Category Archives: States

Chalet Hotels may look at bringing its own brand of hotels after having firmly established itself among the top-four players in India’s hospitality space with a market cap of more than ₹19,000 crore. Sanjay Sethi, MD and CEO, Chalet Hotels, says the company’s performance, its strategy to diversify into leisure hotels and expansion to more geographies provide a springboard to launch its own brand.

Outlining the government’s action roadmap to ensure safe tourism with a multi-pronged action plan, Paul Lyngdoh, Tourism Minister, Meghalaya, said that all accommodation units across the state – lodges, resorts, homestays or paying guest facilities- must now mandatorily register every traveller through the government’s tourism app. He added that the state will induct 50 new prime tourism vehicles by July.

Chairing the 82nd meeting of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB), Bandaru Dattatreya, Governor, Haryana, said, “Kurukshetra must be turned into a must-see site and suggested celebrating 48 utsavas, or festivals, to that end, annually. The objective is to transform Kurukshetra into a top destination for spiritual and cultural tourism. Also, the board members decided to introduce electric buses in the city, connecting important pilgrimage sites along the 48 Kos Parikrama circuit.”

SOTC Travel has inaugurated its first franchise outlet in Raipur and in the state of Chhattisgarh, reiterating the Company’s strategic focus to expand its retail footprint across India. Chhattisgarh is emerging as a strong source market for the Company’s holiday business and is witnessing promising travel demand with Raipur and its surrounding catchments being key growth drivers. SOTC’s new franchise outlet is strategically situated in the city center, to serve both leisure and business segments. The Raipur outlet offers end-to-end travel solutions with an array of services, including International & Domestic Holidays (Group tours, Personalized Holidays, Cruises, etc.); Value Added Services like Travel Insurance; Visa Services, etc.

WGH Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality arm of World Group, welcomed P Rajeev, Minister for Industry, Government of Kerala to the site of its upcoming flagship project in Kochi. The visit marks a significant milestone for the group, as this luxury development was among the prestigious projects showcased at the Kerala Global Investment Meet, aligning with the state’s vision for sustainable and experience-driven tourism. In 2012 the group made its mark in Kerala’s tourism and hospitality sector with the acquisition of World Backwaters Alleppey. Today, World Group Heritance (WGH) proudly owns and operates distinctive properties across prominent destinations like Alleppey, Munnar and Thekkady. The group is now making bold strides with new developments in Kochi, Varkala, Trivandrum, and Ashtamudi—including an exclusive wellness resort—each uniquely designed to international standards while deeply rooted in Kerala’s cultural richness. During the visit, the minister will be presented with the master plan and design philosophy of the WGH Kochi project, set to launch on 1 January, 2028. This luxury destination will set new benchmarks in hospitality by combining modern infrastructure with authentic Kerala experiences. J Jayakrishnan, Director of World Group and WGH Hotels & Resorts, expressed his gratitude for the government’s continued support and investment-friendly policies. “Kerala’s infrastructure development and progressive tourism policies are perfectly aligned with our vision. Our projects aim to promote responsible and sustainable tourism while gifting guests an immersive experience of Kerala’s unique lifestyle and traditions,” said Jayakrishnan. The World Group, with nearly four decades of entrepreneurial legacy starting from mining and expanding into sectors like DRI, retail, logistics, agriculture and consulting, has invested INR 250 crores in Kerala’s hospitality sector over the past two years. The group has committed an …

New Records Set in 2024 as Madhya Pradesh, the Heart of India, Becomes a Tourism Hotspot Madhya Pradesh, rich in diversity and heritage, continues to emerge as one of India’s most vibrant tourism destinations. Known for its cultural legacy, historical monuments, natural beauty, and rich wildlife, the state has become the preferred choice for travellers. In 2024, Madhya Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourism, recording 134.1 million tourist arrivals — a remarkable increase of 19.6% from 2023, approximately 50.6% from 2019, and an astounding 526% from 2020. Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department, and Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board stated, “Madhya Pradesh is a culturally and ecologically diverse state that offers a complete travel experience to visitors. The arrival of 134.1 million tourists in 2024 is proof that Madhya Pradesh is not only making its mark nationally but is also emerging strongly on the global tourism map. This achievement is the result of visionary policies, development of robust infrastructure, and active participation of local communities.” Foreign Tourist Arrivals In 2024, Madhya Pradesh also welcomed 167,000 foreign tourists. Khajuraho recorded 33,131 foreign arrivals, Gwalior 10,823, and Orchha 13,960. Urban destinations also saw a rise in foreign tourists with Indore receiving 9,964 and Bhopal 1,522. Wildlife parks attracted global visitors too, including Bandhavgarh (29,192), Kanha (19,148), Panna (12,762), and Pench (11,272), reflecting the state’s growing global appeal. Major Tourism Attractions Religious Tourism: A New Centre of Faith in India Madhya Pradesh’s religious destinations attracted 107 million visitors in 2024, a 21.9% increase over 2023. Six out of the state’s top ten tourist destinations were religious sites. Ujjain led with 73.2 million tourists, a …

Atmosphere Core has announced its debut in Himachal Pradesh’s Kufri with a luxurious boutique resort, Atmosphere Kufri. The property is set to open in early 2026, offering an exclusive retreat in one of India’s most picturesque hill stations. It will feature 58 opulent accommodations in its first phase, including deluxe rooms, suites, and presidential suites, with plans to expand to 100 keys in the second phase.

To revive tourism and the region’s economy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, key stakeholders in Ladakh’s tourism industry met with Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, GoI, who is on her four-day official visit to Ladakh. They advocated special relief for tourism and allied sectors in the UT and demanded restoration of budget allocations to FY 2025-26.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published the GSTC-Certified Hotels Directory, a comprehensive resource designed to help destinations, businesses, and consumers identify accommodations that have been certified as sustainable by GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies. It reinforces the importance of traceability and transparency from an assurance perspective, providing credible validation of sustainability certifications.

The Indian hospitality industry is experiencing significant growth in branded hotel rooms, particularly in major cities and popular tourist destinations. According to Hotelivate data, Dehradun leads this growth, with a staggering 67.5% increase in branded rooms, reaching 1,236 rooms in FY2023/24. Average occupancy rates remain strongest in tier-I cities, at 73.6%.