Category: Round Up

Kerala is all set its eye on the European travellers with a handful of new projects and packages. The Department of Tourism has set apart Rs 7.5 crore for promotional activities to woo the European tourists to the state. Kerala Tourism minister, Kadakkampally Surendran, said the state’s tourism department has activated a rigorous promotional campaign involving diverse products to promote the state in Europe as it holds the top slot in the list of high potential markets for overall tourism growth. ‘Through this promotional and marketing campaign, the state aims to double the foreign tourist arrivals by 2021,”Rani George, Secretary, ... Read more

If you were waiting for that perfect holiday to the hills of Himachal Pradesh amidst snowy landscape, the time has arrived. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand received fresh snowfall on Jan 23.  Places near to Shimla like Kufri and Narkanda have also been experiencing snowfall, turning the tourist destinations more picturesque. Temperature in Shimla fell to 2.7 degrees Celsius, after the hilly town recorded mild snowfall, while Kufri and Mashobra recorded moderate snowfall. Lower areas like Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi towns received rain, bringing down the temperature considerably. Travel Alert: The national highway (NH 5) is blocked ahead ... Read more

Though the residents in and around Legazpi in Albay province of Philippines have started leaving their homes in view of the danger of the Mayon volcano, tourists are flocking the area to see the sparkling fireworks. In this context the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), has raised a level 4 alert. The Department of Tourism has also released a travel advisory stating that the foreign and domestic tourists should strictly adhere to the mandatory precautions imposed by the authorities and keep off the 8 kilometre radius danger zone. Based on the latest PHILVOCS reports, the continuous lava fountaining ... Read more

New York City’s iconic Statue of Liberty reopened at the expense of state funds following a brief closure as a result of the U.S. federal government shutdown. The Statue of Liberty was among the national monuments and parks that closed after the U.S. federal government shutdown last week. The National Park Service is said to have reopened the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island through a funding agreement with the State of New York. “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized ... Read more

Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran launches the state’s first complete and dedicated, travel and tourism news portal, Tourism News Live. “Tourism News Live would be able to resist and fight against the negativities that are spread against the God’s own country,” said Kadakampally Surendran while inaugurating the launch function of Tourism News Live web portal. “The false propaganda of people with vested interests is tarnishing the image of the state, especially that of the tourism sector. It is very important to fight against these issues. It is in this context that the state’s first complete, dedicated travel portal Tourism News ... Read more

Kerala will focus more on farm tourism, eco, medical, cruise and adventure tourism segments, said Kerala Governor P Sathasivom while addressing the 14th Kerala Assembly today. The government proposes to set up cultural corridors called ‘Natarangu’ in villages and towns where suitable open spaces are available. “There will be amphitheatres where local artistic and cultural performances could be held,” informed the Governor. A new Tourism Regulatory Authority Kerala (TRAK) will be set up to ensure quality services for tourists and curb unhealthy practices in the sector. The governor also commented that the state’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, tourism, ... Read more

SATTE Awards 2017 South Asia’s Leading Travel Show, SATTE (South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange), celebrates its silver jubilee this year. Organised by UBM, India’s prime exhibition, SATTE, which is at its 25th year, has announced its Silver Jubilee Celebration with it’s recently launched a campaign titled “I am 25”. This edition of SATTE is scheduled to be held from January 31 to 2 February 2018 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The 25th edition of the exhibition will witness participation from over 1,000 exhibitors and representation of over 50 countries. SATTE also organizes ‘Women in Travel’ as part of ‘I Am 25’ campaign. As ... Read more

Representational image The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) gears up for the proposed strike by tourist taxi operators on Friday, and assure its members of extending help with regards to their transport requirements for guests on that day. It has also asked stakeholders to let it know about their needs in this regard. This will be the third tourist taxi strike since 2012. “TTAG has spoken to Drishti Marine to arrange for ferry service to transport guests from the airport to Panaji and Verem,” assures Savio Messias, President, TTAG.  TTAG will set up help desks in North and ... Read more

