Destination Updates

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Almost There!Demand for air travel reaches 99% of 2019 levels
  • TTN
  • 11 January, 2024
The demand for air travel in November 2023 was 99% of what it was in 2019, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs, were used to estimate total traffic in November 2023, and they increased by 29.7% over November 2022. It stated that traffic is currently at 99.1% of November 2019 levels worldwide. In November 2023, traffic for Middle Eastern carriers increased by 18.6% over November 2022. In November, the load factor decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 77.4%, while capacity climbed by 19.0% over the same month last year. Globally , traffic from abroad increased by 26.4% from November 2022. As expected, the Asia-Pacific area posted the best year-over-year performance (+63.8%), with every region exhibiting growth over the previous year. International RPKs for November 2023 were 94.5% of those for November 2019. November 2023 saw a 34.8% increase in domestic traffic over November 2022. Domestic traffic in November 2023 was 6.7% more than in November 2019. China experienced exceptionally robust growth (+272%) as it overcame the COVID-19 travel restrictions that persisted till a year ago. Due largely to the strong demand over the Thanksgiving weekend, domestic travel within the US achieved a record high, growing by +9.1% over November 2019. Looking at the numbers, if you’re planning to start your own travel agency, this is the best time. Read More...
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Book LakshadweepCordelia experiences 2500% increase in Lakshadweep booking queries
  • Travel Trade Journal
  • 11 January, 2024
As of 2021, Cordelia Cruises is the only cruise line that regularly arranges amazing trips to the undiscovered paradise of Lakshadweep. Interest in this pristine territory has surged since PM Modi's recent visit; Cordelia Cruises has seen a 2500% increase in booking inquiries. Since 2021, Cordelia Cruises has been the sole cruise line to assist more than 200,000 Indian travelers in discovering Lakshadweep. Every year, Cordelia Cruises welcomes 80,000 travelers who want to experience the stunning archipelago. This makes the company the top option for anyone looking to visit Lakshadweep. Apart from providing an unparalleled vacation experience, Cordelia Cruises makes a substantial contribution to the local economies of Lakshadweep via shore excursions, cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships with the island inhabitants and augmenting the region's economic terrain. With its distinctive itineraries departing from Mumbai, Goa, and Kochi, Cordelia Cruises distinguishes out because it provides more than just a trip; rather, it offers a comprehensive cultural and environmental experience. Every year, more than 80,000 tourists take our cruises to discover Lakshadweep's colorful marine life, breathtaking scenery, and rich tapestry, greatly enhancing the local economy. Also, check out Codelia’s latest deals and offers for an unparalleled cruising experience. Read More...
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No Visa NeededBrazil postpones visa requirements till April 10
  • TTJ
  • 11 January, 2024
Brazil has delayed entrance visas for U.S., Australian, and Canadian passport holders until April 10, 2024. This is the second extension granted for the need for a visa. Brazil first announced the requirement for October 1st, then changed the deadline to January 10th. Brazil claimed that it needs additional time to implement its electronic visa system and does not want to disrupt travel during the busiest travel seasons, including the Carnival celebrations in February and March. Even though the United States, Australia, and Canada still require visas for Brazilian travelers, the former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, abolished the requirement in 2019 to promote tourism. Complete our exclusive Brazil tourism course to gain more travel insights about the country as well as well curated itineraries. Read More...
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Mumbai-> ParisVistara announces direct flights from Mumbai to Paris
  • ET Travel
  • 11 January, 2024
On Tuesday, Vistara announced that starting on March 28, it will offer nonstop flights from the city to Paris. According to a statement from Vistara, flight services on the new route will be provided by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft five times a week. After nine years of operation, the airline's headquarters in Gurugram now operates five weekly flights from Delhi to Paris. Vistara already runs flights from Mumbai to London and Frankfurt as part of its long-haul international air services network. Vinod Kannan, CEO of Vistara, said, "We are delighted to announce direct connectivity between Mumbai and Paris, our sixth route to Europe. The addition of this much-awaited connection is in line with our strategy to position Mumbai as a vital hub for international travel." Read More...
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Work & ExploreUK New Visa Rule: Visitors can now work on Tourist Visa
  • The Mint
  • 3 January, 2024
On January 31, the United Kingdom will significantly alter its visa regulations, allowing more people with visitor visas to engage in business. When visiting the UK, holders of tourist visas are now permitted to work remotely and with clients. The change is likely to help the nation's economy and tourism. As per a statement by VisaGuide.World, "The UK's government has published an update to its immigration rules, thus permitting more activities on Visitor Visas, while confirming that the new changes will become effective from January 31, 2024." Employees working for companies that have both domestic and foreign branches are permitted to work for clients abroad as long as it makes up a small portion of their duties abroad is essential to a project or service that the UK branch is working on and isn't something that the foreign employer is doing directly for a UK client. Although travelers can work remotely from the UK, this shouldn't be their primary motivation. Researchers, scientists, and academics are permitted to work in the UK, except scholars who wish to prolong their stay or seek a 12-month visitation visa. In a statement made last month, Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, promised that starting in January 2024, entrepreneurs would be able to participate in a greater variety of approved activities and paid engagements under the UK government's expanded business visitor regulations. In 2024, the government plans to investigate additional changes to business visitor regulations." To know more about UK’s tourist spots, best time to visit and most affordable stays, checkout our United Kingdom travel course. Read More...
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3-year HighIndia’s domestic air traffic hits 15.2 Crores, breaks 3-year record
  • Indian Express
  • 3 January, 2024
Domestic air passenger traffic in India reached a record high in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic heights and signifying the industry's complete recovery from the effects of COVID-19. According to data gathered and examined by aviation analytics company Network Thoughts, domestic air traffic is predicted to reach an all-time high of 15.2 crore passengers in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 14.4 crore passengers in 2019. Network Thoughts further said in a recent report on Indian Aviation “With this, the recovery is complete and a year ahead of IATA’s (International Air Transport Association) original estimation of traffic reaching pre-Covid levels by 2024. While the year recorded an all-time high, the month of December 2023 recorded highest ever monthly traffic in the history of civil aviation in India,”. The previous year marked the first full year of operations returning to normal following the pandemic outbreak, which had brought the aviation sector to a complete halt throughout the world. The report also said “The resilience in traffic comes at a time when airlines have not been able to deploy full capacity owing to a mix of financial and engine issues at various airlines and suspension of services by one airline (Go First). This has led to higher load factors across airlines in 2023,”. Seamless air ticketing by travel agents and professionals all around the country has also been a contributing factor in this. Read More...
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Welcome to SaudiSaudi Arabia Incoming tourist spending records $27.36 Billion
  • TTJ
  • 3 January, 2024
Based on information from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom has set a new record for the amount of money spent by foreign visitors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the first three quarters of 2023, SAR 102.6 billion ($27.36 billion) was spent overall. The travel item surplus in the balance of payments was anticipated to be around SAR37.8 billion by the end of Q3 of 2023, a growth rate of 72% over the surplus recorded during the same period in 2022. The tourism industry in the Kingdom has fully recovered and has increased by a stunning 150% when compared to pre-Covid-19 levels. There has been a noticeable resurgence in many travel destinations, drawing more and more tourists from domestic and international locations. According to reports from the World Tourism Organization, the Kingdom topped the list of G20 nations in the increase in foreign visitor arrivals during the first three quarters of 2023. Furthermore, the Kingdom is now ranked second among tourist destinations with the quickest growth rate. Credit goes out to the various Saudi experts who’ve helped in selling the destination. Read More...
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Euro TripSchengen visa holders can soon travel to Romania & Bulgaria
  • Travel Turtle
  • 3 January, 2024
Holders of Schengen visas can include two more countries on their European travel itinerary starting in March. According to the most recent news reports, Bulgaria and Romania are the newest members. This implies that travelers with Schengen visas for Europe will now have the freedom to add Bulgaria and Romania to their vacation plans. Following recent negotiations, the European Union has agreed to let these Balkan countries use the Schengen system's entry regulations at ports and airports. This move follows Austria's partial retreat from its earlier opposition to border-free region expansion, which created opportunities for improved bloc cooperation. Since joining the EU in 2007, Bulgaria and Romania have faced criticism from other members over their attempts to protect their borders, fight organized crime, and fight corruption. Although corruption has historically been a problem for both countries, recent progress has also been noted. Watch out Budapest travel guide to know more about the Schengen visa guidelines Read More...
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Record Breaking TourismQatar welcomed 4 million visitors in 2023, breaks 5-year record
  • TTN
  • 3 January, 2024
According to the most recent Qatar Tourism data, which emphasized the positive momentum of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the nation's ongoing efforts and initiatives to promote its tourism sector, Qatar recorded more than 4 million visitors in 2023, exceeding the annual visitor numbers of the previous five years. In order to streamline and simplify the visa application procedure for visitors needing a visa to enter Qatar, Qatar stated earlier this year that the Hayya platform was operating flawlessly. These initiatives supplement Qatar's current open travel regulations, which grant visas on arrival to citizens of 95 countries. According to a statement, Qatar's year-round events calendar and alluring marketing initiatives have also contributed to the country's rising visitor numbers. Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, said: "Qatar continues to demonstrate its appeal as a global tourism destination with its expanded tourism infrastructure, safety, and authentic Arabian hospitality. Qatar's diverse tourism offering, with its 500km of pristine coastline, world-class museums, cultural and contemporary destinations, combine to make for a unique and compelling holiday that can be tailored to suit travellers from the region and internationally. New developments in Qatar's tourism sector are ongoing, creating even further opportunities for growth." Checkout our Qatar itineraries and learn more about Qatar’s tourist checkpoints. Read More...
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Suspended for 3Indigo suspends Kanpur to Bangalore flights for 3 months
  • TOI
  • 28 December, 2023
Last week, IndiGo—the largest airline in India in terms of market share and fleet size—achieved a significant milestone by being the first to carry 100 million passengers in a fiscal year. The most recent information indicates that it will cease its service from Kanpur to Bengaluru for three months beginning on January 1, 2024. Although this is a significant choice, it is made for a purpose. To find out, continue reading. The announcement of IndiGo Airlines' suspension has particularly infuriated the business sector in Kanpur. The Merchant Chamber of Commerce took the issue seriously, and its vice president, Mayank Khanna, recently contacted the IndiGo corporate office. The head office informed the Merchant Chamber that between January and March 2024, over thirty aircraft have already been grounded due to technical engine problems, and between thirty and forty more aircraft will be grounded due to engine-related issues in compliance with DGCA guidelines. Consequently, IndiGo's flights had been canceled even though the carrier was getting a good load from Kanpur. Not only have flights been canceled in Kanpur, but more than thirty planes have been canceled across the country. To understand the dynamics of the airline industry, checkout our air ticketing course and discover valuable insights and much more. Read More...
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Now HiringWomen Lead the Way: Female Recruitment Surges in Global Travel Sector
  • TTN
  • 28 December, 2023
According to recent research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), which the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism started, the number of women directly employed in the sector increased by 24% between 2010 and 2019, from 38.6 million to 47.8 million. Furthermore, it was discovered that, with over half of all female jobs in the industry, the hotel industry is the top employer of women. With 15% of all positions in the sector in 2010 and 2021, young individuals are a significant part of the workforce in this industry. In contrast, the proportion of young workers in the global labor force decreased from 16.5% in 2010 to 12.5% in 2021, underscoring the significance of travel and tourism in the employment of young people. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, said: “Providing insights and data on the sector’s status quo, the report allows countries and regions to set clear goals to empower women and engage youth. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to play a major role in investing in the talent required to meet the needs of this thriving sector. This is strategically aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 goals in relation to youth empowerment and women. As an illustration, we have increased female labour force participation by 64% since 2021.” Discover more about opportunities in the travel industry and gain insights into travel with comprehensive guide to travel agent training. Read More...
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5-Year VisaIndonesia offers 5-year multiple entry visas
  • TTJ
  • 28 December, 2023
To boost tourism and the country's economy, Indonesia has declared a significant shift in its visa regulations. The nation launched a five-year visa program on December 20, 2023, allowing travelers to remain for up to 60 days. The scheme, which was launched by Immigration Chief Silmy Karim in support of government initiatives to boost economic growth, permits repeated entries and offers overseas applicants the option to apply online and pay with credit cards. Before, a single-entry 30-day stay was permitted with an Indonesian regular tourist visa, which could be extended for an extra 30-day period before expiring. Even though it welcomed almost 10 million foreign visitors by December 8 and exceeded its target of 8.5 million tourists, this number still falls short of neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, which have reported higher tourist influxes of 26 million, 24 million, and 11.2 million, respectively. Checkout the 10 Top Parks in Bali in 2023 for your next trip to Indonesia. Read More...
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Fresh VoyageAroya Cruises unveils first ship to sail into the New Year
  • TTN
  • 28 December, 2023
The first cruise ship in the fleet of Aroya Cruises, the new Arabian cruise line run by Cruise Saudi, was unveiled in preparation for its 2024 departure from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Currently undergoing a comprehensive makeover to suit the tastes of Arabian guests, the 335-meter-long ship is being tailored to the finest standards. According to a release, this magnificent ship, which has 1,682 exquisite accommodations spread across 19 decks, will redefine Arabian vacations. Aroya Cruises offers visitors an unparalleled Arabian hospitality experience that embodies the ideals of Saudi culture. This experience includes activities, a diversified food menu, and exceptional on-board service. CEO of Cruise Saudi, Lars Clasen, said “We are delighted to sail into the new year with the unveiling of our first Aroya Cruises ship. This marks an exciting milestone for Cruise Saudi in creating a world-class cruise industry in Saudi, whilst offering a new way to holiday in the Kingdom for locals. We look forward to welcoming the first passengers on-board.” To know more about the cruise ship industry, check out our cruise ship course. Read More...
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Prestigious AccoladeVilla Resorts, Maldives awarded “Luxury Vacation Brand of the Year”
  • Visit Maldives
  • 28 December, 2023
Awarded by Luxuri Magazine, the Luxuri Awards 2023 have named Villa Resorts the "Luxury Vacation Brand of the Year." With this honor, Villa Resorts is recognized for its superiority in the upscale travel industry and its deft incorporation of environmentally friendly techniques. The core value of Villa Resorts is a dedication to giving visitors an unparalleled experience by skillfully fusing the charm of the Maldives with attentive service. Set against the stunning background of the Maldives, each of their different resorts offers a distinctive luxury experience. From the yacht-life glamour of Villa Nautica in the North Malé Atoll to the serene escapades at Villa Park in South Ari Atoll, and the all-inclusive beachfront luxury at Royal Island in Baa Atoll, Villa Resorts offers a tranquil yet luxurious escape. Additionally, in its operations, Villa Resorts incorporates practices that respect and preserve the natural environment, ensuring a sustainable approach to luxury hospitality and a memorable, opulent stay for its guests. The Luxuri Awards, presented by Luxuri Magazine, are a mark of distinction for the luxury industry. The magazine, a pioneer in offering the finest in opulent living, strongly emphasizes feature quality and creativity. This accolade is a testament to Villa Resorts' commitment to providing first-rate experiences while keeping the environment in mind. Embark on a captivating educational voyage through the Maldives with our specialized Maldives travel course, designed to deepen your understanding and expertise in exploring this stunning destination. Read More...
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A Jumbo Venture TBO Group acquires online booking platform Jumboline
  • TBO
  • 21 December, 2023
Jump Tours Group's Jumbonline online reservation system has been acquired by TBO. Gaurav Bhatnagar, the co-founder of TBO, announced the news on LinkedIn on Monday. TBO.com is an Indian travel distribution platform. Jumbonline is a wholesaler and tour operator distribution platform with its headquarters located in Spain. According to Bhatnagar, TBO will have access to Jumbonline's technology, clients, personnel, and content as part of the transaction. “This acquisition gives us access to great supply across Europe, the Caribbean, and North Africa amongst other destinations,” said Bhatnagar. “We also get access to Jumbo’s extensive client portfolio across Europe.” Earlier this year, TBO completed the acquisition of business-to-business lodging supplier BookaBed, situated in Switzerland. According to the company, Skift, the acquisition expanded TBO's presence in Ireland and the UK. Read More...
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100 Million!Indigo becomes the first airline carrier to fly 100 million passengers
  • Indian Express
  • 21 December, 2023
After carrying 100 million passengers in 2023, IndiGo, the biggest airline in India, has joined a select global airline group. Only a handful of other airlines globally have accomplished the feat of carrying over 100 million passengers in a single calendar year, and IndiGo is the first Indian airline to do so. In a brief statement, the airline said, "In CY (calendar year) 2022, the airline welcomed 78 million passengers on board (slightly above pre-Covid-19 levels). IndiGo recently achieved another first for India by becoming the first airline to operate more than 2,000 daily flights. Today, IndiGo operates to 118 destinations, including 32 international destinations. " The airline is currently growing both its fleet and network. It placed the most significant aircraft order in history earlier this year, acquiring 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft. IndiGo now has around 1,000 planes on order, with delivery scheduled well into the upcoming decade, on top of the jets from previous purchases that haven't yet been delivered. Read More...
