Tag Archives: Tourist Destination

South Africa to unveil 90-day visa waiver for Indian groups starting Jan 2025

South Africa is set to launch a new visa initiative in January 2025, offering a 90-day visa waiver for Indian tourists as part of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS). The programme aims to simplify the visa process for tourists from India and China by allowing pre-approved and registered tour operators to handle group visa applications.

This initiative is designed to attract more tourists from these critical markets, with Indian tourists currently making up just 3.9% of South Africa’s international arrivals. The TTOS will expedite visa processing through a dedicated team, addressing the preference of many tourists from India and China to travel in large groups.

The visa waiver is expected to boost South Africa’s tourism sector and contribute to economic growth. Studies indicate that a 10% increase in tourism could raise the country’s annual economic growth by 0.6% and create thousands of new jobs. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated that TTOS is a temporary solution while the department moves toward a fully automated, digital visa system for global tourists.

This initiative mirrors the success of South Africa’s Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), which streamlined visa applications for businesses seeking to attract critical skills to the country. The TTOS is seen as a key step in enhancing South Africa’s appeal as a major tourist destination.

 

 

 

 

Lakshadweep receives INR 3,600 cr for infrastructure upgrade

 

The Indian government has unveiled an INR 3,600 crore blueprint for upgrading the infrastructure of the Lakshadweep islands, aiming to elevate them into a premier tourist destination, according to a government official cited by the Economic Times. The ambitious plan encompasses the enhancement of port facilities, peripheral roads, beachfront amenities, and other critical infrastructure projects.

Key features of the initiative include the development of port facilities on Androth, Kalpeni, and Kadamat islands. It also involves the construction of beachfronts and peripheral roads in strategic locations such as Kadamat Island (East), Agatti Island (East), and Kavaratti Island. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to improve connectivity and tourism infrastructure across the 36 islands of Lakshadweep, spanning a total area of 32 square kilometers, situated 220-440 km off the Kerala coast in the Arabian Sea.

Funding for these projects will be derived from the Sagarmala scheme, focusing on port-led development initiatives. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during the presentation of the Interim Union Budget 2024, underscored the significance of investing in port connectivity and tourism infrastructure, particularly on islands like Lakshadweep, to meet the burgeoning demand for domestic tourism in the country.

In her budget speech, the finance minister addressed the aspirations of the Indian middle class for travel and exploration. She emphasised the need to promote local entrepreneurship in tourism, including spiritual tourism, and announced plans to develop iconic tourist centers with global branding and marketing.

To support the development of tourism infrastructure, the government intends to provide long-term interest-free loans to states on a matching basis. This initiative aims to generate employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth while meeting the increasing demand for domestic tourism.

The reference to Lakshadweep in the budget speech carries significance, particularly in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the island on January 4. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi underscored the tourism potential of Lakshadweep, emphasising its allure for adventure enthusiasts and sharing his own experiences with activities like snorkelling.

However, the island’s prominence also sparked controversy when derogatory comments were directed at Prime Minister Modi by a minister and other leaders in the Maldives. This occurred after he shared a video of his visit to a beach in Lakshadweep.

Consequently, several Indians and tour operators opted to cancel their plans to visit the Maldives, leading to a shift in tourism preferences.

In November 2023, the government initiated the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ to implement tribal welfare measures on the island. This initiative, designed to achieve the saturation of welfare schemes, involved the deployment of an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) van to enhance outreach efforts. The program reached its conclusion on January 25, 2024, marking a significant stride towards development in Lakshadweep.

Jammu Heritage Society Proposes Ambitious Tourism Development Plans to Chief Secretary

A delegation from the Jammu Heritage Society (JHS), led by its President Bhuvneshwar Gandotra, recently engaged with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, presenting a host of suggestions to elevate Jammu as an independent tourist destination.

Against the backdrop of major infrastructure projects like the construction of the Ring Road from Samba to Nagrota, the Express Highway from Delhi to Katra bypassing Jammu, and the anticipated extension of railways to Srinagar, Gandotra emphasized the need to capitalise on these developments to position Jammu as a standalone tourism hub.
The proposed initiatives include the promotion of Heritage Tourism at Ambaran (Akhnoor), the enhancement of the Kameshwar Temple in Akhnoor, the development of eco-tourism at Gharana Wetland, and the expansion of Suchetgarh Border Tourism. The delegation also advocated for Railway Tourism from Kala Kendra to Suchetgarh and underlined the importance of developing religious sites such as Utterbeni and Purmandal, commonly referred to as Chotta Kashi.

Gandotra further suggested opening Bahu Fort for public water sports at Ranjit Sagar Dam and exploring the tourism potential of Shahadra Sharif in Rajouri and Buddha Amarnath in Poonch. Additionally, he pointed out the need for attention to water parks in Bajalta, Sidhra, and Jhajjar Kotli, while urging expedited completion of the tourism circuit comprising Mantalai, Krimchi, Pancheri, Mansar, and Surinsar lakes.

