Category Archives: Ministry

The effort is to make North East India as lucrative choice for travellers.

DonER signs 4 MoUs to boost tourism in North East India

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that development of the India’s North East region is of prime importance for the overall inclusive growth of India, and tourism development has always been one of the key focus areas of the Union government.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, was present at the signing of the four memorandum of understanding (MoUs) under the aegis of his Ministry on Monday.
He said these MoUs with Airbnb are a step towards achieving our aim of doubling tourist growth rate in the next three years, by creating more sustainable accommodation options and enhancing the hospitality service standards in the region.

The MoUs were signed on behalf of the North Eastern Council (NEC), the North East Tourism Development Council (NETDC) and two key livelihood initiatives, North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) and North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP).

The MoUs aim at creating hospitality micro-entrepreneurs across key destinations in the North East of India.
Kum Hong Siew, Regional Director, Airbnb Asia Pacific signed the MoUs on behalf of Airbnb, one of the world’s leading community-driven hospitality companies.

According to a government release, under the MoUs, the NEC, NETDC and Airbnb have agrees to:
• Expand tourism in the North East of India through Airbnb’s global platform
• Improve the quality of homestay facilities and unique properties in the North East of India
• Provide and promote outstanding tourism resources in the North East of India, and
• Cooperate to improve the regulatory environment for home sharing in the North East of India

MoUs were also signed for strategic partnerships between NERLP and NERCORMP and Airbnb to generate technology-enabled livelihood opportunities in tourism and hospitality for micro-entrepreneurs in the North East of India, and to help low-income families monetize their existing assets through home sharing.

Under these agreements, Airbnb will provide training to core teams of the NERLP and NERCORMP, which will further train existing and potential hosts on home sharing, responsible hosting, hospitality standards, hygiene and basic amenities, the release said.

Another MoU was signed between NERCORMP and HESCO (Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization) for leveraging of community resources and appropriate local resources based technology for development.

Srinagar-Katra rail link to boost tourism: Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has emphasised the transformative potential of the Srinagar-Jammu rail connectivity for the region.

Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said, “The trial train from Srinagar to Katra marks a significant milestone. We anticipate that this service will commence operations soon, bringing substantial benefits to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Highlighting the advantages of the rail link, he stated, “This connectivity will boost trade and tourism in the region. During winters, air travel becomes prohibitively expensive, with ticket prices reaching up to Rs 25,000. Rail connectivity will ease the financial burden on travellers, enhance the transport of goods, and significantly benefit industries in the region.”

Addressing concerns from some quarters, the Chief Minister assured the people of Jammu that the new rail link would not lead to economic losses but instead drive growth. “I assure the people of Jammu that this development will bring economic benefits, creating opportunities for trade, tourism, and local businesses,” he added.

The Srinagar-Katra rail link is poised to revolutionize travel within the region, providing an affordable and reliable alternative to air travel and strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s economic infrastructure. (Source: ANN News)

 

India’s strength & cultural excellence at display during Maha Kumbh: Shekhawat

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said that the world will have a glimpse of India’s strength and cultural excellence at the upcoming Maha Kumbh that will be held in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district from January 13 to February 26.

Speaking to the press, Shekhawat said, “The history of Maha Kumbh is thousands of years old. Maha Kumbh has been mentioned in Vedic period as well as in Mahabharata, during Gupta Empire, Chalukya dynasty and in the pages of medieval history.”

According to the Union Minister, when Kumbh was held in 2013, around 20 crore devotees came for holy dip and darshan. In the Ardh Kumbh of 2019, the number of devotees increased to 25 crore and this time, it is estimated that 45 crore people will participate in the Maha Kumbh, Shekhawat said adding that the Uttar Pradesh government and Centre are working together on a large scale to make this a grand event.

The number of Kalpavasis coming to the Maha Kumbh is set to double from 10 lakh to 20 lakh, he said. The Kalpavasis will stay at the mela ground for the entire period and perform meditation.

The Union Minister asserted that the Ministry of Culture has prepared various platforms to display Indian culture at the Maha Kumbh. The Uttar Pradesh government has provided 14 acres of land to the Ministry, where handicrafts, culture and dishes from all the provinces will be displayed. Famous artists across the country will perform at the Maha Kumbh and handicraftsmen will display their skills. “This time the Maha Kumbh will be an opportunity for the world to see the strength and cultural power of India together,” he said.

DoNER approves 86 projects for Northeast in 2024

The Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has approved 86 projects worth INR 1,970.54 crore for the eight northeastern states in 2024, officials said on Thursday.

A senior DoNER Ministry official said that of the sanctioned fund, INR 1,590.81 crore has been released under various schemes till December 15.

These 86 projects were approved under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme-Other Than Roads Infrastructure (NESIDS-OTRI), the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme-Roads (NESIDS-Roads), the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), the schemes of NEC, and special development packages.

To perfectly monitor the schemes and projects on the ground, from January 2015 to November this year, several Union Ministers visited the northeastern region more than 723 times, the official said.