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Holiday BoomHoliday Boom: US & Europe air travel up by 10%
  • Travel & Tour World
  • 21 December, 2023
According to a new analysis by Cirium, a highly regarded expert in aviation analytics worldwide, there is a noteworthy increase of more than 10% in available airline seats during the forthcoming holiday season, indicating a bright prognosis for intra-European travel. In a similar vein, the domestic travel market in the United States is predicted to grow by 8% over the previous year. The source of this data is Cirium's Diio Mi Schedules Tool, which is a popular tool in the aviation industry for analyzing schedules for more than 1,300 airlines globally. Moreover, American Airlines expects a surge in demand for sun-drenched locations over the holiday season. There will be an 18% rise in tickets from the United States to resort destinations in the Caribbean in 2023 compared to 2022 and a 14% increase in seats to Florida. Cirium's analysis was based on comparisons between December 22, 2023, and January 2, 2024, and the equivalent period from the previous year, right before Christmas and right after the New Year's celebrations, for Europe and the US. Checkout our USA destination courses for more travel insights and updates. Read More...
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Bulk OrderTurkish airlines orders 355 airbus carriers
  • TTJ 
  • 21 December, 2023
Turkish Airlines, which flies to more foreign locations than any other airline, said today that it has acquired 355 cutting-edge Airbus aircraft, resulting in a massive fleet expansion. This large order includes 105 of the highly efficient A350 widebody aircraft and 250 of the best-selling A321, which are divided into 60 firm orders, 20 purchase rights A350-900s, 15 firm orders A350-1000s, and five firm orders and five buy rights A350-Freighters. Turkish Airlines' dedication to improving its operational effectiveness, environmental responsibility, and passenger comfort is demonstrated by this strategic acquisition. The flag carrier's goal to maintain its leadership position in the aviation sector while promoting sustainable expansion aligns with the addition of these next-generation aircraft. The national flag carrier of Türkiye intends to maintain its position as an airline with one of the most extensive flight networks in the world in conjunction with this noteworthy fleet increase. Adding these Airbus planes will help Turkish Airlines reach even more destinations and travel options while upholding the best service and connectivity standards for which it is known. Turkish Airlines will be able to connect to even the most remote parts of the world. To know more about Turkey's geographical topography, top tourist attractions and much more, click here. Read More...
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New HighSaudi Tourism hits record breaking $23 Billion in Revenue 
  • Trade Arabia  
  • 21 December, 2023
Saudi Arabia has revealed that the number of tourists arriving in the country during the first half of the year increased to an unprecedented 14.6 million. In comparison to the same period last year, there has been a 142% increase in the number of inbound tourists, according to preliminary figures for H1 issued by the Ministry of Tourism. It said that a notable 132% increase matches this expansion in inbound tourism spending, which has established a new record for the industry by contributing SR87 billion ($23 billion) to the economy. This year has shown improvement for Saudi Arabia, as the country welcomed 53.6 million overnight visitors (including 39 million domestic guests and 14.6 million foreign visitors). According to the figures, total tourism spending shot up to SAR150 billion, with SAR63.1 billion coming from domestic travel and SAR86.9 billion from inbound travel, potentially setting a new record for Saudi tourism. Declaring the remarkable surge in Saudi inbound travel, the ministry said this validates the efficacy of the major projects carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and its partners in drawing tourists with alluring travel offerings and first-rate services, along with the revolutionary visa regulations. Venture through every detail of Saudi Arabia's tourist wonders with our Saudi Arabia destination course. Read More...
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No Visa Needed Kenya to go Visa-Free for all visitors
  • Skift
  • 14 December, 2023
Beginning in January, travelers entering Kenya won't require a visa, according to an announcement from President William Ruto on Tuesday. According to Ruto, Kenyan authorities have created a digital platform that guarantees every guest will obtain an electronic travel permit before arriving, obviating the necessity for a visa application. President Ruto said in an event ““It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya,”. Ruto has made an excellent case for travel without a visa. He declared in late October that Kenya, the fourth nation on the continent, will provide visa-free entrance to all citizens of Africa by the end of 2023. Following Minister of Tourism and Wildlife Alfred Mutua's announcement in November at the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in Rwanda that Kenya was considering doing away with visa requirements for travelers from outside of Africa, the country has granted all visitors visa-free travel entrance. Read More...
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ProgressionIndian travel sector to witness 12-14% growth
  • Skift
  • 14 December, 2023
According to a Crisil analysis, the Indian tour and travel industry expects 12–14% growth in the current and forthcoming fiscal years. The main drivers are persistently high airfares and volumes in many segments that are almost at pre-Covid levels. This expansion includes long-haul travel, for which the need for a visa is becoming less of an obstacle. Despite higher promotional expenditures, it is anticipated that the operating profit margin will surpass 6.5% for the current and upcoming fiscal years. Benefits from operating leverage and numerous cost-optimization and automation measures since the pandemic help this resiliency. Robust balance sheets and healthy cash flows are anticipated to strengthen credit profiles. Indian tour and travel companies are expanding due to an increase in outbound travel, particularly after the epidemic, and a rise in the need for quick vacations. The recent increase in the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rate is anticipated to have a minor effect because over 80% of tour packages have individual trip expenses that are less than INR 700,000. Read More...
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Back in BlackBrazil airline industry recovers to pre-pandemic levels
  • ETN
  • 14 December, 2023
Brazil's aviation sector significantly recovered in 2023, with 64,800 flights, matching the pre-pandemic activity level. The resurgence in foreign visitor arrivals to Brazil was highlighted in a study conducted by Embratur's Information and Data Intelligence division. The nation saw a significant increase between January and November, adding 152 new flights—some of which had been halted earlier because of the pandemic. This increase in flight numbers is critical since, as of 2023, 63% of all overseas visitors to Brazil arrived via air. Air travel continues to be the predominant form of transportation for these visitors. During this time, 35 new flights from Europe, 21 from North America, 72 from South America, and 8 from each of Central America, Oceania, and Africa were added. Read More...
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Billion Dollar ComebackSri Lanka Tourism makes comeback: Revenue reaches $1.8 Billion
  • CNBC
  • 14 December, 2023
With 1.27 million visitors overall in the first 11 months of 2023 and $1.8 billion in sales, Sri Lanka's tourism industry has experienced incredible growth. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), revenue from tourism increased by 78.3% between January and November of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The data indicates a noteworthy increase in tourism-related revenue in November 2023, totaling $205.3 million, more than twice as much as the previous month. Before the parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry voiced hope for a spike in visitor visits in 2024, according to Xinhua. He linked the increase in travel to the entry of new airlines into the nation. In November 2023, Sri Lanka received 151,496 foreign visitors, which was a record monthly total for the country. In the meantime, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority highlighted the importance of tourism as one of the nation's primary sources of foreign income by reporting cumulative visitor arrivals of 1.27 million through November 2023. Read More...
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Just Hired Singapore Tourism Board appoints Markus Tan as Regional Director
  • BW Hotelier
  • 14 December, 2023
Since January 1, 2024, Markus Tan has been appointed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) as the Regional Director for India, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa (IMESA). Tan, who is based in Mumbai, will spearhead STB's efforts to promote business and leisure travel as well as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibits (BTMICE) throughout the IMESA area. He is in charge of marketing, public relations, and travel promotions. He also spearheads initiatives to improve Singapore's business and travel destination standing. Tan has worked at STB for eighteen years. Previously, he was the director of the World Expo, overseeing the Singapore Pavilion's preparations for the 2025 Osaka World Expo. He served as Tokyo's regional director for North Asia from 2015 to 2022. As Area Director for Southern China, Hong Kong, and Macau, he also significantly impacted Guangzhou, China. Read More...
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Umrah Saudi Arabia announces better travel access for Indian pilgrims
  • Firstpost
  • 7 December, 2023
Indian visitors traveling to the West, or the Middle East can apply for a four-day stopover visa, allowing them to visit any Saudi Arabian city or perform the Umrah, according to Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq bin Fawzan. To expedite Umrah visits, he further noted that this project is a component of Saudi Vision 2030. V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, emphasized the nation's commitment to facilitating the Umrah experience for Muslims worldwide during a press conference on Tuesday alongside Smriti Irani, the Minister of Minority Affairs. Muraleedharan further commented “Indians travelling to the West, or the Middle East can obtain a stopover visa, that is, for 96 hours, and get a visa within the ticket issuance process, which allows them to perform Umrah and visit any city in the Kingdom,”. According to the Saudi ministry, the Umrah Visa will be valid for travel and residency within Saudi Arabia for ninety days, ensuring a simple and straightforward pilgrimage experience. Read More...
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North-Eastern VentureLeela Group signs a 140-room hotel in Sikkim
  • TTJ
  • 7 December, 2023
After signing a management contract for a 140-room hotel in Ranka, Sikkim, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has launched its presence in Northeast India. Situated on a 17-acre area with a view of Gangtok Hill, the SIBIN Group owns the Leela Sikkim project, which is roughly 10 kilometers away from the capital city. With its calming Himalayan backdrop, thoughtful programming, and well-known hallmark services, The Leela Sikkim is expected to completely transform the hospitality scene in the area when it opens in December 2026. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, commented on the news, saying, “We are delighted to introduce The Leela brand into Northeast India with the project Leela Sikkim. Sikkim remains a pristine destination with the right blend of urbanization, rich cultural heritage and unexplored natural beauty. This expansion is in lockstep with the growing demand from the discerning global leisure traveller to experience meaningful and transformative journeys that are an authentic expression of a region’s natural beauty, heritage, cuisine, and culture.” Read More...
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KUL-->AMD Malaysia Airlines announces flights between Ahmedabad and Kuala Lampur
  • TTJ
  • 7 December, 2023
On December 1, 2023, Malaysia Airlines began offering flights between Ahmedabad and Kuala Lumpur, a noteworthy milestone for Gujarati travelers. When the first flight, MH106, arrived at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) at 9:40 p.m. local time, it was greeted with great enthusiasm. Flight MH107 then returned to Kuala Lumpur at 10:40 p.m. local time. This comes after Malaysia Airlines started operating direct flights from Trivandrum and Amritsar last month. The airline will now offer direct services from Ahmedabad, bringing its weekly flights to India to 65 from major hubs. Currently, the airline serves New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Amritsar, and Trivandrum as its flying destinations. The airline also recently revealed that, due to high demand and load factor performance, it will be expanding its frequency to Amritsar from twice weekly to four times weekly starting on January 15, 2024. Read More...
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Tourist CapPeru plans to increase tourist cap for Machu Pichu
  • Skift
  • 7 December, 2023
The Peru Government recently released a declaration which indicates that Machu Picchu, the nation's most famous tourist destination, is expected to increase its daily visitation maximum. According to the announcement, Machu Picchu will increase the number of daily visitors to 4,500 starting on January 1. According to the announcement, the government will increase the quota to 5,600 on "precise dates." A comment could not be obtained from the Peruvian Tourism Board. Currently, 4,060 people are allowed to visit Machu Picchu, according to Maritza Chacacanta, Peru Operations Manager for Intrepid Travel. She stated that the cap was instituted by the government to protect the historic Incan citadel. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu. The government declared that it was a "priority" to preserve and conserve the historic Incan citadel. Large-scale political protests forced the site to close briefly in January 2023. Tourists were stranded at the site a month before demonstrators shut down operations. According to a September interview with Skift, Juan Carlos Matthews, Peru's minister of foreign trade and tourism, the sector's revenue fell by about 30% due to the demonstrations. Read More...
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Island TourismAndaman to open Aves Island to boost tourism
  • CNBC
  • 7 December, 2023
The local administration of Andaman has announced its intention to allow tourists to visit the charming Aves Island in the North and Middle Andaman districts to increase tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Aves is a small, beautiful island that is currently off-limits to travelers. It is known as Coconut Island because of its lush, green coconut crop. With its two kilometers of immaculate coastline, Aves Island is a great place for campers to set up camp. It is surrounded by natural beauties, including lush forests, coconut plantations, and flatbeds of both live and dead coral. The administration has suggested the creation of a five-star eco-tourism resort through a public-private collaboration to turn Aves into a popular tourist destination. The island is a good place for various activities, like scuba diving, game fishing, hiking in the forest, and camping in the middle of nature because of its closeness to Mayabunder town and its varied natural features, including a picturesque beach. Read More...
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World Expo 2030Saudi Arabia wins bid to host World Expo 2030
  • TTN
  • 30 November, 2023
Tuesday, November 28, at the 173rd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Saudi Arabia was selected as the host nation for World Expo 2030. The proposal by Saudi Arabia to hold World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, with the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” received the support of a two-thirds majority of member states and will take place from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031. In June of this year, the Kingdom declared that should its application be accepted, it would invest $7.8 billion in staging the Expo. There were three contenders to host World Expo 2030. The Republic of Korea (Busan), with the subject "Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future," and Italy (Rome), with the theme "People and Territories: Regeneration, Inclusion, and Innovation," were the other contenders in addition to Saudi Arabia. Read More...
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Tourist Tax ComebackDarjeeling to re-introduce tourist tax after 10 years
  • Hindustan Times
  • 30 November, 2023
The Darjeeling Municipality abolished the tourist fee more than ten years ago since it was an onerous procedure and most hotels refused to participate. The Darjeeling Municipality chairman, Dipendra Thakuri, stated “The collection of tourist tax would start soon. A private firm has already been issued the order to collect the tax.” One of the most popular hill resorts in India, it provides breathtaking views of the third-highest mountain in the world, Mount Khangchendzonga. Every year, almost a million tourists travel to Darjeeling. The hill station is home to about 400 hotels. Bharat Tiruwa, general secretary of the Gorkha Ekta Chalak Sangathan said “Tourists arriving in Darjeeling are already over-burdened as they have to pay tax while entering multiple tourist locations like the Tiger Hill, which is famous for sunrise.” Read More...
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Not far behindBrazil tourist arrivals touch pre-pandemic levels
  • HNR Hotel News
  • 30 November, 2023
A ForwardKeys study indicates that foreign visitors are becoming more proactive in visiting Brazil in December. This is excellent news for the country's travel sector as Brazil gets closer to the peak travel season and demand and international connection approaches pre-pandemic levels. December's foreign visitor arrival ticket sales are only 4% behind 2019. Regionally, however, there has been an uneven recovery because of many factors like flight connectivity and reliance on source markets that cater to different nationalities of travelers. The best-performing states in the region include Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina, where travel demand in December exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Read More...
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Going GreenVirgin Atlantic operates first transatlantic flight powered by sustainable fuel
  • Travel Weekly
  • 30 November, 2023
Virgin Atlantic conducted the first-ever transatlantic flight on Tuesday using only sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The Rolls-Royce Treen 1000 engines installed in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner were used for the flight known as Flight 100. The demonstration flight, which took off from London to New York, demonstrated SAF's potential as a secure alternative to jet fuel sourced from fossil fuels. Virgin Atlantic stressed that SAF is compatible with fuel infrastructure, engines, and airframes. Global fuel regulations during the trip only permitted a 50% SAF blend on any aircraft. According to Virgin Atlantic, the SAF utilized in this flight can cut emissions by as much as 70% compared to traditional kerosene-based jet fuel. Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said, "It's taken radical collaboration to get here, and we're proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further." Read More...
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Luxury TravelATM 24 to showcase latest trends in luxury travel
  • TTN
  • 30 November, 2023
The theme of luxury will be highlighted by global tourism experts at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, which will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 6th to 9th. The 31st edition of ATM, which has as its theme "Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship," will once again bring together policymakers, business executives, and travel experts from the Middle East and beyond. It will also encourage them to network, share ideas, and find innovations that have the potential to alter the travel and tourism landscape in the future drastically. The 2018 show will showcase how innovators, from startups to well-known businesses, improve consumer experiences, drive efficiencies, and hasten the industry's transition to a net-zero future. According to a release, the event will highlight the Middle East's rapidly changing luxury travel sector, which goes beyond lavish experiences to include sustainability, innovation, and legacy. Read More...
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‘Nam’aste IndiaVietnam set to allow visa-free travel for Indians
  • Skift
  • 23 November, 2023
Vietnam will likely be the next country where Indian citizens can travel without a visa, following Sri Lanka and Thailand. Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung proposed granting short-term visa exemptions to Chinese and Indian visitors. Only Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain citizens are eligible to enter Vietnam without a visa. Recently, visa waivers for India were announced by both Thailand and Sri Lanka. Travelers from India no longer need a visa to enter Thailand as of November 10. This 30-day visa exemption is valid for Indian visitors and will last until May 10 of the following year. If demand for the program increases, the Thai government has also hinted that it may be extended. As part of a trial phase, in October, Sri Lanka also introduced a scheme that permits travelers from seven nations—including China, Russia, and India—to enter the country without a visa. The trial project is scheduled to last until March 31, 2024. Read More...
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Kerala Makes It! Kerala’s responsible tourism makes the UNWTO list
  • The New Indian Express
  • 23 November, 2023
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which advocates for ethical, environmentally friendly, and readily available travel, Kerala Tourism has successfully supported the state's travel business and respected the global organization's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kerala has been praised for using regional resources and goods to promote RT destinations, finding ways to carry out its plans in order to achieve the SDGs. Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas congratulated the State RT Mission on their achievement, pointing out that Kerala has long been receiving praise from throughout the world for its efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable travel. He further commented “The UNWTO’s recognition will further inspire us to promote eco-friendly tourism.” Read More...
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Etihad’s New Routes Etihad Announces new European Routes for 2024
  • Aviation Week
  • 23 November, 2023
In the summer of 2024, Etihad Airways will add two new routes to its timetable for the northern hemisphere, linking Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) with the southern region of France and a Greek island. The UAE carrier will begin service to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) in France on June 15, 2024, with two weekly flights from its base in AUH. Etihad will also begin operating two times a week between AUH and Santorini Airport (JTR) in Greece on that day. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves said in a statement “Our exciting summer schedule reinforces our commitment to growth, giving our customers the destinations, frequencies and timings for European and Asian destinations which suit them,”. He further elucidated “We are boosting capacity to international locations and introducing destinations, including Nice on the Cote d’Azur, allowing our guests to enjoy even more fantastic travel experiences. Our schedule is also making it easier to stop over in Abu Dhabi to enjoy our exhilarating and welcoming home.” Read More...
