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Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Record development in Northeast due to PM Modi's ‘Act East Policy': Tripura CM Manik Saha
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday that unprecedented development has already taken place and continues under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Act East Policy'. After laying the foundation and participating in the Bhumi Pujan of 51-Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar in southern Tripura, the Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister has given thrust on the development of tourism as the travel and tourism sector in India currently contributes 7 per cent to the country's GDP. The Chief Minister, accompanied by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy and Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and other leaders, on Sunday, laid the foundation stone for an ambitious Rs 97.70 crore project to set up a 51-Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar in southern Tripura to boost spiritual heritage. The CM said that with the financial assistance from the Union Tourism Ministry and Rs 179 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a large number of tourism sites in Tripura are being developed. He said that with the infrastructure development of the tourism sector, a large number of people would get direct and indirect employment opportunities. Saha, who also holds the home portfolio, said that the state government would soon appoint 6,000 Special Executives to deploy them in various sectors, while tourist police would also be deployed in the tourism sites, facilitating the trouble-free visit of the tourists. Noting that in line with the Prime Minister's vision to develop the infrastructure in all sectors, the Chief Minister said that since January this year, he has either inaugurated or laid foundation stones of many projects worth over Rs 771 crore. He said: 'The Prime Minister has given us a HIRA (Highway, Internet, Railways and Airways) model of development. For this, there has been tremendous progress in the state in the fields of national highways, internet, railways, and airways. Along with this, we have to take development forward by utilising our own resources.' Tripura is in the second position in GSDP and per capita income in the northeastern region, the Chief Minister stated. Spread over 15 acres, the 51-Shakti Peethas Park would feature a digital museum, amphitheatre, sky bridge, ample vehicle parking, and one of the tallest statues of Nataraj. Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that replicas of 51 Shakti Peethas would be set up in the proposed park. These 51 Shakti Peethas now exist across Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, besides different parts of India.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Union Ministers, MPs lead tourism push in Kashmir
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Members of Parliament from across parties and two Union Ministers have visited the Kashmir Valley in the last fortnight, aiming to boost tourism in the region in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack The Union Tourism Ministry is set to organise a two-day conference of tourism officials from all state governments starting July 7. The meeting will also be attended by Union Minister Gajendra month, Shekhawat-who holds the charge of the Tourism and Culture Ministries-visited Srinagar, met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and also visited the tourist spot in Pahalgam where terrorists killed 26 people in an attack on April spent time with locals and said he interacted with residents and tourists who are helping bring the region back to its lively spirit and everyday rhythm. He was accompanied by his wife during his visit to to ET, Shekhawat said his ministry is organising the two-day conference in Srinagar to help revive tourism in the Valley and that all efforts will be made in that Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also visited Srinagar. During his visit, Chouhan was seen mingling freely with locals in the Lal Chowk area. Along with his wife, he also joined Shia Muslim mourners in Srinagar and distributed water and sharbat as part of the Muharram addition, two parliamentary panels have also visited the Valley.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Dravidian model of governance is winning accolades, says CM Stalin
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin's Dravidian model of governance continues to win accolades nationally and internationally, with Tamil Nadu emerging as a role model for other states, a statement from the government has said. Flagship schemes like the Chief Minister's breakfast scheme and 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' have earned praise on international platforms, including the United Nations. Tamil Nadu was recently honoured as the 'Best state for promoting sports' at the FICCI TURF 2024 conclave in New Delhi. The state has also received awards for outstanding service to persons with disabilities (2021), third rank in national water management (2022), and first place in identifying and treating high-risk pregnancies, the statement said. Tamil Nadu has also bagged multiple President's awards for excellence in health and sanitation and lauded for effective implementation of Jal Shakti scheme. TN's tourism department won the prestigious PATWA International Award in Berlin (2023), and its coastal development works earned praise from the Union Tourism Ministry.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- The Hindu
Pahalgam attack: Centre asks tour operators, hotels to forego cancellation fees for J&K bookings
As reports poured in of widespread cancellations of scheduled trips to Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack, the Union Tourism Ministry on Wednesday asked travel and tour operators, online travel aggregators, hoteliers, and other stakeholders to provide all possible assistance to tourists, including waiving off cancellation fees. Sources in the Indian Association for Tour Operators (IATO) said that till Wednesday afternoon 35% bookings of scheduled trips to J&K had been cancelled. The directive by Union Tourism Secretary V. Vidyavathi said, 'This is in the aftermath of the recent incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. It is requested that all the tourist service providers, travel agents, tour operators, Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs), tourist transport providers, hoteliers and all other accommodation units may provide all possible assistance to the tourists including waiving off cancellation fees. Your support is greatly appreciated.' Also Read | Government to hold all-party meet on Pahalgam attack on April 24 Among those who were sent the communique were MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, Clear Trip, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, Airbnb, Agoda, Thrillopilia, and all Expedia Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Associations. At a function earlier in the day, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that his Ministry will do the best to 'minimise' the dent on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the attack. 'I am in touch with everybody, my office too, my secretary is also in touch with the tourism secretary in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. And, we will do our best to minimise the dent on tourism in Kashmir, because of this incident, and tourism across the country,' he said. Also Read | Terrorists kept firing for 25-30 minutes, recalls Pahalgam eyewitness A total of 26 tourists had been killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Stakeholders in the tourism industry said that the attack would have a deep impact on domestic tourism and affect the livelihood of many in Jammu and Kashmir. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO said, 'Such drastic attacks on innocent tourists will have very negative impact on both domestic tourism to a very large extent and international tourism in Jammu & Kashmir, although international tourist arrivals are less due to advisories issued by various countries. As of now it is too early to confirm cancellations. In short run there would be cancellations but with support of all the stake holders we are sure tourism would bounce back.' Also Read | Reciting 'La ilaha illallah' saved Assam University professor from terrorists in Pahalgam 'IATO members have been promoting and selling Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Packages and will continue to do so and such terrorism activities can not affect our morality to support tourism industry of Jammu & Kashmir,' he added. The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) said the attack has dealt a 'cruel blow to the thousands of families who depend on tourism to survive'. A MakeMyTrip spokesperson said, 'Our on ground team is doing everything in their capacity to offer support to travellers. We remain committed to providing continued assistance to both our customers and partners during this difficult time.' A statement from the tour operator Cox and Kings said that it has announced a '100% refund and complete flexibility on all Kashmir travel bookings — with no questions asked'.