He said that these visits are coordinated and monitored through the “Poorvottar Sampark Setu” portal, which provides valuable insights and graphical information about state-wise and district-wise visits of the Union Ministers to the region.

Action taken on the recommendation of Union Ministers during these visits is reviewed by the Minister of State of the DoNER Ministry from time to time.

According to the official, the DoNER Ministry has formed two task forces for the development of the agarwood and tourism sectors.
He said that agar is one of the world’s most valuable trees, native to the northeastern region and used for medicine and fragrance purposes.

The agarwood sector in the northeastern region holds significant promise for economic growth and international trade.

Recognising its potential, an Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF) was constituted by the DoNER Ministry to streamline and enhance the agarwood industry in the region towards sustainable development and global competitiveness.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha earlier said that the state government is serious enough to take the agarwood sector forward, which was neglected in the past.

He had said that the present government is continuously working to expand and develop the agarwood industry by adopting several plans.

Various steps, including agarwood policy, have been adopted to facilitate agarwood growers and traders.
He had said that there are more than 12 million agar trees in the private sector of the state.
The Centre has already approved the export of 25 metric tonnes of agarwood chips and 1,500 kg of agar oil from the country, Saha had said.

The official said that an inter-ministerial tourism task force has been set up to develop one world-class tourism site per NE state to attract global visitors, establish GI status for 200 unique products in the region, and foster cultural identity and brand recognition.

Tourism sites for development in each state have been identified and shared with the respective states. The state shall be taking a final decision on the way forward.

The DoNER Ministry also organised the first-ever ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav’ at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, showcasing northeast India’s vibrant textile sector, tourism opportunities, traditional craftsmanship, and distinctive Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products.

The 3-day (December 6-8) ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav’ was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 6. (Source: IANS)

 

 

Adventure Tourism needs to be streamlined in India.

ATOAI, MoT complete Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course in Chennai

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Tourism, India Tourism (South) Chennai Office, and the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), has completed the Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course (RATG) held in Chennai.

The Ministry of Tourism sponsored this training programme, and in association with ATOAI organising it in all 5 regions of the country, showing MOT’s commitment towards safe and quality operations in Adventure Tourism.

This significant initiative aimed at promoting safer, sustainable, responsible and gender-responsive adventure tourism practises in India was made possible through the exceptional support of D. Venkatesan, Regional Director, Southern Region, Ministry of Tourism, and his dedicated team. ATOAI hosted the training at the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai.

The intensive four-day training programme was led by the Hanifl Center, a recognised authority on wilderness first aid and sustainable adventure education, and trained 31 adventure guides from the southern region of India.

With the knowledge support from the IITTM, this Course covered a wide range of essential topics, including Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles, Sustainable Practices in Adventure Tourism, Professional Adventure Guiding Techniques, ATOAI Safety Guidelines, Risk Management & Leadership Skills, Liability & Negligence, Expedition Behaviour, and the Honorary Warden Pledge. ATOAI has led the tourism industry to make all its events Gender Responsive.

The participants earned internationally recognised certifications namely Wilderness First Aid Certificate (WFA), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI) Certificate and Leave No Trace (LNT) Awareness Certificate through the transformative learning experience and empowering them with the essential skills to respond effectively in emergency situations in remote environments.

The Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course concluded with the participants taking the Honorary Warden Pledge, reinforcing their commitments to:

  • Uphold safe and sustainable practices in Adventure Tourism
  • Follow Leave No Trace principles
  • Respect Nature and Host Communities
  • Implement the Travel for Life Guidelines
  • Promote Gender Responsive Operations

This course and the successful graduation of 31 new responsible tourism ambassadors marks a key milestone in ATOAI’s mission to promote sustainable and responsible adventure tourism. This assuredly is a significant step towards shaping the future of responsible adventure tourism in India, ensuring that exploration goes hand in hand with preservation.

Suman Billa is on old hand at tourism promotion.

Additional Tourism Secretary emphaises on supply shortages to meet growing demand

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, emphasised on the critical need to address supply shortages in order to keep up with the increasing demand in the tourism sector.

At the 18th CII Annual Tourism Summit 2024 in New Delhi, Billa acknowledged that economic growth, rising incomes, and broader aspirations have driven this demand, but cited an imbalance with the current supply of hotels and tourist infrastructure.

In his address during the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ session, Billa proposed a three-pronged strategy aimed at enhancing supply and leveraging the sector’s opportunities. He advocated for the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India to bestow infrastructure status upon the tourism sector, enabling access to affordable credit and extended repayment periods while calling for the harmonisation of development norms across states.

Billa also stressed the importance of simplifying business operations by making clearances less cumbersome and ensuring they are processed within set timeframe. He noted the need to boost international tourism, particularly among business, leisure, and shopping travellers, as a focal point. To support these efforts, he revealed a plan for infrastructure projects in states, contingent on investment-based incentives, and highlighted the emerging role of Indian embassies in promoting India as a key travel destination.