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Bon Voyage Abu Dhabi recognized as “World’s Best Cruise Destination” in 2023
  • Zawya
  • 23 November, 2023
Abu Dhabi has been named the "World's Best Cruise Destination" by the London-based World Cruise Awards this year, thanks to a significant increase in tourist arrivals. The emirate was also praised as the "Best Cruise Destination in the Middle East." The Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal in Zayed Port, owned by AD Ports Group, won both the World's Best Cruise Terminal and the Middle East's Best Cruise Terminal awards for this year, according to the organization that bestows the honors on its website. “The four awards are a testament to Abu Dhabi’s position as a cruise destination of choice, highlighting the emirate’s world-class facilities and hospitality,” said the Abu Dhabi Office on Tuesday. According to the World Cruise Awards, Abu Dhabi defeated other excellent travel locations nominated this year, such as Mauritius, Mexico, Jamaica, Alaska, and the Philippines, to win the "best cruise destination." Read More...
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Record Breaking Thanksgiving travel to break pre pandemic records in US
  • Reuters
  • 23 November, 2023
Over 55 million people are anticipated to travel before Thanksgiving, making it likely that a robust storm system sweeping up the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday may interrupt the most potent travel season of the year. The U.S. National Weather Service predicted snowfall in some areas of northern New England and thunderstorm activity from Tuesday through Wednesday morning, extending from the lower Mississippi Valley to the mid-Atlantic region. The AAA group anticipates that this will be the busiest travel time in the nation since 2019, before the COVID-19 epidemic, and the inclement weather was likely to contribute to delays and additional traffic. According to industry association Airlines for America, between November 17 and November 27, U.S. airlines are expected to carry approximately 29.9 million passengers. That would be a record high, up 1.7 million passengers over pre-COVID record levels and up 9% over the 27.5 million in the same period last year. Read More...
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Getting ThereInternational Travel to the U.S. Reaches 86% of Pre-Pandemic
  • Skift
  • 17 November, 2023
Latest data from the National Travel and Tourism Office of the United States shows that approximately 7 million foreign visitors visited the United States in August, accounting for 86% of the country's pre-pandemic population. The source of almost 3.3 million foreign visitors was outside of North America. In August, India ranked second among foreign travel markets for Americans. There were 221,000 Indian tourists in the United States. India was only eclipsed by the UK with 396,000 passengers. This year, India has emerged as the United States' second-largest non-North American tourism market. From January to August, around 1.2 million Indian tourists came to the US. With 2.5 million travelers, the United Kingdom ranked first. August saw nearly 8.9 million Americans go overseas, 94% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019. Over 66 million Americans have taken foreign trips to date. Read More...
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Fresh RoutesAirAsia introduces 10 new routes from India to Malaysia and Thailand
  • ET Travel
  • 17 November, 2023
AirAsia has declared 104 weekly flights short-haul on ten direct routes from India to Malaysia and Thailand, demonstrating the strength of its network. With eight weekly flights, medium-haul subsidiary AirAsia X Malaysia now offers two natural courses from New Delhi and Amritsar to Kuala Lumpur. The expansion of AirAsia's services to India guarantees its visitors a smooth and all-inclusive travel experience from the largest low-cost network in Asia throughout India. Using its Fly-Thru connectivity, which allows passengers to book flights from India to Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and other locations with just one easy reservation, AirAsia is revolutionizing how its customers travel abroad by lowering costs and increasing accessibility. Read More...
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A German Comeback!Germany records 85% increase in Indian visitors
  • TTJ
  • 17 November, 2023
With a 496 percent recovery from January to August 2021 to January to August 2023, German tourism from India is increasing. Germany, well-known for its breathtaking natural scenery and diverse cultural offerings, has seen a sharp rise in Indian city tourism. Furthermore, a significant 496 percent increase in Indian visitors in the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same time in 2021 was reported by the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), highlighting the nation's positive post-pandemic recovery. The country's ongoing attraction is seen by the increase of 85% from 2022, even though the aggregate figures are still 15% below the pre-pandemic level in 2019. Additionally, India has established itself as one of the most significant and promising Asian markets for inbound tourism to Germany, offering 541,579 overnight stays in the first half of 2023 compared to 339,503 in H1 2022 and barely 90,843 in H1 2021. Read More...
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Cruising the LATAM Windstar Cruises expands operations in South America
  • Travel Pulse
  • 17 November, 2023
With inaugural South American cruises on board in December 2025, Windstar Cruises is expanding its worldwide network. The expansion into the area offers its customers of Windstar's small ship cruise line new chances to visit dream destinations like the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador and Machu Picchu in Peru, enabling them to continue living the carefree, laid-back lifestyle for which they are renowned. A pre- or post-cruise visit to Machu Picchu is included in the new 16-day Marvels of Latin America Cruise visit, which departs from Colón, Panama, and sails from Lima, Peru (or vice versa). A mid-cruise overland trek to the Galapagos Islands is also a possibility. An 11-day Marvels of Ecuador, Peru, and the Panama Canal itinerary offers a condensed version of the cruise and an optional overland excursion to the Galapagos Islands. Read More...
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ETA for UKUK opens electronic travel authorization for Qatar tourists
  • GOV.UK
  • 17 November, 2023
The electronic travel authorization (ETA) program has been officially launched for Qatar citizens who require one to travel to the UK as of now. With this historic opening, the UK government has successfully transformed and digitalized the UK border, paving the way for millions of lawful visitors to the country to have smoother customer experiences. Since October 25, 2023, Qataris have had the opportunity to apply for their ETA; most of them do it through a smartphone app that makes the process quick and easy. Nearly 800,000 people from the Gulf entered the UK last year; 45,000 of them arrived from Qatar, and this number is expected to rise in the upcoming years. His Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Jon Wilks CMG, said: “This initiative not only simplifies the travel process for Qataris visiting the UK but also reflects the strength of our bilateral relationship. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from Qatar, further building the human bridge between our two countries.” Read More...
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Saudi Progression Saudi overtakes UAE as GCC’s fastest travel market
  • Consultancy-me.com
  • 9 November, 2023
Gross bookings in Saudi Arabia increased by an astounding 107% in 2022 over the previous year, with a forecast 65% growth in 2026. That's what a report from Phocuswright and Insight Out Consultancy says. With a projected 18 million foreign visitors in 2022, Saudi Arabia ranked first among all Arab nations in terms of tourism. In terms of visitors, the United Arab Emirates came in second place with about 15 million visits last year, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. This expansion is consistent with a wider trend: it is projected that the Middle East's travel industry would rise by 40% between 2022 and 2026. With a variety of attractions, such as many World Heritage Sites, the Saudi Seasons, and athletic events, Saudi Arabia attracts travelers. The nation is also the starting point of the biggest pilgrimage in Islam, the yearly Hajj to Mecca, the holy city of Islam, which every Muslim is obligated to perform at least once in their lifetime. In the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, almost three million people complete the Hajj, while in the month of Ramadan, two million individuals do so. At other times of the year, an additional four million people travel to Mecca and Medina on pilgrimage. Read More...
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Visit Himachal Himachal Pradesh to establish ‘tourist village’ in Kangra
  • Hindustan Times
  • 9 November, 2023
Himachal Pradesh will give young people in the area work chances at Kangra's "tourist village," which will showcase regional handicrafts, music, art, and other cultural expressions. As to the official statement released in Shimla on Tuesday, a 'tourist village' is set to be constructed in Kangra with the aim of fostering local art and culture and providing employment possibilities for the youth. According to the statement, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, linking local youngsters with tourism can result in permanent employment opportunities and assure the growth of the tourism industry while also boosting state revenue. According to a statement, a ₹300 crore huge zoo is being built in Bankhandi, and in addition to creating the "tourist village," a world-class golf course will be built in Kangra. Read More...
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Taj in Bhutan IHCL announces two Taj hotels in Bhutan
  • Hotelier India
  • 9 November, 2023
The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) today announced the signing of two new Taj-branded hotels in Bhutan's Paro and Phobjikha. These projects are brownfield ones. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of IHCL, commented on the agreement, saying, “These signings demonstrate IHCL’s commitment to the region and our focus on expanding our footprint in key leisure destinations. We are delighted to bring two Taj branded hotels to the Kingdom of Bhutan with its stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. This also furthers our longstanding partnership with the CG Group.” With 45 keys set across 7.6 acres within protected forests, the Taj resort in Paro is a serene haven amidst nature, enhanced by a creek that meanders through the property. The dreamy hideaway will have a bar, gourmet restaurant, and all-day cafe in addition to recreational features including a meeting space, gym, and indoor pool. Paro, a city rich in history, is home to revered locations and old buildings against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayan peaks covered with snow. Read More...
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Budget Friendly Flights to Europe become cheap again
  • The Wallstreet Journal
  • 9 November, 2023
Following an extended period of exorbitant costs, it should be possible to travel to Europe in 2024 without breaking the bank. Airlines have declared intentions to expand service on certain routes in the spring and summer of 2019 and have added additional routes between the United States and Europe. Travelers will be able to escape the recent trend of exorbitant airfares thanks to the increased capacity. Certain rates remain exorbitant; according to the travel search website Kayak, a round-trip ticket to Barcelona typically costs more than $1,000. However, there are transactions that didn't exist previously, and observers of the sector think more are likely to emerge. Some airfares are at or below pre-pandemic levels, Thrifty Traveler found in a recent survey of flying costs. Early in March, a nonstop basic economy ticket from Boston to Dublin can go as low as $433. During that same time frame, basic economy tickets to major U.S. cities like Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam can be found for about $500. Read More...
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WTM 2023World Travel Market to conclude soon; India & China Shine
  • The Print
  • 9 November, 2023
India's Ministry of tourism participated in the World Travel Market (WTM) London from November 6–8, displaying a variety of tourism products, among other stakeholders like state tourism departments and tour operators. According to a Ministry of Indian Tourism official statement, the items and a range of life-changing experiences for visitors to India were showcased at the WTM under the theme "Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023." India presents a number of historical wonders, according to Sujit Ghosh, the Deputy High Commissioner of London, who spoke at the occasion. He further elucidated on the matter “The forts and palaces of Rajasthan, the ancient temples of Khajuraho and the cave complexes of Ananta and Ellora are just a few examples of the historical wonders that await you in India.” With a wide range of tourism resources and services, China made a triumphant return to the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2023 on Monday, attracting both international travel service providers and ardent tourists who are keen to visit or return to the nation. The China pavilion at the WTM, with the theme "Nihao China," features elements of the country's cultural history, such as paper cutting, scented sachets, and the handcrafted clay toy "Lord Rabbit," along with panel talks about tourism. In addition, it offers flight routes that link China and Europe, unusual tourist spots, and travel-related details like duty-free regulations. Read More...
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Welcome to Thailand Indians allowed visa free travel to Thailand
  • NDTV
  • 2 November, 2023
From November 10 to May 10, 2024, Indians can visit Thailand without a visa as the Southeast Asian country aims to promote tourism. Thailand's primary source of tourism is India. Indians can visit Thailand without a visa from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024. A person can stay for up to 30 days on a single entrance, according to Siriges-A-Nong Trirattanasongpol, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand at New Delhi Office, who spoke to Press Trust of India today. Read More...
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New Year Travel Mexico Flights to get cheaper in 2024
  • Travel & Leisure
  • 2 November, 2023
Travelers planning a trip to Mexico, whether to enjoy the lively street food culture or relax at an all-inclusive resort, may be in luck, since flights to the country are expected to become significantly cheaper in 2024. According to Going, the number of travelers that flew between the United States and Mexico last month was 33% greater than before the outbreak. While demand has been consistent in recent years, flights to Mexico have remained constrained. “That surge in popularity has made finding cheap flights to Mexico tougher, at least on some routes and dates,” said Andrew Hickey, Senior Manager of Public Relations at Going. “But there’s good news: We may be awash in cheap Mexico flights soon.” This means Mexico can start offering new routes to the United States, and we've already heard announcements from airlines like Monterrey-based Viva Aerobus. Viva Aerobus intends to begin new routes to Mexico from Austin, Denver, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, and Orlando in 2024. Read More...
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Double the numbers Indian hotel industry to cross double revenue in FY2024
  • ET Travel
  • 2 November, 2023
The Indian hotel business has effectively maintained several cost-cutting initiatives implemented during the Covid-19 outbreak, in addition to the benefits of operating leverage. When compared to pre-Covid levels, margins have expanded dramatically. Companies have also switched to renewable energy sources, reduced cost inflation, and kept a tight grip on fixed expenses, boosting profits. Furthermore, the industry has benefited from the return of foreign visitor arrivals (FTAs) and the influence of events such as the G20 summit and the ICC World Cup 2023. Read More...
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Entry Fee Colombia to start charging entry fees to Candian travelers
  • The city paper
  • 2 November, 2023
Beginning November 14, the Colombian government of President Gustavo Petro will reimpose an entry charge for all Canadian tourists, to be paid throughout the immigration process at all airports, seaports, and overland entry sites. According to the country's immigration organization Migración Colombia, a cost of COP$256,000 pesos (CDN$85) per tourist can be paid using a debit/credit card. The measure, which applies only to Canadians, is a return to a similar "entry tax" imposed by President Juan Manuel Santos' administration and repealed by President Iván Duque's administration due to the negative impact on inbound tourism from Canada and bilateral relations between the two countries. The Petro administration based its decision on the same reasoning as the Juan Manuel Santos administration, claiming that it is in response to a premium Colombians must pay to apply for a non-resident travel visa. Read More...
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First Flight Qatar Airways starts services to AlUla in Saudi Arabia
  • Travel Weekly 
  • 2 November, 2023
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Qatar Airways has undertaken the first direct flight to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - the city of Al Ula. The Qatari carrier's new flights allow guests to discover Al Ula, witness its natural beauty, take part in annual events, stay in quality hotels, and appreciate its hospitality. On Fridays and Sundays, Qatar Airways will operate twice-weekly flights between Doha and Al Ula. The new route is part of long-term ambitions to strengthen connectivity between Al Ula and international destinations, boosting the city's popularity as a tourist destination. Rami AlMoallim, Vice President of Destination Management and marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) said, “The continued growth and success of Al Ula’s tourism sector is intrinsically tied to our partnerships with global and regional airlines, and through our collaboration with Qatar Airways we are ushering in a new era of travel for the city. Every milestone achieved, from the opening of AlUla Airport to its remarkable expansion and the increase in routes, is crafted with the goal of welcoming travellers to this fascinating destination that must be seen and experienced to be believed.” Read More...
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Welcoming General Atlantic General Atlantic acquires minority stake in TBO
  • TBO
  • 26 October, 2023
General Atlantic (GA), a private equity investor, has acquired a minority stake in TBO Tek Ltd., a travel distribution platform, for an undisclosed sum from businesses controlled by Affirma Capital. According to a statement, Affirma Capital will stay invested in TBO following this acquisition. “We see immense potential in the path ahead for TBO, including global expansion opportunities, and are excited to partner with the company to help enable the next generation of travel globally”, said Shantanu Rastogi, Managing Director and Head of India at General Atlantic. “We believe that General Atlantic, with their longstanding history of helping technology companies build enduring models, is an ideal partner for this stage of our growth journey,” said Gaurav Bhatnagar and Ankush Nijhawan, co-founders of TBO in a statement. TBO, which has a GTV of $2.73 billion for FY23 and a presence in over 100 countries as of 30 June 2023, simplifies the travel business for travel suppliers such as hotels, airlines, car rentals, transfers, insurance providers, cruises, rail, and other vendors (Suppliers); retail buyers such as travel agencies and independent travel advisors; and enterprise buyers such as tour operators, travel management companies, online travel companies, and others. Read More...
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Enroute Sri Lanka Sri Lanka to offer free visas to Indian tourists
  • NDTV
  • 26 October, 2023
The Sri Lankan Cabinet has adopted a policy of issuing free tourist visas to visitors from India and six other countries, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry announced today, as attempts to revive the island nation's tourism sector continue. Foreign Minister Sabry stated in a statement that this would be a pilot project that would go until March 31, 2024.With immediate effect, the Sri Lankan Cabinet granted free entrance for visitors from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. Tourists from these countries will be able to obtain visas for free when visiting Sri Lanka. India has always been Sri Lanka's most important inbound tourism market. In September arrival figures, India led with over 30,000 arrivals, or 26%, with Chinese tourists behind in second place with over 8,000 arrivals. Tourist arrivals on the island have declined following the 2019 Easter Sunday explosions, which killed 270 people, including 11 Indians, and injured over 500 more. Sri Lanka, which has faced extraordinary economic turbulence since its independence from Britain in 1948, is also experiencing political unrest, with protesters calling for President Rajapaksa's resignation. Read More...
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Indians in America India rises to become US’s second largest traveler market
  • Skift
  • 26 October, 2023
According to a data release by the National Travel and Tourism Office, India was the United States' second highest market for travelers outside of North America between April and June. Over 500,000 Indian tourists visited the United States during those three months, up from 392,000 and 498,000 during the same period in 2022 and pre-pandemic 2019, respectively. Over 800,000 Indian passengers visited the United States in the first six months of 2023, making it America's second largest non-North American market after the United Kingdom this year. According to the National Travel and Tourism Office, about 60% of Indian visitors to the United States came for vacation, business, or a conference in the first six months of this year. According to the National Travel and Tourism Office, the United States will welcome 1.4 million Indian visitors in 2023, representing 97% of their pre-pandemic volume. After the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, it will be the United States' sixth largest source overseas market in 2023. In 2019, India was the eighth-largest market in the United States. Read More...
