Category: Top Stories

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of ARADA, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, vice chairman of ARADA, and Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties. ARADA, a joint venture between KBW Investments and Basma Group, and Emaar Hospitality Group is planning to launch three new hotels in Sharjah. ARADA and Emaar has signed a management agreement on April 12. The three hotels under Emaar Hospitality Group’s premium lifestyle Address Hotels + Resorts, upscale lifestyle Vida Hotels and Resorts, and the contemporary midscale Rove Hotels will be located in Aljada, a 24 million square foot integrated lifestyle ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: ANI As part of promoting tourism through air travel, a seminar on ‘Incredible India for tourism promotion and connectivity’ was held at International Centre in New Delhi. The event was coordinated by Foundation for Aviation & Sustainable Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. The main objective of the programme was in generating economic growth through tourism and air travel. “We are targeting foreign tourists, NRIs and domestic tourists because they are the key drive of the tourism sector,” said Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. The seminar further focused on stakeholders in the Travel and Aviation sector, ... Read more

Uber, the American based cab service technologies, is about to shift on another level by integrating multiple transportation services in under one umbrella. According to media reports, the company is about to include train ticket service and shopping app along with the cab service portal. Uber also plans to launch ‘Uber Rent’ exclusively in San Francisco, which is an idea of sharing private cars for peer to peer commutation. “We’re going beyond cars. We are about mobility-making mobility available to everyone, everywhere,” said, Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber Chief Executive Officer. Meanwhile, Uber also announces a partnership with London based mobile ticketing ... Read more

Maiden direct commercial flights from Kota-Delhi commenced from Kota airport. In August, Kota was connected with Jaipur, and now the flight will connect Kota with Delhi as well. The flight will depart from Jaipur at 6 am and will reach Kota at 6:45 am. From Kota it will depart for Delhi at 7 am and will reach Delhi at 8:30 am. With a travel time of 1.5 hours between Kota and Delhi, the flight will facilitate students, businessmen and short term visitors. Kota airport, established by Ex Royals of Kota, prior Independence, had landing facility for VIP flights or charter plains ... Read more

South Korean electronics giant Samsung’s next flagship model, the Galaxy Note 9’s specifications are out prior to the official launch. Speculations are that the phone is about to house a 6.4 inch bigger infinity display, along with a massive 4000mAh battery. The phone’s bezels design would be slimmer than that of its predecessor Note 8. In addition, the phone would be featuring a powerful Snapdragon SoC 845 processor, along with a 6GB RAM. While the camera specification rumours, as a 12 MP dual shooter with a wide-angle telephoto lens. Meanwhile, the selfie shooter is said to feature an 8MP f/1.7 ... Read more

From now on Indonesians can afford multiple entries to South Korea within five years, with each visit allowed to last up to 30 days. The new visa policy is expected to increase the number of Indonesian visitors to South Korea. The applicant should be a civil servant, a government official or a staff member of an Indonesian State-Owned Enterprise, as evidenced by a certificate of employment and has visited South Korea at least once, as validated by a photocopy of the old visa in the passport. The applicant for the new visa should have a valid visa to Organization for Economic ... Read more

Donegal Airport, located south-west of Bunbeg in Ireland, is voted as the world’s most scenic landing airports in the world. The results came after a poll conducted by Private Fly (Jet booking company) which chose Donegal for its mesmeric natural beauty. The poll has been conducted among travel experts, as well as, from the public. Top 10 Scenic Airport list includes- Donegal Airport (Ireland), Barra Airport (Scotland), Nice Airport (France), Queenstown Airport (New Zealand), Saba Airport (Netherlands Antilles), Orlando Melbourne International Airport (USA), Toronto Billy Bishop (Canada), London City Airport (England), St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles) and Miami Airport (USA). “We’re ... Read more

