Category: News

As per the Union Ministry’s tourism development programms – ‘Swedesh Darshan’ and ‘PRASAD’, the Meghalaya State Tourism Department has submitted new proposals to the Center to be considered for approval. Under the Swedesh Darshan Scheme, 13 thematic circuits have been identified for development. The circuits are Northeast India circuit, Buddhist, Himalayan, Coastal, Krishna, Desert, Tribal, Eco, Wildlife, Rural, Spiritual, Ramayana and Heritage circuits. The ‘PRASAD’ scheme (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive), focuses on development and beautification of the identified pilgrimage destinations. In the ‘circuits’, the emphasis will be on development of a particular theme and connecting ... Read more

Uttarakhand Union ministry is planning to produce promotional videos to attract Indians, who are roaming around the world. Tourism Minister KJ Alphons urges Indian globetrotters to come back to India and explore the unseen areas of our great country. Last year, through an innovative idea – Parayatan Parv (tourism festival), the ministry has tried to woo the countrymen to spend their holidays in India instead of going abroad. State governments as well as the union ministries had participated in the event. “Indians are travelling all around the world, while we want them to travel across the length and breadth of ... Read more

Amidst the adversities of the disastrous rain that affected the lives of people in Kerala, there is some good news coming from the tourism sector. Following the rain, most of the dams in Kerala are open now. The spectacular view of water flowing down from the dams is attracting more visitors to the dam sites. Peechi Dam, situated 22 km outside Thrissur in Kerala, is attracting thousands of visitors, ever since it has opened the shutters on 27th July 2018. Four shutters of the dam were opened by one inch each. The authorities opened the shutters as catchment areas of ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: bandwagon Renowned Canadian singer, The Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) has recently announced his first ever Asia tour, to the excitement of his fans in the Asian continent.  Scheduled to commence in Hong Kong on 30 November 2018, he will visit eight countries across the Southeast Asia region. The musical tour will be passing through Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore, Manila, Philippines; Bali, Indonesia; Taipey, Taiwan; Seoul, Korea and finally Tokyo in Japan Ticket details and venues have yet to be announced. Shot from his song ‘I feel it coming’ The R&B singer is known for a swing of chart-topping hits ... Read more

Pamodzi carnival is one of the major cultural events of Zambia, which showcase traditional dance, food and drink, music and handcrafts. The event is organized by the Department of Arts and Culture, Ministry of Tourism. This year’s carnival is on 18th August 2018 at Lusaka. The event is expected to have participation from international groups with representation in Zambia. The event will also include a section of the traditional festive foods, where highly nutritious Zambian foods and drinks will be offered to visitors.   A handicraft exhibition will also be arranged at shopping malls around Lusaka and in the show ... Read more

Neelong Valley The Uttarakhand government has decided to build basic facilities like toilets, cafes etc in the Nelong Valley. The decision was followed by the discussion of the Tourism Minister with the Army Chief. Nelong Valley has been under the control of the army with restrictions for tourist engagements.  It is located just 45 KM from the Indo-China Border. Only recently the region was opened for tourists. “Once we get official clearance, we will start the construction of toilets, cafeterias etc. in the region to provide more facilities to the tourists,” said Satpal Maharaj, Tourism Minister. Bhuwan Singh Rana, gram ... Read more

Mayapur Iskcon Temple, West Bengal ‘Krishna Land’, same as Disney Land is coming up on Mayapur of Nadia District in West Bengal. It was announced by Alfred Ford, a member of the Ford Family and a devotee of Iskcon (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a religious group of Lord Krishna devotees). The project will be implemented near the Iskcon temple, with the support of the state government. Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee  has talked to Iskcon people about the implementation of the project, during her visit to Mayapur in February 2018. Ford will invest Rs 2000 crores for the project. ... Read more

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

Photo for representative purpose only As part of enhancing security of the foreign tourists, Srilankan Police is planning to deploy 25 new tourist police posts in strategic places, covering all main tourist destinations across the country, said Pujith Jayasundara,  Sri Lanka’s Inspector General of Police(IGP), on Monday, 13th August 2018 . While talking to the Chairman and senior officials of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Jayasundara said, tourism is one of the prioritized sector for security matter. ‘Tourist Police Division’ will have new uniform, to distinguish from the other law and order sections and to build more cordial ... 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

Rahul Ramachandran (Right) at shooting location Meet Rahul Ramachandran, probably the youngest director in the Malayalam film industry. With his debut film ‘Jeem Boom Baa’, he is about to fulfil his lifetime dream to become a film maker. Hailing from the hospitality industry, 25 year old Rahul, with his young team is going to hit the silver-screen by February 2019. Interestingly all those in the technical team are from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. Rahul shares his exciting journey which matches with a thrilling screenplay, with Manoj Attingal of Tourism News Live… Poster of Jeem Boom Baa What made ... Read more

Ethiopia is striving to boost the capacity of its hospitality industry and welcome more foreign tourist, said an official from the tourism ministry. “My ministry has been working with public and private stakeholders to boost the country’s hospitality industry capacity and diversify the nationality of foreign tourists visiting the African country,” said Gezahegn Abate, Public and International Relations Director of the Ethiopia Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCIT). Around 934,000 tourists visited the country during the fiscal year 2018, that ended on July 7, with total earnings of USD 3.5 billion. As per the minister, their efforts to attract more ... 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

Five members of the renowned bikers group ‘Bullet Rovers Club’ of Kochi have set off a journey to Kashmir. The objective behind the 17 days long journey is to create awareness of conservation of  the eco-system. In order to create awareness of sound pollution, the team would not sound horn during their trip. Starting from Kochi, the team will travel through Bangalore, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Jhansi, Delhi, Shimla, Narkanda, Spiti Valley, Chandrathal, Keylang, Sarchu, Ley, Panagong, Rohtang Pass, Manali and Chandigarh. One person each from Bangalore and Delhi will join the team on the way. Conserve the nature will be the ... Read more