Category Archives: MOT

Nearly 18 states have now given industry status to tourism and hospitality, revealed Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture. “The Ministry has also shared a draft of national tourism policy with all states. We discussed the policies of all states that adopted the best practices, made a draft policy on that basis, and shared it on Tourism Day. We are working to give incentives to all states in the hospitality sector and for new hotel investments.”

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & DG Tourism, GoI, revealed that the Ministry of Tourism will soon launch a revamped global promotion and marketing plan to strengthen inbound tourism. The strategy targets key source markets with focused promotions, collaborations with global brands and influencers, and enhanced synergy with states under the unified Incredible India brand, alongside a renewed push for MICE tourism.

The Union Ministry of Tourism and its allied bodies are actively implementing the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, governance, and efficiency. With 6,429 monitored targets, cleanliness drives at 413 tourism sites, and large-scale digitisation efforts, the initiative aims to streamline operations and enhance India’s tourism infrastructure to give a more organised and welcoming experiencefor domestic and international tourists.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has urged the Government of India to adopt a comprehensive and well-funded international tourism promotion strategy to position India as a leading global destination. Emphasising the sector’s vast potential to generate employment and economic growth, it called for focused, coordinated efforts across ministries, states, and private stakeholders.

At the 20th Regional Convention of HRAWI in Mumbai, Mohamed Farouk, RD & Deputy DG, Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Govt of India, revealed that the ministry intends to strengthen the management standards at tourist destinations through destination management organisations. He urged the hospitality sector to partner with the ministry in the framework of minimum quality standards for accommodation units in the country.

Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, recently met Hon’ble CM of Delhi, Rekha Gupta ji and Hon’ble Minister for Art, Culture and Language, Kapil Mishra to discuss transforming Delhi into India’s premier cultural and spiritual destination. They also discussed the tourism board’s vision for the Yamuna Aarti and cruise initiative , which will boost tourism by combining traditional evening prayers with scenic river journeys. “We spoke about the strategic partnership between Delhi Tourism and EaseMyTrip to position Delhi as more than just a transit point. Our technology infrastructure can seamlessly package everything from spiritual circuits through Easy Pilgrimage to immersive art experiences, world-class productions, and Esports & gaming events, reaching our 30 million customers globally. Easy Green Mobility secured Madhya Pradesh Government’s first inter-city electric bus tender, and we can bring similar sustainable solutions to Delhi, transforming how travellers experience the capital, prioritising environmental responsibility. If you are an entrepreneur building in tourism, cultural tech, or sustainable mobility that can elevate Delhi’s travel experience, please comment or DM me. Let us connect and work together to scale impactful solutions,” Pittie said.

Santosh Kumar, Regional Head, South Asia, Booking.com, shared that Indians will take nearly 5.2 billion trips by 2030, most of them domestic. The challenge, and the opportunity, is to meet that momentum with intent by adapting to evolving preferences, expanding relevant supply, strengthening physical and digital infrastructure, and placing the modern new Indian traveller at the heart of hospitality growth.

Udaipur will host a two-day national tourism conference, bringing together Tourism Ministers and officials from all States and Union Territories. Scheduled for 15–16 October and chaired by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, the event will focus on shaping India’s tourism policies and roadmap. Key discussions will include sustainable and digital tourism, alongside presentations on ongoing schemes from various state tourism departments. The conference aims to create a collaborative framework for enhancing India’s tourism ecosystem.

The World Tourism Day celebrations marked major strides for India’s tourism sector with the signing of MoUs with Netflix, Atithi Foundation, and leading Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). The Netflix partnership aims to promote Indian destinations through cinematic storytelling, with curated trailers and global outreach. MoUs with Atithi Foundation and OTAs seek to bolster strategic research, innovation, capacity building, and post-travel visitor feedback collection to enable data-driven policy decisions by States and Union Territories.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, highlighted that GST rationalisation will aid India’s tourism industry. “Reduction of tax rates from 12 per cent to 5 per cent will result into notable consumer savings,” he said, acknowledging that minor issues around Input Tax Credit require coordination with the GST Council. “The government’s overall policy direction strongly supports the sector’s expansion.”