Page 11 - Tourism

UP to partner private sector investor to develop 1,000 ecotourism villages

According to UP tourism minister Jaiveer Singh, the state will provide a subsidy of 25 per cent for construction of guest houses

India, LAC countries need to collaborate in tourism, hospitality: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday pitched for increasing collaboration between India and LAC countries in areas such as tourism, hospitality and promoting investment flows. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Region nations include Belize, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Brazil, El Salvador, Panama, Chile, Guatemala, Peru, Costa Rica, Guyana, and Suriname. He said huge opportunities are there in both regions to boost trade and investments. Goyal also said that India and LAC countries need to come together so that their voice can become strong at global fora. Addressing the CII India-Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) Region Conclave, he said India can contribute a lot in areas like healthcare and hospitality.

Facilities at Bharat Mandapam to promote conference tourism: MICE industry

Facilities at the world-class convention centre - Bharat Mandapam - in the heart of the national capital will help promote conference tourism and growth of the MICE industry in the country, a top government official said on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 26 unveiled the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC)) complex at Pragati Maidan. He named the 123-acre complex, that will host the G20 Summit in September, Bharat Mandapam. It is India's largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. Briefing media about the complex, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that after the G20 meetings, the facilities here would help in promoting "conference tourism and that is an important tourism for us". "After September, this venue will be available for different public programmes," he told reporters. In terms of the covered space available for events, the complex finds its place among the top exhibition and convention complexes in th

China is no longer saving Southeast Asia's tourism industry. India might

China was once the world's most plentiful source of international tourists, and Southeast Asia was among their top destinations

'Encourage G20 guests to explore rich Indian culture beyond meeting venues'

A parliamentary panel has recommended that Akademis should "collaborate with tourism authorities and G20 stakeholders" to promote cultural tourism in India. Akademis should also encourage G20 delegates to explore Indian cultural treasures beyond the conference venues, thus promoting tourism and economic opportunities, the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture said this in its report. There are three national Akademis - one of letters (Sahitya Akademi), another of visual arts (Lalit Kala Akademi), and a third of dance, drama and music (Sangeet Natak Akademi) - that promote India's artistic heritage. The "Three Hundred Fifty First Report on 'Functioning of National Akademis and other Cultural Institutions'" was tabled in both houses of Parliament on Monday. Akademis can initiate collaborative projects between National Akademis and cultural institutions from G20 member countries, according to a statement issued by the Rajya Sabha ...

Himachal tourism corporation offering up to 50% discount on hotel room rent

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) on Saturday announced offering up to 50 per cent discount on hotel room rent, days after the state government evacuated more than 70,000 stranded tourists following landslides and flash floods due to heavy rains. The discount on room rent in HPTDC-run hotels will be in force till September 15, a spokesperson of the corporation said in a statement. He said that by providing this substantial discount, HPTDC endeavours to elevate the overall experience of the esteemed visitors and foster higher occupancy in their hotels during the monsoon. The tourist occupancy in the state is almost nil after the heavy rains between July 7 and 14, Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association president M K Seth said, adding that the situation is fast improving and roads are being opened. Tourists are welcome to the state, he said. HPTDC is renowned for its warm hospitality, impeccable service, and comfortable accommodations. The special room re

Sri Lanka may accept Indian rupee for local transactions, says FM Sabry

Sri Lanka is considering the possibility of allowing the usage of the Indian rupee for local transactions just like the dollar, euro and yen to facilitate Indian tourists and businessmen, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Saturday. Sabry was briefing the media here on President Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to India on July 20-21, his first since assuming office last year. He held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. We have considered the possibility of using the Indian rupees like we accept the dollar, euro and yen," he said. Allowing its direct use would prevent the need for multiple currency conversions for Indian tourists and businessmen. On Friday, the two countries noted that the decision to designate INR as currency for trade settlements between the two countries has forged stronger and mutually-beneficial commercial linkages, and agreed to operationalise the Unified Payments Interface-based digital payments for further enhancing trade and transactions between

Rajasthan govt to promote Ayurveda tourism; to open Panchakarma centres

For extensive reach, Panchakarma centres will be established in the remaining 72 Ayurveda hospitals in a phased manner, the official said

Mount Kailash to become accessible from India September onwards: Official

Hirak Project has been given the responsibility of developing 'Kailash View Point' by the Indian government

Saudi Tourism Authority Wins the Special Contribution to the Tourism & Hospitality (Destination) Award at WOW Awards Asia 2023

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All new tourist vehicles in Goa to be EVs from January 2024: CM Sawant

