Category: Top Stories

It was an event that could set a precedent in a world longing for a return to normal – a music concert attended by scores of Israelis vaccinated against COVID-19. The open-air concert in Tel Aviv on Wednesday was one of the first in a program to restart cultural events by restricting attendance to people who have been vaccinated or those with immunity after contracting the disease. Attendees were required to show a “Green Pass”, a government-validated certificate showing they had received both doses of the vaccine more than a week prior to the event or that they had recovered ... Read more

Thailand has been named the fifth best country for the cultural heritage influence in 2021 according to a recent report by New York-based CEOWORLD magazine. According to CEOWORLD, “When we speak of countries rich in heritage, the first name that pops into our mind is Thailand. Although the nation is home to stunning beaches, a fascinating culture, and crazy nightlife, the heritage of the landmass is also an exception in terms of beauty. There are a myriad of places across the country that possess the rich earthiness of village life, influences of local traditions, and remnants of a splendid culture. ... Read more

Now no longer has Melbourne, is number one, Motera becomes the top and the largest cricket stadium in the world. Located in Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, the Motera Stadium is equipped with new decorations and the latest facilities for the 3rdTest match between India and England. The stadium was inaugurated on 24 February 2021 by President Ram Nath Kovind in the special presence of Union Home Minister  Amit Shah. There will be a festive atmosphere in the entire country including Gujarat. The Sardar Patel Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad is spread over 63 acres, with a seating capacity of 1.10 lakh people. Currently, ... Read more

Over the course of two days, a regional virtual workshop analyzed the importance of tourism data for supporting the sector in the present and helping tourism to restart in the Caribbean in a timely and sustainable manner. The workshop brought together around 130 participants from 23 States, including the leaders of National Tourism Administrations, National Statistical Offices, Central Banks, and Migration authorities. The high-level status of participants ensures that they will in turn spread UNWTO’s technical expertise within their own countries, empowering more tourism professionals with knowledge of how best to analyze and use data to guide decisions. Through the ... Read more

Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the three days Incredible India Mega Homestay Development & Training Workshop in Darjeeling, West Bengal on 22 FEB. Ministry of Tourism’s India Tourism Regional Office (East) has organized this workshop from 22nd -24th February 2021 in association with the Eastern Himalayas Travel and Tour Operator Association (Resource Partner) and IIAS School of Management (Knowledge Partner) to enrich the hospitality skills of the Homestay owners of the region to ensure a better experience for the tourists. Speaking on the occasion Prahlad Singh Patel said, “The Eastern Himalayan ... Read more

Feeling frustrated and stressed out? Brazilians now have a place to vent their anger and fury in the newly opened “Rage Room.” Inside a warehouse on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, people are able to swing giant hammers at old televisions, computers, and printers, demolishing the machines, and shattering the glass into tiny pieces. Forty-two-year-old Vanderlei Rodrigues, who opened the business a month ago in Cidade Tiradentes, said he has received a fair number of customers wanting to vent, especially during the pandemic. “I think it was the best moment to be able to set this up here in Cidade ... Read more

An Israeli bar doubled as a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Thursday, with free drinks given to those who got the shots. More than 43% percent of Israel’s 9 million population have received at least one dose of Pfizer Inc’s vaccine, the Health Ministry says. But officials worry that turnout may wane and hold back Israeli plans to begin reopening the economy. With many bars forced to close because of the pandemic, Tel Aviv’s Jenia gastropub, in partnership with the municipality, opened its doors to an unusual type of patron: new vaccines, drawn by the offer of drinks on the house. ... Read more

On the course of becoming the country’s museum hub, Kerala is all set to unveil heritage repositories that chart a thematic narrative of global appeal and function as interactive spaces attracting people from different walks of life especially the youth. Kerala’s new museum movement strives to challenge old-fashioned norms about the conservation of cultures, replacing them with revolutionary concepts that are gaining popularity and demand in other parts of the world. Dr Venu V, the Additional Chief Secretary said that a key element of the New Museum Movement is to promote mini-museums across Kerala in a big way. Venu also ... Read more

