Category: News

An expert team from abroad has arrived at Kollam Port on Friday to study the possibility of placing Kollam in the world cruise tourism map. The team of 11 people arrived in Kollam in a luxury ship named MY Bravado. They will visit several tourist destinations in the district during the next 10 days to conduct the feasibility study. The team will visit the popular tourist destinations in Kollam, such as Jatayudapara, Ashtamudi kayal, Manrothuruthu and Thenmala Eco tourism Center. Cruise tourism is considered to be one of the most promising tourism sectors in the coming years. If the committee ... Read more

Varkala Beach Kerala voted the ‘most welcoming place in India’ as per a poll conducted by Booking.com. According to the 7th annual edition of the Guest Review Awards survey, five destinations from Kerala got place in the total 10 most visited places in India. Varkala, Kochi, Thekkady, Allepy (Alappuzha) and Munnar were the places enlisted among top ten places in India. A total of 759,845 properties across 219 countries and territories were considered for the awards. Italy is the country with the most properties receiving awards with 106,513 properties being recognized by travelers on Booking.com over the last 12 months. ... Read more

People in and around Udupi can now enjoy the view of the picturesque city from above, flying on a helicopter. Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat has inaugurated a 3 day heli-tour programme at Udupi on 11th January 2019. The event was organized by the district administration in association with Mantra Tourism Development and Chipsan Aviation Company, to attract more tourists to the city. The heli-tourism will be conducted for 3 days in Kundapur. The chopper trip route will include Udupi, Malpe fisheries port, St Mary’s, Hoode, Manipal and the surrounding areas. Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat with other officials at the inaugural ... Read more

Uncontrolled taxi fares, rude nature of policemen, who are over enthusiastic in penalizing outstation vehicles are said to be the root cause of decline in inbound tourists in Goa. Savio Messias, President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, said that the 30-40 per cent decline in the tourist footfalls in the coastal tourist destination is also due to the inability to handle the mushrooming garbage crisis, which had led to Japanese, Finnish and Danish tour operators to abstain from Goa, stating ‘safety and health concerns’. “There is widespread indiscipline among taxi operators and drivers, which is one of ... Read more

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned four new projects worth Rs 190.46 Crores under the tourism infrastructure development schemes, Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive) schemes in the states of Meghalaya, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Under North East Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the Ministry has sanctioned the project ‘Development of West Khasi Hills (Nongkhlaw- Krem Tirot – Khudoi & Kohmang Falls – Khri River- Mawthadraishan, Shillong), Jaintia Hills (Krang Suri Falls- Shyrmang- Iooksi), Garo Hills (Nokrek Reserve, Katta Beel, Siju Caves)’ in Meghalaya for Rs  84.95 crore. Siju Caves, Meghalaya The above project focuses on ... Read more

Hampi, Karnataka India’s Hampi bagged second position in the list of ’52 places to go in 2019’ published by The New York Times. The UNESCO accredited World Heritage Site stood behind Puerto Rico, which has grabbed the top place for its amazing recovery from Hurricane Maria to rebound as a tourist destination. The report recommends Hampi as a favoured place, and talks about its archaeological monuments, scenic vistas against the Tungabhadra river, and geological rock formations. “At the heights of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century, Hampi thrived as one of the largest and richest cities in the world. ... Read more

Munnar Hills Munnar, the renowned hill station of Kerala, witnessed a blanket of frost on last Monday as the temperature dipped to -4 degrees Celsius. The cold wave has been continuing in all over south India, which has rejuvenated the tourism sector after being dormant in recent months, due to various factors. The hill station is getting crowded with tourists, who flock to enjoy the cold weather and to witness the frost. While Chenduvara recorded -4 degree Celsius, Periavurrai, Silent Valley, Kanniamallay and Sevenmallay recorded -2 degree Celsius on Monday. Frost coated plants The hills and valleys of Kannimala, Chenduvara, ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: Ocean Beach Resort & Spa Malindi Malindi is one of the beautiful coastal towns in Kenya, steeped in rich heritage with several cultural and historic places to discover or re-discover. Its many beaches make the town an amazing setting for a perfect holiday or weekend getaway for lovers or families. Malindi has a wide variety of exciting activities due to its diverse landscapes and it is truly a paradise with serene beauty and unspoiled surroundings. Watamu National Marine Park Explore abundant underwater life at Watamu National Marine Park, Kenya’s first such park featuring over 600 species of colorful ... Read more

