Category Archives: States

In a recent development, the IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) Executive Committee has appointed Gurinder Singh as the Chairman of the IATO Punjab Chapter with immediate effect from 6 January 2025. Singh, the Managing Director of Discover Punjab Tours & Travels will lead the association’s efforts in fostering ties with the local tourism industry and government bodies. As a seasoned tourism professional, his deep industry knowledge and strong bonds with the Punjab government are likely to play a significant role in achieving the association’s goals and targets. With this appointment, IATO is eyeing to expand its membership base in the state while creating more tourism opportunities.

To captivate international audiences, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is set to elevate the state’s global presence by showcasing Maha Kumbh 2025 at FITUR in Madrid, Spain, and ITB Berlin in Germany. With this, the tourism dept aims to position UP as a premier tourist destination, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and the significance of the Maha Kumbh mela.

Highlighting the importance of tourism in boosting Goa’s economy, Rohan Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa, said, “Tourism is the heart of Goa’s economy, supporting numerous livelihoods and providing opportunities for our people. This season has been remarkable, with 4 and 5-star hotels nearly at full capacity, showcasing Goa as a top destination for high-spending travellers and charters from established and emerging markets”.

Strikin, a U.S.-based global entertainment company has expressed its sincere gratitude to the Commissioner of Tourism and Patel Ramesh Garu, Chairman of Tourism, Telangana, for the opportunity to present its transformative entertainment vision for the state. In collaboration with Cirque Éloize, a renowned Canadian entertainment company, Strikin aims to position Telangana as a global destination in the entertainment sector. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to redefining entertainment experiences and elevating Telangana’s global standing. Strikin also unveiled its second initiative, Theme Team Entertainment, a theme-based entertainment concept inspired by iconic destinations like Universal Studios and Disney World. This state-of-the-art venue will be the first of its kind in Hyderabad and across India, setting a new benchmark in the Indian entertainment landscape. During the presentation, Strikin recognised the synergy and alignment of vision with the Commissioner and Telangana’s leadership. The company expressed eagerness to initiate these transformative projects, which promise to significantly boost Telangana’s profile as a hub for world-class entertainment. This announcement comes at a pivotal moment as the Telangana Government recently introduced its first-ever comprehensive Tourism Policy, ‘Telangana Tourism Policy 2025-30’, in the Legislative Assembly. The policy aims to generate three lakh jobs, making this initiative highly relevant and timely.

IndiGo has announced new domestic routes, establishing direct flight connections between Bhubaneswar and Dehradun, and Dehradun and Srinagar, effective 6 February, 2025. These additions to IndiGo’s network will improve connectivity and offer passengers a wider range of travel choices.

Expanding its presence in North India, ITC Hotels announced the opening 81-room Welcomhotel in Delhi. The hotel is conveniently located near Delhi Airport. It features modern amenities and expansive event spaces for weddings, social gatherings, and conferences.

According to HVS Anarock’s ‘Occupancy Trends Across Key Indian Markets,’ all major cities saw a rise in occupancy rates in 2024 compared to previous year. Mumbai tops with over 80 per cent occupancy, driven by MICE events and high-profile gatherings like Dua Lipa’s concert. Pune recorded the highest growth, with a 12-14 percentage point increase.

Hemant Soren, Chief Minister, Jharkhand directed officials to prepare a blueprint for promoting eco-tourism in Jharkhand. With a forest cover of around 33 per cent, the state offers immense potential for eco-tourism activities such as forest trails, nature walks, jungle safaris, trekking and rock climbing, among others for adventure and nature enthusiasts.

Ravi Jain, Secretary, Tourism Rajasthan, said, “The state has allocated a budget of ₹5000 crore to promote cultural heritage and sustainable tourism, conserve heritage sites, and initiate new projects. Additionally, IIFA Awards 2025, scheduled for 7-9 March in Jaipur, will elevate state’s global appeal by promoting film tourism, local art and culture.

Keen on developing infrastructure for night skiing in Auli to attract tourists from all over the world, Anil Baluni, BJP MP, Uttarakhand pitched for developing the spot from a popular ski resort destination to a world-class tourist attraction for the sport wherein world-level competitions among skiiers can take place and training being given to them.