Ahead of the Mahakumbh-2025, the new policy of star classification of hotels and resorts which was introduced in December 2023 by Yogi Adityanath government to promote the tourism industry in Uttar Pradesh will now be implemented in Prayagraj to boost tourism. The system will classify hotels based on their quality, services and guest experience, thereby boosting tourism.

According to IBEF’s report on ‘Growth of Tourism and Hospitality Industry’, travel and tourism are the two largest industries in India with a total contribution of about $178 billion to the country’s GDP. With this, the travel market in India is projected to reach $125 billion by FY2027, while the foreign tourist arrival is expected to touch 30.5 million by 2028.

Israel Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar to gain insights and updates on the destination. From the ancient streets of Jerusalem to the serene shores of the Dead Sea, experience Israel’s exciting offerings. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

German National Tourist Office India (GNTO India) is delighted to announce that Germany’s culinary landscape has reached unprecedented heights, boasting an impressive 340 Michelin-starred restaurants. This milestone solidifies Germany’s position as a gastronomic haven, offering a diverse and authentic culinary experience for Indian travellers. Food is a significant travel motivation for Indians, and besides indulging in their native cuisine, they also have a penchant for authentic German and international flavors. Germany’s vast culinary options cater to this demand, showcasing traditional dishes, modern twists, and innovative fusions. Out of these 340 prestigious restaurants, 50 hold two stars, and 280 have one star. Ten restaurants are allowed to carry the highest Michelin award in 2024 and adorn themselves with three stars. With a total of 12 Michelin stars, Saarland, a small state in the southwest of Germany, is one of the most popular regions for gourmets due to the high number of top-rated eateries, especially in relation to its population. Reinforcing its reputation as a culinary gem, Baiersbronn, a small town in the Black Forest region, was recently named the gourmet capital of Germany. Additionally, 199 restaurants in Germany have been awarded a Bib Gourmand, a recognition for meticulously prepared dishes with a top price-quality ratio, and 77 establishments have received a Green Star for the commitment to sustainability. The MICHELIN Green Star is a newer concept that was introduced in 2020 as an increasing number of restaurant owners are working towards conserving resources and treating food respectfully by using seasonal and local products, as well as meat from animals raised in their natural environment, for example. “Germany’s culinary scene is a reflection of our rich cultural heritage and traditions. From the …

Uttar Pradesh Chapter of IATO conducted two chapter meetings in Varanasi and in Agra on 21st of July and on the 26th of July respectively. Both the meetings were attended by about 40 members of IATO at each location and many attendees were new members who have recently joined IATO from UP. Uttar Pradesh is a very important state and in the last financial year only it has added 35 new members to the impressive membership list of IATO. Both the meetings were conducted by Prateek Hira, the Chapter Chair of Uttar Pradesh. Guest of Honour in Varanasi meeting was Rajendra Rawat, Deputy Director – UP Tourism and similarly In the Agra Meeting the Guest of Honour was Deepti Vatsa, Regional Tourist Officer along with Harish Kumar of Ministry of Tourism, GoI. Regional Chapter Chair, Sunil C. Gupta presided over the Agra meeting along with Prateek Hira. Uttar Pradesh Chairman of IATO and Varanasi meeting was chaired by Prateek Hira. The meetings discussed and deliberated on issues and problems faced by members in the state of Uttar Pradesh and solutions to these were instantly provided by the attending government officers and the IATO’s Regional chairmaen Sunil C. Gupta and UP Chapter Chairman Prateek Hira. Sunil C. Gupta enumerated the achievements of IATO and invited all members to register for the upcoming IATO Convention in Bhopal and take advantage of the knowledge sessions and familiarization tours planned thereafter. Prateek Hira on another hand spoke about the schemes of the governments and informed the members how each of them can take advantage of the schemes after registering with the state government. He also heard all the problems being faced by the members …

As the 39th IATO Convention is set to take place in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the association records 300 registrations within the first few days. More than 1,000 delegates from all over India are expected to take part in the convention. The key focus will be to promote the lesser-known destinations in Madhya Pradesh through post-tour activities.

“Tourism and hospitality play a crucial role in the growth of the Indian economy. However, there has been no policy announcement to facilitate the development of hotels and the promotion of inbound tourism”, says KB Kachru, President, HAI. The industry will continue to ask for a grant of infrastructure status for the hospitality sector, he said.

The budgetary allocation for the Civil Aviation Ministry has been reduced to ₹2,357.14 crore for the current fiscal ending next March. Meanwhile, the regional air connectivity scheme is set to receive ₹502 crore during the same period. In the budgetary allocation for 2023-24, the amount for the Civil Aviation Ministry was ₹2,922.12 crore.

Presenting the Union Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a simpler tax regime for foreign shipping companies operating domestic cruises in India, aiming to boost cruise tourism. She highlighted plans for ownership, leasing, and flagging reforms to enhance the domestic shipping industry’s share and create more jobs.

Giving his reaction to the Union Budget announced today, PP Khanna, President, ADTOI, said, “The budget was expected to be a comprehensive roadmap for the next five years but appears to lack substantial long-term strategies. Specific sectors, such as tourism, received attention, but the initiatives may seem insufficient in scope.” Commenting further, he said, “The government has implemented GST, which has reduced the compliance burden on trade and industry by unifying the highly fragmented indirect tax regime in India. The tax base of GST has more than doubled, and the average monthly gross GST collection has almost doubled to ₹1.66 lakh crore. On the other hand, no specific information on TCS in the tourism industry is available. The tourism industry has been impacted by the introduction of GST and TCS, with some tour operators and travel agencies facing challenges in complying with the new tax regime. However, the government has taken steps to simplify the tax process and reduce the compliance burden on businesses. The general sentiment is that the budget does not fully meet the high expectations set by previous promises.”