Author: Tourism News live

India should introduce hygiene protocol to tackle epidemics The impact created by the corona virus may last up to a year and the tourism sector may face the biggest financial crisis in its history as a result. In an elaborate interview, ATTOI President Vinod CS says this is the time to take initiative and control the situation to reduce the damage, even as he looks for support from the state and central governments. Excerpts: Q: Corona virus has impacted Kerala’s tourism fortunes to a very large extent. Can we attach a value to the loss incurred to Kerala tourism due ... Read more

In a significant move to check the spread of the corona virus, the Union and State governments have decided to announce a lock-down in 75 districts across the country. In Kerala, the districts that will enter the shut down mode are Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargod. Inter-state bus services have been suspended till March 31. Railway services also have been suspended till March 31, including suburban rail services. Metro rail services have also been stopped. However, goods trains are exempted. The decisions have been taken at a high level meeting attended by Chief Secretaries of all States ... Read more

The Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI) has requested the Prime Minister to implement a week-long total shutdown in the country, in light of the corona virus pandemic. ATTOI President Vinod CS in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that such a move is required now, especially considering the experience of European countries. “The experience in Europe tells us that it’s not a walk-over situation. The shutdown should be implemented with force and anyone disobeying it should be fined heavily,” the ATTOI President said. “Once we jump above 1,000 infected persons, then there wouldn’t be any ... Read more

by Panchami Menon Living in Noida for almost two years have made me grow extremely fond of Sector 18 market, Gautham Budh District, Noida. Being a South Indian, what amazed me about North India is the extremity of culture. In this Sector 18 market which is adjacent to the Sector 18 metro station, you can find different types of clothes-western and ethnic, wallets and travel bags, etc and the best part is the bargaining. What would be labelled for Rs 500 can be bought for a mere Rs 250 or Rs 100 if your tongue knows how to dance. Now, ... Read more

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has urged governments around the world to provide financial help to millions working in the tourism sector who are facing tremendous economic difficulties. Governments must extend vital, interest free loans to global travel and tourism companies as well as the numerous small and medium sized businesses as a stimulus. All government taxes, dues and financial demands on the travel sector need to be waived with immediate effect at least for next 12 months, WTTC stated in its letter. “We urge every government to take drastic and decisive action to preserve and protect the ... Read more

Foreign nationals who have visited one of the countries mentioned below in the past 14 days cannot enter the United States, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has said. The countries mentioned in the list are China, Iran, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. American citizens, lawful permanent residents and their families, who have been in one of these countries will be allowed to enter the United States but ... Read more

The Police Commissionerate in Kochi has launched the ‘Foreigners Outreach Cell’ for providing assistance to foreign nationals who may be facing difficulties due to the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak. Foreign nationals can get help in procuring health clearance certificate, medical assistance, accommodation, transport, ticketing and visa by sending a text, audio or video message or a Whatsapp message to 8590202060. As soon as the message reaches COVID-19 police control room at the Police Commissionerate at Kochi, a police officer will contact the foreign national in distress and gets his difficulty resolved. The Police Commissionerate is continuously in touch with district health ... Read more

by Benny Thomas, Director, Holiday Shop The Union government’s new proposal to collect Tax Collected at Source (TCS) from customers, will affect the travel and tourism industry very adversely. There is already a 5% GST on the holiday packages and an additional 5% of TCS will be a heavy burden for the prospective clients. So how deeply will this affect us all? As far as Indian culture is concerned, going on a holiday is not a necessary item like in the European community. If the cost of the tour increases heavily, naturally the prospective clients will postpone or cancel their ... Read more

No wonder tourists always flocked to Finland. The country has once again been crowned as the world’s happiest country, with Denmark and Switzerland in second and third sports respectively, according to a United Nations-affiliated research network. Finnish contentment stems from high levels of trust, which also underpins solid rankings across the rest of the Nordic region, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network said in the World Happiness Report released on Friday. Reliable and extensive welfare benefits, low corruption, and well-functioning democracy and state institutions are also key, as are a high sense of autonomy and freedom reported by their citizens. As ... Read more

The Nepal-India-China Expo (NICE) and Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM) have been postponed to next year, due to the spread of the corona virus and its growing impact on the tourism industry. These events were scheduled to take place from June 12-15 this year. These will now be held next year and the dates will be made known later.

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has called for greater international cooperation to underscore a united response based on the latest public health recommendations and reflecting the deep economic ripple effect and social cost of the pandemic. “This unprecedented public health emergency has already become an economic crisis which will come at a social cost”, said UNWTO’s Zurab Pololikashvili. The Secretary-General added that tourism “is the hardest hit sector and all our best estimates have been overtaken by the changing reality”. In a virtual meeting in Madrid, UNWTO and other related UN stakeholders have decided to form a Global Tourism Crisis ... Read more

Kerala’s tourism sector is currently assessing the kind of loss incurred due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has become worse than initially expected, but the resilient tourism sector in Kerala has bounced back in the past against such difficulties. In an interview EM Najeeb, chairman and managing director of Airtravel Enterprises Group of Companies tells us how the state can recover over the next six months. Excerpts: Q: Can you brief us about the kind of losses that the tourism sector is facing due to the outbreak of the corona virus? A: The corona virus has ... Read more

Recovery from this present scenario especially with regard to international tourist traffic is going to be difficult, the Tourist Guides Federation of South India, has said. The rapid spread of the corona virus has hit tourism sector badly and the tourist guides are a worried lot. Federation president Jairaj said that it will take couple of months to activate entire flight schedules back into position. Aviation and hospitality will get heavily hit. Many of the hotels in the month of March have decided to completely wipe out the trainee section and continue with their permanent staff and that also is ... Read more

If you are traveling to Mumbai for a meeting, think again.  All offices in Mumbai and a few other cities in Maharashtra will be closed till March 31 to fight the spread of the corona virus, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday. Only essential services will operate in Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur, the Chief Minister said as the number of cases in Maharashtra climbed to 52. He asked employers not to stop employee salaries. “Crises will come and go but don’t stop your humanity,” said Uddhav Thackeray. He also said stopping public transport would be the “last ... Read more

In a joint letter to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH), CII Tourism National Committee and ASSOCHAM Tourism sub-committee has urged the government to help the sector to come out of the present crisis created by the corona virus pandemic. “We are identifying points of urgent concern for this industry and request you for your kind support. Indian tourism industry is looking at pan India bankruptcies, closure of businesses and mass unemployment as a result of this pandemic. It is estimated that around 70% out of a total estimated workforce of 5.5 ... Read more