State Tourism Ministers Meet at Udaipur, Rajasthan

Ministry of Tourism//Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav//Posted on: 14 October 2025 at 12:50 PM by PIB Delhi

The Meet Regarding New Initiatives at Udaipur, Rajasthan

New Delhi: 14th October 2025: (PIB Delhi//The Tours and Travels Screen Desk)::

The Ministry of Tourism convened a two-day State Tourism Ministers Meet on 14–15 October 2025 in Udaipur, Rajasthan, bringing together Tourism Ministers and senior officials from all States and Union Territories.

 This meeting served as a key milestone in advancing the Prime Minister’s vision of “One State: One Global Destination” — a call to develop at least one globally benchmarked tourist destination in every State and UT. The initiative reflected the Union Budget 2025–26 announcements, which outlined a twin strategy for Destination Development and Destination Management as part of India’s tourism transformation agenda and the Viksit Bharat roadmap.

The meeting focused on continuing the ongoing stakeholders’ consultations, where State/UT Tourism Ministers presented their vision on the draft frameworks for 'Development of 50 Destinations' and 'Providing Performance Linked Incentives' — the two key pillars of India’s tourism transformation agenda, emphasizing Private Sector–led Tourism Hub Development and Destination Management via a PLI-based Destination Maturity Model.

 The meet commenced with opening remarks by Secretary (Tourism), Ms. V. Vidyavathi, followed by an address by Union Minister of Tourism & Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat who set the context for the two-day discussion. The event underscored the importance of collaborative action between the Centre, States/UTs, and industry stakeholders to realise the vision of developing destinations of global standards.

 

 Over the course of two days, Tourism Ministers and officials from across regions will present destination concepts aligned with the budget initiatives. Each State/UT will showcase one potential destination for development as a global destination and shared their vision.

 

The second day will feature a focused consultation on the draft Integrated Tourism Promotion Scheme Guidelines, aimed at positioning India as a holistic tourism destination in both domestic and international markets.

Through this conference, the Ministry aims to foster greater policy convergence in implementing the tourism transformation agenda, ensuring that every region contributes to building a globally competitive and sustainable tourism ecosystem for a Viksit Bharat.

****Sunil Kumar Tiwari//tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com//(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2178797)****

 

Ministry of Tourism organizes “World Food India

Ministry of Tourism//Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav//Posted on 25 September 2025 at 6:08 PM by PIB Delhi

4th Edition of “World Food India – Reviving the Culinary Treasures of India”

New Delhi: 25th September 2025: (PIB Delhi//The Tours and Travels Screen Desk)::

The Ministry of Tourism is organizing a special culinary event titled “World Food India – Reviving the Culinary Treasures of India” from 25th to 28th September 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the 4th edition of World Food India.

The four-day event is aimed at showcasing India’s rich culinary heritage and positioning Indian cuisine on the global stage. The initiative focuses on reviving forgotten food traditions, highlighting ancient cooking techniques, and exploring the export potential of indigenous ingredients. India Food Tourism Organisation (IFTO) is the knowledge partner for the event.

Shri Suman Billa, Director General & Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism inaugurated the event today. In his address, he highlighted the richness and diversity of Indian cuisine and stressed on the need for adopting innovative approaches to promote Indian gastronomy internationally. He also emphasised the importance of modern food techniques to make Indian cuisine more accessible to the world.

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on “Reviving Treasure Foods of Indian Cooking & How That Can Change the World” moderated by Shri K. K. Pant, Principal, IHM Pusa. The panel comprised leading experts including Shri Vikram Mittal, Chef Vicky Ratnani, Dr. Chef Saurabh Sharma, Chef Vineet Manocha and Shri Amit Lohani. The discussion focused on traditional cooking methods such as slow cooking, fermentation and sun-drying, as well as the use of indigenous ingredients like millets, tribal grains and wild greens, underlining their potential in addressing global challenges of malnutrition, food insecurity and climate change.

The forthcoming sessions will include panel discussions, interactive masterclasses and authentic food sampling sessions with the participation of renowned chefs, food historians, culinary experts and industry leaders. Themes will include revival of GI-tagged ingredients, Ayurveda-based food traditions, millet innovations and indigenous food-based sustainability practices as per the following schedule:

• 26 September 2025: Panel discussion on “Rethinking Roots: The Rise of India’s Forgotten Food Culture” moderated by Dr. Chef Rajeev Goyal, featuring Chef Manjeet Gill, Ms. Marryam H. Reshii, Ms. Rushina M. Ghildayal, Ms. Yogita Uchil and others. The session will focus on the revival of GI-tagged ingredients and heirloom grains, with masterclasses by Dr. Chef Saurabh Sharma and Chef Gautam Chaudhary showcasing their export potential for global markets.

