Category: Top Three Stories

The positive signs from the domestic tourism market have prompted the MOT to draft more synergized protocols for domestic travel. As per Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India “There was so much of domestic demand. Yes, there was a worldwide crisis, a lot happened but, yet because of the sheer ability of the domestic market to create its own demand India was kind of sort of saved of a lot of crisis. So while the demand might be very small, to begin with, because we are working on making the harmonization of the protocols. ... Read more

Foreign visitors to  Singapore would now be able to purchase COVID-19 insurance cover up to the tune of 30,000 Singapore dollars during their stay in the country. The important announcement was made on behalf of the Emerging Stronger Taskforce Alliance for Action on Enabling Safe and Innovative Visitor Experiences. A joint statement made by the Changi Airport Group (CAG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) says that three insurance companies viz AIG Asia Pacific Insurance, Chubb Insurance Singapore Limited, and HL Assurance,  have come out with travel insurance products which would cover coronavirus related expenses incurred by the travellers and ... Read more

Antique idols smuggled out of the country in the 70s were recovered and handed over to the idol wing of the custodian state, Tamil Nadu by the union minister of tourism and culture at a function held in New Delhi. Precious bronze idols of Characters of Ramayana, Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, believed to be stolen in the 1970s from a temple in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu was recently recovered from a private collector in London, UK. In Jun 1958 a Photo-documentation of these sculptures was done at the temple, which meant that the idols were believed to be stolen and ... Read more

In a welcome move, the Union Culture & Tourism Ministry has announced that all monuments, except the 27 World Heritage Monuments coming under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) would be opened for videography, photography, and movie shooting free of cost. This facility commences on the 25th of DEC’20 which is the birth anniversary of Shri. Atal Behari Vajpayee, India’s former Prime Minister will last till 15 Apr’21 and can also be seen as a wonderful Christmas Gift. Shri. Prahlad Singh Patel, the Union Minister for Culture & Tourism while announcing the facility at a function in New Delhi said ... Read more

As per unofficial reports, the elections for IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) new leadership will be held in the first half of March’21. The elections which were initially finalised for 25 APR 2020 however had to be called off due to the lockdown announced by the central government in view of the pandemic. The nomination submission and the scrutiny were already over however the withdrawal of nominations and the further procedures are still pending. As per sources the present committee of IATO had conducted a meeting last week in the presence of Mr. Homa Mistry, the newly appointed returning ... Read more

Claimed as one of Asia’s biggest Travel Events, ATM is scheduled to take place from 16-19 MAY’21 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The theme of this time is very meaningful and goes as “A new dawn for travel and tourism”. As a travel fair attended by professionals all over the world, the ATM holds great significance for the Middle East and North Africa markets. The focus of the 2021 edition will be the emerging trends in tourism and how innovation would be driving the industry forward. Adding to the attraction, and keeping up with the present times, a virtual ... Read more

Kochi metro since its inception has been in the forefront when it comes to novel and innovative ideas. Adding another feather to their cap, and a pat on the back of the ever-growing cyclist community of Kochi, the KMRL has granted permission to passengers to carry their cycles inside the metro stations and the trains for free. Cycling has grown leaps and bounds in the state after the spread of the pandemic with many people taking it up as a mode of daily commuting and many others enticed by its health and fitness benefits. The decision is expected to encourage ... Read more

Pinning hopes on the upcoming festive season as the best medicine to escape the pressures of lockdown and keeping an eye on the rising urge for travel, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., and its Group Company, SOTC Travel Ltd., have launched Crazy Deals in partnership with IndiGo Airlines offering great deals on holiday travels within India and other nearby international destinations currently open to tourists. A wide range of domestic destinations including  Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kerala, Himachal, North East, Ranthambore, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Chittorgarh, Andaman, along with other popular spots, can be visited as part of the air inclusive package where prices ... Read more

Seen as a welcome move, India’s national carrier Air India will be operating additional flights between India and UK from 11 DEC’20 till 27 MAR’21 under the air bubble agreement. Every Friday there would be a flight to Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham and on every Saturday there would be a return flight on the route Birmingham-Amritsar-Delhi. The new flights to UK are in addition to the existing flights in operation. The bookings for flights to UK are presently open. It is expected that the additional flights would come as a major relief for the large population of Indian expatriates in UK, especially Birmingham ... Read more

Spain Tourism presents an opportunity to meet its premier suppliers all across the country on 2nd and 03rd December through Virtual Spanish Travel Show. Registration can be done through www.virtualspanishtravelshow.com . The timings of the show would be from 1400-1700hrs (IST) on both days. The show is aimed at updating the present situation of tourism in Spain to the partners and clients across the world and also to throw some light on what is being planned for the coming day. It also aims to send some positive signals to the world about the recovery of the tourism industry in Spain. ... Read more

Sad news for the art lovers, the fifth edition of the KMB ( Kochi Muziris Biennale) scheduled for DEC this year has been postponed to November 2021 in view of the ongoing pandemic situation and since Kerala has noticed a second spike in COVID 19 cases. KMB has been India’s most talked-about art exhibitions and also the people’s favorite since its launch in 2012. Earlier when it was announced that the exhibition will be held from DEC 20 there was a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm from the Art lovers which has now given way to disappointment. A statement ... Read more

With the opening of the tourism industry in Kerala, medical and wellness tourism has gained tremendous momentum. Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy are the key contributors injecting a new life to the hospitality industry which has itself been on life support system for a long time now. Yoga as well as Ayurveda has been seen as natural ways of boosting immunity, improving quality of life and wellbeing of both mind and body. The fact that both don’t pose any harmful effects adds to the advantage. Both are believed to have great significance in building immunity for the body, and also help ... Read more

SKAL in association with other travel and tourism organizations is organizing a bike ride with southern brothers proud owners of Harley Davidson bike promoting Kerala tourism, the ride starts with a flag off from the Kowdiar palace on 14th November at 7 am covering major tourist spots and prime locations in Trivandrum, Kovalam and Poovar backwater, the slogan of this ride is “IT’S NOT THE DESTINATION, ITS THE JOURNEY “ the main aim of this program is to promote Kerala tourism is back to action and the destinations are open for the tourist to explore their holidays and welcoming a ... Read more

Leading tourism associations have come forward to congratulate the Kerala state government’s decision to open the Tourism sector for the tourists. Association of Tourism Trade Organizations India (ATTOI) President Vinod CS and Secretary Manu PV said they would like to congratulate the State Government, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Secretary Rani George and all the officials of the tourism department for taking this great initiative. Confederation of Accredited Tour Operators (CATO) President Mr Sanjeev Kumar said he would like to congratulate the state government for taking such a step when the tourism sector most needed it. As per the announcement ... Read more

The Uttarakhand tourism department will provide discount coupons to tourists who check in to hotels and homestays across the state. This pilot project, aimed at improving tourism in the picturesque Himalayan state, comes with a ‘Tourist Incentive Coupon’ worth Rs 1,000, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj has said. The offer, which will come into effect in the next few days, will be applicable to tourists who make e-bookings for a three-day stay in hotels or homestays in the state, Conde Nast Traveller reports. “The tourists will be given the discount coupon while registering themselves on the government portal under tourist category. ... Read more