Dubai Drivers will soon be driving vehicles which flashes digital number plates. The trial-run for the same is expected to be kick-started in May. The vehicles will be fitted with smart plates with digital screens, GPS and transmitters, reports BBC. The new plates will be able to inform emergency services if a driver has an accident. The technology is reported to be helping the drivers in contacting the police and ambulance services if the vehicle is involved in a collision. The technology also allows real-time communication with other drivers about traffic conditions or accidents/glitches ahead. The number plates can also change to ... Read more

Budget Carrier Jetstar will fly between Brisbane and Uluru commencing 3 August 2018. Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) welcomed the Jetstar announcement of three times weekly flights to Uluru. The new flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will inject more than 55,000 return seats into the market each year, enhancing Brisbane’s regional reach and providing a convenient gateway for international travellers to Australia’s world renowned Uluru. Accommodating both point-to-point traffic and domestic connections, the flights are also timed to connect with a number of international arrivals across BNE’s network. Julieanne Alroe, BAC CEO and Managing Director, praised the collaborative approach taken ... Read more

Tech giant Google introduces new gadgets in the form of smart speakers, that can act as an assistant on voice commands. The device named ‘Google Home’ is a small sized speaker that houses touch panels with LED indicators including a mute switch. It has dedicated far-field microphone that can capture commands during a music playback. Google Home comes with two colours – Chalk and Charcoal, that can be activated by saying ‘Ok Google’ or ‘Hey Google’. After connecting it to a network, the device can deliver all updates regarding weather, traffic, directions, news, alarm and so on. “We are delighted ... Read more

Lexus, the luxury division of Japanese automobile company Toyota, has started delivering Lexus NX 300h. Launched back in December last year, the model is a Hybrid SUV that comes with all modern amenities a car can offer. Lexus NX 300h is unique in terms of its design philosophy, that uses futuristic approaches to get instant attention in the streets. The interior houses a spacious cabin with reclining seats, along with leather finish, that adds a true luxurious element to the car. The new features include a panoramic sunroof, 10.3-inch infotainment display, wireless charging facility, rear folding seats that can be ... Read more

Qatar Tourism Authority’s (QTA) Tour Guide Training and Licensing programme has now been extended to include desert safari guides in Qatar. The programme, which will begin on April 15, 2018, will involve training all drivers of 4×4 tourism vehicles. The training will be provided by Doha Off-road Training Centre and will see guides hone their skills across all aspects of off-road driving including safety, navigation, convoy driving and emergency handling. Safari drivers will also be provided with tour guide training to enhance their communication with tourists, and provide them with information on the nature and history of Qatar’s desert. Guides ... Read more

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has found out that the commercial seaplane service to connect smaller townships is feasible, and is about to become a reality. According to R N Chaubey, Civil Aviation Secretary, twin pilot operated single-engine plane is an appropriate choice for safe commutation. “Single engine twin pilot service would be possible, but there would be certain requirements and we are examining the committee’s suggestions in this regard,” added R N Chaubey. Prime Minister, upon the Gujarat Assembly elections, has utilised seaplane (Sabarmati River to Dharoi Dam) for effective campaign programmes. In which he promised all necessary ... Read more

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo has launched an aqua-nursery. The  aqua-nursery is a special place for the Aquarium’s youngest residents to spend their initial months, surrounded by other new arrivals! The nursery not only allows the aquarium experts to care for the newborns, but it also offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the varying lifecycles and reproductive process for a variety of species. Visitors can explore peak breeding seasons, gestation periods and the scientific terminologies covering various species – for an enlightening, entertaining and all-round adorable discovery. At present the nursery houses zebra sharks, shovel nose rays, bamboo sharks ... Read more

Tuscany, famous for landscapes, history and tradition located in central Italy, is welcoming over 60,000 visitors, as part of the natural geothermal aspects of the region. The area has a wide area assigned to geothermal plants, that supports sustainable development. As per the reports published by the Centre for Tourism Studies (CST) in Florence, around 120,000 tourist activities were recorded in the previous year. The tourist attention was noted within the museums of Geothermal Energy, conducted by various associations including the local schools nearby. “Tuscan Geothermal is a great resource not only from an energy perspective, but also for environmental ... Read more