 |
CITY NEWS
|
REAL
ESTATE
|
TOURISM
|
|
|
RMC Gems, newly launched Alexite?
0 comments, 0 new
by 3,
RMC GEMS THAI is an authorized reseller of AZOTIC’S&a mp;reg;
0 comments, 0 new
by 3,
E-Filing of Forms/Returns at ROC under Digital Signature (DSC)
0 comments, 0 new
by 4,
Latest Jewelry Collections from jeweltrades
0 comments, 0 new
by 3,
Available for Sale 2 BHK Apartment in Bangalore
0 comments, 0 new
by -1,
More Free Kolkata Classifieds...
 |
News
Calcutta Mayor's Call To Realty
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
`Solar Power To Run Telecom Towers, Agricultural Pumps'
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
Backward Muslims In Bengal To Get OBC Certificates Soon
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
State Not Giving Land For Metro Projects, Says Mamata
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
West Bengal Promises Infosys Maximum Built-Up Space in Rajarhat Campus, Kolkata
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More News...
|
Development
Rs 35L Project To Preserve Wetlands
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
West Bengal Minister Offers Free Land To Mamata For Extending The Metro Corridor
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Railway Seeks Pvt Help To Develop 93 Stations
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Bid To Regulate Sunderbans Tourism Govt
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Five New Projects Approved Under JNNRUM
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Development...
|
Business
Manufacturing Land To Avoid Controversy
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Bengal Shipyard Project Yet To Overcome Land Hurdle
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Bengal Says Will Complete Land Allotment To Three Steel Plants By Sept
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Bengal Says Will Complete Land Allotment To Three Steel Plants By Sept
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Govt Likely To Corporatise 12 Major Ports Soon
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Business...
|
Computer
Gupshup
After BlackBerry, Govt Turns Heat On Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Going Online: IT Majors Take Tech Route To Hiring
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
All Govt Services To Be At Your Mouse-Tip Soon
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Improving Efficiency: Indian BPOs Work At Client Sites To Reduce Costs Without Job Cuts
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Don't Believe This Notice From Gmail, Asks Users To Update Account Details For Security Reasons
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
More Computer Gupshup...
|
Infrastructure
NABARD Sanctions Rs 284.5 Crore For Rural Infrastructure In West Bengal
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
WB Govt Sanctions Rs 10 Crore To Make Beliaghata Canal
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Infra Issues Halt IT Hub's Progress In City
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Centre Welcome To Acquire Land For Pending NH Projects In Bengal: Govt
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Race To Build Airport City
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Infrastructure...
|
Tourism
Low Cost Ganga River Cruise from Kolkata to Patna to Start in October
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
West Bengal Identifies New Tourism Spots
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Tour Agents Plan To Make Monsoon A Visit Season
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Salt Lake Bheris To Be New Eco-Tourism Hubs
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Bengal Targets River Tourism For Growth
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Tourism...
|
Real
Estate
Realtors Slapped Benami Notice
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Rs.400 Crore For Housing For Urban Poor In West Bengal
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Right Time To Bargain For A Better Price
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Forum Projects To Invest Rs 1,000 Crore in 3 Years
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
India's Commercial Space To Face The Problem Of Plenty
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Real Estate...
|
Kolkata
Metro
AC Travel For Kolkata Metro Commuters Soon
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
Oldest Kolkata Metro Railway Service Is Gearing Up With A Major Revamp Of Its Security System
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Kolkata Metro Rail Introduces Integrated Security Plan
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Metro Rail Ticketing Chugs On A Hi-Tech Track In Kolkata
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Metro To Run Full Stretch By July
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Kolkata Metro...
|
Environment
Kolkata On Brink Of Civic Disaster: World Bank Study
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
West Bengal Govt Sanctions Rs 10 Crore To Make Beliaghata Canal
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Restores Green Turfs
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
West Bengal Declares 11 Districts Drought-Affected
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
Volunteers To Keep Watch On City Green Cover
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
More Environment...
