India is set to strengthen its surveillance capabilities over the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region, with the development of an airfield. The proposal for the airfield was first put forth by the Indian Coast Guard, making it the first force under the Defence Ministry to do so. The current proposal suggests the Indian Air Force will lead the operations from the airfield, located in the Minicoy Island.
The Minicoy airport, once operational, will enhance the defence forces' surveillance capabilities in the Arabian Sea. Additionally, it will stimulate regional tourism, as outlined in the government's plans. Currently, the island territory houses a single airstrip in Agatti, which restricts the variety of aircraft. This move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the region last week and the controversy with Maldives that swiftly followed.
Additionally, Tata Group plans to inaugurate two resorts in 2026 on the islands of Suheli and Kadmat in Lakshadweep. In January of the previous year, the Indian Hotels Company, a Tata Group subsidiary, announced the signing of two Taj-branded resorts in Lakshadweep. The company stated that these Greenfield projects are set to open in 2026 and will be developed by IHCL.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted Lakshadweep as a potential tourist destination, sharing pictures of the stunning islands. The images sparked a wave of interest among Indians, with many comparing its scenic beauty to that of the Maldives. The conversation soon evolved towards the infrastructure of Lakshadweep, as potential visitors began to question if the archipelago has sufficient hotels and resorts to cater to an expected surge in tourist numbers.
The press service of the Ministry of Economic Development has announced that over the past four years, the number of trips by Russian tourists to Uzbekistan has increased more than tenfold - from 37,000 to 403,000 people
The press service of the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Management of the Moscow Region has announced that the first May beetles have begun to wake up in the region
The Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Roscongress Foundation, the International Exhibition-Forum "Russia", the Russian Union of Tourism Industry, the Committee for Tourism Development of the City of Moscow and the B1 Group of Companies, presented the results of a study of the domestic tourism market in Russia at the IV Russian Tourism Forum "Travel!"