India-Bangladesh Collectively Working To Boost Trade And Tourism

India and Bangladesh are collectively working to improve connectivity between the two countries. India and Bangladesh will work on connectivity to boost trade and tourism, said Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commissioner to India.

While addressing a tourism convention, Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commissioner, Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur said: ” the Governments of Bangladesh and India are working on river routes, rail, and air connectivity to boost tourism. From next month, the Civil Aviation Ministry of the government of India is going to launch a direct flight between Guwahati and Dhaka. I am sure that this will address connectivity and boost tourism growth manifold between the two countries.”

“Currently, I am issuing 150 visas daily. I am sure from next month, the number of visas will increase three times or at least 400 every day,” Monsur added.

Monsur informed that Bangladesh will put its best efforts to export and enhance tourism medical, religious, archaeological tourism, between the two countries.

“The Government of Bangladesh is working on river connectivity presently. Dredging activity is going on in full swing. The Government of Bangladesh has extended a line of credit to the tune of USD 7 billion and under the line of credit, Government of Bangladesh is also establishing connectivity between Bangladesh and NE of India via rail links,” the official said.

Appreciating Meghalaya’s natural beauty, Monsur said, “I endorse the belief that Meghalaya is more beautiful than Scotland. My last posting was in Russia. Before that, I was in Dubai and Japan. I have visited many places but I have never come across a beautiful place like Meghalaya. Meghalaya has become an abode of peace. We see the state is disciplined and there were no conflicts. Thanks to the Home Minister.”

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Future of Kerala in tourism sector: Alphons

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam launched the Sivagiri spiritual tourism circuit here with facilities like a craft bazaar, bus shelters and an audio-video virtual reality show and said that the future of Kerala lies in the tourism sector.

The inauguration of the much-hyped spiritual circuit around the Sivagiri Mutt near here was marred by controversy as the state-central ministers sparred over the project.

While Kannanthanam, the Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, asked the state government to change its approach towards the Centre, State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that Kerala was ‘ignored’ in the project due to involvement of certain quarters.

“This (state) government had given a comprehensive proposal of Rs 99.09 crore for development projects at Sivagiri Mutt and temples related to Sree Narayana Guru. Just a few days before sanctioning this amount, due to the involvement from certain quarters, the state government was ignored. The chief minister had criticized the same,” Kadakampally said during his address in the event.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier written to the Prime Minister against the Centre’s decision to inaugurate the spiritual circuit without consulting the state government.

The state government alleged that the Centre ignored its proposal to entrust the project to State Tourism Development Corporation. At present the project has been undertaken by the India Tourism Development Corporation.

“The state’s approach must change. We are now constructing walls around us. Instead of lighting lamps, people here are confining themselves inside the walls. This is a conservative thought process,” Kannanthanam said, in an apparent reference to the Women’s wall initiative by the state government.

He, however, said that the state and the Centre should work together and praised Kerala’s efforts in making the spiritual circuit around the Sivagiri Mutt a reality.

Sivagiri Sanyasis who spoke during the event said the Mutt does not have any kind of political affiliation and it wanted the ITDC to handle the spiritual circuit.

Under the total project, Chembazhanti Narayana Gurukulam, Aruvippuram temple, Subramanya Sawmi temple and Mutt at Kunnumpara and the Sivagiri Mutt will be developed.

The Sivagiri Mutt will have a tourist facilitation centre, enquiry room, waiting room, first aid, kiosks, cloak room, community dining hall with kicthen and audio-visual hall to be constructed at a cost of Rs 14.92 crore.

Kannanthanam said that Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned seven projects in Kerala under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes for approximately Rs 550 crore. “Kerala’s future lies in exploring the possibilities in the tourism sector,” he said.

Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham President Swami Vishudhananda presided over the function.

The project was sanctioned in January 2019 for Rs 69.47 crore.

