Category: Top Stories

It’s happy news from the North Eastern side of India. After almost nine months of close down, Meghalaya (The “Abode of Clouds”) is going to reopen to tourists from outside the state. Meghalaya has finally decided to allow outstation travellers from 21 December, however with some terms and conditions. The announcement came from Conrad Kongkal Sangma, on his official twitter handle which read #Meghalaya reopens its #Tourism from 21st December, 2020. The Home of Clouds looks forward to welcoming you,” Travel would be in a structured manner keeping in mind the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Travellers to Meghalaya would need to ... Read more

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, will operate special, non-stop flights between Mumbai and London Heathrow from 16 January 2021. The airline will operate these special flights thrice a week – on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, complementing its recently-launched service between Delhi and London Heathrow as part of the ‘transport bubble’ agreement between India and the UK. The flights will be operated on Vistara’s brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering world-class service and hospitality in Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins. Bookings for these flights are being progressively opened on all ... Read more

Kenya has been named Africa’s leading golfing destination. This announcement was made during the 7th Annual World Golf Awards Gala Ceremony held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Kenya scooped Africa’s Best Golf Destination 2020 category ahead of South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco. At the same time, Karen Country Club was also celebrated as Kenya’s best golf course while the Great Rift Valley Country Lodge and Golf Resort won the award of Kenya’s best golf resort The World Golf Awards which was founded in 2014 recognizes and rewards excellence in golf tourism, courses, and golf destinations. Commenting on this recognition, Kenya ... Read more

Germany’s strict lockdown measures have put the lid on one remnant of seasonal frivolity: “Gluehwein” or mulled wine, a staple of Christmas markets normally served in steaming mugs on cold days in town squares around the nation. A blanket outdoor alcohol ban, starting mid-week, was announced on Sunday among measures to curb the coronavirus second wave which has hit the mulled wine too. Authorities have warned that the offenders would be fined. Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is a beverage usually made with red wine along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins. It is served hot or warm and is alcoholic, although there ... Read more

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Studio Dragon Corporation – one of South Korea’s leading drama production, marketing, and distribution companies – signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) yesterday to promote Singapore as a destination in South Korea and other regions through the production of Korean dramas in Singapore. The MOU was signed by Mr. CK Kang, Chief Executive, Studio Dragon Corporation, and Mr. Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board. This is the first time that Studio Dragon – the company behind global hits such as Crash Landing on You and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – ... Read more

Equestrian tourism is a new way to discover Colombia through a unique connection with nature. Colombia is one of the most biodiverse and multicultural countries in the world. This makes it a destination that can be discovered and experienced in plenty of different ways, and one of them is equestrian tourism. Equestrian tourism allows you to experience the biodiversity of Colombia first-hand, with short tours through beautiful trails, as well as crossings and immersive experiences of up to eight days in which you’ll discover new destinations at a horse’s pace. Riding on horseback offers a truly unique ecotourism experience, one that lets you enjoy nature through traditional country roads or even ... Read more

Australia has been recognized in global travel authority Lonely Planet’s much-loved annual Best In Travel Awards announced today, receiving the ‘Community Restoration’ award. Reflecting the ways in which the world and attitudes to travel have been changed, Lonely Planet has created new award categories for 2021, including ‘Community’, ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Diversity’, to recognize not just the places but also the people and communities that are transforming the industry. Australia secured the ‘Community Restoration’ award in recognition of its recovery efforts at both a local and national level to rebuild communities and preserve Australia’s unique wildlife following the 2019/20 summer bushfires. ... Read more

Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas had to disembark all passengers after a suspected COVID-19 case was detected on board. The suspected cause is an 83-year-old Singaporean male, who reported to the onboard medical center with diarrhea in the late evening of 8 December. He was given a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test as per onboard protocols and tested positive. He was conveyed to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), and is undergoing further tests. His original sample has since been retested and has come back negative for COVID-19 infection. A second fresh sample tested has also come ... Read more

Major international industry bodies have joined forces to call for the immediate restoration of international travel using proven processes and without waiting for or requiring vaccinations. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, along with Airports Council International (ACI), the World Economic Forum (WEF), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), say the world cannot wait for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. WTTC recognises that public health is paramount and welcomes the recent rollout of the game-changing vaccines, which in the long-term will play a major role in combating coronavirus and restoring international travel. However, they must not be a requirement to ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is highlighting an ‘All Good Food Truck’ event, with food trucks from all around Thailand gathering from 17 to 19 December 2020, at the IMPACT Lakeside Muang Thong Thani in Greater Bangkok. The All Good Food Truck happening aims to help food and beverage entrepreneurs glean knowledge from Thai celebrity chefs. That way they can further develop menus to add value to restaurants and food truck businesses while also promoting the positive image of Thai cuisine. Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool,  TAT Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, said, “This event promotes traditional Thai food ... Read more

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons Private Limited and SIA, have signed a Commercial Cooperation Framework Agreement. This agreement will further strengthen SIA’s and Vistara’s existing partnership and enable them to offer seamless services to their customers by harmonising efforts incapacity planning, sales, marketing, joint fare products, customer services and operations. The agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval in Singapore, is an extension of a codeshare partnership that came into effect in 2017. Strengthening the partnership between SIA and Vistara will allow both airlines to achieve further synergies on services between Singapore and India, ... Read more

Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) Shri Prahlad Singh Patel virtually attended the 5th meeting of the National Medical and Wellness Tourism Promotion Board on Monday. The National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board was formed to address impediments to the growth of Medical Tourism and to provide a dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Yoga, Ayurveda Tourism, and any other format of the Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH). Eminent doctors like Dr. Naresh Trehan of Medanta, Dr. Randeep ... Read more

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri has graciously presented a certificate of appreciation to international social media influencer, Trevor James, also known as The Food Ranger. This is in line with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s (MOTAC) effort in revitalising Malaysia’s tourism sector. MOTAC through Tourism Malaysia has collaborated with Canadian-born food vlogger Trevor James through his social media platforms, famously known as The Food Ranger. James and his wife, Xie Chuiting, moved to Malaysia in 2019 under the Malaysia My Second Home Programme. James has been filming food and travel vlogs since ... Read more

Passenger numbers at Heathrow fell by 88% in November, as travel restrictions and a second lockdown took their toll. Based on current forecasts and the continued decline in passengers, the decision has been taken for Terminal 4 to remain non-operational until the end of 2021. Heathrow is calling for targeted, sector-specific Government support to protect jobs and help drive the UK’s economic recovery.  These include full business rates relief for all UK airports and abandoning the disastrous “tourist tax” which will make the UK the only country in Europe not to offer tax-free shopping for international visitors. The move is expected ... Read more

The government of Kenya has awarded a title deed to Nairobi National Park for the 2000 acres of Government land that was formerly known as Sheep and Goat Research Facility, which is adjacent to the Park. The title was awarded by President Uhuru Kenyatta at a ceremony at the Kenyatta International Convention Center yesterday. “Giving the title deed to Nairobi National Park enables the Park to secure the much-needed space for wildlife and is a clear testimony of Kenya’s commitment to wildlife conservation. We must secure more space for wildlife habitat for posterity,” the President said. With the formal acquisition ... Read more