|
Health
City Hospital Starts Air Ambulance Service
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
KMC Mulls Health Cover For 11.5L BPL Families
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
KMC To Upgrade Maternity Homes
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Touts Tighten Grip On SSKM Hospital
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Mobile Healthcare May Soon Become Real
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Health...
|
Education
Edify To Set Up 7 Schools In West Bengal and India's North East region
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
School To Spare The Rod, Cut Marks
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
IIM Calcutta Fellow Programme In Management (FPM) Admission 2011
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
IIT-Kharagpur Hopes To Get Cabinet Nod For Medical School
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Build A Great Wall of Books
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Education...
|
Fun & Games
Inter School Squash Tournament Launched In Kolkata
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Calcutta Football League Premier Division To Start Tomorrow
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Govt Plans To Set Up 4 Residential Sports Schools
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
Bengal To Provide Sports Stipend To 15,000 Children To Promote Sporting Talents
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
West Bengal Holds Kickboxing Championship To Train Teenagers
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Sports & Fun...
|
Roaks
in Kolkata
PWD Handed List of 34 Roads For Upkeep
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Link Road To Bypass South Choke-Point
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Roads Has Become A Nightmare For City Dwellers And Pedestrian
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Car Breakdown Or Accident On Toll Highway? Seek Free Help
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Metro To Mud Roads
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
More Roads in Kolkata...
|
History
of Kolkata
Kolkata's Heritage Sold For Rs 12 cr
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Italian Help To Revive Kolkata Glory ,Identify Heritage Spots For Restoration
0 comments, 0 new
by 141,
Calcutta Pocket Is Poised To Deck Up Its Slice of Awadhi History ,Decide To Spend Rs 42 lakh
0 comments, 0 new
by 141,
E India's biggest trading hub in Kolkata gutted, Damages Estimated To Run Into Crores
0 comments, 0 new
by -1,
Bengal's Jain Connection Goes Back 1000 Years
0 comments, 0 new
by 57,
More History of Kolkata...
|
Important
Telephone Numbers
IMD Plans To Offer Weather Updates On Mobile Phones
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Calling Customer Care? It May Not Be Toll Free
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Why You Will Have To Live With SMS Ads
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Landlines Fast Disappearing From Kolkata
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Get Online to Put Your Telco In Line
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Telephone...
|
Local
Transportation
Five Years After Ban, Kolkata Rickshaw Pullers Yet To Be Rehabilitated
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Welfare Scheme For Transport Workers
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
75 Pairs Of New Trains Introduced During Durga Puja: Mamata
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
Subsidy For Transporters Of Re One per litre On Diesel Used
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Govt Refuses To Hike Transport Fares
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
More Transportation...
|
Electricity
Power Tariffs Hiked In Bengal
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Rural Houses To Have Electricity By June 2011
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Talks To Set Up Thermal Units At Power Plants
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
`Hike In Green Power Tariff Will Bring In More Projects'
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Brace For 12-Hour Power Cuts Two Years From Now
0 comments, 0 new
by 262,
More Electricity...
|
Water
DVC To Increase Water Discharge To Save Paddy Cultivation
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
Hooghly Water For Rajarhat On A Trial Basis
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Water Scarcity Likely To Hit Haldia Soon, Courtesy Citu Strike
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Water Tax Dispute Spreads To Sector V
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Water Woes May Tilt Vote Scales
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Water...
|
Good
Eating Places Around?