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Just Hired Qatar Tourism names new chairman
  • Skift
  • 26 October, 2023
Saad Ali Al Kharji has been nominated as the new chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority by the Qatari government. Al Kharji has taken over as chairman of Qatar Tourism, after Akbar Al Baker, who announced his retirement from Qatar Airways after 27 years. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani confirmed Al Kharji's appointment via a decree. Only last July did the emir appoint Al Kharji as deputy chairman of Qatar Tourism, which was then led by Al Baker. Al Baker was the CEO of a conglomerate that included Qatar Executive and Hamad International Airport. Under his leadership, the airline has grown from five aircraft in 1996 to 258 aircraft now. "After 27 years of service, I am writing to you to announce that I will step down from the Qatar Airways Group," Al Baker stated in a note to staff. We launched on a spectacular path to aviation greatness in 1996, with a fleet of only five aircraft, constant dedication, and a committed and enthusiastic workforce. Our adventure has been nothing short of spectacular since the first day." Read More...
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Gujarat's Crown Jewel Dhordo in Kutch awarded “Best Tourism Village” by UNWTO
  • TOI
  • 26 October, 2023
According to an official release, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has awarded Dhordo Village in Gujarat's Kutch district the prestigious "Best Tourism Village" title. This award is in appreciation of Dhordo's remarkable contributions to sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and rural development. Dhordo is a peaceful settlement in the immense expanse of the Great Rann of Kutch. It is well-known across the world for holding the annual Rann Utsav, a colorful cultural festival showcasing the region's traditional arts, music, and crafts. Tourists from all over the world can immerse themselves in local culture against the magnificent backdrop of the Rann of Kutch. The designation of Dhordo as the "Best Tourism Village" has substantial economic ramifications for the region. The Rann Utsav has been extremely beneficial to the local economy. The event produced Rs 468 crore in GST income in fiscal year 2022-23. Read More...
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Introducing Leyja Saudi Arabia introduces Leyja: Luxury Mountain Destination
  • Skift
  • 19 October, 2023
The NEOM super-city in Saudi Arabia has revealed a new area. Leyja is marketed as the sustainable and eco-tourism center for the $500 billion construction in the highlands. Leyja has no official opening date or information on its facilities, but we do know that it will include three hotels. The three hotels will be perched on top of the 400-meter-high mountains of NEOM, which are where the new tourist attraction will begin at the Gulf of Aqaba. The Wellness Hotel, Oasis Hotel, and Adventure Hotel are the three hotels, each with only 40 keys, that are now unoccupied. Leyja, another ultra-luxury project in the Public Investment Fund's portfolio, is expected to have upscale shops, helipads, and a variety of fine-dining establishments run by famous chefs. With Saudi Arabia increasing its earlier objective of 100 million visitors by 2030 to 150 million, it is hoped that massive projects like this will increase both tourism numbers and spending. Soudah Peaks, Trojena, Red Sea, and Diriyah are more projects. Read More...
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Just OpenedCambodia opens a new airport to serve Angkor Wat, boost tourist arrivals
  • Hindustan Times
  • 19 October, 2023
Cambodia's newest and largest airport, which was built to operate as an enhanced entryway to the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex in the northwest province of Siem Reap, opened for business on Monday. The first flight to touch down at the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport was a Bangkok Airways flight from Thailand, and 16 more flights were scheduled for the day of operations. The airport has a 3,600-meter (11,810-foot) long runway and was constructed for roughly $1.1 billion on 700 hectares (1,730 acres) of land about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Angkor Wat. Construction on a new airport, located about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the location of the temples, started in 2020. The old airport is being decommissioned in part due to concerns that vibrations from frequent aircraft were harming the temples' foundations. Read More...
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Himachal’s 11Himachal Pradesh Introduces 11 new eco-tourism destinations
  • Hindustan Times
  • 19 October, 2023
In order to grow and draw tourists, Himachal Pradesh has identified 11 eco-tourism destinations in forested areas with beautiful and natural beauty. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, presided over the Himachal Pradesh Eco Tourism Society conference on Monday night and declared that the state government will actively promote eco-tourism and that the necessary infrastructure was being built. "Every eco-tourism destination will be developed in an area of one hectare. A reserve price has been fixed for these sites to be developed and operated through outsourcing", CM Sukhu added. The Chief Minister claimed that Himachal has been gifted by nature with incredible natural splendor and magnificence, luring travelers from all over the world. He asserted that eco-tourism would increase visitor numbers and boost profitability. In addition, the state will gain job and self-employment prospects. Read More...
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Largest SpenderIndia to become 4th largest global travel spender by 2030
  • TOI
  • 19 October, 2023
With predictions that it would rank fourth in the world for travel spending by 2030, India is predicted to experience one of the fastest growth rates in travel spending among the top 10 economies in the world. India's travel industry has shown a remarkable rebound following the pandemic, and it is predicted that travel spending will reach US $410 billion by 2030 from a value of $150 billion in 2019. Additionally, by the same year, it is anticipated that Indian tourists will complete a whopping 5 billion journeys. This data is contained in the "How India Travels" study that online travel agency booking created with McKinsey as its knowledge partner. According to the survey, the next ten years would be India's "golden age" for the travel sector. Read More...
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Middle East CallingAkasa Air bags traffic rights for Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha & Kuwait
  • TTJ
  • 19 October, 2023
According to its Chief Vinay Dube, Akasa Air, which is in a "very exciting phase," has gotten government authorization to operate flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, and Kuwait and anticipates beginning international services "soon enough." The airline, which finished its first year of operations in August, currently operates a fleet of 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and two more are anticipated to join it before the end of the year. Dube asserted that Akasa Air is in "growth mode" and has solid financial standing. He also predicted that before the end of the year or in 75 days, the airline will announce a triple-digit aircraft order. “We have just been given traffic rights for Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha and Kuwait. The process will take time… we will let the process unfold. “We continue to be in a very very exciting phase in our lives now. We are doing strong financially. We have a good cash position,” Dube told Press Trust of India in an interview. Read More...
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Non-Stop Fleets Air India announces non-stop flights between Kolkata & Bangkok
  • TTJ
  • 12 October, 2023
Starting on October 23, 2023, Air India will offer nonstop flights between Kolkata and Bangkok. This new flight, which was introduced during Kolkata's holiday season, will fill the requirement for an easy direct connection between the two cities. The AI322 flight will leave Kolkata at 22:00 hours and arrive in Bangkok at 0205 hours the following day. Returning passenger flight AI321 will depart Bangkok at 03:05 and touch down in Kolkata at 04:10 (all times local). The route will operate six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, using a narrowbody Airbus family aircraft with two classes: economy and business. In addition to boosting tourism and trade in the two cities, the direct service to Bangkok will give Air India passengers a special chance to take convenient connections via Bangkok to and from 10 well-known destinations in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia on the network of Bangkok Airways. Air India and Bangkok Airways have an interline partnership that allows for seamless connections beyond Bangkok. Read More...
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Prestigious Accolade Bahrain recognized as the "Capital of Gulf Tourism" in 2024
  • TTN
  • 12 October, 2023
At their seventh conference in Oman, the ministers in charge of tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations chose Manama, the city of Bahrain, as the "Capital of Gulf Tourism" for the year 2024. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of Oman organized and hosted the event, which took place on October 5 in Jabal Al-Akhdar. The General Secretariat of the GCC oversaw the conference. According to a Bahrain News Agency report, Bahrain received this honor for its remarkable achievements and clear influence on advancing the Gulf tourism industry. Bahrain's initiatives stood out in promoting cooperative endeavors within the Gulf tourist industry, the report added, praising Bahrain for its proactive grasp of the value of tourism as a significant non-oil economic contributor. Dr. Nasser Qaedi, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), joined Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Acting Minister of Tourism, to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain at the ministerial meeting. Read More...
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Unified States Gulf Countries Approve Unified Visa for Tourism
  • Skift
  • 12 October, 2023
A new "bloc" of Gulf nations is being formed with the goal of developing the tourism industry in the area. By December, the much-awaited "GCC zone" unified visa should be unveiled, uniting the GCC nations of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Oman's minister of heritage and tourism, announced that the nations will be "transformed into a tourism bloc par excellence" at the GCC's seventh meeting of tourism ministers, which was held in Oman. There was unanimity in this choice. At a summit in Dubai in May 2023, the ministers of the participating nations expressed their desire to integrate the GCC so that tourists would contemplate transnational travel like they do in Europe. Read More...
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No excuses Morocco tourism surges despite earthquake
  • Skift
  • 12 October, 2023
Morocco's post-pandemic tourism boom was unaffected by the earthquake on September 8. According to the most recent information provided by the Morocco Tourism Office, the country welcomed 960,000 foreign visitors in September, an increase of 8.5% from the same month in 2019. International travel to Morocco increased 44% between January and September compared to the same period in 2019. The tourism minister of Morocco, Fatima Zahra Ammor commented, “Timing couldn’t be more perfect to announce record September arrivals than during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF in Marrakesh,”. According to her, Morocco is on track to surpass the previous record of 13 million tourists set in 2019 by drawing 14 million tourists by the end of the year. The goal of Morocco's tourism promotion strategy is to bring in 17.5 million visitors by 2026, earning $12 billion in revenue, 80,000 direct jobs, and 120,000 indirect jobs. Read More...
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Record Breaking Rajasthan welcomed 10cr tourists in September
  • ET Travel
  • 12 October, 2023
The tourism industry in Rajasthan is expanding, enjoying rising appeal among both domestic and foreign tourists. According to the most recent report from the state tourism office, more than 10 crore people visited Rajasthan in September 2023, furthering the state's efforts to position itself as a major destination for both domestic and foreign travelers. The tourism department official claims that the increase in visitor numbers not only shows that the state's tourism industry has recovered from the worst effects of the Covid-19 but has also outperformed all predictions. The most recent statistics made public by Rajasthan Tourism, which show the state's rise from position eleven to position seven in the rankings of well-liked tourist locations both domestically and internationally, support this. Read More...
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Ticket to Bhutan Bhutan plans to reduce airfares to boost tourism
  • The Print
  • 4 October, 2023
Bhutan has planned to drop the 'expensive' airfares to lessen the cost for people traveling to the country in order to improve the tourism sector, according to Bhutan Live. As "expensive" airfare regularly deters travelers from visiting Bhutan, the country's finance minister claims that this action will result in an increase in travelers to the nation and the number of tourists who come to the country. The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) has been reduced from USD200 to USD100 per person per night as one of the many incentives the government has put in place. Other ideas call for allowing budget hotels to host visitors and developing more long-stay incentive programs. The administration is currently contemplating price reductions as a way to promote travelers. The government is preparing to lower the airfare for tourists in collaboration with Drukair Corporation and Bhutan Airlines. Given that tourists frequently complain about the high cost of travel, this is a part of the government's incentive, according to Finance Minister Namgay Tshering, as reported by Bhutan Live. Read More...
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Love for Sports ICC Cricket World Cup boosts Sports Tourism
  • Business Standard
  • 4 October, 2023
The Indian sports tourism sector is estimated to be worth close to $37 million, according to online travel agency Booking.com, which serves as the official lodging partner for all International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments. It is well-positioned to maintain its excellent growth trajectory with a projected compound annual growth rate of 14.8% from 2022 through 2032. The travel portal has observed a 15% increase in flight searches from cricketing countries to India with departures between October 1 and November 20, when the competition closes, in the lead-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup. The top five cricket-playing countries that travel to India are the UK, Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. According to Santosh Kumar, country manager for Booking.com's India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia region, searches for departure dates from Australia have increased by 31% since September, while those from the UK have increased by 10%. Read More...
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Nepal Calling Nepal witnessed 7,00,000 tourist arrivals in 2023
  • TTJ
  • 4 October, 2023
According to official statistics, Nepal welcomed almost 7 lakh tourists in the first nine months of 2023 as the Himalayan country slowly recovers from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. According to information provided by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), 692,372 visitors arrived in the nation via plane between January and September of this year. Mani Lama, director of the Nepal Tourism Board, declared that tourist arrivals had recovered 98% in September of this year. One million foreign visitors are expected to arrive in 2023, according to the government's target. 91,012 visitors visited Nepal in September alone, 28,694 of which were from India, 8,174 from China, 7,364 from the United States, and 3,716 from Bangladesh. In contrast, the Himalayan nation received 3,685 visitors from Australia, 3,640 from the United Kingdom, 3,011 from Sri Lanka, 2,852 from Germany, 2,018 from South Korea, and 1,0734 from Israel in September. Read More...
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Reaching in 10 Delhi-Vadodara road journey will only take 10 hours
  • Financial Express
  • 4 October, 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, October 2, officially opened the second section of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway up to Gujarat in an effort to improve connectivity between Delhi and Vadodara. Following the opening of that stretch, it will take just 10 hours to travel by road from Delhi to Vadodara, making it faster than the line's fastest train. On his one-day visit to Madhya Pradesh on Monday, the prime minister unveiled a number of initiatives, including the Rs 11,895 crore Delhi-Vadodara Expressway. The expressway's Delhi-Vadodara portion passes through various states, including Haryana (79 km), alone, 28,694 of which were from India, 8,174 from China, 7,364 from the United States, and 3,716 from Madhya Pradesh (244 km), and Rajasthan (373 km). Notably, the Delhi-Mumbai expressway's Sohna-Dausa section is already in use. Read More...
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No Passport Needed Singapore’s Changi Airport to go passport-free from 2024
  • TTJ
  • 4 October, 2023
According to CNN, Singapore's Changi Airport will no longer require passports starting in 2024 and would instead use computerized immigration processing. According to officials, the airport will use automatic immigration clearance, which will let travelers leave the city-state without passports by using only biometric data. The declaration was made by Singapore's Communications Minister Josephine Teo on Monday during a legislative session in which the Immigration Act of the nation was amended in several ways. She further said, “Singapore will be one of the first few countries in the world to introduce automated, passport-free immigration clearance.” In Changi Airport, automated lanes at immigration inspections already make use of biometric technology and facial recognition software to some extent. Read More...
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E-Passport Finland introduces world’s first-ever digital passport
  • OnManorama
  • 28 September, 2023
When taking buses and trains, many passengers find it more convenient to display their seat reservations on smartphones as opposed to physically proving their tickets. When you travel outside of the nation, you may soon be able to flash your smartphone in place of your physical passport. In fact, Finland is the first nation in the world to have implemented totally digital passports on a trial basis. In addition to saving travelers from long lines, the technology-assisted initiative might speed up and improve travel conditions. The facility was launched a few weeks ago by the country of northern Europe in collaboration with the Finnish Police, airport operator Finavia, and national airline Finnair. There will be more testimony until February 2024. The service is only available to Finns traveling on Finnair to and from London, Manchester, and El Paso. Read More...
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Half-Time New Vande Bharat cuts Chennai-Tirupati travel time by Half
  • OnManorama
  • 28 September, 2023
Following the recent launch of the Chennai-Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express, pilgrims traveling from Chennai to the temple city of Tirupati may now get there in about one and a half hours, as opposed to more than three hours earlier. By skipping the typical Chennai-Vijayawada route, the railway is, incidentally, operating the Vande Bharat service through Renigunta station, which is only nine kilometers from Tirupati. Except on Tuesday, the service is offered every day. The Vijayawada Vande Bharat departs from Chennai at 5.30 am and arrives in Tirupati at 7.10 am. On the way back, the train arrives in Chennai around 10 p.m. and Tirupati at 8.05 p.m. For the chair car and the executive class, the ticket cost is Rs 520 and Rs 1005, respectively. Read More...
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No Visa Needed UAE plans Visa-free travel for Gulf residents to promote tourism
  • The Peninsula
  • 28 September, 2023
The United Arab Emirates is considering implementing a visa system that would make it easier for citizens to visit Saudi Arabia and other Gulf surrounding countries. According to UAE Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, who spoke at a conference in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the new visa system will permit citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council to travel freely within the nations that make up the bloc, including Saudi Arabia. "Very soon," he said, the regime might be implemented. Additionally, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar are members of the GCC. Visa applications are not required to cross borders for residents of the six-nation union. Many times, visas are still required to enter GCC borders for foreign residents, who make up the majority of their populations and come from all over the world. Read More...
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Promote India Central Govt. To appoint ‘Tourism Officers’ to promote Indian Destinations
  • TravelBiz Monitor.Com
  • 28 September, 2023
To promote Indian tourist sites, the Centre is considering the appointment of "tourism officers" in each embassy and high commission. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture stated that the closure of the overseas tourist offices had a negative impact on Indian tourism in its most recent report, which was presented to both Houses of Parliament during the just ended special session. Following its request to know how many meetings had been held with them as well as the foreign tourism agents and business-to-business (B2B) players since their appointment, the Parliamentary Panel headed by V Vijayasai Reddy was also informed that the tourism officers had only one meeting with Indian stakeholders in the previous two years. Read More...
