The overseas offices were started beneath the Ministry of business to position Asian nation as a most popular tourist destination and organize events to extend the country’s share in the global business market.

Arguing that in today's digital world, so many overseas offices were not required, Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons recently told The Indian Express:
"The plan is to reshape these 14 offices into eight regional hubs for greater efficiency The offices in Toronto and Los Angeles are the first ones to be wound up."

According to sources within the business Ministry, the move follows an indoor survey conducted by the Overseas promoting Division in Delhi virtually a year agone to assess the value of running these overseas offices as compared to the revenues they generate from the individual markets. The study had found that many offices as unprofitable.

"Based on allegations/ complaints/ audit observations, etc, received in the Ministry of Tourism against India Tourism Offices in Beijing, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, London, New York and Toronto, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated in cases where prima facie allegations were found to be substantiated."

Source: Indian Express

• Tourism Fiji has announced Ileana D'Cruz the brand ambassador -new Indian face to Fiji!
  
  
• The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) has reportedly created a land bank with the aim of giving a major boost to tourism in the state.Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) Surendra Patwa has said that “Madhya Pradesh has been segregated into five tourism regions and potential of private investment has been identified - Indore, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Gwalior, Rewa region”.
  
  
• Indian Railways, to promote heritage tourism work on meter-gauge lines. A senior official from the Railway Ministry said regarding this development, "As part of the strategy to preserve the meter-gauge lines, Indian Railways is planning to preserve few meter-gauge lines, which have the potential to attract more tourists."

Source “timesofindia” “business standard”

As per the data, by WTTC the travel and tourism sector generated Rs 14.1 trillion (USD208.9 billion) in 2016, which is the world’s  7th largest economy and the sum is equivalent to 9.6% of India’s GDP.

Additionally, the new report says that the tourism sector created 40.3 million jobs in 2016, which ranks India 2nd in the world in terms of total employment generated. The sector accounts for 9.3% of the country’s total jobs.

David Scowsill, President, and CEO, WTTC, said-

“India is a tremendous Travel and Tourism economy, and I am pleased to see the sector GDP is growing. However, we believe that these numbers could be even higher and that the positive impact of our sector could be more wide-ranging. India has a huge potential to increase its international visitors and, in doing so, it can create more jobs and drive economic growth”.
He added, “We encourage the Indian government to continue to adopt policies that encourage the tourism in India”.

Therefore, it's a great advantage for those who are working in travel and tourism sector and also for those who wish to make their career in travel and tourism sectors.

Source "economictimes"

The cruise service provider promoting itself as a cruise tourism destination to generate employment. Union minister for road transport, highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.

“A businessman from Goa has brought a very good vessel. Almost 550 to 600 people will be able to travel by it and the vessel will have five to seven restaurants.” He added that the hotel industry too will benefit hugely from cruise tourism.
He added - “Commenting that employment is a serious problem facing the nation, the minister said that adequate support for cruise tourism in the state will help enhance employment prospects for Goans”.

Goa should take a gander at is securing eco-accommodating trawlers for anglers under the focal government's Sagarmala venture. Said Nitin Gadkari
Therefore, Cruise tourism is India's economic growth engine as there is a vast untapped potential yet to being released with ample of job opportunities

The world was stunned by the arrival of latest technologies in recent years, same way the travel and tourism experts are surprised by the use of these technologies in travel and tourism industry. Subsequently, travel companies are opting different technologies to improve customer interface and operations.  




According to Elena Mogos, Associate Analyst for Digital Travel & Tourism at GlobalData, remarks: “Travel still revolves around meaningful human interactions. However, to be successful, companies need to create a balance between the technological innovations and the human element. Improving the customer experience must always be on the back of travel and tourism companies’ minds when investing in technology.” - Source (Global data)

Here are some of the advance Technologies used in Travel and Tourism

Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR and VR):  Augmented Reality is being used in all other industries for content marketing or to enhance the consumer’s experience. Nowadays airlines are using VR Tech to show passengers the cabins in virtual reality, to get sell more expensive tickets.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is almost behind every latest technology which is evolving in travel and tourism. The livingly applications of this technologies are  Machine Learning, ChatBots or Travel Bots, and Robots.

Internet of Things (IoT): Internet of Things has a lot of potentials to change the future of travel and tourism industry. For ex. Lufthansa Airlines has recently introduced the function of real-time tracking of your luggage in their respected app.

Wi-Fi connectivity: When traveling people want to stay connected with their family or friends by the medium of social media due to that most of hotels and airports are giving free of cost internet usage.