Kolkata Restaurants Not To Charge More During Durga Puja
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Tangra With Love in Beijing, The Fine Places In Terms of Food, Service And Sense of Hospitality
0 comments, 0 new
by 141,
MUSICIAN AND FOODIE NONDON BAGCHI TAKES US THOUGH THE PERFORMANCE OF A STRING SENSATION
0 comments, 0 new
by 3,
King of kebab craft
0 comments, 0 new
by 3,
More Good Eating Places Around?...
|
Local
Artists and Performances
Kolkata Holds Handicrafts Fair For Rural Self-Help Groups
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Treat For Music Lovers in Kolkata
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Create Your Comic
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Asutosh Mookerjee's Rare Books On Exhibit
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Bauls Come Together In Kolkata To Showcase Their Music In 3-Day Baul Music Festival
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
More Local Artists and Performances...
|
 |
|
|
TOP STORIES
Panel To Shield Babus From `Pointless' Charges
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Cracked Garden Reach Pipeline Shatters Supply In South Kolkata
0 comments, 0 new
by 207,
Pink Slip Fear Drives Techies To Docs
0 comments, 0 new
by 149,
Regd olive garden project by canopy in rajarhat
0 comments, 0 new
by -1,
Poor Sanitation System In Most Of The Government-Run And Government-Aided Schools In The State
0 comments, 0 new
by 142,
More Ask Questions...
|
Tourism
Low Cost Ganga River Cruise from Kolkata to Patna to Start in October
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Wed Aug 18, 2010 at 12:22:00 AM EST
A river cruise on the holy Ganga River from Patna in Bihar to Kolkata in West Bengal is all set to begin in the festive season, starting October.
A Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") will be signed to this effect between Bihar State Tourism Development of Corporation ("BSTDC") and Assam based Assam Bengal Naviation ("ABD"). The formalities of the MoU are still to be finalized and final negotiations will be made in the next week.
Each cruise will have a capacity to accommodate 24 passengers. Though rates are still not finalized, the cruise will stop at Rajmahal, Bateshwarsthan, Sultanganj, Munger, Simariaghat and Patna.
This river cruise on the Ganga River is a low cost cruise for both domestic and foreign tourist. The cruise, with have various luxury facilities including 12 cabins double bed (A/C) rooms, open deck, dining hall, bar, restaurant, massage centre, big hall and emergency medical facilities.
The cruise will stop at various places such as Rajmahal which was once an early Mughul capital of Bengal. Munger is a visitor's delight for its Mughal Fort further expanded by the East India Company and a world famous first Yoga University.
Source: www.rang7.com Low Cost Ganga River Cruise from Kolkata to Patna to Start in October
Click On "Full Story" For More...
(487 words in story) Full Story
 |
West Bengal Identifies New Tourism Spots
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 11:40:38 PM EST
West Bengal Tourism Minister Manab Mukherjee Saturday said the government is trying to create new tourist destinations in Birbhum and Murshidabad districts.
'We are trying to create new tourist destinations in Birbhum and Murshidabad districts. A flight service from Kolkata to Coochbehar is starting next month. It will also help to open up western parts of Dooars for tourism,' said Mukherjee at a tourism fair here.
'While lakhs of people go to tourist destinations outside the state, many come here during the pujas, the largest festival of Bengal,' said Mukherjee.
Seven countries and 26 states are participating in the three-day travel and tourism Fair (TTF) that started here in Kolkata.
Uttarakhand, the partner state in this year's TTF, has the largest presence at the fair with over 50 exhibitors. Gujarat continues its aggressive marketing campaign in Kolkata as partner state this year too, with 22 private exhibitors.
'Apart from religious tourism, the state has much more to offer in the form of water sports, trekking and adventure tourism,' said Uttarakhand Minister of Tourism Madan Kaushik.
Source: Sify.com West Bengal identifies new tourism spots
Comments >>
 |
Tour Agents Plan To Make Monsoon A Visit Season
By Shashank, Section Tourism Posted on Thu Jul 15, 2010 at 03:11:04 AM EST
Stakeholders of the tourism industry have decided to initiate a host of activities to promote north Bengal and Sikkim as idyllic destinations during the monsoon.
"Although north Bengal, Sikkim and the Northeast have some favourite hotspots for domestic as well as international tourists, the peak tourism period here does not exceed 100 days a year. So, we have felt the need to increase the inflow of visitors and to stretch the season," said Raj Basu, the president of the Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators' Association.
