Government of India

MINISTRY OF TOURISM

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Vol. 5, July-September, 2017

TOURISM- A FIGURATIVE STATUS

The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during

July-September 2017 were 2.24 million as

compared to 1.99 million during the same period in

2016, showing a growth of 12.6%. The Foreign

Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism for the

Quarter were ₹42,775 Crores as compared to

₹38,480 Crores in the corresponding period in

2016, registering a growth of 11.2 %. In US$ terms,

the FEEs stood at US $6.65 billion during July-

September, 2017 as compared to US $5.74 billion

in 2016 for the same period. The FTAs on e- Tourist

Visa were 3,49,574 during July-September, 2017 as

compared to 2,03,393 during July-September,

2016 registering a growth of 71.9 %.

UPDATES ON ACTIVITIES OF

MINISTRY OF TOURISM

Schemes/ Initiatives

A total of four projects were sanctioned under the

Swadesh Darshan Scheme at a total cost of ₹338.76

Crore in the States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar

Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh for the development of

Spiritual, Eco, Ramayana and Buddhist circuits.

Under PRASAD Scheme, one project for

“Development of Srisailam Temple” in Kurnool

District of Andhra Pradesh was sanctioned at an

estimated cost of ₹ 47.45 Crore.

“Swachhta Hi Sewa” campaign

Ministry of Tourism undertook “Swachhta Hi Sewa”

campaign from 15th September to 02nd October

2017 at more than 80 tourist/pilgrim places all over

the country through its Indiatourism offices. The

campaign was kick started at Juhu Beach on

15.09.2017 and major cleanliness drive was

undertaken along with other activities to create

awareness on Swachhta.

Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Shri K. J. Alphons

also joined for various cleanliness activities at

India Gate and Janpath Market in Delhi and at

Smith Village in Shillong, Meghalaya during the

campaign. He interacted with the visitors/

tourists, shopkeepers and stakeholders urging

everyone to contribute to make the country clean

and beautiful. He also administered the Swachhta

Pledge to all participants at these places.

In addition, Ministry of Tourism also observed

Swachhta Pakhwada from 16th to 30th September

2017 organizing cleanliness activities involving

all educational institutions and also ITDC.

IMPORTANT EVENTS

International Tourism Day

Ministry of Tourism organized the National

Tourism Awards function for 2015-16 at Vigyan

Bhawan, New Delhi on International Tourism Day

(27th September, 2017). Shri Ram Nath Kovind,

Hon’ble President of India was the Chief Guest at

the function.

A total of 80 awards were given away to the State

Governments/local administrations/travel, trade

and hospitality industry etc. for their outstanding

performance in the field of tourism.

The Incredible India 2.0 campaign and “Adopt a

Heritage Project” was launched during the Awards

function along with the design of the Incredible

India 2.0 website.

‘Adopt a Heritage Project’ plans to entrust heritage

sites to the public sector, private sector companies

and individuals for the development of tourist

amenities. The Incredible India website launched at

the Awards function is an advanced version of the

website with many useful features to make it more

interactive and to provide a deeper engagement to

the travelers visiting the website.

The Incredible India 2.0 campaign was launched in

the international markets on leading global TV

channels like BBC, CNN, Euro News as well as on

social media (Twitter) to make an impact in the

various source markets. The Campaign is being

released in the prime existing markets as well as

important potential markets. Niche tourism

products like Heritage Tourism, Adventure

Tourism, Cruise Tourism, Rural Tourism,

Wellness & Medical Tourism, MICE, Golf, etc. are

being promoted through the Incredible India 2.0

campaign.

Promotional Activities

Ministry of Tourism launched Domestic

Television Campaigns on Doordarshan in

August, 2017 to promote tourism to the

North East Region and to the State of

Jammu & Kashmir and to encourage travel

to tourist destinations in these regions.

Global Media Campaign for 2017-18 was

launched on the Euro Sports Channel in

August 2017. The campaign has been timed

to coincide with the US Open Tennis

Tournament, to ensure visibility of

Incredible India during telecast of this

important event on the international sports

calendar.

