Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 28 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said the state government is actively working towards making the tourism sector socially and economically sustainable.

Jaipur Sep 27 PTI Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Monday that his government is working with full commitment to make the state a top tourist destination He also said that along with this it is the state governments endeavour to strengthen the tourism industry which has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic Gehlot was addressing a state-level function organised on World Tourism Day through video conference He said that Rajasthan holds a special place in world tourism boasting of a glorious history and heritage forts diverse natural wealth and colourful folk culture Gehlot said that the state government is working with full commitment towards making Rajasthan the top state in the field of tourism Along with this it is the governments endeavour that the tourism industry of the state affected by the adverse conditions of the Covid pandemic is strengthened the chief minister said In a statement the Gehlot said that due to good roads better rail and air network better law and order condition and adequate availability of electricity and water Rajasthan is emerging as a destination for weddings and other events He said that Rajasthan has immense potential for development of tourism and the state government will leave no stone unturned in promoting this sector To give impetus to tourism activities decisions like the New Tourism Policy-2020 and formation of the Tourism Development Fund of Rs 500 crore have been taken he said The chief minister also launched a mobile app Rajasthan Tourism Official designed to help tourists visiting the state in making tour programmes He released a collection of various policies schemes and guidelines issued by the tourism department for tourism development in the state Gehlot released the Chief Minister Tourism Udhyog Sambal Yojana-2021 to provide relief to the entrepreneurs of the tourism and hospitality sector affected by the corona pandemic PTI AG ANB ANB

Mumbai Sep 27 PTI Iconic Bombay High Court and Mumbai University buildings will now be open for tourists as part of Heritage Walks during weekends as the Maharashtra Tourism Department on Monday inked an agreement with respective authorities The Maharashtra Tourism Department signed a heritage tour memorandum of understanding MoU with the Bombay High Court and Mumbai University to allow tourists to visit these iconic buildings on non-working days -- Saturdays and Sundays MTDC said on the occasion of the World Tourism Day While Mumbai University will be open for tourists on Sundays and public holidays and the tour will be conducted by TOGA Tourist Guide Association guides it added Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has launched a revamped multilingual website on Maharashtra tourism It is available in 9 languages including English Hindi Marathi Bengali Gujarati Telugu French Japanese and SpanishSpeaking on the occasion state Tourism Environment and Protocol Minister Aaditya Thackeray said the emphasis on policy reforms and infrastructure development will put Maharashtra at the forefront of the world tourism map in the next few years We have focussed on policy reform during the past year It is believed that in the next few years Maharashtra will be at the forefront of the world tourism map due to the efforts taken by the tourism department Thackeray said at a function to mark World Tourism Day 2021 To boost the sector the Maharashtra government has brought down the number of applications and licences needed for setting up a tourism-related business to just 10 from the earlier 70-80 he added Similarly the no-objection certificates NOCs required were brought down to 9 self-certifications from the earlier 15 NOCs and 3-month timelines for issuance of different licences among others were introduced that will benefit the sector The government has also granted industry status to the tourism and hospitality sector which was pending since 1999 the minister said Basic tourism infrastructure is now on the fast track Today several major international five and seven-star hotels were interested in setting shop in various parts of Maharashtra We will be holding several meetings to listen to stakeholders on improving Maharashtra tourism in the coming days Thackeray said The minister added that the opening of the Chippi airport in October will give a major boost to tourism in the Konkan region PTI SM BAL BAL

Jammu Sep 27 PTI Sixty motorcyclists started from the scenic Jammu Tawi Golf Course JTGC here to Basohli in Kathua district as part of a rally aimed at promoting tourism in Jammu division officials said The bike rally organised by the Directorate of Tourism Jammu on the occasion of the World Tourism Day was flagged off jointly by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Raghav Langer and Additional Director General of Police Jammu Mukesh Singh This is basically a tourism promotion event in which 60 bikers will travel through Suransar and Mansar before reaching their final destination Basohli Various events are also planned enroute to promote tourist destinations Langer told reporters after the flagging-off ceremony at JTGC Sidhra The officials said the bikers will travel nearly 150 km before reaching the picturesque Basohli They will stop at identified spots enroute including the twin lakes of Suransar and Mansar to participate in tourism promotion events Congratulating the Tourism Department for the event the divisional commissioner said efforts are on to promote Sidhra-Basohli route as a biking and cycling circuit Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is a key sector which boosts the economy The Lt Governor-led administration is making all-out efforts and organising tourism promotion events to achieve pre-Covid footfall of tourists and promote unexplored destinations Langer said He said Jammu is a tourist friendly division with a lot to offer to the visitors There are a lot of tourist destinations in Poonch-Rajouri Chenab valley Patnitop-like hill resorts which have no parallel The people are tourist friendly the tourists will have an enthralling experience and I am sure that they will like to come again and again Langer said The divisional commissioner said the administration is holding an iconic festival at various places next week to promote pilgrimage tourism The nine-day Navratra festival is scheduled to begin at Katra the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district on October 7 The highlight of the festival are a devotional song contest wrestling competition Prabhat Pheris Shobha Yatra Mata ki Kahani recitation and other cultural items The divisional commissioner said the administration is also working on the promotion of border tourism Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has taken several initiatives and you will see the development very soon Lagner said when asked whether the government was planning to promote Octroi outpost on the line of Wagah border in Punjab to attract tourists PTI TAS AB AAR

New Delhi [India], September 27 (ANI): Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched Delhi Tourism mobile app "Dekho Mere Dilli" to boost tourism on the occasion of World Tourism Day.

Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 27 (ANI): 'Religious tourism' sector in India is extremely wide and there are huge potential and scope for the same in the country, said Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on the occasion of World Tourism Day on Monday.