Category: Top Stories

Jammu and Kashmir’s Sericulture and Tourism departments are planning to introduce ‘Seri-Tourism’ as a joint venture to promote both the sectors for enhancing the livelihood opportunities, a senior government official has said. Under the first phase, model mulberry gardens of highly improved Japanese mulberry plants would be established at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course (JTGC), Sidhra and the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) in Srinagar during this season, said Secretary, Tourism, Rigzin Samphael at a meeting here on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Director Sericulture Gulzar Ahmad Shabnum, Secretary of the JTGC, Sidhra Hitesh Gupta and other senior officers ... Read more

Jordan Tourism Board has recently announced that it has witnessed the growth of 30.40 per cent in 2018 from the Indian market. “The Jordanian-Indian relationship has witnessed a tremendous positive shift throughout 2018,” said Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board. “His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein’s visit to India in February 2018 has had a cascading effect on the whole dynamics that connect both countries. Granting Indian visitors an upon-arrival visa was one of these changes that helped increase the number of Indian tourists visiting Jordan for its remarkable religious and historic sites, such as ... Read more

There are people who just don’t live their lives, but try to make a signature on whatever things they do. They will always have their own way of dealing with things. Raja Gopaal Iyer, CEO of Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel and Spa, Kovalam, is such a soul. Raj, as he is known among people, always has a different outlook on doing things. His way of managing people is also unique. According to Raja Gopaal Iyer, Managers should not be just bosses, but leaders. He is a true leader who inspires others to dare to dream and excel better. Phentermine without ... Read more

Marriott International has unveiled Marriott Bonvoy, the new loyalty brand replacing the current loyalty brands – Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) – and reflecting the unmatched benefits, single loyalty portfolio and experiences announced last year. Marriott Bonvoy is built on the belief that travel enriches us all and has the power to enrich the world. Marriott Bonvoy launches on February 13 when the logo and branding begins rolling out across all consumer touchpoints, including on property, marketing and sales channels, digital, mobile and co-brand credit cards, bolstered by a multimillion-dollar global media campaign starting in late ... Read more

Spartan Middle East and Africa Championship, the regional version of the US originated series of obstacle races, has announced that it will return to Mleiha, Sharjah, next month with newly introduced Age Group categories and a competitive Kids heat. The Championship to be held on Friday, 15 February 2019, will see more than 4,500 attendees with an estimated 2,500 racers from the region who will compete in three race types and six race categories, in the historic tourism destination of Sharjah. Organized in partnership with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism project, the ... Read more

GoAir has announced its plans to launch direct flights on Kannur – Muscat – Kannur route effective February 28, 2019. The airline will operate three direct flight services per week and bookings are now open at an attractive all-inclusive one way fare starting from Rs 4999. “It gives us immense delight to add Muscat as our third international destination. Muscat is a key market for us and is in line with our growth strategy and more so for the Middle East. We are hopeful that this service would also prove equally popular with our flyers. We will continue to deliver ... Read more

Royal Caribbean International, represented by TIRUN Travel Marketing in India has won the award for Best Cruise Line at the SATTE Awards, organised by UBM India alongside SATTE Exhibition. “It gives us immense joy and pride at Tirun to be a part of Royal Caribbean International as it climbs the ladder of success. Receiving an award at the prestigious SATTE Awards adds to the glory specifically so as it is known to honour and recognise excellence and the outstanding achievements of players who innovate in order to create new benchmarks in the travel industry,” said Ratna Chadha, CEO, TIRUN Travel Marketing. ... Read more

Etihad Airways flies the world’s first flight using fuel made in the UAE from plants grown in saltwater by Khalifa University. The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), a non-profit entity established by Masdar Institute that is part of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, announced the world’s first commercial flight using locally produced sustainable fuel on an Etihad Airways Boeing 787 powered by GE’s GEnx-1B engines. The flight from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam marked a major milestone in the development of a clean, alternative aviation fuel to reduce carbon emissions. The initiative also addresses food security in the UAE through the ... Read more