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Welcome to Disneyland! Disneyland Paris to reopen Disneyland Hotel by January 2024
  • TTJ
  • 28 September, 2023
The renowned, five-star Disneyland Hotel will reopen on January 25, 2024, marking the most recent phase of Disneyland Paris' on-going, extensive development. From the magnificent grand foyer to the opulent rooms and suites, every square inch of the interior of this iconic business is undergoing a complete "reimagination" to provide its future guests with a new luxury concept infused with cherished royal Disney Characters, both old and new. Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, said, "This marks a new chapter for Disneyland Paris, as we continue to be one of the leaders of the European tourism industry with our unique blend of immersive storytelling and world-class hospitality." The first Disney hotel to offer a five-star trip honoring Disney royalty in all of its manifestations is the Disneyland Hotel. Visitors will be given the opportunity to take the lead and become a part of the story in everything from Cinderella to Frozen, The Sword in the Stone, The Princess and the Frog, and Moana. Read More...
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An iconic evening TBO Academy Hosts TBO Business Show in Dubai
  • TBO Academy
  • 20 September, 2023
TBO Academy, the leading online training platform for travel professionals, hosted the TBO Business Show on September 19, 2023, at Conrad Hotel, Dubai. The event brought together over 400 travel agents and 20+ global travel exhibitors, including tourism boards and hotel chains from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ireland, Spain etc. The TBO Business Show provided an exclusive platform for travel industry professionals and travel boards to come together, engage, and discover new opportunities in the travel and tourism sector. The event acted as a unique opportunity for TBO travel professionals to gain industry insights, build relationships, and increase their business opportunities thanks to a prestigious lineup of sponsors and partners. The event's organizer, TBO Academy, has long been a reputable name in the travel business, and the much-awaited event was testament of their dedication. Vidhu Lamba, Vice President of TBO Academy, commented “The TBO Business Show is designed to be a catalyst for growth, empowering travel professionals with knowledge, connections and inspiration”. Read More...
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UK Visa Surge UK increases Visa fees for visitors
  • TimesTravel
  • 20 September, 2023
The British government has announced that a visa fee increase will take effect on October 4th. According to the new tariff structure, a visit visa for a stay of less than six months will cost GBP 15 (INR 1544) more, while student visas will increase for travelers from all over the world, including India, by GBP 127 (INR 13,080). By passing legislation in Parliament on Friday, the UK Home Office officially announced these changes. The price of a visit visa for less than six months will consequently increase to GBP 115 (INR 11,845). In July, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that health taxes and visa fees would increase. He had stated that they will be raising the fees they charge immigrants applying for visas to enter the UK as well as the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The Home Office said this week, “Income from fees charged plays a vital role in the Home Office's ability to run a sustainable immigration and nationality system. Careful consideration is given when setting fees to help reduce the funding contribution from British taxpayers, whilst continuing to provide a service that remains attractive to those wishing to work in the UK and support broader prosperity for all”. Read More...
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Pocket-Friendly Voyage UAE to Kerala Cruise services start at just Rs.10000
  • The New Indian Express
  • 20 September, 2023
If everything goes according to plan, Malayali expats in the UAE will be able to take a luxurious cruise home in December at a reasonable price. Once the Center gives the go-ahead, a private cruise with a 1,300-person capacity that travels between the UAE and Kerala is expected to commence by December. According to the itinerary, the three-day excursion will cost about Rs 10,000 one way. Passengers are permitted to bring up to 200kg of luggage. The Kerala Maritime Board was approached by the two organizations behind the idea, the Kozhikode-based Malabar Development Council (MDC) and Indian Association Sharjah (IAS), who then requested that NORKA (department of Non-resident Keralites Affairs) conduct a study to determine how useful the service would be to the 22 lakh-strong Malayali population in the UAE. Read More...
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Full House Ahmedabad Hotel prices ahead of ICC World Cup
  • Hindustan Times
  • 20 September, 2023
Cricket fans started planning their trips to Ahmedabad to see the India-Pakistan match as soon as the schedule for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2023 was released. But because of our eagerness to witness cricket's greatest rivalry in action, what should have taken an hour to complete turned into a week-long nightmare. "After the announcement of the program, I chose a few hotels. However, the cost of a ticket had skyrocketed from $24,000 to 215,000 a night! I had no idea what to expect, he said. Traveling to Ahmedabad, where the India-Pakistan game will be played on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, has turned into all about paying an outrageous price due to overwhelming demand for some fans. Agoda, an online travel company, has seen a 1,702% increase in requests for hotels in Ahmedabad. "Live events and international sporting competitions have recently caused travel to dramatically increase. According to Krishna Rathi, country director for India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives for Agoda, "The World Cup has always been one of the most sought-after events in India, and it's great to see a rise in interest from international travelers as well." Read More...
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Breaking Tourism Records Japan welcomes 2.2 million tourists in August
  • Japan Times
  • 21 September, 2023
According to government data released on Wednesday, Japan had an estimated 2,156,900 foreign tourists in August, which is 85.6% more than it did in the same month in 2019 before the coronavirus outbreak. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, a recovery trend persisted, and the rate finally surpassed 80%. Last month, there were 364,100 visitors from mainland China, which is 36.4% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019. This is an increase of around 50,000 from July but a decrease of 63.6% from August 2019. China came in third on a list of arrival numbers from other nations and regions after removing its nationals' limitations on group travel to Japan on August 10. South Korea welcomed the most immigrants, with 569,100, an increase of 84.3% from four years earlier, followed by Taiwan with 396,300, a decrease of 5.7%. Read More...
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Cruising in Saryu Ayodhya to launch cruise service on Saryu
  • Times Travel
  • 14 September, 2023
Now, Ayodhya provides an enjoyable cruising experience along the lovely Saryu River. According to sources, local government has already given the go-ahead for a private company to run the "Jatayu" cruise service, which will offer a distinctive ride between Nayaghat and Guptarghat beginning on September 8. This program will not only increase tourism but also give residents and visitors a wonderful method to see Ayodhya's historical and natural splendor. Regarding this, Ayodhya Municipal Commissioner Vishal Singh noted that every safety measure has been done to guarantee the security of those traveling on the cruise. For your knowledge, the Jatayu cruise boat will be 100-person capacity, fully air-conditioned, and will take tourists on a tour of the city's well-known ghats and temples via the Saryu River. Read More...
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More trips to Bahrain Bahrain tourism booms, records 51% growth in first half of the year
  • BW Hotelier
  • 14 September, 2023
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) has made an astounding admission, reporting a phenomenal 51% increase in tourism during the first half of 2023, signaling the Kingdom of Bahrain's development as a sought-after global tourist hotspot. A staggering 5.9 million tourists visited Bahrain from January to June 2023, a significant increase over the 3.9 million tourists counted during the same period the year before. This extraordinary increase highlights Bahrain's growing appeal as a top travel destination for people all over the world. With its distinctive fusion of culture, history, and modernity, Bahrain, a gorgeous island nation tucked away in the center of the Arabian Gulf, is enticing tourists. Historical treasures like the almost 4,000-year-old Qal'at al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort) and the UNESCO-designated Bahrain Pearling Trail serve as gateways into the country's illustrious past. Read More...
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Costly Air Travel Air Fares to increase 3% on Gandhi Jayanti Weekend
  • Economic Times
  • 14 September, 2023
Holidaymakers are coping with a considerable increase in travel costs as they prepare for a quick getaway to Goa over the approaching Gandhi Jayanti long weekend. Between September 28 and October 2, airfares for flights to and from Goa have significantly increased, posing unforeseen financial difficulties for passengers. Prices have more than tripled on the well-traveled Pune to Goa route, soaring to roughly INR 13,000 for travel on September 28 or 29. This steep increase contrasts sharply with the normal rate for this trip, which is roughly INR 4,500. Even the price of an airline ticket to return to Pune on October 2-3 has increased, currently costing about INR 11,000 (approximately). Due to Gandhi Jayanti falling on Monday, October 2, there will be a long weekend starting on Friday, September 29. This has only made the airfare issue worse. Read More...
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Revolutionary Planning You can soon travel from India to Bhutan via train
  • Travel Leisure
  • 14 September, 2023
Tourists will be able to take a train from India to Bhutan in the upcoming years. The project is being funded by the Indian government, which has authorized INR 1,200 crore for its construction. At a news conference on August 7, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that the railway line, which will connect the cities of Kokrajhar in Assam and Gelephu in Bhutan, is intended to encourage trade and tourism between the two nations. Although the funds had been set aside by the Indian government, Bhutan Live estimates that the train route will cost INR 1,000 crore. By 2026, the railroad line, which will be around 57.5 km long, should be finished. Read More...
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Maui Returns Hawai to reopen Maui for tourists in October
  • Skift
  • 14 September, 2023
As of October 8, the majority of West Maui in Hawaii will once again be accessible to tourists, Governor Josh Green stated on Friday. Only Lahaina will continue to be off limits to visitors. Visitors will be able to travel to Kapalua, Npili, Honokwai, and K'anapali. “Beginning October 8, all travel restrictions will end, and West Maui will be open to visitors again, so people from Hawaii and around the world can resume travel to this special place and help it begin to recover economically,” said Governor Green. He further said, “This difficult decision is meant to bring hope for recovery to the families and businesses on Maui that have been so deeply affected in every way by the disaster.” Early in August, a string of wildfires ravaged parts of West Maui, displacing thousands of residents, killing over 100, and causing billions in property damage. County, state, and federal emergency personnel are working in Lahaian to locate missing people, identify victims, and remove hazardous chemicals and fire-related debris. Read More...
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Non-Stop travel Indigo resumes Hyderabad to Male direct flights
  • ET Travel
  • 7 Sep, 2023
The return of IndiGo's nonstop service between Hyderabad in South India and Malé in the Maldives has been announced. The airline operates the most flights between the two nations, and its most recent service from Hyderabad will begin later this year during the busiest holiday period. The reason behind this decision is to boost tourism between the two countries by offering convenient and seamless transport facilities to tourists and travelers. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, Indigo, said “The introduction of these flights will not only improve accessibility but also offer travelers added flexibility and convenience. The Maldives has experienced a recent surge in travel, particularly in anticipation of upcoming holidays and long weekends. Furthermore, as the wedding season approaches, the Maldives stands out as an ideal destination, offering luxurious accommodations and romantic getaways for an unforgettable travel experience.” Read More...
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Easy trips Bahrain introduces new system to renew visas outside the country
  • Onmanorama
  • 7 Sep, 2023
Bahrain has implemented a new mechanism that allows foreign nationals to renew their visas while traveling outside the nation. The announcement in this regard was made by Sheikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) in the Interior Ministry. With the new service, employers will have the option of online visa renewal for workers who are employed abroad. Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), in addition to registered workers and domestic employees, by including foreign nationals employed in the business and government sectors. This service is accessible via Bahrain's national portal. The official LMRA channels or the expatriate management system can be used to renew the work permit. Read More...
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Back in Business Himachal Pradesh ready to welcome back tourists
  • Hindustan Times
  • 7 Sep, 2023
Amit Kashyap, director of tourism and civil aviation for Himachal Pradesh, stated on Tuesday that the state is prepared to welcome visitors now that the roads leading to prominent hill stations have been repaired. According to Kashyap, travelers can visit Kasauli, Shimla, Chail, Narkanda, and Kinnaur because the roads leading there are open and secure. He claimed that commuters can travel to Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, Palampur, Dalhouise, Khajjiar, and Chamba. "Most hotels are offering discounts to visitors during the present season. With 7% of the state's GDP and 14.4% of all direct and indirect jobs, the tourist industry is one of the largest contributors, according to Kashyap.” Read More...
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Latest by G20 G20 Updates: Air India announces waiver on tickets for people travelling from 7th-11th Sept
  • Mint
  • 7 Sep, 2023
In light of the approaching G20 summit in the nation's capital, Air India and Vistara are providing a variety of waivers and flexibility to travelers with tickets for flights departing from the Delhi airport from September 7 through 11. The airline has released a number of waivers to help travelers. There will be travel limitations in Delhi between September 7 and September 11, 2023, according to a tweet by Air India on X (formerly Twitter). Passengers with booked tickets to or from Delhi these days are being granted a one-time waiver of relevant fees if they wish to change their date of travel or their flight. This gesture of goodwill is being made in the interest of customer service. The only difference that might apply is the fare for the new flight, if any. Read More...
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Just Hired! JW Mariott Maldives welcomes Srijith Ravindranath as Director of Sales and Marketing
  • BW Hotelier
  • 7 Sep, 2023
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa has appointed Srijith Ravindranath as the new Director of Sales and Marketing. With an exceptional 15-year career in hotel sales and marketing, Srijith brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this crucial position. His primary focus has been the Indian market. After starting his career with Ginger Hotels and earning an MBA in marketing and hospitality management, Ravindranath went on to hold major positions at IHHR Hospitality, Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts, and the St Regis Goa Resort. Ravindranath has gained experience in a variety of hospitality-related fields throughout the course of his career, from pre-opening activities and corporate sales to serving tourists from abroad and managing MICE events like weddings and social gatherings. Beyond personal development, Ravindranath has demonstrated a track record of outperforming targets and hitting budget targets by 130%. He has also organized the changeover of a resort from Marriott International's Leela brand to the St Regis brand, demonstrating his aptitude for navigating the difficult obstacles of a rebranding process while upholding operational excellence. Read More...
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Fresh Ventures TBO Academy announces "Interactions with Attractions" for travel agents
  • TBO Academy
  • 1 Sep, 2023
TBO Academy, the leading platform for travel education and professionals, announces its latest campaign, "Interactions with Attractions". This innovative campaign is set to transform the way travel agents sell tourist attraction tickets, providing them with exclusive rewards for promoting some of the world's most iconic destinations. "Interactions with Attractions" encourages travel agents to delve into the realm of tourism by offering tickets to renowned attractions like The Empire State Building, The View at the Palm, Victoria Zoos, Vana Nava Waterpark, Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center, Rockefeller Center, and many more. Vidhu Lamba, Vice President of TBO Academy, said, "Interactions with Attractions represent a significant step in our journey to empower travel agents. By partnering with these world-class attractions, we're enabling travel agents to offer unforgettable experiences to their clients while reaping the benefits of their hard work". Read More...
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G20 hits Delhi Flights G20 Summit: Flights to & from Delhi to be Impacted
  • Travel Leisure
  • 1 Sep, 2023
In response to the G20 Summit 2023, which will take place on September 9 and 10, Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL), which manages the IGI Airport, has received requests from airlines to cancel certain flights. The report claims that, in contrast to earlier accounts, the request isn't being made because there aren't enough places to park airplanes. The DIAL statement read, "We take immense pride in India's role as the host of the G20 Summit 2023," according to the report. There is no connection between recent news about airline disruptions and aircraft parking. The required parking is already available. Airlines may have decided to cancel flights in light of traffic constraints brought on by the G20 conference. Travelers are anticipating a long weekend away from the city as September 8 has been designated as a holiday in Delhi owing to the G20 Summit, and September 7 is a holiday for Janmashtami. Due to the anticipated heavy traffic on the roadways, Delhi Police has recommended citizens to allow extra time for their commute, according to News 24. Read More...
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Reasonable trips to Bhutan Bhutan cuts tourist fee to lure more visitors
  • Indian Express
  • 1 Sep, 2023
Bhutan will cut in half the $200 daily fee it charges visitors in an effort to stimulate a sector that has yet to fully recover a year after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. When Bhutan lifted two years of COVID restrictions in September of last year, it increased its "Sustainable Development Fee" to $200 per visitor per night from $65, stating that the money would be used to offset the carbon produced by tourists. The administration said in a statement late on Friday that the new cost of $100 per night would take effect in September and last for four years. Bhutan began to welcome tourists in 1974 after receiving 300 travelers. According to government data, the number climbed to 315,600 in 2019, up 15.1% from the previous year. In order to protect the sacredness of its peaks, Bhutan has always been concerned about the effects of mass tourism. The tourist tax has restricted entry to higher-spending tourists, who represent a small portion of the tourists who travel to adjacent Nepal. Read More...
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Caribbean Calls  Cruise demand increases in the Caribbean
  • Travel Weekly
  • 1 Sep, 2023
The Caribbean's cruise capacity expansion this year exceeded pre-pandemic levels due to a combination of new cruise lines and larger ships, and more ships are on the way. In 2024 and beyond, a number of cruise lines intend to send more tonnage to the area, which could increase passenger numbers in a region that currently hosts about half of the world's cruise ships. The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's (FCCA) president, Adam Ceserano, said: "The Caribbean is not just a warm weather vacation anymore". It's a place for experiences all year round. From last year to 2023, the region's cruise capacity increased by 11.2%. By 2022, the sector had not yet recovered to pre-pandemic Caribbean levels, but the FCCA anticipates this year's capacity to be 6.8% higher than that of 2019. According to CLIA, the Caribbean, which has long been the leading destination for cruise visitors, has increased its share of the global cruise passenger volume since the epidemic, rising from 43% in 2019 to nearly 47% in 2022. Read More...
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Wait no longer  US Visa appointment waiting time reduces as consulate clears backlog
  • ET Travel
  • 1 Sep, 2023
In a statement, the US Consulate General in Mumbai said that the COVID-19 visa backlog had been removed and that applicants may now arrange their appointments for immigrant visa interviews within the typical period. After the pandemic, there was a more than two-year appointment waits for the US visa, but today applicants can book appointments during available timeslots. The consulate added that this action will facilitate family reunions in the US. According to the statement, there are currently over 9 lakh non-immigrant visas being processed, and there will likely soon be one million. Earlier, U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti stated that the target for 2023 is to process at least one million visas. He added that the wait time for first-time tourist visa interviews has decreased by more than 50%. Read More...
