Category: Top Stories

Dressed all in purple, bent-over women held long rakes aloft as they walked in a line to a lavender field to carry out some pruning on an island in southwest South Korea. Welcome to South Korea’s “Purple Islands” Inspired by their native balloon flower, residents of the Banwol and Bakji Islands, known as the ‘Purple Islands’, have painted their houses, roads and bridges in shades of the hue, and planted purple flowers such as lavender and asters to transform their town into a tourist attraction. The tiny, tranquil islands have a little over a hundred residents and were picked for ... Read more

UNWTO has released their Inclusive Recovery Guide for women in tourism, compiled in collaboration with UN Women. UNWTO data shows that women make up the majority of the tourism workforce (54%). Women in tourism are also often concentrated in low-skilled or informal work. This means that they are feeling the economic shock caused by the crisis more acutely and quicker than their male counterparts. In many cases, they are cut off from the social and healthcare protections that are so vital in a global pandemic. Crisis “has a woman’s face” The Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres says, “As the world marks ... Read more

After a short lived spike in domestic tourism arrivals, Kerala’s tourism sector has once again plummeted into uncertainty due to an array of developments. The decision to make negative RT-PCR tests compulsory for visitors to kerala from other states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal and the northeastern region has badly damaged the hopes of the tourism sector. The slump in the number of tourist arrivals to the various tourist destinations is again creating serious trouble to any sort of revenue generation. To add to the existing worries, the sector is staring at more trouble after the announcement of the ... Read more

We humans may be tiring of video calls, Zoom birthdays and streamed performances, but the chimps at two Czech zoos are just starting to enjoy their new live online linkup. To make up for the lack of interaction with visitors since the attractions closed in December under COVID-19 restrictions, the chimpanzees at Safari Park Dvur Kralove and the troop at a zoo in Brno, 150 km away, can now watch one another’s daily lives on giant screens. There are no mute buttons disasters as the sound is off, but there has already been plenty of interest in what the distant ... Read more

“The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and its members praised the Greek government for its tremendous efforts and strategic steps taken to restart international travel from 14 May” said Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC. “This clear roadmap to recovery could reopen the door to a bumper summer of travel for sun-starved holidaymakers looking to get away to Greece and provide a significant boost to the country’s economy. “It also lays out the pathway which other countries could follow, in a bid to kickstart safe travel and help revive their own stricken economies. “The Greek government’s strategy and measures ... Read more

Kanhangad in Kasaragod district is home to a site where all human beings are welcome to seek peace and salvation. Religious denominations or caste do not matter at the beautiful Anandashram. Formed in 1931 by Swami Ramdas, this internationally renowned spiritual centre has provided solace to all who have reached its doorstep for close to a century. The Swami preached universal love and service and to this day, the Ashram is a shining beacon spreading this message through its activities and involvement in the local community. The idea of setting up an ashram or spiritual centre called “Anandashram” seems to ... Read more

Be it bonding with family over a delectable meal or friends over a quick bite, food has always played an important role in India’s social fabric. With the desire for people to meet, connect and indulge in self-care increasing in the new normal, people are looking for safe options for dining, socializing and experiencing wellness options. One can now choose from myriad choices at Taj,  Vivanta  and  SeleQtions hotels across the globe, and unlock value at the swipe of a single card with Epicure. The re-imagined Epicure program offers curated experiences while maintaining the highest levels of safety and hygiene – be it special dine-in options such ... Read more

As the United Nations specialized agency leads the restart of global tourism following the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, three virtual events brought together voices from across the sector at the leading trade fair. Against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty, UNWTO outlined a positive narrative for tourism, stressing its historic ability to lead from the front and adapt to new challenges. Less Waste, More Opportunity On the opening day of ITB Berlin Now, UNWTO ensured sustainability was high on the agenda, leading efforts to ensure the sector lives up to its responsibilities for planet as well as people. “Eliminate. Innovate. Circulate: ... Read more

The Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary lies in the Malappuram, Kozhikode districts of Kerala . It spreads over a cluster of islands where the Kadalundipuzha River flows into the Arabian Sea. The Sanctuary hill is around 200 m above sea level. It is located 39 km from Malappuram and 19 km from Kozhikode city center A cluster of scenic islands, beautiful hills and rare avian species would intrigue and entice every birdwatcher on the planet. This is exactly what the Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary has to offer its visitors. One is greeted by the Kadalundi River flowing into the Arabian Sea while migratory ... Read more

Kerala’s history is interspersed with the many myths and legends that once held court here. The celestial beings themselves carved out the soul of this land, and today we look back and revere the glorious past of our ancestors. Keralam, a museum of history and heritage in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, is a joint venture of Kerala Tourism and the State Department of Archaeology that aims at showcasing the beauty of this land. One is greeted by a modern display techniques such as touch-screen counters and multimedia systems that explain the artefacts arranged in different galleries. There are regular ... Read more

Emirates has announced it will increase services to popular holiday destinations, Maldives and Seychelles, ahead of the Easter break. Starting 28 March, the airline will offer customers 28 weekly flights to Male, and seven weekly flights to Mahe. The added services will meet market demand and offer customers greater flexibility, choice and connectivity while planning their travels this Easter holiday. Emirates currently offers customers 24 weekly flights to the Maldives, utilising a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Starting from 28 March until 18 April, the airline will ramp up services to 28 flights a week – offering customers enhanced connectivity to the ... Read more

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday said that passengers will be “de-boarded” from flights if they don’t wear masks properly inside the aircraft or don’t follow “Covid-19 appropriate behaviour”. If a passenger violates protocol despite repeated warnings then the passenger will be treated as ‘Unruly Passenger’, the aviation regulator said. In its circular dated 13 March, the DGCA said, “It has been noticed that some travellers undertaking air journey do not adhere to ‘Covid-19 protocols’ which essentially involves wearing of masks properly that is not below the nose during all times of the journey from entering the ... Read more

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, is set to present its new ‘Women Empowerment Initiative’ for travel at its annual Global Summit, which is taking place in April of this year, in Cancun, Mexico The WTTC ‘Women Empowerment Initiative’ will, through the creation of a Women´s Travel & Tourism Advisory Group and broad consultation across stakeholders, identify key activities and best practices to support women in universities, in SMEs, entrepreneurs, and in the corporate world across, the entire Travel & Tourism sector. The group will drive awareness of the current challenges ... Read more

Dancer Ilmira Bagautdinova traded one of Russia’s most prestigious stages for the frozen waters of the Gulf of Finland in an artful protest against a construction project locals say threatens a unique natural habitat. Braving freezing temperatures in her pointe shoes and white tutu, Bagautdinova filmed herself as she performed arabesques and plies on the frozen waters of Batareinaya Bay after she read reports there were plans to build a grain silo at the site. The Mariinsky Theatre dancer posted the video online, adding music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake in a nod to the swans that live in the area ... Read more

Kannyarkali, also known as Desathukali or Malamakkali is a folk art mostly practised by the Nair community of the Palakkad area. It owes its origin to the pursuit of martial arts in this region which was under constant threat of attack from neighbouring Konganadu. Kannyarkali was born when dance and comedy were pitched in to add vigour and colour to the martial training sessions. The art form combines the agile movements of martial arts with the rhythmic grace of folk dance performed around a nilavilakku. Performed during March-April in temples as well as in places called the “Thara’, a venue for informal gatherings, this art form is accompanied by ... Read more