"If something new and unique is offered during the monsoon to attract more people, it will help the industry -- right from a porter to a tour operator -- earn more. Our plan is to launch a concerted promotional campaign focussing on the monsoon and to obliterate the concept of `off season' as it is known...States like Goa and Kerala have already succeeded in wooing tourists during the rains," added Basu.
The decision to spearhead the campaign was taken at a meeting of the association here yesterday.
Source: The Telegraph Tour agents plan to make monsoon a visit season
Click On "Full Story" For More...
(487 words in story) Full Story
 |
Salt Lake Bheris To Be New Eco-Tourism Hubs
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Tue Jul 13, 2010 at 02:11:28 AM EST
After years of neglect, Salt Lake's 20 sq-km of bheris will be developed as an eco-tourism destination. Bidhannagar Municipality's new Trinamool board has taken this initiative to protect the waterbodies from the clutches of unscrupulous promoters.
Eco-tourism is among the pilot projects the new board plans to take up. Bidhannagar Municipality's chairperson and her chairman-in-council members will discuss the plan to develop Salt Lake's bheris with members of the advisory committee to the civic body. The bheris are part of the East Kolkata Wetlands.
Municipality vice-chairman Sabyasachi Dutta said it would take some time for the idea to become a reality, however. "It is not going to happen immediately. We will have to discuss the issue,"he said.
The previous Left-run civic board did have a plan on the bheris but never worked on it. Biswajiban Majumder, who was chairman of the previous board, had verbally proposed to state tourism minister Manabandra Mukherjee that the bheris be developed as an eco-tourism centre. Mukherjee had asked the civic authorities to send him the proposal in writing so that his department could work on it.
Source: Times Of India Salt Lake Bheris To Be New Eco-Tourism Hubs
Click On "Full Story" For More...
(403 words in story) Full Story
 |
Bengal Targets River Tourism For Growth
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:21:47 PM EST
With river cruises becoming a big draw for tourists, especially foreigners, the Hooghly has become West Bengal tourism department's first priority in promoting tourism in the state.
State tourism minister Manabendra Mukherjee, at a Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry meeting on roadmap for development of tourism in West Bengal in the city on Tuesday, said major projects are lined up for infrastructure development along the river. "We are building eight jetties--first in Kolkata and last in Murshidabad -- to help private cruises operate on the route. We are getting investment proposals in the area as well," the minister said.
The Kolkata-Varanasi (operated by Pandaw Cruises) and Sunderban (Vivada) cruises are among the top in popularity in river cruises in the country. The state government is spending Rs 25 crore on the infrastructure and a Rs 130 crore project is being planned with a private investor. Out of the Rs 130 crore, 25% will be central grant, said TVN Rao, managing director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. Three companies have applied for the project and one will be shortlisted by June 2010, said Rao.
On the infrastructure front, work at Baharampur and Murshidabad is over, it is in progress at Barackpore and in Chandanagar, Shrirampur, Mayapur and Palasi it is at the tendering stage, the managing director said.
Source: Financial Express Bengal targets river tourism for growth
Click On "Full Story" For More...
(348 words in story) Full Story
 |
Rohini Loses Sheen, Tourists Few Nowadays
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Wed May 05, 2010 at 03:04:29 AM EST
Rohini, once a famous tourist spot en route to Kurseong from Siliguri, attracts very less visitors these days.
A dried-up lake, a gutted DGHC bungalow and an ill-maintained Jagadamba Park are all that remain at Rohini.
According to local people, Rohini, located around 25km from here, used to draw a lot of people from the plains -- because of its short distance from Siliguri -- at all times irrespective of the tourist season.
"Rohini was a place which was teeming with tourists throughout the year. It was a place for family outing during weekends and holidays. But in the past two years, very few people have visited the place. There were just a few picnickers at Rohini last winter," said Ashok Rai, a DGHC employee engaged in the maintenance of the park.