• 27 September 2025: Panel discussion on “What the World Can Learn from Indian Gastronomy” moderated by food blogger Shri Gurpreet Singh Tikku, with Padmashree Prof. Pushpesh Pant, Chef Vikas Chawla (Ambassador of Millets), Chef Sadaf Hussain and others. The session will highlight Ayurveda’s healing principles, balanced thali traditions, spice layering and zero-waste cooking, along with live demonstrations of millet-based innovations. It will position millets as climate-resilient “Smart Food of the Future” and showcase sustainable plant-based protein alternatives. The session is followed by masterclasses by Chef Vikas Chawla and Chef Sadaf Hussain, highlighting the nutritional richness and sustainability of Indian cuisine. 

• 28 September 2025: Panel discussion on “India’s Traditional Innovation in Food with Indigenous Ingredients” moderated by Dr. Chef Rajeev Goyal, featuring Dr. Kurush F. Dalal (Archaeologist & Culinary Anthropologist), Ms. Pritha Sen and others. The session will highlight India’s centuries of culinary genius rooted in sustainability, with demonstrations on millet as a calcium and iron-rich superfood, showcasing its global export potential and plant-based protein applications. The session is followed by masterclasses by Chef Sanjay Agarwal and Chef Nishant Choubey, highlighting how Indian ingredients can be reimagined for global palates, creating opportunities for food tourism and promoting sustainable diets.

This initiative seeks to position and promote India as a leading destination for food tourism.

****Sunil Kumar Tiwari//tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com//(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2171304)***

Tourist Safety in High-Risk Destinations

Ministry of Tourism//Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav//Posted On 21st August 2025 at 4:20 PM by PIB Delhi

Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State Government subject

This Image of Brown Concrete Bridge on Brown Mountain taken at Tepotzotlán, Mexico by Tepotzotlán, Mexico. It was Clicked on Feb 14, 2020

New Delhi: 21st August 2025: (PIB Delhi//The Tours and Travels Screen Desk)::

Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State Government subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the matter with all the State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts of Ministry of Tourism, the State Governments /UT Administrations of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh have deployed tourist police, in one form or the other.

Clicked By Abdul Kayum On 25th Nov 2023 atNohkalikai Falls View point, Nohkalikai Road, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India 

As a part of the Ministry’s continuous endeavors to make travel for tourists safe and secure, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to Travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress, while travelling within India.

The Government has set up a dedicated non-lapsable corpus fund-Nirbhaya Fund, being administered by Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women.

Ministry of Tourism has been periodically requesting all State Governments and Union Territories for availing the benefits of the ‘Safe Tourism Destinations for Women’ under Nirbhaya fund which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women tourists.

Ministry of Tourism sanctioned a total of Rs.16.79 crore (approx.) to Madhya Pradesh Tourism under the “Safe Tourism Destination for Women” Scheme.

This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

Sunil Kumar Tiwari//tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com//(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2159108) 

Photo 1: This Image of Brown Concrete Bridge on Brown Mountain taken at Tepotzotlán, Mexico by Tepotzotlán, Mexico. It was Clicked on Feb 14, 2020

Photo 2nd Clicked By Abdul Kayum On 25th Nov 2023 atNohkalikai Falls View point, Nohkalikai Road, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India 

Press tour to Mumbai enters second day

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting//Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsavg20-India-202//Posted On: 02 October 2024 at 8:36 PM by PIB Kohima

Media persons visited many special places 

Kohima: 02 October 2024: (PIB Kohima//Tours and Travels Screen Desk)::

Mediapersons from Nagaland who are on a Press Tour to Mumbai, Maharashtra being sponsored by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kohima were given a warm traditional welcome at the Mumbai airport by officials of PIB Mumbai last evening. All the 13 team members were adorned with the “Kheda”, a traditional headgear of Maharashtra upon arrival at the Chatrapati Shivaji Airport last evening.

On the second day of the press tour, coinciding with the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October), the team was taken to Mani Bhawan Gandhi Sangrahlaya, the residence of Mahatma Gandhi’s friend located at Laburnum Road from where Gandhi took important decisions with regard to the Indian Independence Movement including the Quit India Movement.

It is also said Gandhiji started his Khadi movement from this place and it houses important photographs of Gandhiji and the Indian freedom Movement, khadi products and khadi production tools and equipments.