All new tourist vehicles, as well as cabs and motorbikes provided on rent in Goa will have to be electric vehicles from January 2024, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday. The Goa government proposes major reforms to promote EVs in the coastal state, Sawant said addressing a side-event organised by the NITI Aayog during the ongoing fourth Energy Transitions Working Group meeting under India's G20 Presidency in Panaji. India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant was also present at the side event. Goa ranks fourth in India in terms of percentage of electric vehicles (EVs) purchased in any state, Sawant said. He said all new tourist vehicles, cabs and motorbikes provided on rent will mandatorily have to be electric vehicles from January next year. He also said new vehicles purchased by the government from January 2024 will mandatorily be EVs. It will also be mandatory for permit holders having multiple tourist taxis, rent-a-bike and rent-a-cab (service) operators to retrofit 30 per c

Tourism will increase manifold in Andamans due to development of infra: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that tourist inflows to Andaman and Nicobar Islands have doubled since 2014 and will increase manifold in the coming years due to the development of infrastructure in the archipelago. Inaugurating the new integrated terminal building of the Veer Savarkar Airport here, he said that the expansion of the airport was a long-pending demand of locals and tourists alike. "The new terminal will be able to handle 11,000 passengers and 10 aircraft can be parked at the airport at any given time. More flights and tourists will bring more jobs to the area. The new terminal building will increase ease of travel and doing business, and connectivity," the PM said. Alleging that the islands were devoid of development for a long time, he said that in the last nine years, the current government has not only rectified the mistakes of past governments with utmost sensitivity but also brought a new model of inclusive development. "We brought submarine optical

French tourism businesses wary of customers drying up as droughts worsen

At the pristine southern French lake of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, tourists in pedal boats and on white water rafts and the businesses that welcome them have been buoyed by generous rainfall and good water management this spring. After a prolonged drought last summer, then another in the winter that followed, the once cracked lakebeds are now abundantly watered. Dams are releasing water into reservoirs on a consistent schedule for activities in the lake. But tour operators are still wary. Rafting and kayaking is great, but if tomorrow there is not enough water in the river, we will have to reinvent ourselves, said Antoine Coudray of Secret River Tours, that operates in the gorges of Verdon. The artificial lake of Sainte-Croix, a bustling tourist attraction, is one of three reservoirs in the area built for 16 hydroelectric dams. The dams supply the southeastern region of Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur with 35 per cent of its electricity needs. Human-caused climate change is lengthening .

Flying boom cometh

International tourist arrivals in India stood at 6.19 million in 2022 (their number is yet to hit the pre-pandemic peak of 10.9 million)

Millions of Chinese curb Southeast Asian growth as they decide to stay home

The visitor statistics suggest that Southeast Asia's economic recovery this year will be muted, amid a dimming global growth outlook from tighter monetary policies

Schools shut from July 10-17 in U'khand's Haridwar in view of Kanwar Mela

Every Monday during Shravan period is regarded as a highly auspicious time to fast and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva

Manipur stares at food shortage as ethnic violence affects farming

Agriculture has been affected in Manipur as many farmers are unable to tend to their fields due to the ongoing ethnic violence, and if the situation does not improve, food production in the northeastern state will be affected, a senior official said on Wednesday. Department of Agriculture Director N Gojendro told PTI that farmers were unable to cultivate at least 5,127 hectares of agricultural land, leading to a loss of 15,437.23 metric tonnes till June 28. "If the farmers are unable to cultivate paddy this monsoon season, the loss will increase by the end of July. The department has, however, readied fertilisers and seeds that can be harvested in a shorter period of time and required lesser amount of water," he said. There are around 2-3 lakh farmers in the state cultivating paddy on 1.95 lakh hectares of agricultural land. Thoubal district has the highest yield per hectare in the state, he said. Farmers fear that there might be a shortage of locally grown 'Meitei Rice', leading

World Bank, WTO chiefs seek to reignite services trade negotiations

The WTO has a mandate to liberalise services but its member states have not collectively improved market access since 1997 when deals were struck on telecommunications, it said

SC asks Manipur govt to file updated status report on rehabilitation

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to file an updated status report detailing the steps taken to ensure rehabilitation and improve the law and order situation in the ethnic violence-hit state. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra listed the batch of petitions on the issue for hearing on July 10. Asking Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, to file an updated status report, the bench said, "It should have details like rehabilitation camps, law and order and recovery of arms. In a brief hearing, the top law officer gave details of the deployment of security forces and the recent status of the law and order situation and said curfew in the state has now been reduced to five hours from 24 hours. According to Mehta, civil police, Indian reserve battalions and 114 companies of CAPFs are also deployed in the state. He said senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Kuki group

Gadkari says 70% work of India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway complete

Around 70 per cent construction work on the ambitious India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway has been completed, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said. India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on about 1,400-km-long highway that would link the country with Southeast Asia by land and give a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourism ties among the three countries. "Around 70 per cent work of the project is completed," the minister of Road Transport & Highways told PTI in reply to a question on the progress of the project. The highway will connect Moreh in Manipur, India with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. The minister did not provide details on the timeline for completion and operationalisation of the trilateral highway. The strategic highway project has been delayed. Earlier, the government was aiming to make the highway operational by December 2019.