The local people cited the apathy of the DGHC authorities as the main reason for the dwindling tourist influx.
"Earlier, there were more than 20 people employed in the upkeep of the park and the lake. At present, there are just 13 employees here. They live in far-flung places and do not come to work daily. This has affected the maintenance of the tourist spot," said a resident.
Source: The Telegraph Rohini loses sheen, tourists few nowadays
Click On "Full Story" For More...
(514 words in story) Full Story
 |
Govt Planning To Pump In Rs 20 cr To Preserve BBD Bag Heritage
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Mon Apr 26, 2010 at 03:39:25 AM EST
The heritage look of Dalhousie area is all set to get revived. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is embarking on a Rs 20-crore Dalhousie heritage restoration project to bring back the heritage look of the area. The project mainly includes restoring the footpaths, installing lamp posts and garden landscaping.
The state-owned Mackintosh Burn Limited has been entrusted with the job to take on the project that will be implemented in phases for the next one year. The project has been sanctioned under the Centre's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Municipal commissioner Arnab Roy said no heritage structure will be touched during the project. "The project only entails restoring the heritage look of the footpaths surrounding the GPO and installing lamp posts that compliments the heritage look of the area. Besides, some small garden landscaping will also take place in a few places," Roy said.
Mackintosh Burn MD N Dhar said they have already started working on this project. "The footpaths will be restored with granite settings so that the original heritage look gets revived. The plan also includes planting trees on the sides of the footpath for an aesthetic look," Dhar said.
Earlier, the state government had worked on a plan to revive and protect the heritage structures of BBD Bag. The Delhi-based Consulting Engineering Services (CES), which was appointed by the state government, had prepared the plan and had submitted it. However, the government is yet to implement the plan, as the underground car parking lot was separately taken up and the KMC now taking over restoring the footpaths and streetlights.
Source: Times Of India Govt planning to pump in Rs 20 cr to preserve BBD Bag heritage
Comments >>
 |
India's New Visa Regime Problematic: Travel Agents
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Wed Apr 14, 2010 at 11:21:27 PM EST
Indian flagSingaporean travel agents have complained to Indian officials here that the new visa restrictions that require multiple journey visa holders to return to India only after two months of leaving its shores, is hindering the travel plans of many visitors.
Speaking at a tourism ministry's Singapore roadshow for promoting the Delhi Commonwealth Games and visa on arrival on Monday night, the agents said travelers were no longer comfortable to make a return trip to India, having landed at one of its airports and then travelling to neighbouring countries.
The ministry and the Indian high commission officials, led by assistant director Neela Lad, explained that the New Delhi had liberalised the visa restrictions by giving authority to immigration officials at entry points to allow a person of Indian origin to revisit within the two months.
The agents were not satisfies by the clarification given by the officials and said there were no certainty that Indian immigration officials would allow re-entry to a traveler who had landed in India, and then went on to visit places such as Kathmandu or elsewhere in Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Source:www.mydigitalfc.com India's new visa regime problematic: Travel agents
Click On "Full Story" For More...
(330 words in story) Full Story
 |
Cabinet To Mull Single-Point Nod For Hotel Projects
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Wed Apr 14, 2010 at 03:22:42 AM EST
The Cabinet will soon deliberate on a proposal to establish a single-point clearance system for new hotel projects, a move that is likely to speed up the process of setting up hospitality infrastructure across the country, the Tourism Ministry said.
"A Committee of Secretaries has cleared the proposal for single-window clearance of hotel projects and this is to be posed for Cabinet approval soon," Union minister for Tourism Kumari Selja said, while inaugurating the third Great India Travel Bazaar in Jaipur.
Under the proposal, hoteliers will need to submit only one uniform application for their projects. Committees will be formed at the central and state level for clearance of these projects.
At the Union level, the committee will be headed by the tourism secretary and at the state level, it will be chaired by the chief secretary.