Tourism sector of Spain saw slow growth in 2018, as the rival countries like Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia recovered during the time. It was revealed by a report by industry lobby group Exceltur The sector ratcheted up USD 162 billion in sales, 2 per cent more than in 2017, as per a recent report; while that growth was slower than in previous years. In 2017, it had increased by 4.5 per cent and in 2016 by 5 per cent. On Wednesday, the government had acknowledged that 2018 had been another record year in terms of foreign visitor numbers, which reached ... Read more

Aman and Dia in a playful fight(Photo Courtesy: Hindustan Times) Navjot Singh Sidhu , Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister of Punjab, decided to adopt two Royal Bengal tigers at Chhatbir zoo on Thurday. The Six-year-old Aman and his five-year-old companion Dia will be now the responsibility of the cricketer-turned-politician. Dia is a white Royal Bengal tiger, born in the zoo in 2013, while Aman, born in 2012 at a Kanpur zoo, was brought here in 2015. Dia’s brother Love, was given to the Kanpur zoo in exchange for Aman by the Chhatbir zoo authorities. Sidhu has to spent Rs 4,12,800 ... Read more

Preparations are in full swing for Asia’s biggest lake festival in February. The event is scheduled to be held from 26 to 28 February in Uttarakhand’s Tehri district. Every year Uttarakhand Tourism organizes Tehri Lake Festival where one can find non-stop action blended with unspoilt nature! Book your seats in advance to experience the thrills of boating, jetskiing, banana rides, water skiing, surfing, canoeing, river-rafting, paragliding, kayaking and much more. Watch adventure experts showcasing their aerial skills, Bollywood artists giving electrifying performances and also explore the trade, tourism and cultural aspects of Tehri. One can enjoy the dazzling aerial skills of adventures ... Read more

The skies of the Sakthi Mills Ground in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu were filled by the hot air balloons, as part of the Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival. The three-day event, which kick-started on January 12, featured 10 hot air balloons from eight countries. Apart from taking a ride in the balloons, visitors also participated in games organized at the venue. This year’s attractions were special shaped balloons – white CAT from Germany, ice cream from Belguim, and Angry Birds adorned the skies of Pollachi. This years balloons were from France, Germany, Poland, USA, Denmark, Belgium and Netherlands. The pilots for the balloons ... Read more

Yes, you heard it right! Odisha is calling you to have a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime turtle tourism experience. Recently, a turtle festival was conducted at Puri beach with an aim to promote eco-tourism and help conserve Olive Ridley turtles. Odisha has 90 per cent of India’s turtle population and it also boasts of being home to half of the world’s Olive Ridley turtle population. The organizers of the turtle festival are planning to conduct this festival, by giving importance to tourism. This year, they have involved tourists as well as locals in the festival, which came out to be a very ... Read more

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts said the group is expanding its footprint in Jammu and Kashmir with signing of an agreement with a new hotel, Viraj Sarovar Portico, in Jammu. The 45-room hotel will become operational in mid-2019 and will be Sarovar’s second hotel in the state after RK Sarovar Portico in Srinagar, the company said in a statement. Viraj Sarovar Portico, Jammu, is strategically located in the epicenter of corporate, educational & industrial areas of Bari Brahmana. The hotel is in close proximity to Jammu Airport and railway station. The hotel will offer 45 rooms with contemporary amenities and extensive ... Read more

The expert team comprising of 11 foreigners, who have landed in the Kollam Port in a luxury ship named MY Bravado, on January 11, is all praising the God’s own country and its immense tourism possibilities. “You have everything in your state – lakes, beaches, forests, mountains – to be the best tourism destination in the world,” said cruise expert team. MY Bravado team is expected to be in Kerala for 10 days, and is scheduled to be sailing back on January 21 after conducting a feasibility study and the possibilities of cruise tourism in Kerala, especially in Kollam. “We ... Read more