The team also visited August Kranti Marg, Tejpal Auditorium, Mumbai University, Bombay High Court, Nariman Point, Gateway of India, Horniman Circle, Asiatic Library, St, Thomas Cathedral and the famous residence of Mukesh Ambani – Antilla.

In the afternoon, the team’s dinner was arranged at Punjab Grill Restaurant at Kala Ghoda where Dada Saheb Ambedkar was said to have sat and written the Indian Constitution there.

Later in the evening, the team was taken to the famous Wankhede cricket stadium at Churchgate which is owned and operated by the Mumbai Cricket Association and also had a glimpse of the set-ups inside the stadium.

***//SKS/RK//(Release ID: 2061266)

Many travel services make your tourism easy

 Get the tourism information here for the purpose 

Chandigarh: 11th September 2024: (Karthika Kalyani Singh//The Tours and Travels Screen)::

If you want to go on tourism, it is necessary to have as much information as possible about the desired tourist destination. Now this is not possible in every case, so it is better to take the facility of some travel service which eases the possible difficulties in tourism. Nowadays, while personal guides are also available for this purpose, some organized companies are also ready to help for this work by charging some fee.

In our beloved country India too, many types of travel services are available to meet the various needs and preferences of tourists. Often their branch offices or representatives are also active in almost all major places. Some of the travel services available for tourism in this area are as follows, which are operated from individual level to organized level.

Tour operators are also important among those who provide such service/facility. There are many tour operators in India and abroad who offer various types of tour packages according to different interests, budget and duration. These operators also organize tours from sightseeing to adventure trips, cultural tours and many more. They plan and budget for pilgrimages, from group teams and groups to individuals.

Transport services come first in this regard. India has a well-developed transport network including domestic flights, trains, buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws. Tourists can easily avail these services to travel between desired cities, towns and tourist destinations.

Accommodation comes to mind immediately after reaching the desired destination. Of course, it feels good if the atmosphere is homely, even if it is for a short time, and there is no feeling of alienation. For this purpose, from luxury hotels and resorts to budget guesthouses and homestays are available. Our beloved country India also has a wide range of accommodation options to suit every budget and choice. Online booking platforms and travel agencies can also help tourists find suitable accommodation. Yes, the authenticity of these agencies and budget planning should be checked beforehand with utmost caution.

Guided tours are often a very good option when it comes to tourism. Guided tours with experienced local guides are available at popular tourist attractions, historical sites and cultural sites across India. These tours provide valuable information about the history, culture and significance of the places visited. The tourist also gets a lot of benefits from this.

Even in today's busy times, adventure tourism services are quite popular. Their charm is still intact. It is worth noting that India is considered a paradise for adventure enthusiasts. Activities like trekking, mountaineering, river rafting, paragliding, wildlife safaris and more are available here. Adventure tourism operators and specialized agencies organize these activities with safety measures.

Along with this, cultural experiences are still considered important. Many travel services in India focus on providing authentic cultural experiences, such as attending traditional festivals, visiting rural villages, attending cooking classes and learning traditional arts and crafts.

Pilgrimages continue to be important. India has many religious sites and pilgrimage sites that are sacred to various religions. Pilgrimage packages are designed with the religious traveler in mind and include visits to temples, mosques, churches and other sacred places.

Special interest tourism also continues to attract people. Travelers with specific interests such as yoga and health, photography, bird watching or culinary tourism can find special tour packages and services according to their preferences. Many times there is also economic benefit in this, as people can also sell their own goods and services at such events.

In today's expensive and busy times, customized itineraries are becoming very popular. Many travel agencies and tour operators provide the facility to customize the itinerary according to the preferences of tourists, allowing them to gain new experiences and create new records of personalized travel based on their interest, budget and schedule.

Online travel portals, which are very popular these days, make such travel extremely easy. Now in the digital age, various online travel portals and booking platforms facilitate planning and booking of travel services in India, including flights, accommodation, tours, and transportation, making it convenient for tourists to organize their trips.

Overall, the tourism industry in India is well-developed and offers a wide range of travel services to ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience for tourists visiting the country.

Read in Hindi also with इर्द-गिर्द 

Over 2.5 lacs Malaysian Tourists Visited India in 2022

 Ministry of Tourism//Posted On: 30th August 2024 2:44 PM by PIB Delhi

India and Malaysia Sign MoU for Strengthening Co-operation in tourism 

New Delhi: 30th August 2024: (PIB//The Tours and Travel Desk):: 

Symbolic AI Image

India and Malaysia have very close political, economic and socio-cultural relations. To further strengthen this relationship, India and Malaysia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Republic of India and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Government of Malaysia for strengthening co-operation in the field of tourism.