Other facilities to be developed under the project include tourist facilitation centers, beautification and landscaping, meditation/yoga centre, public conveniences, battery operated vehicles, drinking water facility, multimedia show, wayside amenities, parking, CCTV and Wi-Fi facilities, cafeterias, open air theatre. PTI

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This National Tourism Day, witness the best of India

It’s the National Tourism Day on 25 January, and like every year, India will celebrate the glorious day with much enthusiasm this year as well. What makes our country special is its rich diversity, golden history and cultural beauty. Every Indian state has its own culture and tradition, which is beautiful in its own way. 

So, on the occasion of National Tourism Day 2019, here is a handpicked list of places that one can visit to witness the best and real India. 

Kerala

Kerala, also known as ‘God’s Own Country’, is immensely beautiful! You can choose to explorethis gorgeously green state this National Tourism Day and add more to your travel memories. Known for its clean beaches, ancient temples, green spaces and amazing tea gardens, Kerala is one of the perfect places to witness India’s natural beauty. 

Gujarat

Credit: Getty Images

Once home to India’s most admired and respected leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat is a culturally-rich state, brimming with a number of heritage sites. From pristine beaches and gorgeous temples to museums and national parks, this state is the soul of our country in true sense. 

Madhya Pradesh

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Madhya Pradesh is probably one of the most beautiful and historically rich Indian states dotted with numerous ancient temples and caves. The destination is especially renowned for its Khajuraho Group of Monuments, tribal population and Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks. Those who wish to witness the other side of India, Madhya Pradesh is their best bet! 

Northeast India

Credit: Getty Images

What can be better than witnessing the natural beauty of India’s seven sister states? These are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and each one is absolutely breathtaking! Their culture, their cuisine, their dance forms, everything is just too diverse and too beautiful, almost unreal. And that is why Northeast India makes for a perfect National Tourism Day travel destination! 

Rajasthan

Credit: Getty Images

A number of people believe that real India lives in Rajasthan. Well, there is little refuting the claim. The royalty that Rajasthan oozes, no other places in India will give you the same feeling. With ancient palaces, grand forts and a whole lot of princely tales, Rajasthan is just the destination where you need to be to get an insight into the royal past of India. 

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Medical tourism becomes even bigger business

An optimistic forecast by the Union Ministry of Tourism projects a 200 percent growth for the sector by 2020. This would make the industry worth US$ 9 billion in the next two years. It is triple its value in 2015, the year almost 234,000 medical tourists visited India. By 2017, this figure more than doubled to 495,056.

“India can provide medical and health care of international standards at low costs,” Union Tourism Minister K. J. Alphons told Lok Sabha MPs. Alphons credited the low cost of treatment and availability of alternative medicine therapies such as Ayurveda among the reasons for the success of the industry in India. To fuel expansion, the Tourism Ministry is changing visa rules to make it easier for medical tourists to come to India.

Analysts expect the medical tourism industry globally to be worth US$ 143.46 billion by 2025.The lucrative industry draws many to countries like India, where treatments can be anywhere between 65 and 90 percent cheaper compared to medical tourists’ home countries.

India’s medical tourism industry is among the fastest-growing in the world. In 2016, more than 200,000 medical visas were issued, to patients from 54 different countries. Of the various nations whose citizens visit India for treatment, medical tourists from Pakistan spend the most per capita, at US$2,906.

Yet the rapid growth of the medical tourism industry in India is not without its risks. Some analysts worry that the sector could, in effect, act as a new disease vector by enabling the spread of infectious diseases across the globe through patients who visit India to avail medical services.

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Kerala Tourism nets record revenue

Thiruvananthapuram: The number of domestic and foreign tourist arrivals in Kerala showed an increase and the state secured a record revenue earning in 2018, which according to the state tourism department is ‘a clear demonstration that the tourism sector has rebounded quickly after the devastating floods’.