Kawasaki introduces their futuristic electronic three-wheeler (J -3 concept model) of their new bike, which was aired recently through their European YouTube account. The speciality of the model includes its ability in choosing riding positions by changing its geometry preceded by a comfort mode that gives upright riding environment for city use and a sports mode that changes to aerodynamic adjustments for cruising. The three-wheeler is powered by a battery cell that pulls the front two wheels. Photo courtesy:youtube.com The three-wheeler genre is rapidly growing in such a way that the segment is going to get a couple of new ... Read more

Web Desk Marriott International launches its third property in the UK and the second in Stratford under its experiential hotel brand Moxy Hotels. The 294-bedroom Moxy London Stratford is located very close to the Stratford International Station. Moxy is an affordable hotel for every budget with the soul of a boutique hotel. Marrying smart service and technology with contemporary style, Moxy is do-it-yourself made easy. Photo Courtesy: Marriott “Our Fun Hunter guests continue to seek inspiration from their travel. The new Moxy London Stratford will offer guests a cocktail at check-in, spontaneous games in the lively communal spaces, and an ... Read more

Web Desk Hyatt Hotels Corporation opens the first Hyatt Place hotel in Hyderabad, Telangana, offering a fresh perspective on the uncomplicated stay experience that is a hallmark of the Hyatt Place brand. Photo Courtesy: Expedia “We are excited to introduce Hyatt Place Hyderabad/Banjara Hills as the third Hyatt-branded hotel to open in the city of Hyderabad, joining Park Hyatt Hyderabad and Hyatt Hyderabad, Gachibowli, which have already created a strong affinity for the Hyatt brand among travellers,” said Kurt Straub, Vice President (Operations, India), Hyatt. “Hyatt Place Hyderabad/Banjara Hills has been designed specifically with our guests in mind, blending comfort ... Read more

Everybody wants to be that smart traveller. What you pack for your trip decides how smart you are. We are always looking for gadgets that will make our life easier and better. And, many of them are life savers for today’s travellers. Here are some cool gadgets that will help you travel better in 2018… Solar powered power banks Having a solar powered power bank would be a blessing when it comes to uninterrupted power supply throughout the trip. Among all power banks, tech journals selects Zendure A2 6700Mah power bank as the best companion as it enables to charge ... Read more

Web Desk Surya Sekhar Roy Choudhury from International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) Kolkata will represent India in the contest for the 4th edition of Young Chef Olympiad 2018, world’s largest culinary competition for hospitality students. Picture Courtesy: Topsy Young Chef Olympiad, organized by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and supported by Ministry of Tourism and Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, will be held from January 28 to February 2 across 4 Indian cities. Teams from more than 50 countries will compete for the winner’s trophy and a cash prize of USD 10,000. The event was created ... Read more

Michoacán, Mexico US ‘do not travel’ advisory puts five Mexican states on same level as war-torn Syria, Yemen, and Somalia. The government warns citizens to avoid Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacán and Guerrero amid high levels of crime and violence. “Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread,” says the advisory through the level 4 ‘do not travel’ alert, which is considered the highest warning. Mexico overall was given a level 2 warning, which means travellers should “exercise increased caution.” Eleven additional Mexican states received a level 3 warning, meaning “reconsider travel.” Manzanillos, Colima, Mexico Once a Hollywood ... Read more

Web Desk For a frequent air traveller, it’s always good to have a look at the airline’s on-time performance and how it is going to impact your travel. Thanks to UK-based OAG Aviation Worldwide Ltd, who has put together its annual punctuality report which also carries on-time performance records, rankings of airlines and airport delays. Photo Courtesy: IndiGo According to a data compiled by OAG, Air route of Jeju Island and Korean capital, Soul became the busiest in the world with 65,000 trips between the sectors, followed by Melbourne-Sydney air route which recorded 54,519 flights. Mumbai-Delhi is the third busiest ... Read more