Category: Top Stories

Despite the spike in COVID 19 infections, Asian superpower Japan plans to keep fund provisions to promote domestic tourism and dining out in its next stimulus package, according to a draft of the government’s upcoming stimulus package. There have been some concerns raised though, about the campaigns as there is a surge in the Covid cases. Japan’s economy has been gradually recovering from its worst post-war slump caused by the coronavirus earlier this year. But it is likely to take years before the economy returns to pre-pandemic levels. The draft stimulus package mainly aims to set up a fund to ... Read more

Australian fire crews are battling massive bushfires on Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, which has been burning for six weeks, forcing tourists to flee the island off the northeast coast. The fires have razed more than 76,000 hectares (187,800 acres), nearly half of the island, which is world heritage listed for its tropical rain forests and sand dunes. Several guests were ferried off the island, also known by its indigenous name K’gari, on Tuesday as weather conditions worsened. More than 1 million liters of water and fire-retardant gel have been dropped on the fires since Saturday, the Queensland ... Read more

Buckingham Palace of London is undergoing a 10-year refit to replace dangerous electrical wiring and boilers, and refurbish other ageing infrastructure, a programme that will cost about $494 million US Dollars and is expected to finish in 2027. Work has begun to overhaul the Picture Gallery at Queen Elizabeth’s Buckingham Palace, often the backdrop to state visits and receptions held by the monarch and home to some of its best-known Old Master paintings. As part of this refurbishment process, the 200-year-old roof of the Picture Gallery will be replaced and all the paintings, including works by Canaletto, Vermeer and Rembrandt ... Read more

South Asia’s largest hospitality company, Indian Hotels Company Ltd ( IHCL)  has announced the signing of three Taj hotels, out of which two would be in Kolkata and one in Patna. The new hotels are built in partnership with the Ambuja- Neotia group who has already partnered with IHCL for two other hotels in Darjeeling and Gangtok. Combined these five projects will add up to a total of 500 rooms. With the addition of these hotels, IHCL will have 23 hotels in nine states of Eastern India across different brands. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing director and Chief executive officer, IHCL on ... Read more

More than a million French cyclists have used a 50 euro ($60) subsidy to get their old bikes repaired as part of measures to fight the coronavirus and now the government wants more people to start riding them. Following France’s first lockdown in the spring, the government offered subsidies to get old bikes fixed. That programme will now be extended until the end of March following the relaxation of a second lockdown last weekend. “After this second lockdown, the government wants to encourage French people to use bicycles to move around,” Environment Minister Barbara Pompili said during a visit to ... Read more

China’s efforts to win an international certification for Pao Cai, a pickled vegetable dish from Sichuan, is turning into a social media showdown between Chinese and South Korean netizens over the origin of Kimchi, a staple South Korean cuisine made of cabbage. Beijing recently won certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for Pao Cai, an achievement the state-run Global Times reported as “an international standard for the Kimchi industry led by China.” South Korean media was fast to dispute such a claim and accuse the bigger neighbor of trying to make Kimchi a type of China-made Pao Cai. ... Read more

Come the chilly winter months, and the jungles across India are lush and vibrant after the passing monsoons, making it the perfect time for a safari adventure. Taj Safaris, India’s first and only luxury wildlife circuit, welcomes you for a new season of holidays in the wild with its Wildlife Escape offer, to enjoy the incredibly diverse wildlife in some of the most renowned National Parks in India and Nepal. Offering an inclusive experience that allows one to feel the thrill of the forest while delighting in a touch of luxury at the intimate safari lodges, the Wildlife Escape offer guests can look ... Read more

There is a huge demand still for Kerala as a sunshine destination when the winters actually start in Britain and the rest of Europe and with some practical and logical changes Kerala can make a huge impact to tap this demand says Phil Frampton. All they have to do is to cash in on the existing demand in the UK through some aggressive marketing strategies and importantly stay ahead of the competitors. Phil Frampton is the author of the noted travel guide book named “Hidden Kerala” Sharing some insights on the current economic scenario in Britain and answering to some ... Read more

Sinclairs Gangtok is a scintillating brand new property located at the posh Zero Point, minutes away from the bustling MG Market, affording wonderful views of the Kanchenjunga range. Like all other hotels in the Sinclairs chain, the premium location will be a great advantage as compared to other hotels in the hill town. The hotel has 60 rooms and suites offering different types of accommodation. It is a stunning building comprising ground plus six floors of housing rooms and other facilities, while there are two basements for car park, services, etc. The built-up area of the hotel is around 45,000 ... Read more

While international organizations seek alternatives to conventional ways of travel in a time of great uncertainty, one option is rapidly growing; private air charters. Once thought of as a niche, expensive, and a last-resort kind of commodity, charters are increasingly being sought out for the convenience and protection they provide over commercial flying during a pandemic. Charters are also more time-efficient and they can travel to a wider variety of airports, often getting closer to an eventual destination than if relying on the flights of a scheduled carrier’s route network – especially in an environment with multiple airline failures. Financially, ... Read more

The Russian government plans to start issuing e-visas to nationals from 52 countries on January 1, 2021. The upcoming e-visa program is an extension of a pilot program that was introduced to Russia in 2017. Initially, the e-visa program limited travel to certain regions within Russia, including the Far Eastern Federal District, St. Petersburg, Leningrad, and Kaliningrad. The 2021 program will significantly expand the scope of travel permitted with Russian e-visas. Along with granting entry to Russia for foreign nationals, the e-visa program will allow domestic travel throughout Russia. E-visa holders must enter through specific ports of entry. The Russian ... Read more

A family vacation of a lifetime is what Poland offers to you. Whether you prefer a trip full of history and culture, a chance to reconnect with nature, or a simply relaxed vacation, Poland will deliver it. The number of Indian tourists to Poland has been growing significantly over the years. Here’s a look into some of the most preferred attractions Poland has to offer for Indian travelers. Zakopane A popular tourist town all year long, Zakopane is a prime spot for spectacular selfies. Located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, its streets and rooftops are especially picturesque when ... Read more

Americans marked a muted Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday, sometimes seeing family only by video after political leaders discouraged travel or large gatherings in the face of the surging coronavirus pandemic. Thanksgiving, typically celebrated with big family dinners, became the latest major event in American life to be altered or diminished by the coronavirus in 2020 as most U.S. states struggle with spiraling infections and deaths. “All of a sudden I feel kind of lonely, I have to admit,” said Janis Segal, 72, as she prepared to join family members in a Zoom call for Thanksgiving. Eight months after the ... Read more

The Travelife Certified award was received by Kerala voyages India Pvt Ltd. The award is a recognition for the long-term efforts and frontrunner position of Kerala voyages India Pvt Ltd regarding sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. Kerala voyages India Pvt Ltd complies with more than 200 criteria, related to an operators’ office management, product range, international business partners, and customer information. The Travelife standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights, and labor relations; and is formally Recognised as in full compliance with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Mr. Naut Kusters, ... Read more

Walt Disney Co said it would lay off about 32,000 workers, primarily at its theme parks, an increase from the 28,000 it announced in September, as the company struggles with limited customers due to the coronavirus pandemic. The layoffs will be in the first half of 2021, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A spokesman for Disney confirmed that the latest figures include the 28,000 layoffs announced earlier. Earlier this month, Disney said it was furloughing additional workers from its theme park in Southern California due to uncertainty over when the state would allow ... Read more