The MoU was signed on 20th August 2024 between Minister of Tourism and Culture from India Shri Ganjendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia Mr. Y B Dato Sri Tiong King Sing.

The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding, among others, are: promotion and marketing of tourism products and services; expansion in the field of tourism research, training and development, including exchange programmes;encourage investment in tourism infrastructure, facilities, products and services; exchanging information in the field of medical tourism and encouraging stakeholders to promote the product; business tourism, which includes meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions (MICE); promoting cooperation between tourism stakeholders, tour operators and travel agents;promotion and development of community-based tourism and eco-tourism and responsible tourism.

Malaysia is one of the important inbound tourist source markets for India. In the year 2022, over 2.5 lacs Malaysian tourists visited India. It is hoped that the Memorandum of Understanding will give further fillip to tourist arrivals from Malaysia.

***//BY/SKT//Release ID: 2050034 

Must read it if Planning Astro Tourism

Monday 12th August 2024 at 5:00 PM

So many places and people waiting for you with a new surprise 

Mohali: 12th August 2024: (The Tours and Travels Screen Desk)::

Who believes in astrology and who does not is a different matter, but those who believe in astrology go far and wide to satisfy their curiosity to know their future. Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab were once the main centers of astrology. Renowned astrologers used to tell people what was in their minds upon seeing them. 

Now those great knowledgeable people are no more physically, but their families are still carrying on this knowledge. They also publish magazines whose demand is still increasing. Similarly, later Sultanpur Lodhi and some other places in Punjab also became famous for this purpose.

By going to these places, while the purpose of knowing astrology or future was fulfilled, one also got the benefit of visiting the tourist places associated with these places. This demand is still increasing rapidly. Along with this, astrology has also started emerging as a career.

Even today there are many places where experts of astrology knowledge can be easily found. They have a good name in this field. In this way, there are many places in India and abroad which are famous for astrological studies and expertise. Here we are also discussing some major places briefly.

There are many places in India where astrologers are renowned. Many people believe in their astrological knowledge. People come to meet them from far and wide. The religious environment and image of such places also make these places more important.

Varanasi is also famous among these places, which is in Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi (Kashi) is also considered the center of astrology and Vedas. Many reputed astrologers and gurus are also found here who are experts in ancient Vedas and astrology. In this way, a large number of people related to religious activities and astrology keep coming to Varanasi.

Like Varanasi, Ujjain is also very special in this matter, which is in Madhya Pradesh. It is worth noting that Ujjain is considered the stronghold of astrology. This city is also famous for Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and many old astrologer scholars are also found here. There are many institutes in Ujjain for the study of astrology which also play a role in the career field.

Tirupati has a special place in South India. It is in Andhra Pradesh. Tirumala temple of Tirupati is not only a religious place but is also a major center of astrological knowledge. There are many astrologers here who are also priests of the temple and also have special knowledge on astrology. Interestingly, there are many types of astrology here.

Pune is famous for many other reasons too but astrology is also special here. This place is in Maharashtra. There are many reputed institutes of astrology in Pune, from where many famous astrologers have emerged. There is a large number of students and experts studying astrology here. In this way, this place is also not just about astrology.

Well-known religious centers Haridwar and Rishikesh are both in Uttarakhand. Both these places are considered to be the center of spirituality and astrology. There are many astrologers and scholars here who are experts in Vedanta, astrology and meditation. International centres can also be called from here.

There are many centres of astrology discussion in the country as well as abroad.

Nepal has a special name in this matter. Astrology has an old history in Nepal too. In Kathmandu and other major cities, many well-known astrologers are found who are experts in Vedic astrology. There are many centres of faith here and are ancient. The libraries here are also very rich in this matter. Along with the print edition of books in Nepal, digital editions also came long ago.

London, which is the center of the United Kingdom, has reached. In London, many astrologers of the Indian community can be found who are well versed in Indian Vedic astrology. There are also many astrology institutes here. Many people have the desire and thirst to know.

New York i.e. America is the newest form of modernity. Many Indian astrologers are also found in New York, who provide their services to the Indian community living abroad. The style there is also very different from them. Computer systems were known long ago, so the influence of computers on astrology makes it very mysterious.

Astrology is also very popular in Bali, which is in Indonesia. Hinduism and astrology have a deep influence in Bali. There are many astrologers here who work by combining local culture and astrological knowledge.

These places are famous for astrology and knowledge, and the services of experts can be easily availed here. The scope of astrology is continuously expanding from these places.

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हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए क्लिक करें इर्द गिर्द पर