The union health minister said that the advancements in India’s healthcare facilities have led to a spike of medical tourism in India. India has started issuing medical visas and is planning to soon restart E-Tourist Visas, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday. The move is in a bid to boost medical tourism in India that remained hard hit due to the covid-19 pandemic. The union health minister said that the advancements in India’s healthcare facilities have led to a spike in medical tourism in India. “India has always been a popular tourist destination, but over the last few ... Read more

German two-piece rock band Milliarden has turned a van into a club where they stage gigs for one fan at a time as a way of reaching music-lovers during the pandemic. Separated by a plastic sheet, Milliarden www.milliardenmusik.de, which translates as Billions, treats fans to acoustic versions of their songs, recreating a club atmosphere with lighting effects, posters, and plastic roses. Large cultural events, including concerts, have become virtually impossible in Germany due to the pandemic. “The fact that we have the club with us, that we are the club owners, so to speak, is something we use to get ... Read more

The mighty Danube River flows 1,788 miles from its springs in Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea. Just before reaching the sea, it forms the second largest and best-preserved of Europe’s deltas: 2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, marshes, tree-fringed lakes, and reed islands. The Danube Delta is a wildlife enthusiast’s (especially a bird watcher’s) paradise. Travelers can spend three or more days exploring its passages, teaming with the highest concentration of bird colonies in all of Europe. The maze of canals bordered by thatch, willows, and oaks entangled in lianas, offers the perfect breeding ground for countless species ... Read more

The all-water-villa resort, Adaaran Prestige in Maldives is starting a variety of sustainability initiatives in line with Adaaran’s effort to support a sustainable environment, contribute to environmental protection and maintain its position among the most eco-friendly resorts in the Maldives. In order to gain awareness on marine issues, Adaaran is hosting an art competition on water day themed around water conversation. The art competition is open to all guests residing within the resort. Furthermore, the resort will take part in an Earth Hour switch-off on 27th March 2021 as a symbol of its commitment to the environment and planetary health. ... Read more

SKAL International Club Trivandrum a group of Hospitality and Tourism professionals is organizing a heritage tour titled as “LET’S GO METRO TO RETRO” on 27th February from 3 pm to 6 pm in a heritage double-decker KSRTC bus in association with the Kerala Tourism department and other travel and tourism associations. The trip starts from Kowdiar covering the major heritage spots like Vellayambalam, Kanakakkunnu Palace, Public Office, LMS Public Library, School of Arts, St. Joseph Church, Pazhavangadi, East Fort, and concluding the trip at Kovalam. The main aim of this heritage trip is to promote the history of Thiruvananthapuram and ... Read more

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has announced the launch of the SingapoReimagine MICE Virtual Show, the first such collaboration between STB and local MICE players. Organised by STB, the two-day event will be held from 3 to 4 March 2021 and is part of Singapore’s efforts to catalyse the MICE industry’s recovery and generate business opportunities for our partners. About 700 participants are expected at the show. The event will feature a locally curated programme that includes live-streamed cultural and leisure tours, culinary masterclasses by celebrity chefs, and a live panel discussion with industry leaders on organising pilot events in Singapore. It will ... Read more

In an effort to bring the tourism sector close to the well-functioning cooperative movement in Kerala and to avail its benefits to the ailing tourism fraternity, a new cooperative society named, Kerala Tourism Fraternity Social Welfare Cooperative Society Limited (KTFCS) was launched in Kerala at the aegis of Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI). Minister of Tourism & Cooperative Minister Kerala, Kadakampally Surendran, launched the society at a function held at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday the 21st FEB. The Minister in his inaugural address said that the tourism enterprises should aim to target and tap the well-established co-operative sector for ... Read more