Category: News

Tourism Ministry of Jordan revealed on Monday that the revenue from tourism has reached USD 4.87 billion during the first 11 months of 2018. The revenue from tourism was USD 4.6 billion in 2017, while in 2016 it was USD 4.1 billion, as per records of the Central Bank of Jordan. As per the monthly statistical bulletin of the ministry, the number of inbound tourists during the month of November 2018 is showing an increase of 40.1 per cent, when compared to same period of 2017. The number of tourist groups visited the country during November of this year was ... Read more

Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi The ‘Adopt A Heritage – Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’, scheme launched on 27th September, 2017 is a collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments. The programme envisages development and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites and making them tourist friendly, to enhance tourism potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner. The project primarily focuses on providing basic amenities that include cleanliness, public conveniences, safe drinking water, ease of access for tourists, signages, illumination, Wi-fi etc. Gangotri Temple, Uttarakhand The Project envisages involvement ... Read more

Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the project for construction of a 5.634 km long new 4 – lane bridge across river Ganga, 38 meters on upstream side of the existing Mahatma Gandhi Setu (MG Setu), along with approaches on NH-19 at Patna in the State of Bihar. The estimated project cost is Rs 2926.42 crore. The construction period for the project is three and a half years and it is likely to be completed by January, 2023. This mega project is 14.500 km long and passes through Patna, Saran ... Read more

Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry has initially identified fifteen destinations for development under the Ramayana Circuit theme namely Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar), Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Mahendragiri (Odisha), Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Hampi (Karnataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu). The details of projects sanctioned under the Ramayana Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan during the last two years: Development of Ayodhya under Ramayana Circuit theme in Uttar Pradesh (2017-18) and Rs 133.31 crore ... Read more

The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India on medical visa during 2016 and 2017 were estimated at 4, 27, 014 and 4, 95, 056 respectively, registering a positive growth of 15.9 per cent. “Medical Tourism holds immense potential for India. The Indian systems of medicines, viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Panchakarma, Rejuvenation Therapy, etc., are among the most ancient systems of medical treatment in the world. India can provide medical and health care of international standards at low costs. India excels in the state of the art medical facilities, reputed health care professionals, quality nursing facilities and traditional healthcare therapies,” said K J ... Read more

New Beijing Airport The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) aims to construct 216 new airports by 2035 to meet the growing demands for air travel. China had a total of 234 civil airports at the end of October, and this number is likely to hit 450 by 2035. This is part of China’s ambition to become an aviation power, reported Reuters. As per statistics, demand for passenger air transportation in China will surpass the US by 2035, representing almost one-quarter of the world’s total flights. Airports in China managed 552 million travellers last year, which is expected to grow ... Read more

Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the central Tourism Ministry has sanctioned 73 projects with Central Financial Assistance for Rs 5873.26 crores covering 30 States/UT Administrations till date. “The sanctioning of new projects under Swadesh Darshan scheme is a continuous process. Projects for development under the scheme are identified in consultations with the State Governments/UT 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. All the projects sanctioned under the circuits are at various stages of implementation,” said K J Alphons, Union Minister of State (I/C) ... Read more

The water department of Maharashtra is all set to lease out 146 of its guest houses, with some 2,000 rooms near dams. The state government will float tenders in about a week regarding the same. It is proposing to lease out the guest houses for 10 years, with an annual hike of 10 per cent in rent. The guest houses were so far available only to senior government officials and political leaders. The most sought after dam and reservoir locations are Panshet near Pune, Pench near Nagpur, Bhatsa on the Mumbai-Nashik highway, Bhandardara near Nashik, Ujani in Solapur, Jaikwadi in ... Read more

Ponmudi, the renowned tourist destination of Thiruvananathpuaram, is going to have additional 15 rooms, including 5 independent cottages, in the Golden Peak Resort. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran will dedicate the additional facilities to the public on 18th December 2018. A Sampath MP, DK Murali MLA and M Vijayakumar, KTDC Chairman, will also attend the function, among other dignitaries from KTDC and the local bodies. The additional facilities are constructed with a cost of Rs. 3.2 crores. The tariff of the cottages will be ranging from Rs 1500 to Rs 3600. The cottages are constructed in the traditional Kerala style, with ... Read more

Cupping Health tourism featuring Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is getting greater acceptance in recent years, as stated by experts who has been attending the International Health Tourism Forum held in Beijing recently. “Cross-border health tourism is in fashion now,” said Li Jiangbin, an official with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies announced the establishment of a special committee to promote TCM health tourism worldwide. Acupuncture TCM health tourism provides tourists with an array of options, allowing them to experience traditional Chinese methods of healthcare such as acupuncture and cupping therapy, and learn ... Read more

Chief Minister Pema Khandu has flagged of the `JK Tyre Orange 4X4 Fury’, as part of the Orange Festival of Adventure and Music, on 15th December 2018. The event is organised at Dambuk by Arunachal Tourism. The Chief Minister expressed hope that as connectivity improves in the North East, the states will compete with each other to attract tourists. Tourism festivals in the state such as Ziro Festival of Music, Mechuka Adventure Festival and Orange Festival have been attracting thousands of tourists to the state, said the minister. The chief minister said the Orange Festival (OFAM) initially met with skepticism, ... Read more

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) has appointed an adventure sports officer in Rishikesh. The appointment has been made in order to take care of the interests of those in the white water rafting business, facilitate swift redressal of problems faced in the sector and ensure disciplined operation of the river rafting business. KS Negi, who has been appointed the adventure sports officer will shortly assume charge at the tourist information centre in Rishikesh. This will enable redressal at the local level of complaints of the local stakeholders and those involved in the rafting business. The State’s Tourism secretary Dilip ... Read more

This doctor from Kerala’s Calicut district, is now growing apples in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. Babu Ahmed Sager, fondly called Babukka by the travellers flocking the region, is all set to trip to the Scandinavian Arctic Circle to participate in Fjällräven Polar Expedition. Dr Babu came first in the ‘The World’ category with 82,715 online votes. This is the second time that an Indian is selected for the Fjällräven Polar Expedition.  Last year, Niyog Krishna from Kerala, became the first Indian to qualify to the high-adventure event. “I’ve stayed in extremely cold places in Russia close to that area. So, I thought I’d ... Read more

For the first time in the history of Miss Universe, a transgender competed for the title. Miss Spain, Angela Ponce was the first transgender woman among the other 93 contestants in the 2018 event.  Although she did not make the top 20, Ponce said she was already a winner. She came for the competition after got crowned Miss Universe Spain for 2018. During the coronation night, the beauty pageant organization paid tribute to Angela with a video recognition.  The video was narrated by model and co-host Ashley Graham, who praised Ponce for encapsulating the attributes expected of a Miss Universe contestant. “Angela ... Read more

Catriona Elisa Gray being crowned as the Miss Universe 2018 Miss Philippines Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe, becoming the fourth Philippine native to win the crown. Miss Universe 2018 brought women from across 94 nations together in Bangkok for the biggest pageant in the world. Gray was a front-runner the entire competition, but her answer to the final question all but solidified her title. The final three were all asked the same question: “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?” She talked about ... Read more