Category Archives: MOT

The sixth edition of the Bengal Travel Mart (BTM) will be held from 10th April, 2021 to 12th April 2021 at Mayfair Tea Resort, Siliguri – the gateway to the North Eastern part of India. Bengal Travel Mart is an initiative of the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators Association (EHTTOA), West Bengal Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to showcase tourism in Siliguri, West Bengal.

Kamala Vardhan Rao, IAS, CMD of ITDC, has stressed on the need to encourage responsible tourism and how the state of Kerala can referred as a case study for the same. He said this while addressing government officials and tourism experts at an event recently. Rao also spoke about the success that can be achieved via expansion of hotels, better connectivity and availability of skilled human resources while keeping sustainability as a focus. He also shared insights on the strategy and work required to develop India as a tourism destination.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism has said that MOT will further strengthen and revamp its schemes for providing support to the Indian MICE industry. “We have amended the two components of the Champion Sector Service Scheme to give impetus to MICE industry during the pandemic. The number of minimum participants required for conference has been reduced to 250 from 500 for availing incentive and also increased the GST refund benefits on rooms to 2 nights,” he said.

To commemorate the 75-week long celebration of India@75, Indiatourism Delhi organised various activities including a Heritage Walk in the Mahrauli area to commemorate the Shahidi Diwas and a photo exhibition at Indian International Center in Delhi.

TRS member K R Suresh Reddy, during the recent Rajya Sabha session asked Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C), Tourism & Culture, “I would advise that instead of selling PSUs, instead of selling LIC, why don’t you sell Indian tourism? That is where you will really get money. Convince the Prime Minister. Make him the face of tourism so that the Ministry can benefit.” Patel announced that they will be unveiling the new tourism policy soon.

Tourism Secretary, GOI, Arvind Singh at the Closing ceremony of ‘Hazaar Baar Dekho, North East Dekho’ event said for developing tourism infrastructure in the region, MOT has invested Rs 1,565 crore under Swadesh and PRASAD scheme in 22 projects covering all 8 northeast states. “A number of these projects are complete or are near completion,” he said.

Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism, will be chairing the first meeting of the Northeastern committee of tourism stakeholders in Guwahati on 19th March. “We have created a small dedicated group of people to work in the Northeast. We will bring the people who will help us craft itineraries and small promotional campaigns for the entire Northeast” she said.  

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for Integrated Development of theme-based Tourist Circuits for the development of tourism infrastructure in the country. The Coastal Circuit, which includes beaches, is one of the thematic circuits identified for development under this scheme. The information was given by Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.  

Indiatourism Hyderabad organised a familiarisation trip for 10 tour operators from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to Chhattisgarh as part of promotion of Dekho Apna Desh initiative of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India from 11th to 14th March 2021 and fully supported by Chhattisgarh Tourism Board. The trip was led by Satrupa Dutta, Asst. Director, Indiatourism Hyderabad.

A parliamentary committee on transport, tourism and culture has revealed that they are concerned over slashing of budget estimates of MOT, when the travel and tourism industry is reeling from huge losses, owing to COVID-19 pandemic. The panel led by BJP leader T G Venkatesh highlighted that the budgetary allocation of Rs 2,026.77 crore for 2021-22 for the MOT would not be sufficient for the ministry to even run activities related to the Swadesh Darshan scheme, the PRASHAD scheme and others to realise the vision of increasing tourism sector’s contribution to India’s GDP to Rs 8.50 lakh crore, the panel led by noted.