Category Archives: States

In a key initiative to showcase the Kurukshetra region’s historical and cultural richness, the Ministry of Tourism’s Northern Regional Office is hosting the second Mahabharata Circuit Conference and Familiarization Tour. The event, scheduled from 4-6 November, will gather around 130 participants, including tourism professionals, media representatives, and officials from various tourism departments.

Kerala Tourism is all set to replace its traditional tourist information centres with robotic and automatic kiosks to digitalise the information delivery system. P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister, Kerala Tourism, highlighted that introducing robotic kiosks at railway stations is part of a broader effort to modernise and digitalise Kerala’s tourism infrastructure.

Speaking about the significance of research and data in the tourism industry, Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism said, “Being in the sector which is vast and multifaceted, it is essential to have accurate and comprehensive data to inform our decisions. While government data provides a solid foundation, it often captures only one facet of the entire landscape. To truly understand the dynamics of the tourism and hospitality sectors, we must triangulate this data with insights from industry bodies, international organisations like the WTO, and other reliable sources.”

An Amex Trendex India finding highlights that 73% of Indians are using travel credit card rewards, airline miles or loyalty points to manage costs, reflecting a shift toward maximising value during the holidays. Domestic travel remains popular, with 88% opting for trips within India, while international travel is on the radar for 61%.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and held discussions on promoting the state’s religious sites, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage at the national and international levels. He also requested the Union Minister for cooperation to develop infrastructure in view of the state’s increasing population.

Diana Marin Acosta, Senior Vice President, Head of Global & Luxury Sales, Minor Hotel, said that they want to keep growing partnerships and build brand awareness by organising roadshows in India. “We are ready to open one property in Jaipur next month and are committed to opening 50 hotels in the following years,” she added.

As part of its ambitious plan to enhance air connectivity, Odisha cabinet has approved a financial incentive program for airlines to launch new flights connecting various airports in Odisha. According to the program, airlines will receive ₹5 lakh per round trip for domestic flights and ₹10 lakh for international routes.

Skyscanner’s new ‘Travel Trends Report’ unveiled Shillong as the most popular destination for Indian travellers in 2025. The report, which offers insights into the pulse of Indian travellers in the coming year, also revealed that 66% of Indians plan to “travel more” in the coming year.

Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre and Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre – Managed by Accor, announced key appointments to its leadership team. Manik Vishnoi has been appointed as the new Director of Operations, bringing with him nearly two decades of experience in the Food & Beverage industry, having worked with brands like Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Throughout his career, he has managed diverse teams across various cities. His journey includes positions at Hyatt Regency New Delhi, Grand Hyatt Mumbai, JW Marriott Mumbai, JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity & Marriott Jaipur Convention Centre. Manik’s experience spans key locations such as Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata, allowing him to cultivate a deep understanding of regional tastes and service styles. Most recently, he served as the Director of Food & Beverage at Hyatt Regency Kolkata, West Bengal. His expertise includes managing topline budgeting, revenue strategy, F&B promotions, along with cost control, pricing, guest satisfaction, and team development, making him a valuable asset to the company. Neha Choudhary joins as the Marketing & Communications Manager, bringing over 14 years of experience, including 10 years in journalism with leading publications like The Times of India Jaipur, Daily News and Analysis, and Rajasthan Patrika. After transitioning into corporate communications at AU Small Finance Bank, Neha moved into the hospitality sector, taking on marketing and communications at DoubleTree by Hilton Jaipur Amer. Her shift into hospitality has brought a fresh perspective, blending her expertise in content writing, public relations, marketing, and brand-building. Neha’s strategic leadership will be pivotal in driving the marketing efforts of this massive hotel complex and enhancing the brand image. Abhishek Sharma has been appointed as the …

Giving a big boost to its globally-acclaimed Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative, the Kerala Government has approved a raft of projects worth Rs 6.64 crore for implementing various initiatives in different destinations in the state. The projects are aimed at bolstering and diversifying the offerings under the Responsible Tourism initiative during 2024-25, with emphasis on sustainability and inclusiveness. As per the Government Orders (GOs) issued in this regard, the total amount of Rs 66,499,621 approved by the government for these initiatives include Responsible/ Resilient Tourism project of RT Mission, besides enhancing the facilities and services in the destinations concerned as the main thrust. This includes the government’s earlier approval of Rs 89,81,240 lakh for materializing first phase of RT Mission Society projects in 2024 – 25. The destinations benefiting from the initiative include RT Mission Society Training Centre at Kumarakom and Beypore Integrated RT Development Project. Of the amount, the Responsible/ Resilient Tourism project of RT Mission will get Rs 1,81,09,000 while approval has been given for Rs 1,15,00,000 for implementing Beypore Integrated RT Development Project. “The RT initiative is going to be the driver of Kerala Tourism in the future. In 2023, Kanthalloor village in Idukki was recognised by the Govt. of India for its sustainable and inclusive STREET tourism project with the Gold Award for Best Rural Tourism Project. This year, RT projects in Kadalundi and Kumarakom won the National Awards for best Rural Tourism and best Agri-Tourism villages respectively,” Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said.