Page 3 - Tourism Sector

Goa top summer destination; Puri, Varanasi lead in pilgrims: MakeMyTrip

Among international destinations, while Dubai remains the top choice, Baku in Azerbaijan, Almaty in Kazakhstan, and Nagoya in Japan are recording the highest growth in searches

Emirate of Ajman records 7% growth in tourism revenue in Q1 of 2024

In 2023, October recorded a 5 per cent increase in tourism activity, leading to a significant 11 per cent rise in visitor numbers

Singapore aims to cross pre-Covid levels of Indian tourist arrivals: STB

Singapore is hoping to cross the pre-Covid level of tourist arrivals from India this year, with a strong focus on family, MICE and film tourism segment, a top official of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has said. In 2023, Singapore saw a footfall of 1.07 million visitors from India, which is 76 per cent of the pre-Covid era. During January-March, 2024 over 2,45,380 Indians have already visited Singapore, which is 81.8 per cent recovery from the pre-Covid period. The 'Garden City' had received 2,99,990 Indian tourists during January-March 2019. "It's not difficult to achieve (pre-Covid levels of tourist arrivals from India this year) with an increase in the number of Indian passports, the rise of the middle class and strong connectivity between both the countries," STB's regional director - India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa, Markus Tan told PTI over a telephonic conversation. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is also focusing on Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition

Add colour to tourism via Holi events: Trade body to Rajasthan govt

If Holi events were organised properly at 50 destinations, more than 10 million people from outside could visit Rajasthan within five years, says a travel agent

Uttar Pradesh govt eyeing investment of Rs 32K cr in hospitality sector

The state is focusing on ramping up hospitality units in tourism hotspots such as Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Agra

Vrindavan's 70-storey skyscraper temple would boost Indian tourism: ISKCON

A skyscraper Krishna temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh would emerge as a major display of Indian culture internationally and would boost tourism in India and local economy, a top ISKCON leader said. There can't be a broken infrastructure for spirituality and temples can't be in perpetual disrepair, Chanchalapathi Dasa, vice chairman and co-mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement and senior vice president of ISKCON Bangalore told PTI in an interview. Being built at a cost of USD 80 million, Vrindavan Heritage Tower will be 70 floors high and 210 metres. And another example, I'll tell you, our honourable prime minister has been making a statement, giving a call to the Indian diaspora. Please bring five Americans from America to bring them to India and show them India. When you bring them to India, of course anybody who's coming from any part of the world, when they're coming to India, they're looking for spirituality," he said. Of course they may see good airports. All those thin

Indian holiday seekers showing dynamic shift in travel preferences: Airbnb

South Goa emerged as India's most popular getaway for Indian guests with a 330% increase in searches

Ayodhya on track to become world's biggest spiritual destination: IHCL CEO

Indians travelling because of higher disposable income and priorities have changed: Puneet Chhatwal

Bhutan PM urges Indian industries to invest in country's tourism sector

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Friday urged the Indian industry to explore business opportunities in the tourism sector in the neighbouring nation which has deep relations with India. Tobgay, who is on a five-day visit to India, made the remarks at 'India-Bhutan Tourism: Expanding Horizons' dialogue organised by industry body FICCI in the national capital. "I always wanted to meet ... captains of the industry and invite you to Bhutan. We have been blessed with excellent relation with India. India is our immediate neighbour. We want more and more Indians visiting Bhutan," he said addressing the gathering which included representatives of various sectors including travel and hospitality. On the opportunities in Bhutan, Tobgay said his country provides immense opportunities in the travel and tourism industry. The investors can come and set up hotels, restaurants, wellness centres in Bhutan of which 72 per cent is under forest cover. Travel for Indians is very easy as a ..

Hyatt Hotels to expand India footprint with 7 new properties in 2024

On the back of this boost in domestic tourism, the company debuted JdV by Hyatt - its ninth brand in the country - in February 2024

Saudi Arabia attracts $13 bn private sector investment in tourism industry

'The current GDP contribution is 4.5% and we aim to get that to 10% by 2030,' she said in an interview. 'We started from 3.2% when we opened up for tourism.'

China's travel spending during Lunar NY holidays beats pre-Covid levels

During the holiday, known as the world's largest annual migration, tourist attractions across the country witnessed massive crowds

Tourism, hospitality industry likely to create 50 mn jobs in 5-7 yrs: HAI

Hotels' Association of India (HAI) on Monday said the hospitality and tourism sector expects to create 50 million direct and indirect jobs in the next 5-7 years but government support is required for getting the full industry and infrastructure status in states to tap the employment potential. The infrastructure status for the hospitality sector can push up investments not only to create accommodation, but also in the process boost income and employment generation, HAI President Puneet Chhatwal said while speaking here at the 6th HAI Hoteliers' Conclave. Chhatwal, who is also the Managing Director and CEO of Indian Hotels Company Ltd, said while tourism is a pillar of development creating about 10 per cent of the total employment and contributing 8 per cent to GDP with a huge multiplier effect that can help inclusive growth, "there is often a gap between this realisation and the actual policy implementation". Addressing a press conference, HAI Vice-President K B Kachru said in the .

Amitabh Kant calls for 25 mn job creation by 2030 in hospitality industry

India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Monday asked hospitality and tourism sector players to tell politicians about creation of 25 million jobs by 2030 while seeking their help for the demand of industry and infrastructure status. Speaking at the 6th Hoteliers' Conclave organised by the Hotel Association of India (HAI), Kant said somehow the tourism industry has failed to tell the politicians that it is a big creator of jobs, while agreeing with their demand for industry status. "If you look at tourism, I think from a perspective of a political lens, the politician only understands one thing and that is how many jobs is the tourism sector creating," he said. Kant further said, "Tourism has a huge multiplier impact for every direct job that you create, you create seven indirect jobs, but I think somehow the tourism industry has failed to tell the politicians that we are a big creator of jobs." In terms of employment, Thailand creates close to 20 million jobs, Malaysia about 15 million

Diverse portfolio funds and beach holidays: Top personal finance stories

This week we tell you about multi-asset allocation funds and unspoiled coastal destinations

China displaces India as largest tourism market for Maldives amid row

Amidst a diplomatic row between the Maldives and India, Chinese tourists have overtaken Indian holidaymakers visiting the archipelago nation, according to official figures released here on Monday. According to official statistics from the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism, as of February 4, China, with 23,972 tourists occupied the number one slot (11.2 per cent market share in 2024); it was on the number three spot in 2023. India, which was on the number 1 slot in 2023, has slipped down to 5th position as of Sunday with 16,536 tourists (7.7 per cent market share in 2024) coming to this island nation. The development could be a fallout of a full-blown backlash directed at the Maldives following the derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian ministers after Modi posted photos and video on X of his visit to the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India's west coast earlier in January. Soon after the remarks against Modi went viral, ...

Budget 2024: Sitharaman bats for developing iconic tourist destinations

The finance minister announced that long-term interest-free loans will be provided to states for financing the development of iconic tourist centres

ITDC zooms 20% as govt spells support for states to develop tourist centres

The Centre will provide long-term interest free loans to states to encourage the development of tourist centers, the FM said

In India's drive to boost tourism, tax becomes roadblock for industry

Sector struggling to recover from effects of pandemic created 1.6 mn jobs in 2023

Industry gives call to regularise hotels in state's residential areas

Hotel owners feel that if their problems are resolved, Rajasthan will progress significantly in tourism