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Industry Boost Travel & Tourism sector to hit $15.5 trillion revenue by 2033
  • NewsBytes
  • 24 August, 2023
According to the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council), the travel and tourism sector's GDP contribution will increase to $15.5 trillion by 2033. With 430 million individuals employed globally, or approximately 12% of the working population, this will account for 11.6% of the global economy. According to the latest data, 34 of the 185 nations examined have already recovered to their pre-pandemic GDP contribution levels. By the end of 2023, it is anticipated that over half of them will have fully recovered or will have done so within 95%. The global total number of jobs generated by the travel and tourism industry last year surged to over 295 million, or one in every eleven jobs worldwide. Spending by foreign tourists increased by a record 82% and reached $1.1 trillion. Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the WTTC, underscored the industry's tenacity and constant enthusiasm for tourism. Read More...
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DXB beats 2019 Dubai International Airport experiences 41 million arrivals, beats 2019
  • ET Travel
  • 24 August, 2023
In the first half of the year, passenger traffic at the DXB increased by 49% to 41.6 million, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The second quarter fueled the rebound, increasing traffic by about 43% from the second quarter of 2022 to 20.3 million passengers, or just over 100% of the traffic levels in the first half of 2019, according to the operator. In order to be "just 1.6% short of DXB's (Dubai International) annual traffic in 2019," Dubai Airports revised their target for 2023 to 85 million passengers from 83.6 million. "We started the second half with strong demand in July, and with the ongoing seasonal peak coinciding with the reopening of schools in August, we're preparing for an exceptionally busy rest of the year,” Chief Executive Paul Griffiths said in a statement. Read More...
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Uber groups all Uber introduces ‘Group Travel’ feature in India for sustainable travel
  • Moneycontrol
  • 24 August, 2023
The 'Group Rides' option, which Uber introduced on August 22 in India, allows users to split the cost of a ride with up to three other passengers while going to the same place. According to the app-based cab service provider, users of the "Group Rides" function can save up to 30% on their fare. (The precise discount varies according to the number of additional passengers they bring.) By sharing the specifics of an Uber trip via messaging apps, users can ask friends to join them for the ride. Once they join the trip, these friends or companions can add their own pickup places, and the ride route will be modified with those locations. According to Uber's news release, this feature also aims to lessen traffic on the roads and minimize reliance on individual automobiles while traveling with friends, employees, or family. Read More...
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Ease in Travel Chinese govt eases visa regulations for Indians
  • Business Standard
  • 24 August, 2023
For citizens of India applying for business (M), tourism (L), short-term family visits (Q2) to Chinese citizens, transit (G), and crew (C) visas, China has temporarily loosened its visa requirements. These changes have been highlighted in a statement by the Chinese Embassy in India. The embassy said qualified applicants will no longer be required to provide biometric information (fingerprints) until December 31 if they are applying for single- or double-entry visas for business, tourism, transit, short-term family visits, and crew purposes. These modifications will be in place till the end of 2023. Read More...
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Cruising in the future Strong Q2 numbers for cruise lines represent a sign of even better years ahead
  • Travel Weekly
  • 24 August, 2023
Due to record-breaking bookings and higher rates in the second quarter, two of the biggest cruise firms in the world increased their projected earnings for the remainder of the year. The change occurs as cruise lines transition from pandemic recovery to a period characterized by robust demand and consumer spending. Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said during a Q2 earnings call with investors in late July that "what has been a surprise to us has been our ability to continue to raise the price and continuing to come in at higher levels -- significantly higher levels -- than we have seen in previous periods." Read More...
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Unaffordable Rails Europe train fares reach 30X more than Plane fares
  • CNN Travel
  • 17 August, 2023
According to a recent report by environmental campaign group Greenpeace, the long-distance train journeys in Europe can cost nearly 30 times more than the air tickets. The report compared the cost of flights and trains on 112 different European routes. On average, train tickets cost twice as much as flights, while train trips from the UK to Europe, which require riding the frequently expensive Eurostar to the continent, cost four times as much as flights. Spain, which has a high-speed rail network with four competing brands, experienced the same thing. On 71% of the routes examined, flights were less expensive than trains. There were also some unexpected price increases. Looking at a last-minute journey from London to Barcelona in May that was booked two days prior to departure, the train cost 384 euros (about $430) while the Ryanair flight cost 12.99 euros, making the train 29.6 times more expensive than the flight. Read More...
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Trillionaire Hospitality Hotel Industry to contribute $1.5 Tn to the Indian GDP by 2047
  • Mint
  • 17 August, 2023
The direct contribution of the hotel industry to the Indian GDP is expected to touch $1.5 tn by 2047, the contribution in 2022 was recorded around $40 Billion and expected to reach $68 billion by 2027. According to a report by the Hotel Association of India, the Indian hotel business has enormous development potential and is expected to contribute $1,504 billion to the nation's overall GDP by 2047, up from $65 billion in 2022. According to the estimate, demand for hotels will rise over the next 25 years, but if there is a continuous development strategy for projects already in the pipeline and new ones, supply would increase in the same proportion. The association projected that the whole hospitality industry will rise by 11%, 13%, and 15% during the short, mid, and long terms, respectively. Read More...
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UAE to Gujarat Daily Indigo launches daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Ahmedabad
  • Simple Flying
  • 17 August, 2023
India’s flagship budget airline carrier, Indigo, has launched two new flights from Jeddah and Abu Dhabi to Ahmedabad. With this new proposition, Indigo will now operate 49 flights between UAE and 7 Indian cities. The Jeddah-Ahmedabad will also increase the tally of the Saudi Arabian flights to 35. Furthermore, the airline has been in the news that co-founder of Indigo, Rakesh Gangwal and his family are most likely going to sell $450 million worth of shares in a block sale. Airline head, Vinay Malhotra, commented “We are excited to announce the start of flights between Ahmedabad and two significant Middle Eastern cities, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah, as part of our commitment to improving accessibility and connecting India with foreign markets. With the addition of these routes, IndiGo now offers 35 weekly flights to Jeddah from 5 Indian cities and 49 weekly flights to Abu Dhabi from 7 cities throughout the country.” Read More...
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Back in Business Business travel to top pre-covid levels
  • Business Standard
  • 17 August, 2023
According to the Global Business Travel Association's annual projection, global business travel expenditures will surpass pre-pandemic levels the next year and increase to more than $1.78 trillion in 2027. According to a report presented on Monday at the GBTA's annual conference in Dallas, spending has increased more quickly than the organization had anticipated last year due to more stable global economic conditions and the failure of recessions to occur. It will surpass 2019's record of $1.43 trillion and reach $1.52 trillion in 2024. The goal was previously anticipated to be reached in the middle of 2026. Read More...
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FREE Travel Revolutionary Ride: NUEGO offered Re.1 bus tickets on 15th August
  • TOI
  • 17 August, 2023
History was made when Nuego, an intercity electric AC Bus provider offered bus tickets at just Re.1 for all passengers from 10th-15th August 2023. The routes on which the buses operated were Indore-Bhopal, Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Jaipur, Agra-Jaipur, Bengaluru-Tirupati, Chennai-Tirupati, Chennai-Puducherry and Hyderabad-Vijayawada. Passengers reserved their tickets through the Nuego website and application. Devendra Chawala, CEO & MD, Greencell Mobility, commented during the launch of the campaign “With tickets priced at just Rupee 1, our goal is to invite the citizens of the country to experience NueGo and take a step towards making the country greener.” Read More...
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4X Profit TBO Crosses Rs.1050 Crores revenue in FY2023
  • TBO Business Report
  • 10 August, 2023
TBO, the global travel distribution platform headquartered in Gurugram, has accomplished nothing short of extraordinary. In a dazzling display of prowess, TBO's revenue has surged past the INR 1050 Crores mark, doubling its 2022 figure. The FY2023 success story is a testament to TBO's relentless commitment. With a striking 4X increase in profits, TBO has set new standards and cemented its position as a leader in the industry. The journey from INR 483 Crores in FY2022 to over INR 1050 Crores in FY2023 is awe-inspiring. Moreover, the commission generated from air ticketing has experienced a remarkable 65% surge, reaching INR 320 Crores in 2023. This phenomenal growth reaffirms TBO's prominence in the aviation sector. Read More...
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NYC Calling United airlines to double flights on Delhi-New York route
  • News18
  • 10 August, 2023
United Airlines has decided to double its daily flight operations on the New Delhi to New York routes from October 29th. This is the first seasonal change by the airline ever since the suspension of routes like Mumbai-Newark, Delhi-Chicago/San Francisco. In a brief statement, the United Airlines' director for the Middle East and India said, "India has been an essential component of United's worldwide network for nearly two decades, and we are pleased to announce this extra daily service from New Delhi, operated by 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This increase in service will provide our valued clients in India with even more travel options and flexibility, with the ability to connect seamlessly to over 70 locations across the Americas via our New York/Newark hub." Read More...
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Hospitality now hiring! Recovery in Travel & Tourism boosts Hospitality Jobs
  • Economic Times
  • 10 August, 2023
Ever since the travel and tourism industry has made a comeback in the Indian markets, the Indian hospitality industry has experienced a potential surge of 66% in job listings. As per a report by Skift, the 66% surge was noticed between June 2022 to June 2023. Furthermore, the report mentions Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore as the top recruiting cities in the hospitality sector. Tier 2 cities like Mohali and Coimbatore have also noticed a 4% increase in hospitality jobs. The contributions to this surge by Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore were 19%, 9%, and 5.29%, respectively. Read More...
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Downslide by Landslide Himachal tourism suffers because of landslides
  • News18
  • 10 August, 2023
In the past two months, rainfall and thunderstorms have caused severe flooding and landslides in Himachal Pradesh. The natural calamities have adversely affected top tourist spots like Shimla and Manali. The tourism industry of Himachal Pradesh struggled the most during these months and has witnessed a significant setback. Rajinder Singh, a hotelier, recently commented, "the tourism industry has suffered a complete loss. I own and operate hotels in Shimla, Manali, and Kasauli. Because of the flooding and precipitation, most roads are closed. Those vacationers are terrified. Following Covid, this is another jolt to our tourism industry." Read More...
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Travel without regrets! Travel Inflation not stopping the wanderlust
  • Reuters
  • 10 August, 2023
The post-pandemic travel inflation doesn’t stop travelers and tourists from taking international trips. Analysts suggest travel has been a top priority for consumers instead of a “nice to have” purchase in the past years. This year, international travel has reached around 90% closer to the pre-pandemic days, according to the International Air Transport Association. Dan McKone, a senior partner at strategy consultancy L.E.K. Consulting said, “In the wake of the pandemic, several folks have reset their priorities and have focused on splurging on travel.” Read More...
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Singapore to India Singapore Airlines to add more flights to India
  • Arabian Business
  • 4 August, 2023
To expand its network in the Indian market, Singapore’s flag carrier, Singapore Airlines, plans to add more flights to and from Indian cities. The Indian cities targeted for this initiative are Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. The airline carrier intends to increase flights from Singapore to Chennai from 17 to 21 times a week. The weekly service from Singapore to Hyderabad will increase from seven to 12 times a week. The airline’s official statement for this initiative is: “These adjustments are part of the continuous review of the SIA Group’s network and reflect its ability and flexibility to adjust operations between Singapore Airlines and Scoot to meet evolving customer demand.” Read More...
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Wildlife Boom Global Wildlife tourism market to reach $220Bn by 2032
  • TravelBiz.com
  • 4 August, 2023
If the recent report by the FMI analysts is to be believed, the global wildlife tourism industry was estimated to be worth USD 135 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% from 2022 to 2032. One of the critical reasons for this global market increase is that more and more individuals are working towards preserving wildlife across the globe. To endorse and promote more wildlife reserves, many hotel chains have developed their properties around the wildlife sanctuaries so visitors can explore and relax in a comforting haven. Educational institutions also contribute to wildlife tourism as schools and colleges take students on trips to create flora and fauna awareness. Read More...
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Uber rides to profit Uber reports first ever profit in company history
  • TOI
  • 4 August, 2023
One of the colossal flagship startups in the world, Uber, moves past loss-making as the company posts a surprise profit in the second quarter of 2023. Since Uber became a public company, this was the first time the company made a profit. According to Bloomberg, Uber had a $394 million profit in the second quarter of 2023. In addition, the corporation reported its first-ever operational profit of $326 million and free cash flow of $1.14 billion. Uber's stock price increased by 3.7%. The revenue declared by Uber in Q2 was USD 9.13 Billion, which was 14.4% more than the Q2 in 2022. Read More...
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Tourism in Srinagar Indian Army hands over 134 acres of Srinagar land for tourism
  • The New Indian Express
  • 4 August, 2023
To encourage tourism and other development activities in Srinagar, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken over 139.04 acres of defense land at Tatoo ground in Batamaloo. The Ministry of Defence will transfer the 139.04 acres of defense land to MHA within four months. Lt Governor Sinha described the MoU as a watershed event in developing a significant tourism space in J&K UT. "The land shall be part of the EVL of the land for which MoD conveyed sanction vide No.A/51120/Q3L (North)/181/31/S/ D(Lands) dated 22nd February 1990, and the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir in consultation with defense authorities shall work out the actual value of the land on EVL basis at all locations," an official order states. Read More...
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US tourism suffers Visa delays harm tourism marketing in the United States
  • Travel and Tour World
  • 4 August, 2023
Lengthy visa processing waits limit destination marketers' ability to attract new tourists from crucial international markets. According to the US Travel Association, the average wait period for a US embassy interview for a first-time visitor visa applicant in India, Brazil, China, and other top destinations for US travel is more than 400 days. Wait times differ by nation and embassy. To expand, we must be able to attract additional visitors who require visas, according to NYC Tourism Conventions President and CEO Fred Dixon. Destinations in these countries with substantial visa queues cater to tourists who do not have to wait. According to the CEO of LA Tourism, Adam Burke, In nations where visa wait periods are an issue, they collaborate directly with the travel industry to target people who already have a passport. Read More...
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Not so Visa-Free American & British travelers to require Visa to travel to Europe
  • CNBC TV18
  • 27 July, 2023
The Europe Union is all set to introduce the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This new initiative will require all travelers from visa-free countries, including the US and UK, to apply for a visa before entering any European country. The American and British passport holders must fill out a form that requires their travel information like travel plans, travel history, biographical information, and security-related questions. No need to worry as the approvals for these visa requests will be swift compared to other countries, and travelers will receive the support within an hour. In the case of some exceptional cases where additional checks are mandatory, the visa request can take up to 4 days. The travel authorization cost for travelers from the US is set at $8, while UK travelers are subjected to pay £6. Read More...
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Rise of the Indians 235% rise in Indian tourist arrivals to Oman
  • Zawya
  • 27 July, 2023
The Sultanate of Oman has recorded over 200% growth in tourist arrivals from India, with 355,459 travelers visiting in 2022 compared to only 106,042 travelers visiting in 2021. In 2022, Oman witnessed an overall growth of 349% in tourist arrivals in 2022 as compared to 2021. Oman tourism promotions started in New Delhi through various tourism workshops. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has organised several seminars in the metro cities of India till 31st July. The Assistant Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Directorate General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Asma bint Salem Al Hajri, said these workshops are a continuation of the promotional events that the ministry started in India. Read More...
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Expensive Eating 10% price hike in Food bills in Bangalore hotels
  • The Hindu
  • 27 July, 2023
Due to the recent price increase on milk, vegetables, grains, and other daily necessities, hotel chains in Bengaluru have decided to increase the prices of food items by 10% from 1st August. Although this decision was taken by the Bruhat Bengaluru Hoteliers Association (BBHA) on Tuesday, some of the hotel chains in Bengaluru had already increased food prices by 5-10%. President of BBHA, P.C. Rao, commented, “We waited as elections and many other things were going on. But now, we have formally decided to increase the rates as prices of all ingredients have shot up”. Read More...
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Push by Travel IMF says the recovery in travel industry will boost global economy
  • BBC
  • 27 July, 2023
The International Monetary Fund has said that pot pandemic recovery in the travel industry has boosted the global economy. The chief of the IMF, Mr. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, told CNN that the sudden recovery by the travel industry has been impactful and further commented, “Those countries [that] are tourist destinations have done relatively well. Those countries [that] are more manufacturing hubs have done maybe slightly less strongly.” If the International Air Transport Association numbers are to be believed, then the air travel industry has shown a miraculous recovery by reaching 96% of pre covid levels. However, The IMF says there is very little room for recovery for Europe because of the wildfires. China and India are all set to grow further when more advanced economies like Europe and the United States struggle. Read More...
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Bali Travel Fee Bali to introduce tourist fee from 2024
  • TTG
  • 27 July, 2023
The Bali Regional Government is in talks to introduce tourist fees of 150,000 rupiah (US$10) for all international travelers who visit Bali from next year. This unique proposal was introduced by Bali Governor I Wayan Koster in parliament earlier this month. The head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, further commented tourist fee was conceptualized to maintain Bali’s nature, culture, and environment sustainably, ensuring that tourists can continue to enjoy Bali with a sense of security and comfort. Despite no confirmation of this policy, the stakeholders of the Bali tourism industry already support this. Read More...
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Visa Free Journeys Henly Passport Index 2023: Indians can travel Visa free to 57 countries
  • Mint
  • 20 July, 2023
After ranking 80th in the Henly Passport Index 2023, the Indian passport is allowed free visa travel in 57 countries. If compared to last year, India has successfully managed to improve its ranking by 5 spots. However, the report suggests that India has performed poorly in mobility as Indian tourists still need visa to travel to a total of 177 countries comprising the US, UK, all European countries, China, Russia and more. Some of the 57 countries that Indians can travel to without any visa requirements are Maldives, Togo, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Iran, and Senegal. The country that has topped the Index after overtaking Japan in having the most powerful passport was Singapore. Singapore passport holders can travel 192 countries without any visa requirements. Read More...
