These measures are part of initiatives by these nations to attract Indian tourists, says Aneesh Phadnis.
A massive avalanche on Friday struck Mount Everest killing at least 13 Nepalese Sherpa guides and injuring several others in the deadliest mountaineering accident on the world's highest peak.
In underlining the role of border villages as custodians of India's frontiers, New Delhi is following China's example in Tibet.
The tourism ministry's Incredible India website acquired a business dimension on Wednesday with the launch of an e-commerce platform that will allow firms to conduct a host of travel-related activities.
This is in addition to 43 countries which received approval last year.
In mid-October, travellers from the US, the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Australia were advised by their governments to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to India, citing terror threats.
Gearing up to deal with an impending slowdown in tourist arrivals, the tourism ministry is considering waiving off visa fee for foreign travellers.
If Saudi Arabia, with just two Muslim holy sites of Mecca and Medina, can create a huge tourism-based ecosystem beyond oil, Ayodhya is sure to become the world's hottest religious tourism site in less than a decade, predicts R Jagannathan.
'The private sector believes that some enablers in labour-intensive sectors like apparel, toys, tourism, and media retail, can unlock a lot of jobs.'
To increase the inbound tourist inflow, the tourism ministry has also given a proposal to the home ministry.
Foreign exchange earnings from tourism also recorded a robust growth of 19.2 per cent during this period as the exchequer earned Rs 6,485 crore (Rs 64.85 billion) compared to Rs 5,440 crore (Rs 54.4 billion) in the corresponding period last year, according to Tourism Ministry data.
The India@60 event seeks to attract the world's attention, particularly that of the global Inc, to India by portraying its strengths -- democracy, diversity and demographics -- which have powered the sub-continent nation's development.
The VoA scheme was introduced on January 1, 2010 for citizens of five countries -- Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore.
With the country racing to meet the Commonwealth Games deadline, the year 2007 saw the tourism industry bargaining tax sops for budget hoteliers and those wishing to double up their homes as 'bed-and-breakfast' inns to cater to the big rush.
Coming out strongly in favour of providing visas on arrival to tourists, Planning Commission ceputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Friday extended all support to the tourism ministry and said both would jointly take it up with the concerned minis
There were also posts on social media claiming that some Indians are cancelling their scheduled trip to the Maldives in view of the row.
A top Maldivian government official said that during the meeting, Naseer made it clear that the remarks do not reflect the views of the Maldivian government, and reaffirmed Maldives' continued support for its neighbour, the Sun Online reported.
Government departments have been tasked with identifying major goals, which will include annual targets from the financial year 2024-2025 to 2028-2029.
There have been cancellations in inbound air bookings as well as in hotels after the November 26 terror strikes in the western metropolis, industry experts said. According to the ministry, the growth rate in the foreign tourist arrival during January-November 2008 was only eight per cent as compared to growth rate of 14.8 per cent during the same period in 2007.
Thousands of yoga enthusiasts from across the world rolled out their yoga mats as they joined day-long sessions of the ancient Indian practice to commemorate the 10th International Day of Yoga on Friday.
IT and tourism are the major areas in which Shanghai can cooperate with its sister city Mumbai.
Accepting BJP central leadership's directive as part of the truce between Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his detractors, Karnataka Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar has decided to join the state ministry soon.
Incredible India campaign has proved to be pretty successful.
The contribution of top 10 states was about 85.5 per cent to the total number of domestic tourist visits during 2010.
Budgets of Rs 25 and Rs 50 crores will be provided to select destinations.
Data for the first nine days of January shows that tourist arrivals from India to the Maldives has been at similar levels as last year during the same period.
Is Chiranjeevi the tourism ministry's secret weapon? Why is Vijay Mallya upset with Veerappa Moily? What in-house problem is the railway minister grappling with? All this, and more, in this week's Dilli Gupshup...
Atishi will have a brief tenure in office as assembly elections in the national capital are due in February.
The tourism industry expects a short-term impact, as it is counting on the state's proven expertise in managing such crises.
'We don't have a say which MP stays where. We prepare everything and allot according to the list we get from Parliament.'
Besides the messages in English and regional languages on the tickets, exterior and interior of coaches of a few long-distance trains will be utilised for spreading the awareness campaign across the country.
The middle class domestic tourist will soon get his own 'Palace on Wheels,' with the tourism ministry planning to launch a medium-fare tourist train connecting the four southern states of the country.
West Indies batting legend Brian Lara, in Delhi for a cricket clinic, talks about the disappointment of being ignored at the IPL auction, India's chances at the upcoming World Cup and his life after quiting the game.
'They were ahead of their times. We don't expect this from a civilisation of the first century AD.'
Arunima Sinha, a former national level volleyball player, who had lost her right leg after thrown off a moving train by some hoodlums, created history on Tuesday by becoming the first Indian amputee to conquer Mount Everest.
According to sources, around 25 hotels would benefit from this move and as a consequence the government would have access to 2,000 more rooms for the Commonwealth Games.
Both BJP and Congress have now stated that they will oppose Playboy Club's plan to open a branch at Candolim beach which has been under consideration of the Goa tourism ministry
A Supreme Court-constituted panel has asked the Union environment ministry to amend or withdraw the guidelines related to setting up zoos and safaris within tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries to discourage the use of wildlife habitats for tourism activities which are non-site specific.
