well as for the January-June period. The FTAs in June 2024 were 7,06,045 as compared to 6,48,008 in June 2023 and 7,26,446 in June 2019 registering a growth of nine per cent and a fall of 2.8 per cent with respect to 2023 and 2019 respectively, according to the data. "The FTAs during the period January-June 2024 were 47,78,374 as compared to 43,80,239 in January-June 2023 and 52,96,025 in January-June 2019, registering a growth of 9.1 per cent and minus 9.8 per cent with respect to 2023 and 2019 respectively," it added. According to a data chart on t

World Tourism Day 2024: Date, theme, history, significance and more

Started in 1980 by the UNWTO, World Tourism Day celebrates the global impact of tourism. The day is dedicated to the significance of tourism in promoting cultural exchange and economic growth

7.4 mn tourists visit HP till May, hike by 3.5%; Solan surpasses Shimla

With over 74 lakh tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh till May this year, the tourist footfall has increased marginally by 3.5 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year. A total of 74,64,184 tourists including 32,415 foreign tourists visited the state till May end as compared to 72,02,956 tourists including 23,174 foreign tourists in the same period last year, an increase of 3.5 per cent, said Tourism and Civil Aviation Director Manasi Sahay Thakur. "Efforts are afoot to improve inter and intra state connectivity through construction of heliports. Major focus is on infrastructure development like creating wayside amenities besides opening wellness centres, construction of ice skating rinks, promoting eco and adventure tourism with the funding of Asian development Bank (ADB)," she told the PTI. Private players are also engaged in advance to ensure sustainability of tourism projects and the results will be visible in the next three years, she added. Surprisingly, ...

Religious tourism is spurring real estate growth in India's pilgrim towns

Record tourist influx and government investments drive property prices up in temple cities

Maldives to conduct road shows across Indian cities to woo tourists back

In an apparent bid to woo Indian tourists back to the Maldives, a major tourism body here has announced that it will hold road shows across key Indian cities. As the number of Indian tourists to the Maldives continues to decline, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) held discussions with India's High Commissioner here, Munu Mahawar, on enhancing travel and tourism cooperation between the two countries. A full-blown backlash was directed at the Maldives following derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian officials after Modi posted photos and video of the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India's west coast on January 6 on his X handle. Scores of Indians, including multiple celebrities, cancelled their reservations and dropped plans to visit Maldives. The tourism arrival statistics reflected how from being a top visitor country, India's position went down to first fifth and now at the sixth ...

Govt to turn spotlight on promoting Lakshadweep, domestic islands

The Union Ministry of Tourism will adopt a sustainable tourism development model to showcase Lakshadweep but is keen on not "overcrowding" the islands to preserve its ecology and ensure that the local environment is not spoiled, a senior government official said. Besides promoting domestic islands, less popular spots in India are being identified to develop tourism and smaller promotional programmes put in place, Director of Ministry of Tourism, Bengaluru office, Mohamed Farouk, said. He emphasised that the Ministry doesn't want to encourage mass tourism in these lesser known destinations at least for sometime so that the beauty and ecological sensitivity of the places are maintained. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's early January visit to Lakshadweep has drawn global attention to the archipelago and its immense tourism potential. He also posted pictures of his undersea exploration on X and shared his "exhilarating experience" after snorkelling in the islands located in the Arabian S

Govt says 27 new sites identified for development under PRASHAD scheme

Twenty-seven new sites have been identified for development under the Centre's PRASHAD scheme, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Union Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy said this in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha. He said 57 destinations have also been identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. The Union Ministry of Tourism launched the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and the Swadesh Darshan schemes in 2014-15 for developing infrastructure at tourist destinations, including religious sites. The primary objective of the PRASHAD scheme is to develop tourism infrastructure at pilgrimage and heritage sites, ensuring a more enriching experience for pilgrims and heritage enthusiasts. The Swadesh Darshan scheme aimed to develop theme-based tourist circuits, Reddy said. The ministry has now revamped Swadesh Darshan as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible

National Tourism Day 2024: History, importance, theme and quotes of the day

National Tourism Day is celebrated to enhance awareness among the worldwide community on the significance of tourism. India offers many types of tourism like cultural, natural, and others

Various initiatives taken to boost tourism in Andaman & Nicobar: Chief secy

The Andaman and Nicobar administration has taken numerous initiatives to attract more tourists to the archipelago, including granting access to uninhabited islands, allowing beaches to remain open till late night and reaching out to more airline operators, a top official said. Speaking to PTI, Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra said that there will also be eco-friendly tourism infrastructure in four islands and 11 tourist sites. "The administration has taken various initiatives towards promotion of tourism... like development of a five-star property at Megapode in Port Blair in PPP mode, leasing out land at Radha Nagar Beach in Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island)," he said. "Beaches are now being opened during late night hours for tourists to enjoy the heavenly sight of the landscape as well as the bio-luminescence. Efforts are being made to reach out to more airline operators that will lead to competitive and affordable pricing of tickets for tourists," he added. The administration is also