In order to boost India’s attractiveness as a

tourism destination and draw more visitors,

Niche Tourism Products are being

developed and promoted. The second

meeting of the National Task Force on

Adventure Tourism was held to discuss the

issues relating to development of adventure

tourism in the country. Ministry of Tourism

has agreed in principle for celebrating 2018

as year of Adventure Tourism.

Other important activities

Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Chief

Minister of Odisha, Secretary Tourism,

Ministry of Tourism and Principal Secretary

Tourism & Culture, Govt. of Odisha along

with other dignitaries attended the inaugural

event of 33rd IATO Annual Convention on

7th September, 2017.

Shri Satyajeet Rajan, Director General

(Tourism) attended the 13th Annual

Convention of the Adventure Tour

Operators Association of India held in

Kumarakom, Kerala from 18-21 September

2017 on the theme "Adventure Travel:

Emerging Pathways".

Ministry of Tourism organized a CICA

(Conference of the Interaction and

Confidence Building Measures in Asia)

workshop on “Building bridges across Asia

through tourism” on 28th September, 2017

at New Delhi which included presentation

on India by Ministry of Tourism, Panel

discussions, Question & Answer Sessions

etc.

Ministry of Tourism organized the 01st

Meeting of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal

Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and

Economic Cooperation) Tour Operators on

7th July, 2017 at New Delhi. The meeting

extensively deliberated on the measures for

promotion of interregional/intra-regional

tourism and agreed on several measures

including formulation of common

marketing strategy such as creation of a

BIMSTEC brand for tourism, development

of a common website for

promotion/marketing etc.

Ministry of Tourism participated in Inter

Ministry Weightlifting Championship held

during 26-29 September, 2017 wherein Mr

Sandeep Kumar won Gold medal in 77 kg

category.

ACTIVITIES OF INDIA TOURISM

OFFICES OVERSEAS

Incredible India Campaign

India Tourism – Dubai Launched one month long

“Incredible India” campaign on 12 public transport

buses of Cairo city on 24th September 2017 in

coordination with Embassy of India in Cairo, Egypt.

These buses run on 5 routes in East, Middle, North,

South and Giza parts of Cairo Metropolitan area

having population of more than 20 million.

Road Shows

India Tourism- Dubai Organized Incredible India

Road Show at Hotel Semiramis, Cairo in association

with Embassy of India, Cairo, Egypt on 25th

September 2017, which was attended by more than

90 persons including government tourism officials,

travel agents and tour operators.

India Tourism- Singapore organised “Incredible

India Road Show” at Bangkok, Thailand on 27th

September 2017, in association with Embassy of

India, Bangkok. A presentation was made by

Indiatourism on overview of Indian tourism;

presentation on Buddhist Circuit of India was made

by Thai Buddhist Association; presentation on Yoga

and wellness tourism to India was made by Devine

Yoga at Bangkok.

Other important activities of India

Tourism Offices Overseas

India Tourism Offices Overseas organized the

following events:

India Tourism Los Angeles - Know India seminar for travel agents and tour operators in San Jose, California on 11th August, 2017.

India Tourism London - Organized

Midnight Run at the Parliament Square,

London on the 14th August on the occasion

of Independence day.

India Tourism Beijing - Organized ‘India

Visa Workshop’ at Embassy of India, Beijing

on 25th August, 2017.

India Tourism Dubai - Organized Know

India Seminar in association with Embassy of

India, Muscat on 29th August, 2017, which

was attended by around 120 travel agents,

media, Airlines staff and officials from Govt.

of Oman.

India Tourism Offices Overseas also

participated in various events like Global

Travel Marketplace (GTM) event, Travel

Industry Expo, Travel & Adventure Show,

Trade Expo, India Day Parade, etc. to

promote the India Tourism Products.

ACTIVITIES OF DOMESTIC

REGIONAL OFFICES

India Tourism- South

Regional Review Meeting for Southern region

was held at Hyderabad on 14th July 2017 under

the Chairpersonship of Secretary (Tourism)

Indiatourism Chennai organized GST

sensitization programme for the Tourism stake

holders on 4th August 2017. Commissioner,

Central Excise, Govt. of India chaired the

meeting and explained queries raised by the

Tourism stake holders on GST.