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Travel Cover IRCTC issues travel insurance for all passengers
  • ET TRAVEL
  • 20 July, 2023
A great moment for Indian railways as the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will now issue up to Rs.10 Lakh personal accidental travel insurance to all passengers who will book their tickets from the IRCTC portal. Passengers will also have an option of opting out from being insured on their trip by just checking out the travel insurance column in the IRCTC. The premium charged per ticket for travel will be Rs.0.53 paise. The IRCTC travel insurance will cover death/disabilities/medical expenses due to a train accident during the travel. The insurance providers in this new initiative are SBI General Insurance Company Ltd and Liberty General Insurance Company Ltd. Read More...
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Rail Europe Rail Europe introduces Greek Islands ferry pass
  • Travel Weekly
  • 20 July, 2023
Rail Europe is all set to introduce a new ferry line for passengers who wish to travel to the Greek Islands. This Greek Island pass will allow tourists to explore the islands via ferry lines like Superfast Ferries, Minoan Lines, Grimaldi Lines, and Blue Star Ferries. The newest addition to Rail Europe’s B2B inventory, this Greek Islands pass can be availed on the company’s travel website. According to Rail Europe, this pass can work best for travelers who want to visit destinations like Athens, Olympia, and Thessaloniki. Read More...
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Soaring Europe Heatwave in Europe results to fall in tourism
  • NDTV
  • 20 July, 2023
A data report from the European Travel Commision (ETC) has shown that the number of people who had planned to travel to Europe in the months of June to November has fallen 10% if compared to last year. The soaring heatwave has left a lasting impact on tourism in Southern Europe and further motivated travelers to choose cooler destinations for trips. Miguel Sanz, the head of the ETC commented "We anticipate that unpredictable weather conditions in the future will have a greater impact on travelers' choices in Europe." Read More...
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Domestic Escapades 76 million travelers took domestic flights in the first half of 2023
  • Simple Flying
  • 20 July, 2023
A recent data by the Indian Aviation Regular, DGCA, suggested that more Indian airlines carried more than 76 million domestic passengers between January to June 2023. The highlight of the report was a 19% Jump in domestic passengers despite GoFirst being grounded. If compared to 2022, this year registered a 32.92% annual growth in the number of domestic passengers between January to June. With a market share of 63.5%, Indigo carried the majority of domestic passengers. Indigo was further followed by Air India with a market share of 9.7%, followed by Vistara at 8.1% and AirAsia at 8%. The last in this list was the newly introduced Akasa air with a share of 4.9% and SpiceJet at only 4.4%. Read More...
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Avoid the hills Travel Agents suggest avoiding travelling to hills this month
  • TOI
  • 13 July, 2023
The recent monsoon rains have resulted in the loss of private and public property, such as Vehicles smashing, collapsing bridges, and overflowing drains in residential areas. After witnessing such hazardous events in the past few days, travel operators have suggested avoiding traveling to hill stations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. According to a tourism report, a red alert has been issued by the authorities in Himachal Pradesh due to the heavy rains. Saurabh Tiwari, director of a Delhi-based travel company, said, “Four of my taxis got stuck in the rain in Shimla, and we had to ask the tourists to return from Shimla.” Tour operators around the country have suggested postponing your trips to the hills till August. Read More...
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Largest Market Cap India emerges as top market Malaysian Airlines
  • Financial Express
  • 13 July, 2023
India overtakes Australia in becoming the top market for Malaysian Airlines. The carrier also plans to add more destinations and flights because of the continuous booking demand. A senior company official from Malaysian Airlines said that the carrier has recently increased its weekly flights to India to 55 and plans to touch 60 weekly flights by the end of this year. The group chief marketing and customer experience officer of Malaysia Airlines, Yin May Lau, said, “We are already above 90% of pre-Covid times in our India operations. By putting in 60 flights, we will reach the 2019 numbers. When the pandemic started to wane, India showed one of the most encouraging recoveries we have seen.” The carrier currently covers six destinations Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Bangalore, and Chennai. India, the third-largest aviation market in the world, has shown a surprising recovery after the Covid 19 Pandemic and has started to contribute heavily to the country's economic reform. Read More...
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Pre Pandemic Morocco tourism arrivals increase by 21%
  • Daijiworld.com
  • 13 July, 2023
In just the first six months of 2023, Morocco registered 6.5 tourist arrivals and surprisingly surpassed the pre-pandemic numbers of 2019. The volume of arrivals reached 1.4 million in June 2023, which is 21% more than in 2019, a report suggested. Xinhua news agency reports also suggest that the nationality of tourists also saw a potential rise; Spanish tourists increased by 79%, British by 23%, and Portuguese by 16%. The Moroccan tourism sector estimated revenue of $4.5 Billion which is 45% more than in 2019. Tourism is a crucial contributor to the Moroccan economy, up to 7.1% contribution. Read More...
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Railway Rains Heavy Rainfalls causes 17 trains to cancel and 12 to divert
  • NDTV
  • 13 July, 2023
Northern Railways canceled 17 trains and diverted 12 others because of the heavy rainfall in several regions of the northern states. A Northern Railway executive said that traffic had been suspended at four different locations due to heavy waterlogging between Noganwan (Ambala)-New Morinda, between Nangal Dam and Anandpur Sahib, and between Kiratpur Sahib and Bharatgarh. The CPRO of Northern Railway, Deepak Kumar, said “Nonstop heavy rains have caused us to keep a watch on Delhi trains and eight pumps have been installed at the Delhi-Sabzi Mandi area to pump water out of the tracks. The Cancelled trains include Chandigarh to Amritsar Junction Express, Firozpur Cantt Express, Amritsar Super-Fast Express, and Chandigarh Intercity Express. Diverted trains include Mumbai Central to Amritsar Express, Amritsar Express, and Daulatpur Chowk Express. Read More...
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Habibi come to Dubai Dubai most preferable by Indians for International Travel
  • India Times
  • 13 July, 2023
A travel survey reveals that Dubai is the top destination for Indians planning to travel abroad this year. Dubai is followed by Maldives, Singapore, Switzerland, and Bali. Domestically, the most preferred locations by Indians are Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. According to the survey, 31% of Indians will take domestic trips in 2023-24, and 30% will potentially increase their duration. Read More...
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Fast Rail RapidX: India’s First Regional Train Service to Start on a 17KM Stretch
  • Money Control
  • 6 July, 2023
India’s first regional train service, RapidX, is all set to start its operations in July on a 17-kilometer priority route. The five stations this train is subjected to pass are Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai Depot. A senior government official told the Economic Times, "work on all these stations has been completed, and they are ready for operations”. If the comments by the officials from the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) are to be believed, the commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) has given safety approvals on this project, and the inauguration will be done the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. This would be the first time in India a railway system will be launched for high-speed operations. The maximum speed for these trains is expected to be 160 km/hr. Read More...
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DMRC Travel App Delhi Metro launches ‘DMRC Travel’ app to buy online tickets
  • Indian Express
  • 6 July, 2023
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officially launched a dedicated mobile app to assist passengers in directly buying metro tickets with a click on their mobile. This new initiative will shorten the long and crowded queues at ticket counters and vending machines. The app was launched from the DMRC headquarters, Metro Bhawan, by Dr. Vikas Kumar, Managing Director, DMRC, in the presence of various senior officials. The app supports multiple modern payment methods, including UPI, credit/debit card payments, and wallets. The main objective of this app is to provide a seamless and efficient ticket booking process that will not only save time but also offer convenience and portability. Furthermore, the app will also have features like a travel planner, fair calculator, station info, and smart card recharge. The app can be downloaded on Google Play Store for Android users and Apple Store for IOS users. Read More...
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Delayed Holiday Hundreds of Flights delayed because of fourth of July
  • BBC News
  • 6 July, 2023
According to a report by FlightAware, more than 3000 flights got delayed in and out of the US on Monday. If the numbers by the Transportation Security Administration are to be believed, Sunday, 2nd July 2023, saw the highest number of US airport passengers ever. The worst airline carrier affected by these delays was United Airlines, which experienced 300 postponed flights, according to the data recorded by FlightAware. Furthermore, United Airlines experienced more than 5000 delays and cancellations over the past week. Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, explained that such a chaotic effect on these flights could be credited to the severe weather conditions, which “put enormous pressure on the system”. As the storms threatened the eastern US, the south and west experienced the burns of the heatwave. Read More...
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Spicejet at ‘Last’ Spicejet becomes the most delayed airline ahead of travel season
  • Business Standard
  • 6 July, 2023
With the arrival of the summer travel season, Spicejet saw an increase in delayed flights. If the numbers provided by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are to be believed, only 61% of the Spicejet flights departed timely from the four biggest airports in India- Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad - in May. Spicejet being the most delayed flight at a 250 flights/day operating rate, the next in line came Air India with the most delayed flights. The most surprising discovery was that the youngest airline in the country, Akasa Air, had the most on-time flight arrivals and departures followed by Indigo and Vistara. Read More...
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Indian Globetrotters Indians emerged as leading travelers to USA
  • Business Outreach
  • 6 July, 2023
Indians for the first time emerge as the leading travelers to the United States of America, overtaking China, South Korea and Japan in 2022. To effectively accommodate the volume of Indian travelers, USA plans to open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. The US tourism sector sees India as a potential and promising market for future growth. There also has been a significant rise in the issuance of American visas to Indian travelers and so has been in the case of flights from India to USA. Read More...
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GoFirst Comeback GoFirst secures 450 Cr interim funding for revival
  • Economic Times
  • 29 June, 2023
Despite declaring Bankruptcy in April 2023, GoFirst has successfully secured interim funding of Rs.450 crores from its creditors. The lenders to the airline are the Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and IDBI Bank, which will also seek approval to sanction this amount. GoFirst envisions resuming its operations in July and operating 78 flights daily with 22 airline carriers. These carriers have been cash-strapped since May 3rd, 2023. The primary creditors of the airline comprise Central Bank of India, IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Deutsche Bank, are owed Rs.6,521 crores. Read More...
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Riyadh Air Deal Riyadh Air signs deal for 90 GE Engines
  • TTN
  • 29 June, 2023
Saudi Arabia’s youngest carrier, Riyadh Air, has signed a deal with GE Aerospace for 90 GEnx-1B engines to their fleet. This deal marks the airline's first engine partnership with GE Aerospace for their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Riyadh Air is subjected to fly to more than 100 destinations carrying 100 million passengers by 2030. The goal is to make Riyadh the global tourism hub, which shall attract visitors from around the globe. Riyadh Air expects initial deliveries to be fulfilled by 2025 and aims to operate the world's youngest and most sustainable air fleet. This iconic deal occurred at the Paris Air show between June 19th 25th of June 2023. Read More...
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Digital Airport Buddy Bengaluru airport launches app to smoothen airport experience
  • The Telegraph Online
  • 29 June, 2023
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), in collaboration with GreyMatter Software Services, has created a one-of-a-kind omnichannel platform called ‘BLR Pulse’- a personal digital buddy for all your travel queries. “From providing real-time airport updates about arrival and departure to navigation features which will give you a walkthrough the airport and avoid the hustle and bustle of crowded check-ins, the BLR Pulse will be like a digital assistant,” BIAL stated on Monday. In addition to real-time check-in, security check, and flight status updates, this unique application has a ‘Wayfinder’ feature to help you navigate the airport. BIAL MD and CEO Hari Marar commented, “Travelling through BLR Airport gets more seamless with the BLR Pulse app. The objective is to help passengers plan their travel on the go even before they reach the airport.” Read More...
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The American Relief H-1B Visa Holders can renew Visa from USA
  • WION
  • 29 June, 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a huge announcement when he addressed the Indian diaspora in Washington, DC. PM Modi said that Indian citizens living in the USA will not have to travel abroad to renew their H-1B work visas. "America's new consulates will be opened in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. It has now been decided that the H-1B visa renewal can be done in the US itself," announced PM Narendra Modi while addressing the Indian Diaspora. This initiative was discussed in a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden. As a part of the people-to-people initiative, the US authorities released a statement that said they would introduce 'IN' country renewals for H-1B to smoothen the renewal process for various Indians working in the United States of America. Read More...
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Postponed TCS Govt. Extends Implementation of new TCS rule
  • BT Money Today
  • 29 June, 2023
The Finance Ministry has reportedly announced that overseas payments by credit cards will not be included in the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS). Furthermore, the implementation of the higher tax related source (TCS) of 20% has been postponed by three months and will now come into effect from October 1st instead of July 1st. The Finance Ministry further mentioned “It has also been decided to give more time for the implementation of the revised TCS rates and for inclusion of credit card payments in LRS”. Read More...
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Domestic Growth Domestic Airlines record 36% increase in passenger count
  • Hindustan Times
  • 20 June, 2023
According to government data, the Indian domestic aviation sector witnessed a remarkable growth of 36% in the passenger count between January to May 2023 compared to last year. Some notable domestic airlines that have increased their passenger count are Indigo, Vistara, and Air Asia. If the numbers provided by the data are to be believed, domestic airlines successfully carried 63 million passengers between January and May, which is 36% more than last year. The passenger count in May 2022 was around 114.67 Lakhs, while 132.4 Lakhs in May 2023. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, said, “The cohesive hard work and dedication of all the stakeholders has played a vital role in achieving this.” Read More...
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Rise in Accomodations 40% Rise in Registration of Tourist Accommodations in Goa
  • TOI
  • 20 June, 2023
Ever since the Goa Tourism Department streamlined the registration procedure, tourist accommodation registrations have risen to 40% new registrations. Goa Tourism Director Suneel Anchipaka said, “We witnessed a remarkable rise of 40% in hotel registrations ever since we amended the law”. The authorities also believe that one of the primary reasons for these increased registrations can be the crackdown on illegal hotels and guest houses in the area. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president, Nilesh Shah, commented: “Unregistered bungalows and flats have a low cost of operations while registered resorts and tourist properties suffer.” Read More...
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France tackles over-tourism French Island restricts tourists to fight ‘over-tourism’
  • Hindustan Times
  • 20 June, 2023
The French Island of Brehat, a popular tourist destination in France, has restricted day visitors to 4700 between July and August to combat over-tourism. Situated on the French north coast, Brehat Island has limited its visitors this summer after witnessing 15 times larger tourism numbers than its actual population. Brehat has joined forces with the rest of the French tourist destinations facing ‘over-tourism’ and waste management problems. Mayor Oliver Carre said that the number of visitors who travel around the island for a 10-minute boat ride had been limited to 4700. The French Island of Brehat is home to 377 tourists and is a part of the Natura 2000, which aims to protect biodiversity and procure endangered or vulnerable species. Being an idyllic hotspot, Brehat island is visited by 450,000 tourists annually, which accounts for 6000 visitors/per day. The mayor said the tourist spot could not accommodate such crowds during peak months. Read More...
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Collosal Project Oman to launch Entertainment Project worth $103M
  • TTN Onlineka
  • 20 June, 2023
With an impressive investment of $103M, Oman is all set to launch their integrated entertainment project, Spray Boulevard in Salah. Declared one of the top three best projects in the country by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Spray Boulevard won full government recognition. This state-of-the-art project is implemented on a public-private partnership (PPP) spread over a 470,000-sq-m area. Comprising waterfront restaurants, grand markets, suspended walkways, and a botanical garden, Spray Boulevard will be a future tourist attraction in Oman. The first phase of funding, which the Ministry of Finance will provide, will be around R010 million. An Oman News Agency (ONA) official predicts that this iconic project is believed to attract 800,000 visitors during the Khareef Dhofar season and around 200,000 during the rest of the year. Read More...
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Largest Fleet Indigo makes largest aviation deal, orders 500 A320 aircraft
  • TOI
  • 20 June, 2023
It was a historic event when Indigo co-founder Rahul Bhatia ordered 500 Airbus A320 family single aisle aircraft for $50 Billion. This colossal deal took place at the Paris Air Show where Rahul ordered Indigo’s first 100 A320s 18 years ago. A deal almost worth $50 Billion does come with its own perks as Indigo will get a discount for their impeccable scale and credentials. Founded in 2006, Indigo has so far ordered 1336 aircraft carriers, currently operated 310 aircraft and successfully capitalized 60% of the market share. Indigo is planning to double its fleet size by 2030, says the airline CEO Pieter Elbers. Read More...
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Travel Hike International Travel to get expensive from July 1st
  • MintGenie
  • 13 June, 2023
A boom in international fares is expected from 1st July 2023 as the Indian Government removes credit card exemption on overseas payments. This is to be replaced by TCS (Tax Collection Source) of 20% with an exemption of up to Rs.7 Lakhs. The major challenge that will occur will be collecting as well as refunding this TCS to banks and customers. While the payments made via debit cards are treated as funds remitted under the liberalized remittance scheme, there was also a specific exemption on the usage of credit cards on international trips. The RBI removed this exemption to avoid excess LRS (Liberalized Remittance Scheme), leading to USD 250K. Read More...
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Billions in Tourism Saudi to invest $800 Billion in the Tourism Sector by 2033
  • Business Traveller
  • 13 June, 2023
Saudi Arabian government plans to invest $800 Billion in the tourism industry in the next ten years, said Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb. The Saudi Press Agency recorded this statement at the 10th Arab-China Press Conference. The minister also mentioned that the tourism sector’s contribution to the Saudi Arabian Gross Domestic Product has substantially increased to 4.45%. The country’s tourism industry also made a massive comeback in 2022, as it recorded a 121% increase in international tourism levels from pre-pandemic times, crossing 93.5 million visits in 2022. Julia Simpson, president & CEO of WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council), stated the WTTC members plan to invest $10.5 Billion in the country’s tourism board. Read More...
