Category Archives: MOT

The government announced that Jammu and Kashmir would be a UT with a Legislature while the Ladakh region will be a separate UT without a legislature. Talking about its impact on tourism, Parvez Dewan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, says, “I don’t think tourism will get affected post this decision. The unrest or security issue is very temporary, and in the long run tourism will not be affected because these UTs will remain next to each other. Since 1994-95, a certain number of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims have always gone to Kashmir after the Darshan. Around 34 per cent of foreign tourists visiting Ladakh do it in combination with Kashmir and around 66 per cent might only go to Ladakh. Similarly, a certain percentage always do Jammu and Kashmir together, and that will continue.”

The government announced that Jammu and Kashmir would be a UT with a Legislature while the Ladakh region will be a separate UT without a legislature. Talking about its impact on tourism, Parvez Dewan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, says, “I don’t think tourism will get affected post this decision. The unrest or security issue is very temporary, and in the long run tourism will not be affected because these UTs will remain next to each other. Since 1994-95, a certain number of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims have always gone to Kashmir after the Darshan. Around 34 per cent of foreign tourists visiting Ladakh do it in combination with Kashmir and around 66 per cent might only go to Ladakh. Similarly, a certain percentage always do Jammu and Kashmir together, and that will continue.

Ministry of Tourism (MOT) is working with other ministries to ease the visa regime, as well as address the industry demand to reduce the visa fee and making visa free in lean period. Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary, MOT, shared that they have been working with tourism stakeholders and working towards addressing their problems. “As MOT, after understanding the pain points of the industry and various stakeholders, we are in discussion and negotiations with various ministries to see the areas which need further facilitation, which stakeholders need for better promotion of tourism. The issues are related with the visa facilitation process, taxation or financing of the bigger projects We hope certain positive results would come out and when that happens, the respective ministries would announce their decisions,” he said.

The Regional Office (East) of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India organised a series of three Domestic Road Shows at Bhubaneswar (26th July), Kolkata (28th July) and Bodhgaya (30th July) with a view to catalyse focussed Business to Business (B2B) interactions among hoteliers, tour operators, transport operators and other stakeholders of the venue state and buyers of tourism products and services from all over India. 30 pan-India quality buyers were hosted for this 3 city roadshow ‘Purvaiya 2019’. The roadshow was followed by options of FAM trips.

Nitin Tripathi has been appointed as the Media Advisor for Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Tripathi has been a senior media professional and before this role, he was working as Group Consulting Editor for Sambhav Group based in Gujarat. With over 15 years of experience in the media industry, he has been the consulting editor for Gujarat Samachar Group  and Former Editor at Metro TV, apart from working for ETV- Network 18 and Sahara Samay. Owing to his experience in print, broadcast and online media, Tripathi will be focusing on the media strategies for the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism. He is one of the few private professionals being inducted in the Government.    

Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister (IC), Culture and Minister of State (IC), Tourism, has announced that they have increased the opening hours of 10 historical monuments across the country till 9 pm including Rajarani Temple Complex, Bhubaneswar; Dulhadeo Temple, Khajurao; Sheikh Chilli Tomb, Kurukshetra; Safdarjung & Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi; Group of Monuments at Pattadakkal & 7 Gol Gumbaz, Karnataka; Group of Temples, Markanda, Chamursi, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra; Man Mahal, Varanasi; and Rani-ki-Vav, Patan. Now, these monuments will remain open from sunrise to 9 pm for public. Earlier, these monuments used to open from 9 am to 5.30 pm for general public. Patel said that this decision has been made for the benefit of general public/tourists who can visit and appreciate the beauty of such historical sites for long hours. He also said that apart from these 10 monuments, some other historical monuments are also under consideration for long opening hours for visitors.

Rupinder Brar from Indian Revenue Services (IRS), 1990 batch, will be the new Additional Director General (ADG),  Ministry of Tourism. Before this, Brar was serving as the Commissioner of Income Tax and was posted in Mumbai. She will reportedly assume charge in her new role at MOT in New Delhi from next month. She has replaced Meenakshi Sharma (IAS), who is now the Director General, Ministry of Tourism. According to the latest order by Ministry of Personnel, Brar will be serving as the ADG, Tourism post for the next 5 years, or till further orders, whichever is earlier.  

Ministry of Tourism under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme has sanctioned funds to the tune of Rs 14.10 crores for developing tourist/pilgrim facilities like Community Halls, Toilet Blocks, Cafeteria, Illumination, Sitting Spaces, Drinking Water Facilities, Landscaping etc. at 25 religious sites in Kottayam District under the project “Development of Spiritual Circuit: Kasaragod, Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Mallapuram, Thrichur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Allaphuza, Pathananamithitta, Kollam, Trivandrum in Kerala” sanctioned in year 2018-19:

Ministry of Tourism under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme has identified Tirthankar Circuit as one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development in the country. All the sites associated with Jainism are covered under this circuit. The project is under implementation and Ministry has released Rs 26.19 crores for the project. Ministry has sanctioned the project-Development of Tirthankar Circuit: Vaishali-Arrah-Masad-Patna-Rajgir-Pawapuri-Champapuri in Bihar for Rs.52.39 crores in 2016-17. The projects under the above scheme are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable Detailed Project Reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.

Hope Island, located off the coast of Kakinada city in Andhra Pradesh and sanctioned in 2014-15 for development as a world-class coastal and eco-tourism circuit under Ministry of Tourism’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme, has attained physical completion. This was announced by Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism, Government of India, at a recent address. The project was initially sanctioned for Rs 67.84 crore, with the intention to create a natural getaway hub for the Kakinada-Hope Island-Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary loop for both domestic and international visitors. Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations for development of thematic tourist circuits in the country, with the objective of improving connectivity and infrastructure of tourism destinations to enrich overall tourist experience, enhance livelihood and employment opportunities, and attract domestic as well as foreign tourists to the destinations. The projects for development are identified in consultation with the State Governments/UT Administrations and are sanctioned subject to submission of project proposals, their adherence to relevant scheme guidelines, submission of suitable detailed project reports, availability of funds, and utilisation of funds released earlier.