Off late, we have been hearing about flying cars. But, Hyundai has gone one step ahead and launched its unique walking car, dubbed Hyundai Elevate. With its four wheels attached to extendable robotic legs, the vehicle can drive, walk or climb over obstacles, and has been primarily designed to provide fast and efficient disaster assistance, as well as transport for people of determination. View this post on Instagram Take a closer look at the #Hyundai #Elevate, the first-ever vehicle with movable legs! Its wheels with robotic legs allow people to drive, walk or even climb over the treacherous terrain. A post ... Read more

The second edition of the Muziris Paddle, a two-day kayaking, stand-up paddling (SUP) and sailing event, witnessed participation from over 100 paddlers from India and abroad, including 15 women and 12 children. The event, concluded on January 6, was organised by Jellyfish Watersports, in association with the Muziris Heritage Project (Kerala Tourism). Photo Courtesy: Sushil Das The event was aimed to revive the legacy of the ancient Muziris and promote the usage of our waterways for eco-tourism and increase awareness on the adverse effects of urban pollution in water bodies. Shilpika Gautam, world record holder of paddling the entire Ganga River and ... Read more

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa, the first Hyatt branded hotel in Ethiopia and the seventh in Africa. The 188-room property is centrally located on Meskel Square, near shopping centers, restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions, including the National Museum. “We are excited to celebrate the opening of Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa and to introduce the brand to Ethiopia. We are confident that our loyal World of Hyatt members and global travelers will feel welcomed the moment they arrive and we look forward to serving them delicious blends of local flavors, while also offering an ... Read more

In order to drive international growth, OYO Hotels has appointed  Sam Shih as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the China market. As COO, Sam will be responsible for the overall regional operations, driving consumer experience and building operating efficiencies at scale across OYO China. Before OYO Hotels, Sam served as President of Global Consumables and CEO at Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Limited, a giant in the pulp and paper industry. He also led the operations at Red Bull and Accor Group, France. Sam started his career and spent over two decades in PepsiCo Inc. “We are really excited ... Read more

Air passengers can now avail free-of-cost travel insurance of Rs 50 lakh if they book their tickets through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). This facility will be available for passengers irrespective of the class of tickets and for both domestic and international flights. The insurance will provide them financial protection against accidental death and total or permanent disability, said an official statement by IRCTC. The insurance partners of the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be Bharti AXA General Insurance. The premium for insurance will be borne by IRCTC to secure its passengers from any untoward ... Read more

Umium Lake The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, inaugurated the project “Development of North East Circuit: Umiam (Lake View) – U Lum Sohpetbneng- Mawdiangdiang – Orchid Lake Resort” implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Minister of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, Metbah Lyngdoh, the Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Yogendra Tripathi, and the Chairman, Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Sanbor Shullai in Umiam were also present in the inaugural function. This is the first Swadesh Darshan project of Union Tourism Ministry in the state of Meghalaya. Chief minister and other officials after the inauguration ... Read more

Lenovo introduces a new Bluetooth Speaker, which could be easily tucked into your pocket, while travelling. The Lenovo’s 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker is attractively slim and with impressive sound for music. It is going to be the world’s thinnest Bluetooth Speaker when it launches in April for USD 149.99 Lenovo’s new speaker is at just 11 millimeters thin and just a few inches wide, it has the same general dimension as a modern smartphone and is just as easily to slip into your pocket. It has got five buttons on the front for manual control and can take calls, which ... Read more