Addressing concerns about security infrastructure affecting tourist perceptions, Gandotra urged the removal of security towers and police vans at the Raghunath Temple. He also proposed the creation of a trademark and souvenir for Mubarak Mandi, along with the establishment of a single starting point and an advanced calendar for tourism activities in the upcoming season.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo assured the delegation of a patient hearing and pledged to issue necessary directives to relevant departments, especially Tourism, Culture, and Archives. The deputation included Ajesh Rohmetra (General Secretary, JHS), Sanjay Gupta (President, RBBA), Amit Goel (General Secretary, RBBA), and Sanjay Sethi (Executive Member). The meeting signifies a collaborative effort to unlock Jammu’s tourism potential and contribute to the region’s economic growth.

Sri Lanka welcomes 7.5 lakh tourists earning USD 800mn forex this year

Sri Lanka received over 750,000 tourists and earned foreign exchange revenue amounting to USD 800 million during the first seven months of this year, according to a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD).Quoting State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage, the PMD said this accomplishment played a crucial role in bolstering Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves, reports Xinhua news agency.

The PMD said the State Minister emphasised the importance of introducing new approaches and adopting innovative strategies to enhance the tourism industry.

“Last year, the tourism business had fallen into a very sad situation. Tourists did not make Sri Lanka a tourist destination due to the economic crisis and struggle in the country,” Gamage said.

The Sri Lankan tourism industry has made a comeback in 2023, aiming to attract 2 million visitors this year, compared to the previous target of USD 1.5 million.

 

Punjab to develop Ranjit Sagar Lake in Pathankot as world class tourist destination

The Punjab government will develop Ranjit Sagar Lake in Pathankot to make it a world-class global tourist destination as it seeks to boost tourism and allied sectors in the state.The Punjab government organised an investors’ summit recently in New Delhi to extend invitation to private players to invest in the tourism and other sectors in the state.

While special focus was laid on the development of Ranjit Sagar Lake, various other sites having the potential to be developed as tourist spots were showcased during the summit.

The Darbar Hall and Gol Kothi in Kapurthala, Sangrur Kothi in Sangrur, Amritsar and Mohali convention centres and Shahpur Kandi Fort were among the sites proposed for development.

Ranjit Sagar Lake, surrounded by lush greenery and hills and spanning across 74.76 acres, has great tourism potential as it is located on the way to Dalhousie and is close to Dharamshala, Palampur, Chamba and Vaishno Devi and Katra, all famous tourist destinations.

Presiding over the event, Punjab Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari said Ranjit Sagar Lake in Pathankot will be developed as a state-of-the-art tourist destination on public-private partnership (PPP) mode and the state government has already obtained environment clearance and stage-1 forest clearance for the project.

He said that with Punjab having a rich and diverse natural landscape, it is envisaged to unlock this potential for the citizens and assist them in appreciating and conserving natural resources.

“Punjab Chief Minister recently reviewed the projects and directed to identify and initiate various tourism projects across the state. In furtherance of this initiative, the government has organised this investors’ summit,” he said. (Source HT)

Abu Dhabi Wins Four World Travel Awards For its Diversity as Tourist Destination

Abu Dhabi has been awarded four prestigious accolades at the 28th annual World Travel Awards in recognition of the emirate’s efforts to establish itself as a leading global tourist destination. Considered to be the highest awards in the field of tourism, the accolades reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the international travel and tourism industry, with travel industry professionals, media, and consumers casting votes for what they consider the best in the travel industry globally.

 

Through the efforts of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) along with strategic partnerships with a number of entities, the UAE capital continues to strengthen its position on the global tourism map. With the appetite for travel to Abu Dhabi stronger than ever, the diversity of the tourism proposition in the emirate contributed to it securing awards for ‘Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021’, ‘Middle East’s Leading Marketing Campaign 2021’, ‘Middle East’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination 2021’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Wedding Destination 2021’.

 

The ‘Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021’ recognises Abu Dhabi for playing host to a vast range of world-class, global business events, providing guests with the opportunity to network with notable personalities from all over the world. The second award, ‘Middle East’s Leading Marketing Campaign 2021’ is a result of the engaging and impressive ‘It’s Always Summer in Abu Dhabi’ campaign that offered a series of thrilling activities and unmissable events to keep residents and visitors entertained. The third award, ‘Middle East’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination 2021’ is a prestigious accolade secured due to it being a premium destination and celebrates Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the world’s top sporting events, including the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship and UFC Fight Island events amongst others. The fourth award, ‘Middle East’s Leading Wedding Destination 2021’ recognises Abu Dhabi’s beautiful locations and unparalleled hospitality, making it the top choice for individuals ‘tying the knot’.

 

HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Abu Dhabi is home to the most important international events and with its vast array of offerings, has focussed on enriching the visitor’s experience even during the height of the pandemic. Under the strong leadership and guidance of DCT Abu Dhabi, the emirate continues to enhance its tourism offerings and consolidate its position on the global tourism map.”