Category: Top Stories

For some, a post-lockdown group activity that combines exercise with alcohol may seem like the ideal coronavirus stress-buster – though yoga purists should probably avoid Phnom Penh’s TwoBirds Craft Beer brewery while it’s taking place. The brewery’s yoga classes, resumed after a six-week lockdown across Cambodia – which has officially recorded not a single COVID death – were lifted on Jan. 1, combine holding a pose with clutching a beer, and they’re attracting devotees. “I have more fun with beer yoga. It’s not as serious as traditional yoga,” said Sreyline Bacha, 25, as she reached for a beer glass, wobbling ... Read more

Sri Lanka reopened to foreign tourists Thursday after a nearly 10-month pandemic closure that cut deeply into the Indian Ocean island nation’s lucrative travel industry. Full operations also resumed Thursday at the island’s two international airports, accommodating the commercial flights. Under new protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, tourists must be tested for the virus in their country 72 hours prior to their flight, when they arrive at their hotel in Sri Lanka, and again seven days later. They must stay in a “travel bubble” designated in 14 tourism zones without mixing with the local population. About 180 hotels have ... Read more

500-year-old painting titled ‘Salvator Mundi’ from the school of Leonardo da Vinci, which was stolen from a museum collection in the Basilica di San Domenico Maggiore and was discovered by police in Naples, Italy. The painting, stolen from a Naples’ church museum, has been discovered in an apartment on the outskirts of the southern Italian city, police said on Tuesday. Surprisingly the staff at the San Domenico Maggiore museum were not even aware that the portrait of Christ, believed to have been painted by a student of Leonardo da Vinci, was missing. Police said a tip-off led them to the ... Read more

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, today inaugurated its daily services to and from Sharjah, under the travel bubble agreement between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is Vistara’s second destination in the UAE, complementing its 4x weekly connectivity between Delhi and Dubai. Deploying its A320neo aircraft with a three-class cabin configuration and enhanced features, Vistara is the only airline to offer travellers the choice of flying Premium Economy between India and UAE, in addition to Business and Economy cabins. Starting 24 January 2021, the airline will also fly ... Read more

WTTC welcomes this major step by the UK government which opens the doors to travellers arriving into England with proof of a negative COVID-19 test, no matter what the type of test they take. “Giving equal validity to every COVID-19 test takes away the concern travellers may have that their test may not be accepted and thus face the prospect of being forced into an unnecessary quarantine,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO “It also means tests of every type will be more affordable and accessible for travellers seeking to enter the UK safely, with proof of a negative ... Read more

ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India) has elected a  new team to lead the association for the next two-years ( 2021-23). The Returning Officer, Rajeev Kohli announced the results of the elections to the Executive Committee at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually. The entire executive committee was elected unopposed and uncontested. Vishwas Makhija, MD, India Insight Tours, has been elected as the new President of the Association. While Vinayak Koul (Snowlion Expeditions) has been re-elected as the Hony. Secretary; Rajesh Ojha (Banjara Camps & Retreats) was elected as the new Senior Vice President; Vaibhav Kala (Aquaterra Adventures) was ... Read more

If going into strict quarantine ahead of next month’s Australian Open was not difficult enough, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva has to contend with an unwanted roommate in the form of a mouse. Putintseva is among 47 players and their entourages who have been asked to isolate for two weeks in their hotel rooms after COVID-19 cases were reported on the two chartered flights that carried them to Melbourne. The world number 28 who arrived on the flight from Abu Dhabi was already upset after claiming she was not told that all the players aboard the plane would be quarantined in case ... Read more

An American woman and self-described digital nomad will be deported from Indonesia after posting tweets that sparked a social media backlash over perceived western privilege and lack of cultural awareness after she said Bali was “LGBT friendly”. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation and its LGBT community has for years faced discrimination and sometimes violent attacks. Only 9% of Indonesians agreed that homosexuality is acceptable, according to a survey by the Pew research center last June. In a series of tweets at the weekend, Kristen Gray wrote about the perks of her decision to move to the tropical island ... Read more

Key short-haul destinations for Indian tourists, in the likes of the UAE, Maldives, and Singapore are trying to woo Indian tourists with influencer campaigns and attractively-priced packages in partnership with airlines with popular and traditional long-haul destinations going under lockdown because of an increase in covid-19 cases. As per outbound experts, with the opening of international destinations for tourists, there has been a significant demand and an impressive growth rate of 25-30%. Short-haul destinations such as Dubai and Maldives have seen 100% growth in bookings in December compared to previous months. Also, there are encouraging bookings for Egypt as well. ... Read more

With reports indicating that over 65 percent of Indian travelers have considered working from remote locations in recent times, working vacations have turned into a definitive travel trend in today’s times. Indian Hotels Company’s (IHCL)’s special Bizcation offer affords some of the most tempting and exotic locations across Taj, SeleQtions, and Vivanta hotels and resorts as well as amã Stays & Trails villas to work from relaxing and rejuvenating environs. The white sandy beaches of Goa make it a year-round favorite. Guests can choose to embrace the languid and laidback life that is so characteristic of this sunny beach state ... Read more

On Tuesday the 19th of Jan, The Airports Authority of India has signed a concession agreement with Adani Group for three airports including Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The agreement was signed even as a petition filed by the state government against the Centre’s decision to lease the airport to Adani Enterprises, which would be coming up for hearing at the Supreme Court in a couple of days. With the agreement in place, the company is expected to take over the airport within six months. For the first year after the takeover, it would be operated jointly by AAI and Adani Enterprises ... Read more

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off eight trains connecting Kevadiya in Gujarat to other regions of the country with the objective to boost tourism in the tribal region, known for the Statue of Unity. Modi via video-conferencing said “It is perhaps for the first time in the history of railways that so many trains have been flagged off for the same place from different corners of the country. After all, Kevadiya is identified with the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel… giving the mantra of a superior India. Today’s event truly unites India, ... Read more

Uruguay announced a raft of new measures to help contain the growing number of Covid-19 positive cases which if sustained could strain hospital and sanitary capacities. President Luis Lacalle Pou said that the current closure of frontiers which had been announced last December 21, including a more specific definition of the right of assembly, will be extended until the end of January, with weekly reviews, based on the number of positive cases that have peaked recently, because of a surge in agglomerations coinciding with the end of the school year and the beginning of summer holidays. The Uruguayan president in ... Read more

From Monday 18 January, all international arrivals to Scotland and England (including UK nationals) are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 3 days prior to departure, and provide evidence of a negative result before they travel. This is to help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally. Passengers will be subject to an immediate fine of £500 if they fail to comply with the new regulations on pre-departure testing. If you are arriving from countries, not on the government’s travel corridor list, you will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of the test result. Last week, ... Read more

Legendary Bollywood star actor, Amitabh Bachchan is soon expected to host a reality show to promote Uttarakhand tourism. Uttarakhand Cabinet has taken a decision on this, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. The show named ‘100 Days in Heaven’, will be hosted by the veteran Bollywood actor, which will be telecasted on several TV news and entertainment channels. It will be a sort of an ad campaign to promote Uttarakhand tourism,  made on the lines of the one the Bollywood actor has been doing for Gujarat. The show will be made by the production house M/s ... Read more