Tag Archives: CM

Goa’s tourism sector performing better than national average: Minister

Goa’s tourism sector is performing better than the national average, Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Monday, and underlined the State government’s efforts in sensitising visitors about local culture and traditions.

The Tourism Minister addressed a conclave of tourism stakeholders in Goa.

“Goa is performing better than the national average. Goa has great resilience and adaptability in the competitive tourism and the landscape,” he told reporters while dismissing reports on the decline in tourist footfalls in Goa.

Khaunte said tourist destinations throw up unique challenges, pointing to issues raised by certain social media influencers.
“We have summed up all the issues for raising them in the Goa Tourism Board meeting chaired by the CM. After the meeting, the chief secretary will prepare an action plan,” he added.

He said the government is aware of the friction between local people and tourists due to overcrowding at Baga and Calangute beaches.
“There are issues related to waste management, public transport, and cleanliness of beaches,” he said.

The Tourism Minister referred to reports about disregarding local culture and rules in certain areas visited by budget travellers.
“There are some complaints regarding taxis but we would like to highlight that traditionally the taxi fellows have been our ambassadors in attracting long-term tourists who visit every year,” he said.

Khaunte said the government is making efforts to educate visitors about respecting local culture, tradition and boundaries.
“As a State, we have our own restrictions for open-air policy. We can’t be compared with Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam in the number of tourist footfalls, and tourism from a different perspective. We don’t want to be Thailand,” he added. (Source: PTI)

Tamil Nadu to establish international airport in Hosur

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday announced in the assembly a new international airport in Hosur.
According to ANI, Stalin said that the new airport would cover an area of 2,000 acres managing 30 million passengers annually.

Stalin credited Hosur for attracting major investment in electric vehicles, saying, it is imperative to convert into an important economic zone.

The Chief Minister also listed his government’s achievements.

“Under the Dravidian model government, Tamil Nadu is getting developed in all sectors, especially very importantly in big industries. Many world industries are looking forward to investing in Tamil Nadu,” said the CM.

 

Gujarat CM to unveil light and sound show at White Rann of Kutch

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is set to unveil a permanent light and sound show at the White Rann watchtower today evening. Against the enchanting backdrop of the white desert, the show will depict the rich history and culture of Kutch through village-themed decorations. The unveiling event is scheduled for 5 pm.

In addition to this, a series of cultural programs centered around the theme ‘Kachdo Khel Khalkam’ are planned. A theme pavilion will host daily cultural activities, craft stalls, a food and beverage bazaar, a creative food zone, and various adventure activities.

The internationally renowned Ranotsav in Dhordo, Kutch, initiated by the former Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has not only gained global acclaim, but has also revitalised Kutch’s economy. In the fiscal year 2022-23, 3.5 lakh tourists explored the White Desert, and this year, approximately two and a half lakh tourists have already visited.

Tourists can currently explore historical places such as Dholavira, Smritivan, Regional Science Center, and Bhuj in Kutch. The development of tourism in the White Rann has opened up new employment opportunities for locals across various sectors. Kutchi embroidery and handicrafts, celebrated both domestically and internationally, thrive in the global market through Ranotsav, offering local artists a platform to showcase their exceptional artifacts.

 

Tourists choosing other states over Himachal due to special road tax: Former CM

Hitting out at the state government for imposing a special road tax on the entry of buses and taxis registered in other states, former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said tourists prefer other states over Himachal Pradesh in the winter.

In a statement issued, Thakur said that instead of making efforts to revive the tourism sector, the state government is imposing taxes, which is further damaging the tourism industry. Thakur added that if data from various organisations are to be believed, people have cancelled 90 per cent of the advance bookings for the winter. The state transport department has imposed a tax of INR 3,000 to INR 5,000 per day on commercial vehicles registered in other states and plying in Himachal Pradesh from September 1 onwards.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said the state government would reduce the special road tax (SRT) and other taxes levied on tourist buses, tempo travellers and commercial tourist vehicles registered outside the state during an interaction with a delegation of Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders Association here. Thakur, also the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, said that the government has imposed additional tax on tourist buses and tempo travellers and due to which, every bus operator has to spend an additional INR 20,000-Rs 25,000 on a tour of four to five days.

This, he said, is not viable for them, and they are taking out Himachal Pradesh from their itinerary. If the situation continues, income generated by the tourism sector will be greatly affected and thousands of people associated with it will lose their livelihood, Thakur said. He added that stakeholders in the sector have met the chief minister and expressed their concerns, but so far no meaningful step has been taken by the government. “The CM should think about the loss caused to the tourism industry,” Thakur said, adding that the state government should try to provide support to the sector.

Want to turn Himachal Pradesh into tourist capital of India: CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that his plans to turn his state into the tourist capital of India. Tourism brings in a lot of GST to us, the Chief Minister said. Sukhu was speaking at the AajTak G20 Summit in New Delhi.

He spoke about plans to expand the tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh, including getting an international airport in the state. The Chief Minister also spoke about plans to decentralise tourism.

Addressing a session, Sukhu first spoke about calamity being faced by the hilly state. He said that in the past one month, Himachal Pradesh has faced two devastating incidents. In the first instance, in July, cloudbursts had led to landslides, with tourists and several vehicles left stranded due to it. And the second part was from August 13 to August 16 when continuous downpour led to landslides, the chief minister said. (Source: India Today)

Punjab in talks with airlines for direct flights to US, UK & Canada

Punjab Chief Mnister Bhagwant Mann said they are in talks with major airline companies, for them to start direct international flights connecting Amritsar and Mohali to major destinations like Vancouver, reports Hindustan Times.

’We are in talks with Tatas (Air India), Vistara, British Airways and Air Canada that we need direct flights from Amritsar and Mohali to London, Vancour, Toronto, Silicon Valley, Chicago . We have an upgraded immigration and customs system. We would have three terminals (going up from one at present),” Mann said.

He said the international airports in Punjab, would have all the facilities like five-seven star hotels, besides presence of staff of different embassies.

‘’Lakhs of pilgrims visit Amritsar Saheb for ‘darshan’ and to pay obeisance to Darbar Saheb. The city attracts a large number of religious and other tourists,” he said, adding there is a tremendous scope for tourism in the state.

The CM said the state is working majorly on developing tourism, leveraging the natural resources of Ranjit Sagar Dam and other adjoining areas. Clean blue water of Ranjit Sagar Dam would be leveraged to develop tourism on the lines of Udaipur lake in Rajasthan. ‘’We are in talks with the tourism industry,” Mann said. (Source: HT)