Move fast on Destination U'khand Investors Summit agreements: CM Dhami

CM Dhami emphasised that the top priority of the state government is to connect the youth with employment and self-employment

MICE leaders to hold meet to develop India as hub for hosting conferences

Senior leaders and CEOs from the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry will hold a roundtable here on November 30 to deliberate on strategies for developing India as a global hub for hosting large-scale international conferences and exhibitions. The industry roundtable by the Ministry of Tourism will be held at the Bharat Mandapam here. "During India's G20 Presidency, more than 200 meetings have been organised in 56 cities across the country. It has generated unprecedented interest at national and international level. It has showcased India's robust MICE infrastructure and cultural and natural heritage to the world. The Ministry of Tourism is actively working to take this momentum forward and firmly establish India as a global leader in MICE," the ministry of Tourism said in a statement. At the roundtable, the ministry will elaborate on its key initiatives aimed at promoting India as a premier MICE destination. Central to these efforts is the national .

World Tourism Day 2023: Theme, history, importance, celebration, quotes

World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27 to promote and bring issues to light about the significance of the travel industry, both financially and socially

Govt launches wedding tourism campaign to show India as premier destination

This campaign also envisions exploring avenues of great potential, for scaling tourism in India to new heights, the ministry said in the statement

MakeMyTrip, Ministry of tourism unveil 600+ travel destinations in India

Promoting lesser-known tourist destinations in the country, MakeMyTrip in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism has launched the "Traveller Map of India"

CAG report flags shortcomings in Tourism Ministry's Swadesh Darshan Scheme

The Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Tourism Ministry was launched despite "objection of the Planning Commission/Ministry of Finance" and the ministry "did not act" upon the recommendation of a committee to formulate an umbrella scheme by merging the projects having overlapping objectives, a CAG report has found. The Performance Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Swadesh Darshan Scheme, covering the period from its inception in January 2015 to March 2022, was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, according to an official statement. The Swadesh Darshan Scheme, launched in January 2015 with an initial outlay of Rs 500 crore, is a central sector flagship scheme of the Tourism Ministry for the development of tourism infrastructure in the country. The ministry identified 15 tourist circuits for development under the Scheme, namely Himalayan circuit, North East circuit, Krishna circuit, Buddhist circuit, Coastal circuit, Desert circuit, Tribal circuit, Eco circuit, Wildlif

Rs 127.21 cr project sanctioned for Ayodhya's development in 2017-18: Govt

The Ministry of Tourism as part of its Swadesh Darshan Scheme sanctioned a project worth Rs 127.21 crore in the 2017-18 fiscal for the development of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and the project has been "physically completed", the government informed Parliament on Monday. To a query in the Lok Sabha seeking details of infrastructure development proposed by the government for "the large number of domestic and foreign tourists who will be visiting Ayodhya Ram Temple after its inauguration", Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy also shared details of the work undertaken as part of this project in the temple town. In a written response to the query, he said, "The Ministry of Tourism as part of its 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme has sanctioned a project 'Development of Ayodhya' in Uttar Pradesh for an amount of Rs 127.21 crore in the year 2017-18 with the objective of creation of tourism infrastructure and to enhance visitor experience/satisfaction. The project is physically complete." The proje

Surge in solo travel; J&K, Manali preferred travel destinations: Report

Jammu and Kashmir, Manali and Shimla are the most preferred destinations for solo travellers as more people are inclined to explore places at their own pace and preference, said a recent travel trend report. The research, conducted by leading travel fintech SanKash, found that almost "35 per cent" of solo travellers prefer Jammu and Kashmir for vacationing, followed by Manali (25 per cent) and Shimla (14 per cent). Mussoorie, Sikkim, and Goa are among the other top preferred destinations, with bookings clocking in at nine per cent, seven per cent, and five per cent, respectively. "Destinations renowned for their natural beauty, cultural richness have witnessed a surge in popularity, captivating the hearts of travellers. As of March 2023, domestic travel is becoming more popular, and domestic capacity has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Bookings are back to 100 per cent of pre-pandemic levels for domestic travel," said Akash Dahiya, co-founder and CEO of SanKash. The insights

Airbnb inks pact with tourism ministry to promote heritage stays, culture

Online accommodation hosting platform Airbnb on Monday said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Tourism to showcase India's heritage stays and promote cultural tourism. The company will partner the ministry in its vision to promote inbound tourism as a part of its 'Visit India 2023' initiative and under the MoU, it will launch a dedicated 'Soul of India' microsite for the global audience showcasing India's rich culture and built heritage, Airbnb said in a regulatory filing. Additionally, Airbnb will also offer support to hosts in untapped tourist areas, assist them in promoting their homestays, build host capacity, and foster a culture of responsible hosting, it added. Under the MoU, Airbnb will endeavour to train hospitality micro-entrepreneurs in emerging destinations that are part of the ministry's flagship scheme, the company said, adding, it would also share travel and homestay insights with the ministry for informed responsible tourism

Touts spoil tourist areas, action must be taken against them: Goa minister

To discourage their activities, the Goa Police have decided to create a 'database' of the arrested touts to take further action against them