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Travel Experts Needed! Increase in Tourism Jobs post Pandemic
  • TOI
  • 13 June, 2023
As the global travel and tourism industry is making a remarkable recovery from the pandemic, an increase in headcount has been witnessed in some of the leading tourism organizations. A group of airlines, hotels, tours and travel businesses have reported an 11% increase in the headcount since January 2023, says a data report by Xpheno Shows. The data further revealed that airlines added 17% headcount, hotels 3%, and travel companies added 10% headcount in the past six months. The country’s tourism industry also made a massive comeback in 2022, as it recorded a 121% increase in international tourism levels from pre-pandemic times, crossing 93.5 million visits in 2022. Julia Simpson, president & CEO of WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council), stated the WTTC members plan to invest $10.5 Billion in the country’s tourism board. Read More...
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Free Bus Tickets Free bus rides to women will cost Rs.4000 Crores Annually
  • TOI
  • 13 June, 2023
The Shakti Scheme, which will allow almost 44 Lakh women in Karnataka to enjoy free travel in state-owned buses, will cost the exchequer Rs 4,050 crore annually, said Mysuru district in-charge minister HC Mahadevappa. In Mandya, women are asked to carry id or verification documents like Aadhar cards, voter cards, or other official documents to avail this exclusive facility. The Kodagu district in-charge minister NS Boseraju asked the KRCTC bus conductors to treat the female travelers equally and respectfully and behave with them appropriately. Despite the road transport corporation facing losses, JD(S) MLC Bhojegowda praised this initiative. Read More...
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New Hill top Oyos Oyo to add 300 new hotels in hill stations by August
  • Travel World
  • 13 June, 2023
As the heat waves lure over India, tourists have started taking road trips to hill stations to experience the chills of cold breezes. Analyzing the high demand for hotel bookings in hill stations, Oyo has planned to add 300 new hotels across cities like Srinagar, Nainital, Manali, Shimla, Mussoorie, and Haridwar in the North; Kodaikanal, Munnar, and Ooty in South; Darjeeling, Shillong & Gangtok in East; Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. If the data from Oyo Summer Vacation Index 2023 is to be believed, 82% of Indians have travel plans in summer, of which 92% are interested in traveling domestically. The company already opened 180 hotels in these cities since March 2023 and aims to add 1800 new hotels to its portfolio. Read More...
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Profit in the cockpit The Aviation Industry to witness profits up to $10 Billion
  • The Economic Times
  • 6 June, 2023
The global aviation & airline industry expects a net profit of $9.8 Billion in 2023. The primary reason is the sudden increase in travel demands across the world. Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), commented, “People are flying to reconnect with loved ones, take business trips and explore the world despite economic uncertainties. If this continues, the pandemic years will soon be behind us”. Walsh also suggested that almost 4.48 billion passengers will be flying this year, a close number compared to 2019. The aviation industry lost $137 Billion in 2020 when a global lockdown was imposed by countries all around the world. 2021 was not a cheerful year either, as the sector suffered losses of up to $42 Billion as covid restrictions were tight in significant countries. In 2022, aviation losses were witnessed up to $3.8 Billion. Read More...
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Back in Business An exponential increase in Sri Lankan tourism revenue in May
  • Business Standard
  • 6 June, 2023
According to Sri Lankan Central Bank, a remarkable year-on-year growth of 200% was recorded as the Sri Lankan revenue increased and reached up to $131.5 Million. Despite an off-season to travel in May, these numbers are genuinely miraculous, commented Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando on Saturday. Sri Lankan tourism recorded a revenue of $43.5 Million in May 2022. The revenue for the first five months of 2023 is recorded at approximately $827.8 Million, making a 30.5% increase if compared to 2022. The data also tells that almost 525,000 foreign tourists have visited Sri Lanka in these five months of 2023 as compared to 378,521 in 2022 around the same time. Despite being a nation undergoing a complete financial crisis, Sri Lank still amazes the world with its world-class tourism. Read More...
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Air Fares Skyrocket Kashmir Air Travel costlier than Dubai, Bangkok
  • Greater Kashmir
  • 6 June, 2023
A shocking detail that has grabbed the attention of many tourists and travelers is the airline tickets to Kashmir being costlier than Dubai and Bangkok. The average fares for flights between Delhi to Sri Nagar are recorded between Rs.19000 to Rs.21000. The average fares between Delhi to Dubai start from 16,000. Passengers have also witnessed Delhi to Bangkok flights being even cheaper as fares start from 13,000. Despite a drastic increase in international airfares worldwide, A flight to Dubai or Bangkok is still more affordable than one to Kashmir. This has severely affected students and working professionals who use these routes now and then. In some cases, locals have had to pay up to Rs.2 Lakhs in travel fares during a medical emergency. The Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club, Mushtaq Chaya, commented: “The Government should take some initiatives to standardize these airline fares as they’re not only impacting the locals who visit Kashmir often but also adversely affecting the Kashmir tourism industry.” Read More...
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Pocket-friendly Stays Mariott Group in talks to launch budget hotels in North America
  • Sift
  • 6 June, 2023
Mariott International, the largest hotel chain in the world, is planning to expand a new vertical which would offer hotels rooms at a more affordable price in North America. These new hotel chains would cater to tourists who plan extended stays between 7 to 30 days. Marriott’s chief financial officer and executive vice president of development, Leeny Oberg, commented: “We’re in discussions with owners for more than 250 new development opportunities under this brand,”.Mariott is all set to break ground with this project. In association with Concord Hospitality, a hotel development and management company based in North Carolina, and Whitman Peterson, a real estate private equity company in California, Mariott has planned to work on three properties under the brand’s name. The operations are expected to open in late 2024 to early 2025. Read More...
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Operational Expansion Indigo to expand operations in 6 new international destinations
  • Business Today
  • 6 June, 2023
The biggest airline carrier in India will be adding 174 new international flights, which will commute to new destinations between June and September. These new flights will connect directly from Nairobi, Kenya, and Jakarta, Indonesia, to Mumbai in July and August. These flights will also connect from Delhi to Tbilisi, Georgia, Baku, Azerbaijan, in September to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Almaty, Kazakhstan. This new strategy was implemented to cater to international travelers who plan to travel to the following destinations from India.  Read More...
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Tourism Stats Indian Travel Market to witness a 40% growth between June to August
  • CNBC TV 18
  • 31 May, 2023
The Indian Travel Market is subjected to a 40% increase in international leisure flight trips between June to August 2023 compared to 2022. These numbers are suggested by a report by Adara (a data exchange platform that provides valuable travel data insights). The report says Singapore experienced the highest flight bookings from India, followed by Melbourne, San Francisco, Bali, and Toronto. The report also shows that Thailand is a top pick for solo travelers, while couples and family-oriented travelers choose the West. These numbers may still not match the 2019 figures but are by far the best since the pandemic started. Read More...
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Safe Hawaii Hawaii ranks as the safest tourist destination
  • Travel Daily News
  • 31 May, 2023
According to a survey by the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) during the first quarter of 2023, Hawaii is picked as the safest and the most secure place to travel by many tourists. If the numbers announced by the Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Survey (VSAT)- are to be believed, almost 95% of the tourists from countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, Oceania, Korea, and China have rated Hawaii as an ‘excellent’ and ‘decent’ place to visit in terms of safety and comfort. John De Fries, the president and CEO of Hawaii Tourism Authority commented, “A huge credit for these pleasant appraises by tourists around the world goes to the unparalleled hospitality of Hawaii’s residents.” Read More...
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Ladakh Tourism Ladakh to allow tourists to access forbidden routes
  • Times Travel
  • 31 May, 2023
The Ladakh tourism authorities are in conversation about making forbidden routes accessible to tourists. Bikers will be able to ride toward the forbidden Chang Chenmo sector. Tourists will also be allowed to experience the high peaks of Marsimik La (pass) up to Tsogtsalo. These locations are situated near the LOC (Line of Control) with China. In the next phase, travelers will also be allowed to visit the hot springs and pay their respects to the Memorial built in honor of 10 CRPF Jawaans who lost their lives in combat with Chinese forces on October 10, 1959. The Indian Army HQ commented, “Indian Army endorsed the opening of several treks and routes including Marsimik La, in addition to other places such as Hot Spring and Tsogt Salo.” Read More...
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Air India Air India’s growth on the upward curve: Hiring 600 flight professionals monthly
  • The Economic Times
  • 31 May, 2023
Making a benchmark of growth in strength, Air India’s CEO Campbell Willson elucidated how the airline is dedicatedly growing its operations by hiring 500-600 flight attendants, pilots, and cabin crew members every month. If the numbers are to be believed, Air India is hiring 550 crew members and 50 pilots every month and is also subject to owning six A350 planes in their fleet by the end of 2023. Willson further commented that this pace of hiring would continue till the end of the year and will again reinitiate in 2024, making it almost achieve the speed of their aircraft. Read More...
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Napcations Sleep Tourism: The next phase of Travel & Tourism
  • ET Travel World
  • 31 May, 2023
Some vacations are to sit back, relax and nap, and are called ‘napcations’. Irrespective of how new it sounds, sleep tourism has always been around in the form of sleeping pods, luxury suites, and other properties that offer dreamy sleep-centric experiences to travelers. This new and unusual trend is now gaining traction in the travel industry. As the name suggests, the primary objective of sleep tourism is to provide the best-in-class goodnight sleep to tourists worldwide. Read More...
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Go Air Travel Agents refuse to sell GoFirst Tickets
  • Economic Times
  • 24 May, 2023
After the GoFirst airlines filed for bankruptcy in April 2023, travel agents have profusely refused to sell their flight tickets. The airline ceased its operations on 2nd May 2023 and has since been a topic of discussion among the travel industry. It is believed that travel agents around the country are owed more than Rs.500 crores by the carrier and despite verbal requests are unwilling to sell Gofirst tickets. A travel agent recently quoted “The airline officials have notified us that GoFirst is trying its best to resume operations from 27th May 2023. But at this point, we doubt them in successfully recovering from an operation-cease.” Read More...
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Tourist Arrivals Foreign Tourist Arrivals drops to 44% compared to Pre-covid era
  • Deccan Herald
  • 24 May, 2023
The percentage of foreign tourist arrivals significantly dropped after the Covid19 pandemic hit India in March 2020. While the Indian national departures have risen 78% in 2022 as compared to 2019, the arrivals still lack below 44%. According to the reports by Union Ministry of Tourism, India witnessed 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) and 21.9 million Indian National departures (IND). While in 2019, India witnessed 10.93 million FTAs and 26.92 million INDs. Read More...
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Delhi-Dehradun Delhi-Dehradun travel time cut short to 3.5 hours via Vande Bharat Express
  • Times Now
  • 24 May, 2023
The Vande Bharat Express, which is scheduled to be inaugurated on 25th May 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is subjected to reduce the travel duration between Delhi and Dehradun. The present commute duration between the two cities is six hours. The inauguration of Vande Matram express is also scheduled to witness the presence of Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami and Railway Minister of India, Sri Ashwini Vaishnav. This new travel venture is expected to boost tourism as passengers travelling to Mussoorie, Uttarakhand and Rishikesh can now just use the railroad instead of a long and tiring road trip. This superfast train will have 16 coaches, 14 AC chair cars and 2 executive coaches, making it easy to a accommodate a total of 1128 passengers at once. Read More...
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WTTC WTTC calls for incentivizing Sustainable Aviation Fuel
  • Travel World
  • 24 May, 2023
The World Travel & Tourism Council has recently requested governments around the world to take serious action regarding sustainable consumption of aviation fuel and produce only the required quantities. The WTTC believes without incentivizing sustainable consumption of aviation fuel, it will be very hard to decarbonize on a net zero scale by the year 2050, which was an ambitious target promised by the ICAO member states. The tourism council also stated that without the SAF (sustainable aviation fuel), governments might not be able to meet their climatic goals which were set by the Paris Climate Agreement as they are heavily dependent on the travel and tourism industry’s utilization of aviation fuel. Read More...
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Indian Tourism Indian tourism industry to reach $1tn by 2047
  • The Economic Times
  • 18 May, 2023
According to the EY “Charting the course of Indian Tourism Megatrends Unpacked” report, the Indian tourism industry is subjected to witness exponential growth of up to $1tn by 2047. The key contributors to this shall be data & technology led platforms that will shape the course of Indian Tourism in the next decade. The Group Country Manager of Visa, India & South Asia, Mr. Sandeep Ghosh also commented, “The Indian tourism has the potential to touch $1tn and the tech-driven payment service providers and private tour operators can also contribute heavily to making a more sustainable tourism ecosystem in India.” Read More...
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Overseas Travel Rise in overseas travel loans by 20-25%
  • TOI
  • 18 May, 2023
As the global travel & tourism industry is at a revival curve after being adversely affected by the Covid19 pandemic, travel and finance organizations are witnessing a 20-25% rise in overseas travel loans. Post pandemic inflation and postponed global tourism can be seen as some of the most notable contributors here. Indian travel industry sources believe travel loans are subjected to penetrate the travel industry by 10% at the end of 2023. While the Indian travel market stands at a $60 Billion in 2022, this year expects to witness a 20% growth. Sankash, a travel fintech company, has also reported a 20% increase in overseas travel loans. Read More...
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Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Airlines suffers $525 million loss in FY2022
  • Simple Flying
  • 18 May, 2023
While the global travel industry witnessed an impressive recovery from the 2020 Covid19 pandemic crisis, the Sri Lankan airlines reported an annual loss of $525 million for FY2022. The Sri Lankan Airline revenue analysis says if we compare the previous year, the FY2022 losses have tripled despite a decrease in Covid19 travel restrictions. According to the Sri Lankan National Audit Office, the airline received loan facilities amounting up to $80 million in 2016. At the end of financial year 2021, the airline had outstanding payments of $196 million and also secured a loan of $75 million. In the recent reports are to be believed, the Sri Lankan airline owes interest payments on a $175 million bond. Ashok Pathirage, the chairman of Sri Lankan Airlines commented that restructuring operations is the only possible option left to procure the national airline from a potential sell off. Read More...
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Air India Air India in talks to set up an engineering warehouse in Delhi
  • Simple Flying
  • 18 May, 2023
To boost their on-ground operations, the flagship airline of India, Air India is planning to set up an engineering warehouse in Delhi soon. This new property will act as a well-equipped maintenance and repair outlet for the airline carriers. Situated near the Indira Gandhi International airport, this facility has been expanded to 55,000 square feet and is subjected to open for operations in the forthcoming months. Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, quoted that Air India was facing a lot of delay in repairs as it was time consuming to get spare parts transported to the base. We believe this warehouse will resolve all these issues and streamline operations. Read More...
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WTTC WTTC unveils global travel & tourism climate footprint
  • travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com/
  • 30 November, 2022
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled groundbreaking new data detailing the climate footprint of the global Travel & Tourism sector. The findings were launched today at the global tourism body’s 22nd Global Summit in Riyadh by the World Travel & Tourism Council Read More...
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Japan Japan retail sales up for 8th month on tourism reopening
  • travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com
  • 29 November, 2022
Japanese retail sales marked an eighth successive month of annual growth in October, data showed on Tuesday, after full reopening of borders added to the boost from this year's dismantling of internal pandemic control measures. Read More...
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Saudi Saudi unveils plan for a massive new airport in Riyadh
  • travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com
  • 29 November, 2022
Saudi Arabia on Monday announced plans for a new airport in Riyadh intended to spur rapid growth in the capital while advancing the kingdom's ambitious aviation goals. The airport, set to accommodate 120 million travellers by 2030 and 185 million travellers by 2050, will be named after Read More...
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Emirate Emirates reimagines retail travel experience
  • mediaoffice.ae
  • 28 November, 2022
Emirates has today officially opened its ‘Emirates World’ retail store experience in the heart of Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s most vibrant communities. Located in Jumeirah Town Centre, the airline’s redesigned 3,000 square foot retail store is an open and fluid space for customers to shop for all of Read More...
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Morocco Morocco Calls for More Resilient Tourism in Africa
  • www.moroccoworldnews.com
  • 28 November, 2022
Rabat - Morocco has urged international tourism operators to boost the resilience of the sector in Africa which is facing economic and environmental crises. “I am looking forward to more resilient tourism in the African continent thanks to an inclusive continental approach that will increase Read More...
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UAE UAE is fast becoming a popular option for Indian weddings
  • www.businesstoday.in
  • 28 November, 2022
Mention the UAE, and the names that immediately come to mind are those of the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. However, the Arabian Peninsula state’s third-largest emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah is aggressively competing with places like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bali, Italy, Portugal and even nearby Dubai for a share of what the advisory KPMG estimates as India’s colossal $50 billion wedding industry. Read More...
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Jammu & Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir to see major boost in business
  • travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com
  • 26 November, 2022
The Jammu and Kashmir administration is working to boost business investment and enhance income of the local population by simplifying rules and procedures, and digitising records, senior officials said. Read More...
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Germany Germany relaxes Schengen visa appointment rules for Indians
  • travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com
  • 25 November, 2022
Germany has relaxed rules for Indian tourists who want to apply for a visa, centralising visa processing at its centre in Mumbai. According to the German Missions in India, visa appointments can be booked in all Visa Application Centres all over the country run by VFS global, regardless Read More...