Cleaning Campaigns were carried out by

Indiatourism offices of Southern Region at

various venues from 15th Sep’17 to 02nd Oct’ 17

ICON 2017, the National Convention of the

IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), was

held from 14th –17th September at Cherai Beach

Resorts, Kochi and was inaugurated by the

Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Tourism,

Shri K.J. Alphons.

Over 400 delegates from across the country

attended the convention.

India Tourism East

A workshop on the ‘Issues related to GST for

Tourism & Hospitality Sector’ was organized

by the Indiatourism Bhubaneswar on 17th

August 2017 at Hotel Swosti Premium, in

collaboration with experts from NACEN

Bhubaneswar Zonal Campus. The event was

presided over by Shri J P Shaw, Regional

Director (East) and was attended by 60

participants from the travel trade of Odisha.

Meeting of Consultative Committee on

Tourism & Culture and meeting of Hindi

Salaahkaar Samiti were held on 10th July 2017

at ITC Sonar-Kolkata.

Both the meetings were presided over by the then

Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for

Tourism & Culture Dr Mahesh Sharma.

India Tourism West

On the occasion of World Tourism Day which

is celebrated on 27th September, Indiatourism

offices in western region organized Tourism Walks

and quizzes, essay and rangoli competitions for the

educational Institutes of Tourism and Hotel

Management for the students.

Indiatourism, Mumbai conducted

a Workshop on Goods and Services Tax (GST)

for the Tourism stakeholders comprising of

Hotels, Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Cruise

Tourism Operators, Domestic Tour Operators

etc. in Mumbai in order to sensitize and facilitate

the stakeholders of tourism & hospitality

industry.

Indiatourism, Mumbai alongwith its subordinate

Indiatourism offices in the Western & Central

region held various activity of Cleanliness Drive,

awareness generation workshops, sensitization

of stakeholders at various tourist attractions viz.

Elephanta Island, Juhu and Miramar Beaches,

Ajanta, Ellora, Kanheri Caves etc.

The local youth, members of the travel and

hospitality industry, students of hospitality and

travel institutes, guides, state tourism

departments, Archaeological Survey of India,

Indian Railways etc. were involved in the

activities.

India Tourism North

Indiatourism Delhi participated at the North

East Calling event which was held from 9th to

10th of September, 2017 at the India Gate

lawns.

A space of 100 sq. mt.s was hired by Ministry

of Tourism to showcase the Incredible North

East India products. An information counter

was set up for distribution of brochures & also

to provide information among the visitors.

Indiatourism Delhi set up an information

counter at the Global MICE Travel Mart held

at the Lalit, New Delhi from 14th to 16th of

September, 2017. B2B meetings were

conducted at the stall as per the fixed schedule

with the respective buyers at the event.

‘Swacchhta Hi Seva’ campaign was organized

by Indiatourism Delhi during the 15th

September to 02nd October, 2017 at different

locations.

India Tourism North- East

On the occasion of World Tourism Day

Indiatourism, Guwahati and Assam Tourism at

Dighalipukhuri on 27th November, 2017

organized a Cycle Rally.

Regional Director (NE) attended the conference

of Northeast Tourism Conclave 2017 Unveiling

Opportunities in Tourism- The way forward

Infrastructure, Destination, Capacity Building

and Rural Tourism Organised by Confederation

of Indian Industries (CII) on 16.9.2017.

Cleaning campaign was carried out during

Swachhta Hi Sewa at various places from 15th

September to 02nd October, 2017 by

Indiatourism, Guwahati and fields offices.

www.tourism.gov.in www.incredibleindia.org

24×7 Toll-free Tourist Helpline Number: 1800-11-1363 Short Code: 1363

Languages supported: English, Hindi, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese and Russian.

Edited by: MARKET RESEARCH DIVISION (Ministry of TOURISM)