"I will be heading the committee in the government of India. It is my responsibility to get it (hotel projects) through, whether it is from the state government or the central government," tourism secretary Sujit Banerjee said.
Source: Realty Plus Cabinet to mull single-point nod for hotel projects
Click On "Full Story" For More...
(316 words in story) Full Story
 |
Govt Mulls Three Trips Per Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa
By akansha, Section Tourism Posted on Fri Mar 19, 2010 at 12:00:24 AM EST
Following a barrage of complaints and criticism over the recent tightening of visa norms that now stipulate a two-month cooling-off period before a multiple-entry tourist visa holder can re-enter India, the government is actively considering several new proposals to deal with the matter, including capping the number of trips at three per multiple-entry tourist visa.
As per sources, the government is mulling over the introduction of a trip-based system wherein the holder of a multiple-entry tourist visa would be allowed to make only three trips during the validity of the visa (which could either be 90 or 180 days, as the case may be). Under this system, the two-month cooling off period would be done away with and a holder would be entitled to make three trips to India on a multipleentry tourist visa as long as it is valid. After having made three trips during the visa validity, the holder will have to seek a fresh visa.
With a mechanism like this, the government not only hopes to enable the security agencies to effectively monitor the periodicity of the trips by foreign visitors on tourist visas but also detect misuse. Realising that genuine tourists should not be inconvenienced, the government is hoping to put those misusing multiple-entry tourist visas under the scanner.
The government had earlier clarified that a foreigner who exited after availing the facility of two or three entries within the stipulated period and sought re-entry within the two-month gap would be permitted to visit only in emergent situations like death, serious illness in family, unavailability of connecting flights. Such a request had to be backed by proper documentation.
Source: The Indian Express By Raghvendra Rao Govt mulls three trips per multiple-entry tourist visa
Comments >>
 |
India To Launch Helpline For Tourists
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 11:03:08 PM EST
India will soon launch a helpline for tourists to know more about various destinations and to seek help if they are in distress, it was announced Saturday.
Minister of State for Tourism Kumari Selja made the announcement at an International Buddhist Heritage Conference in Nalanda in Bihar.
According to a tourism ministry official, any tourist, domestic or international, can call the helpline for information about a place he or she intends to visit.
"They can also call the number when in distress or in an emergency," she said.
Selja added: "In December 2009, the foreign tourist arrivals in India saw a 21 percent increase over the same period in 2008. The future looks bright. We expect buoyancy to return to the sector soon."
Source: Economic Times India to launch helpline for tourists
Comments >>
 |
Rural Tourism Debut For Bengal This Month
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Sun Jan 31, 2010 at 11:16:02 PM EST
Rural tourism will make its formal debut in West Bengal next month when a Rs 70 lakh project will be opened at Ballavpur Danga village near Santiniketan.
The project, which has been funded by the West Bengal Tourism department along with Central funds, will primarily be run by self-help groups (SHG) thereby, employing local people, state tourism minster Manabendra Mukherjee said here at a CII event.
"We will launch the first rural tourism project on February 26," he said.
Mukherjee said that another similar project at Mukutmanipur in Bankura district will also be opened soon, while work on two more initiatives at Hooghly and Bankura districts are also underway.
For all these ventures, while the state government will prepare the physical infrastructure, SHGs will undertake the daily activities, for which specific soft-skills training will be imparted.
Source: Business-standard Rural tourism debut for Bengal this month
Comments >>
 |
VISA Norms to Be Eased For Govt-Employed Foreigners
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Sat Jan 02, 2010 at 12:19:19 AM EST
The new visa regime is proving a hindrance to foreign nationals working on government projects. So, the Centre has come up with a solution: a "flexible" government-to-government category in the new visa manual, expected to be ready by the month-end.
The new rules state that those coming to India on business visas can't work until they get employment visas. There are 1,395 foreigners working on projects for the Defence Ministry and 159 for the Department of Atomic Energy, all on B-visas. So, the Centre will convert all their B-visas into E-visas.
