‘Campaign Clean India’ launched by Tourism Ministry

Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Campaign Clean India’ to sensitise all sections of society on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in public places particularly monuments and tourist destinations. This Campaign is to be sustained through adoption and involvement of private and public sector stakeholders as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

It is a voluntary scheme and no funds have been allocated by the Government for this campaign. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has adopted Qutab Minar in Delhi and an MOU has been signed between Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the Ministry of Tourism for undertaking various works at Taj Mahal, Agra under this campaign.

Further, Ministry of Tourism has operationalised two new Plan Schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD from 2014–15. Under these schemes the Ministry provides financial support for Infrastructure development including wayside amenities, garbage bins, sewerage/effluent disposal, etc.

Mittu Chandilya appointed MD of AirAsia India

AirAsia has announced the appointment of Mittu Chandilya as Managing Director of AirAsia India in addition to his role as CEO. The AirAsia India Board appointed Chandilya as the Managing Director and as first full-time independent Executive Director of the company. 

Chandilya made history when he became a CEO at 32, the youngest CEO of a scheduled airline in India and one where he was the first employee in a clean-sheet start up. On the appointment, Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia, said that Chandilya has done an exemplary job leading AirAsia India in a market where we have been challenged with headwinds at every turn. There is tremendous opportunity for growth and we are in an excellent position to capitalise on the opportunity with our strong brand and value proposition, he added.

Ashwani Lohani is new CMD Air India

Ashwani Lohani, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, will take over as the new chief of Air India. He will be succeeding Rohit Nandan. The new chief is likely to take over from next month. Meanwhile, Nandan will be posted as Secretary during that time with a month-long extension. 

A qualified mechanical engineer, Lohani is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is the founder member of the Indian Steam Railway Society and member of CII National Council on Tourism.

7 flights per week between India and Seychelles

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for the signing of revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Seychelles to modernise and update the existing ASA signed on October 30, 1978. The ASA signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Seychelles and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries. As a result of this agreement, the number of flights between India and Seychelles has been increased from three per week to seven per week.

900% Growth in e-Tourist Visa During Jan-July | Awesome News for Travel Industry

During January-July, 2015, a total of 1,47,690 tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 14,415 during January-July, 2014, registering a growth of 924.6 per cent. 

A total of 21,476 tourist arrived on eTV during July 2015 alone as compared to 2,462 during July 2014 registering a growth of 772.3 per cent. This high growth may be attributed to introduction of eTV for 113 countries as against coverage of earlier TVoA scheme for 12 countries. 

The percentage shares of top 10 source countries availing eTV facility during July 2015 were as follows: USA (33.67%), Australia (7.74%), France (7.13%), Germany (6.80%), UAE (6.71%), Canada (6.30%), Republic of Korea (5.57%), Mexico (2.80%), Japan (2.38%) and Russian Federation (2.29%). Government of India launched eTV on November 27, 2014.

Wow!!! ITDC earns Rs 27 million profit in First Quarter 2015

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the public sector undertaking under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, posted a stable performance for first quarter of the current financial year 2015-16. The total turnover in quarter ending June 2015 stood at Rs.105.96 Cr as compared to Rs 103.63 Cr in the corresponding quarter last year. The company registered Net Profit Before Tax (PBT) at Rs.2.77 Cr and Net Sales at Rs 96.95 Cr as compared to Rs 0.30 Cr and Rs 96.19 Cr respectively in the corresponding quarter last year. In Q 1, 2015-16 the momentum generated in the last financial year seem to have continued posting profit yet again. Also, The Ashok group of hotels has been in the forefront of innovative marketing initiatives ensuring consistency in sales and occupancy. The company has registered an occupancy rate of 47 percent compared to 45 percent in the corresponding quarter last year.

Good News :) e-Tourist Visa Scheme to China, Hong Kong and Macau from Today, the 30th July 2015

Extension of e-Tourist Visa scheme to the nationals of China, Hong Kong and Macau from today, the 30^th July 2015

As you are aware, we have been pleading with the Government to include China for the e-Tourist Visa Scheme along with other major tourists generating countries.  

You will be pleased to know that China along with Hong Kong and Macau have been included in the list and this facility has been extended to these three countries w.e.f. today the 30^th July 2015.  Now the total number of countries/territories covered under the e-Tourist Visa scheme has gone up from 74 to 77, with the inclusion of these 3 countries. We hope,  soon Government will announce extension of this scheme to more countries. The list of 77 countries and all other details are available on the link

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

A copy of the Press Release issued by Press Information Bureau (PIB) dated 29^th July 2015 is enclosed for your reference.

Our sincere thanks to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Tourism Minister and the team in the Ministry of Tourism for making our dreams come true. We are sure all the 150 countries as announced by the government will be covered under this scheme very soon.

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Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs
29-July-2015 20:30 IST

Extension of e-Tourist Visa scheme to China, Hong Kong and Macau from tomorrow

The Government has finalised arrangements to extend and implement the e-Tourist Visa facility to the passport holders of People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region with effect from the July 30, 2015, as announced by the Prime Minister during his recent visit to China. The total number of countries/territories covered under the e-Tourist Visa scheme will go up from 74 to 77, with the inclusion of these countries/territories.

The 74 countries already included are Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Island, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See and Vietnam.

The e-Tourist Visa scheme launched by the Government of India on the November 27, 2015 has been extended to 77 countries/territories so far. The scheme will be extended to more countries/ territories in a phased manner. Under this scheme, tourists with e-Tourist Visas can arrive at nine designated airports (Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai & Trivandrum). Since the launch of the scheme, about 2,00,000 (Two lakh) e-TVs have been issued to nationals of different countries.

During the last three years, a total of 1,79,873 (one lakh seventy nine thousand eight hundred seventy three) tourist visas have been issued to nationals of Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. It is expected that extending the e-Tourist Visa facility to the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR will boost the tourist arrival from these regions and strengthen bilateral ties among people of these territories.