Wearable devices:  Now Disneyland and universal studio to introduce the smart  wearables to track the time for rides and to eliminate the waiting and it is smart innovation

Maharashtra announces to built its first Hyperloop route in India between Mumbai to Pune.
Virgin Hyperloop One Chairman and founder Sir Richard Branson announced the Framework Agreement in the presence of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis to begin the development of the route.

Richard Branson Said, "Virgin Hyperloop One can help India become a global transportation pioneer and forge a new world-changing industry."

"I believe Virgin Hyperloop One could have the same impact upon India in the 21st century as trains did in the 20th century. The Pune-Mumbai route is an ideal first corridor as part of a national hyperloop network that could dramatically reduce travel times between India's major cities to as little as two hours," he added.

The Hyperloop route will connect Mumbai and Pune, link central Pune, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and Mumbai in 25-minutes connecting 26 million people and creating a thriving, competitive megaregion.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance, Government of India would like to convert 10 prominent tourist destinations into iconic and model destinations by adopting a holistic approach to development with private sector support.

Finance Minister announced that they are planning to enhance the tourist experience of 110 monuments which comes under the ASI ( Archaeological Survey of India) under the scheme National  Heritage City Augmentation.

The ministry announces the construction of a tunnel under 'Sela Pass 'in Arunachal Pradesh to improve connectivity and tourism in that northeastern state.
Sela Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the border between Tawang and West Kameng Districts of Arunachal Pradesh, an area China claims to be a part of south Tibet.

He also mentioned about the 14 km long tunnel at the Zoji La Pass is progressing well.Considering the aviation infrastructure, “the government will enhance airport capacity to handle one billion trips a year” he said

“56 un-served airports and 31 un-served helipads have been already activated under the Regional Connectivity scheme of the government and operations have already been started on 16 such places,” he said.

Source: Travel Biz Monitor

In 25th GST council meeting FAITH had made 9 major demands to the GST council in meeting with the ministry of finance. On 17th January 2018.

FAITH  statement says-
“To push through the remaining recommendations, FAITH and its member associations will keep on engaging with the central and state policy-makers to hone in the realization that a strategic GST regime is very critical for competitiveness of our tourism & hospitality industry and consequently for higher employment in India,”

FAITH pay gratitude to honorable Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and pay special attention to the two main bottleneck points in the GST council meeting -

1. Tour operator to tour operator GST to be made available as it was earlier in the service tax regime.This will prevent the tax on tax in the tourism distribution value chain.

2. Administrations like elephant rides, camel safaris, event congregations and such others are at 0% rating. Elephant rides, camel rides, Amusement parks, joy rides have been brought down to 18% from 28%.  

Complete Highlights of the Meeting are-

• IGST be made accessible for ardent properties for tourism convenience such as for hotels, cruises, campgrounds and for eateries (restaurant).
• Trade profit in tourism benefits as fares and give a zero rating or an extraordinary rating of 5%.
•  Exchange esteem and not Declared Tariff ought to be the reason for rate arrangement of lodgings.
•  Hotels above 7500 charge 28% GST,  will be rationalized.
•  An option to discharge under presumptive model may be extended to travel agents, tour operators who are booking hotel accommodation/ any other tourism products/ tour packages (1.8% for B2C & 0.9% for B2B)
•  Tour operator to tour operator GST to be made available as it was earlier in the service tax regime.
•  Travel and Tours administrations outbound from India ought not draw in GST as they are in the nontaxable domain.
•  Administrations like elephant rides, camel safaris, event congregations and such others be at 0% rating.
•  Special arrangement and administrations account code of experience for visit administrators.

France, the country emerged as the world leader in promoting sustainable tourism. Report state that the country leads as the world leader in promoting sustainable tourism and preserving their social, cultural and natural capital of the country.

As per The Economist's Sustainable Tourism Index, the first place is occupied by Europe, with France, Germany and the UK taking up the top three spots.

"Of the ten countries included in the index, only France and Germany have taken concerted and sustained action at the national level to develop policy, set targets and monitor results," researchers write.

France preserved it's sustainable tourism and sets specific targets and guidelines for carrying capacity and tourist attraction worldwide. Studies say, Tourism contributes about 5% of the worldwide greenhouse gas emission and is expected to grow more in the coming years. The overflow of tourist leads to the physical degradation of several natural and historical assets.

As per the ranking report, here we have mentioned the top 10 countries on the basis of Sustainable Tourism Index.
1. France
2. Germany
3. UK
4. US
5. Japan
6. India
7. Brazil
8. China
9. Indonesia
10. Egypt

Source: news18