Category: India

Come August and it’s for Delhiites to observe some strict traffic restrictions during the Independence Day celebrations. Traffic restrictions will be in place for the Independence Day function at the Red Fort and on its full dress rehearsal tomorrow. Six roads – Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, S P Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg and Esplanade Road – and its Link Road will be closed for general public from 5 am to 9 am on August 14 and 15. Parking facilities will not be available at the Delhi Metro stations from 6 am on August 14 till 2 ... Read more

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), in partnership with Lotus Trans Travel Private Limited, is planning to establish four hotel portfolios under the banner of Holiday Inn in Bodhgaya, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur and Shravasti. Expected to open between 2020 and 2023, the four properties together will add 450 rooms to IHG’s inventory in India. As part of the agreement, Holiday Inn hotels in Bodhgaya, Kushinagar and Shravasti will be refurbished and upgraded while Holiday Inn Gorakhpur will be a newly build hotel. With this partnership, IHG has become the first International hotel chain to have presence in the Buddhist Circuit of India. Bodhgaya ... Read more

Sudhakar Embar (54), renowned tourist guide from Karnataka, died on Saturday, 12th August 2018. The death came in the form a heart attack, while he was on duty, accompanying a tourist team in Chennai. He was taking the tourists from the Chennai International Airport to the hotel where they were staying. Sudhakar was one of the preferred tourist guides in the region, who could speak several languages, including Italian. He became RLG from first batch of India Tourism Office, Bangalore, in 1987. He has worked as the President of Govt of India Tourist Guides Association, Karnataka. He was survived by ... Read more

PP Khanna has got re-elected as the President of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) for the term 2018-20. Khanna, leading the Team Progressive, won his second term as the President with 183 votes at the term elections held in New Delhi. Khanna has defeated Team Innovative’s Rajat Sahney, who has secured 105 votes. Rajesh Arya has been elected as the Vice President with 152 votes, Chetan Gupta, with 164 votes, as the General Secretary, Dalip Gupta, with 169 votes, as Treasurer and with 168 votes, Anil Kr Rajput has been elected as Joint Secretary. The Executive Committee (EC) of ADTOI for the term ... Read more

Two project management agencies have been constituted by NITI Aayog to develop Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands under the Incredible Islands Projects of India. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Development Corporation Limited and the Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports, Lakshdweep, have been earmarked as agencies that will be working to develop tourism prospects in these islands. The government also wants to develop eco-tourism projects in Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. “The development component includes eco-tourism facility with the development of resorts, tents and tree houses besides other infrastructure projects to support the facility. A water desalination plant, solar power generation facility, necessary ... Read more

With an aim to promote operation of sea planes in the country, the central government has given in-principle approval for construction of ‘water aerodromes’, in five states. The first such aerodromes are set to come up in Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. Chilka Lake in Odisha and Sabarmati river front and Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat have been identified by the government to implement the first phase of the project. “In-principle approval has been given for the construction of water aerodromes in various states across the country. This move will promote tourism as well as connect places of ... Read more

Tasaduq Jeelani, Director Tourism, Kashmir, has flagged off a 5-day motorsports expedition on August 11. The event, organized by Moto Explorers Club in collaboration with Department of Tourism, features 35 participants. The participants will drive 4×4 off-road vehicles to cover the 2000 kilometers from Kashmir to Ladakh. “This is one of the biggest motorsports expeditions, which would move from Srinagar and pass through Sonamarg, Kargil, Leh, Turtuk, Pangong Lake and other adjoining famous offbeat attractions in Leh,” said the organisers. “The tourism department will promote tourism products including adventure sports in a big way across India by participating in roadshows, travel marts ... Read more

The Uttarakhand tourism department is planning to frame rules to ensure private companies’ adoption of its nine heritage sites listed under ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project. Nearly 450 companies came forward to participate in the initiative after its launch by President Ram Nath Kovind on the World Tourism Day 2017. The project, launched by the Govt of India, aims to identify monuments and heritage sites and hand over their upkeep to a corporate entity or public sector undertaking under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) for five years. During these years, the company will ensure basic amenities and well-being of the heritage site but without drawing ... Read more

Gwalior Fort Madhya Pradesh Tourism is all set to promote its tourism products in international markets. Madhya Pradesh will highlight the spectacular offerings of this colourful and vibrant state to international travellers during two travel and tourism shows from October – December 2018. With more than 10,000 sq km of national parks, Madhya Pradesh accounts for about 20 per cent of India’s tiger population and is known as the ‘Tiger State’ of India. MP is home to 6 tiger reserves, several natural and architectural wonders and 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the exquisite Khajuraho temple complex, Sanchi- a ... Read more

Looking at the increase in number of tourists, the Israel embassy has opened a visa application centre in Calcutta. The centre, housed on the seventh floor of Acropolis Mall, will cater to Bengal and the Northeast. “Residents of Calcutta and the Northeast will no longer have to send their documents to Delhi,” said Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism, India and Philippines. India has emerged as one of the best performing markets in Asia for Israel. “In 2015, we recorded a tourist inflow of about 34,000. We have already achieved that in the first six months of 2018. Now ... Read more

Himadri Garg and Prachi Garg Ten years ago, Delhi based sisters, Prachi and Himadri Garg decided to have a trip, without having a clear destination in their mind. They just get in to a bus and set off the journey. Later the bus halted in Shimla, the famous hill station in northern India. They were unaware that the spontaneous journey is going to change the whole perspective of their lives. Later, travelling became an addition for the sisters and now it evolved to be their means to earn for their life, while enjoying what they are doing. They have formed ... Read more

The government is planning to open around 100 islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep for the development of eco-tourism. The project will be implemented on public private partnership (PPP) basis, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, said on Friday, 10th August 2018. Ten islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep have already been taken up for development in the first phase under the Holistic Development of Islands programme. “Now we have taken up 10 islands as the first phase of the programme; around 100 islands will be open up by the next 12 months. We invite all prospective entrepreneurs to ... Read more

Strengthening its dynamic sales team further, the flagship property of JW Marriott Hotels in India has announced the appointment of Sneha Jha as the Director of Sales. With over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Sneha brings to the table proficient expertise and immense knowledge in Sales and Marketing, Hotel Operations, Customer Service and Business Development. Before joining the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Sneha spearheaded a talented team as the director of Sales and Marketing at Holiday Inn Mumbai wherein she was responsible for exploring revenue, generating opportunities and securing successful positioning for the hospitality brand. She also ... Read more

As part of the 72nd Independence Day celebrations, the Indian Air Force has opened an adventure park at the Bagdogra Air Force Station in Siliguri. The IAF has lined up a series of other events in the next seven days. Santosh Chaudhary, the president of the Air Force Wives’ Welfare Association at the IAF station, inaugurated the Freedom Adventure Carnival at the newly developed Eastern Air Command Nodal Centre’s Adventure Park in Bagdogra. The park has over 62 types of land, air and water adventure activities including power hang-gliding, parasailing, zorbing, rappelling, para-motor, and rock climbing. During the carnival, students ... Read more

The Uttarakhand cabinet has recently gave nod to the new rafting and adventure sports regulations and in view of this the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board said it was confident that the ban would be lifted before September. “The high court had banned adventure sports in the state from June 22 due to the absence of a transparent regulation policy. “Since we have a policy in place, we are now in the position to resume the adventure sports activities. We are taking a legal opinion on whether we need to move the court for this. But, as per our understanding, the ... Read more