Kerala netted a record revenue of Rs 36,528.01 crore from the tourism sector last year, clocking an increase of Rs 2,874.33 crore, said a release issud by the department on Thursday.

Over 16.7 million tourists visited Kerala in 2018 as against 15.76 million the previous year, recording an increase of 5.93%. Of the total, 1.09 million were foreign tourists, who visited the state ‘that has been rated as one of world’s must-see destinations by international media and bestowed with coveted honours by premier tourism fairs across the globe’, the release said. The share of revenue from foreign visitors touched Rs 8,764.46 crore, during the period. The domestic tourism sector also gained during the period with visitors exceeding 15.6 million, showing an increase of 6.35 %.

In the first quarter of the year, tourist arrivals recorded 12.3% growth in case of foreign visitors and 20% in case of domestic tourists. The Nipah outbreak in May in some parts of the state and the floods in August led to a fall in arrivals.

This trend, however, was quickly reversed by the determined actions of the state government and tourism department, putting back the sector firmly on the growth trajectory, it said.

“This impressive growth has been achieved against adverse factors,” said tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran. The UK accounted for the largest number of foreign visitors of over 2,00,000, followed by the United States, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

The campaign mounted through the media, including social media platforms, played a vital role in the success story, the release added.

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India wants to make medical tourism a $9 billion industry by 2020

New Delhi (CNN)There are many reasons people go to India: the culture, the food, the weather. But in recent years, another factor drawing visitors is health care.

India's medical tourism industry could grow by 200% by 2020, hitting $9 billion, according to Ministry of Tourism figures. As it tries to expand the industry, the country is trying to make it easier for people to come for medical reasons. It's touting advanced facilities, skilled doctors and low-cost treatment but also traditional practices such as yoga and Ayurveda.

"India can provide medical and health care of international standards at low costs," Tourism Minister KJ Alphons said in written response to a query in the Lower House of Parliament. "India excels in the state of the art medical facilities, reputed health care professionals, quality nursing facilities and traditional healthcare therapies."

In 2015, India ranked as the third most popular destination for medical tourism, when the industry was worth $3 billion. The number of foreign tourists coming into the country on medical visas sat at nearly 234,000 that year.

By 2017, the number of arrivals more than doubled to 495,056, government figures show.

Visa rules have also been changed to encourage applications.

"The e-tourist visa regime has been expanded to include medical visits as well. Medical and medical attendant visas have been introduced to ease the travel process of medical tourists. The maximum duration of stay in India under the e-medical visa is a longer duration of six months," Alphons said.

Still, it's important to be cautious when it comes to predictions, said Johanna Hanefeld, an associate professor of health policy and systems at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

"One of the challenges is that the figures cited are based on the private sector. It's private individuals paying private providers. Any type of figure tends to be relatively speculative. The initial wave of predictions was business analysis and research and was based on the thinking that people go on cost and quality alone. And essentially being a world with disappearing borders, this was an area of growth," Hanefeld said.

"In the last five years, these predictions have been down scaled because health is a difficult issue, and people make decisions based on a number of reasons such as culture, proximity or perception of care. These are not rational decisions based purely on economics."

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Fire breaks out at Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon's tent in Kumbh Mela

A fire broke out at Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon's tent at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj late on Tuesday night. The tent caught fire at 2.30 am while Tandon was asleep.

No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report.

Three tents were gutted in the fire. Tandon was moved to the circuit house after the mishap. His spectacles, mobile phone and other valuables were charred due to the fire.

The reason of the fire is yet to be ascertained. As per initial investigation, the fire is likely to have been caused due to a short circuit.

However, this is not the first incident of fire in Kumbh. There have 6-7 instances of fire in the Kumbh Mela.

Earlier, a fire broke out at the one of the camps in sector 13 at the Kumbh Mela. The incident happened after a fire broke out at another one of the camps set up at the Kumbh Mela. Several tents were charred due to the fire, which had been quickly brought under control.

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