China and Russia had taken up the matter of the new rules with the External Affairs Ministry.
"We are looking at flexibility on government-to-government category projects -- dealing with defence, DAE and nuclear power. Considering the sensitivity and national interest involved, visa conversion needs to be streamlined," a government official said.
As of now, the Home Ministry is expected to complete security vetting for an E-visa applications within 45 days. If this doesn't happen, the Indian missions "may" take it that the ministry has cleared the application and process it. "We need clarity on this," the official said.
Also, the official added, the "surge in projects" necessitates an examination of the old rule that foreigners should not exceed one per cent of the project workforce or a maximum of 20.
Source: Hindustan Times VISA Norms to Be Eased For Govt-Employed Foreigners
Comments >>
 |
No Change In New Tourist Visa Norms: Govt
By akansha, Section Tourism Posted on Tue Dec 29, 2009 at 09:03:39 PM EST
A day after minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor questioned the tightening of visa rules against the backdrop of the David Coleman Headley case, home ministry officials appeared to be in no mood to relent on the new visa rules for tourists, saying the government would not like to compromise with the country's security interests.
Citing the changes made by several countries like US and UK after terror strikes on their soil, senior officials here argued that it should be left to the home ministry to chalk out plans for securing the nation.
Ministry officials pointed out that the government had so far not received any formal complaint from any country, including the US or the UK, after the new visa rules were implemented. Only a few clarifications had been sought by Washington and they have been addressed, they said.
"When some foreign missions based in India sought clarity, we told them that if someone has to worry about tourist arrivals, it is India and not any other nation," said an official.
As per the new visa rules, no tourist having a travel document valid for 180 days would be allowed to return to the country before a cooling-off period of two months.
Source: Times Of India No change in new tourist visa norms: Govt
Click On "Full Story" For More.....
(399 words in story) Full Story
 |
Bengal Promotes New Tourist Destinations
By ugesh sarkar, Section Tourism Posted on Tue Dec 29, 2009 at 02:35:57 AM EST
Although the West Bengal government is reluctant to admit that the political turmoil in the Hills has affected the tourism industry in Darjeeling and the surrounding areas, it is attempting to aggressively market other destinations within the state to ensure a steady inflow of tourists.
"Darjeeling is a destination that is almost two centuries old and there is no replacement for it. However, we are trying to bring up other destinations in West Bengal and the number of inbound tourists have been increasing at a rate higher than the national average," state tourism Manab Mukherjee said. Mukherjee said that Dooars, Malda, Murshidabad, Santiniketan as well as the sea beaches in the south of the state were being increasingly frequented by tourists. The state government, through the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC), was also working on a number of cultural festivals to act as promotional vehicles for establishing new tourist destinations.
"Next year, we are going to organise a cultural festival at Bishnupur for showcasing the musical heritage of the region and are also planning to hold a festival at the Hazarduari (Palace) in Murshidabad to promote the culture and crafts of the erstwhile Nawabs of Bengal," Mukherjee said. He was speaking at a press meet for the West Bengal Tourism & Food Festival 2010.
Ganga Heritage Cruise
West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation on Monday said that it would take at least six months for the Rs 130-crore Ganga Heritage River Cruise project in West Bengal to materialise as a re-tendering for private participation in the scheme will be undertaken next month.
"When we originally floated a tender for the (Ganga Heritage) River Cruise project last year, the private firms wanted a change in the proposed equity structure of the PPP (public private partnership) and also wanted a certain amount of land to set-up their onshore facilities. We have agreed to these changes and a new tender will be floated next month," WBTDC Managing Director T V N Rao said.
Source: Business-standardBengal promotes new tourist destinations
Comments >>
 |
|
|
Who's Online? (13)
. Unregistered Visitors (13)
Note: You may cloak yourself from appearing here in your Display Preferences.
Site Stats
No Access
|
|