Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (Northern Region) Participates in Taj Mahotsav & Conference – ‘Agra Beyond Taj’ Agra, February 27, 2025

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (Northern Region), actively participated with tourism stakeholders, tourism media, influencers, youtubers in the prestigious Taj Mahotsav and the ‘Agra Beyond Taj’ Conference held in Agra. Dr. R.K. Suman, Regional Director (North), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, addressed the conference, welcoming participants and briefing them on the guidelines and policies of the Ministry of Tourism. He emphasized the urgent need to promote Agra’s cultural and heritage sites beyond the Taj Mahal in a sustainable manner.

The conference also featured distinguished speakers, including Shri Rajiv Narain, Vice President of SPHEEHa, Shri Ved Khanna, President ADTOI and former President of the Tourism Guild of Agra, Mr. Shakti Singh, RTO, Agra & Aligarh Region, UP Tourism, Mr. Pankaj Gupta from SPHEEHa, Mr. Arun Dang, former President of the Tourism Guild of Agra, Ms. Soity Banerjee from Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative, Mr. Ashu Gupta, Sustainability Expert, and Mr. Ram Pratap, Chairman of Chambal Safari, Agra & Mr. Sandeep Shukla, Assistant Director, Indiatourism Agra. The vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Rajiv Saxena, President of the Tourism Guild of Agra.

A panel discussion featuring inspiring speakers was organized, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with the participants. More than 150 tourism stakeholders, tourism media, Influencers from Delhi NCR along with local stakeholders of Agra participated in the Conference.

In the evening, attendees visited the Taj Mahotsav at Shilp Gram, Agra, where they enjoyed cultural performances and explored handicraft stalls. They also toured the iconic Taj Mahal, and other lesser-known heritage sites in Agra.

On the following day, participants will embark on a familiarization (FAM) tour to Fatehpur Sikri Monuments, Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, and Lohagarh Fort in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. The primary objective of the FAM tour is to highlight the lesser-known tourist destinations in Bharatpur and encourage extended stays for tourists visiting Agra and its neighbouring regions.

This initiative underscores the Ministry of Tourism’s commitment to promoting heritage tourism in a sustainable and holistic manner, ensuring a rich and immersive experience for travellers exploring Agra and beyond.