Category: News

 "Yoga has emerged as the biggest unifying force in the world." Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. He was leading close to 50,000 people today to mark the fourth International Yoga Day celebrations while many union ministers are participating in similar events across the 

The stakeholders in the Mysuru tourism industry have suggested measures to encourage tourists to stay longer in Mysuru in lieu making it a one-day thing.  Evening cultural shows, shopping festivals, and late-hour food hub etc. could be introduced for extending the night life. Another key issue that was raised at a stakeholders’ meeting here on Tuesday was revival of Brindavan Gardens, which they said was in a jumbles, with nothing new to offer to the tourists.

Munnar ghats are ready to witness the visual extravagance – blooming of Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), which happens once in twelve years. This time it is expected to be between July to October. Kerala Tourism Department hopes it would revive the tourism industry, which has adversely affected by the Nipah virus outbreak during the last month.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has lifted the travel advisory to Kerala it had issued in mid-May where a Nipah outbreak has claimed over 17 lives.

Tourism programs of the state will be carried out in line with the responsible tourism policy, reiterated Tourism Minister Kadakampalli Surendran. Our responsible tourism policy is not just to promulgate in meetings or to display on carnivals, he added. He was inaugurating the training program for the tourism resource persons selected by the Responsible Tourism Mission at Thiruvananthapuram on 19th June 2018.

Switzerland’s tourism board has once again appointed Ranveer Singh as their brand ambassador to enhance the number of tourists form India. Bollywood block busters, Sangam, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Jab Tak Hai Jaan have showcased Bollywood’s fascination with Switzerland. The Swiss government is trying to cash this fascination to promote their tourism sector. Director of Switzerland Tourism India Claudio Zemp said, “Ranveer showcased the fun and adventurous side of Switzerland in last year’s campaign, while this time around we have highlighted the Lake Geneva Region, one of Switzerland’s hidden gems. It focuses more on the finer things of life ... Read more

Yoga ambassadors endorse the possibilities of Yoga tourism in Thekkady. Yoga exponents from 22 countries were gathered together in Thekkady as part of the Yoga Ambassadors Tour 2018, organized by Association of Tourism Trade Organization India (ATTOI), in association with Ministry of Ayush and Kerala Tourism. Thekkady, known as the land of spices has attracted the yoga ambassadors in that aspect also. Barbara Kleymann from Germany asserted, “Thekkady is an apt place for promoting yoga tourism.” “Beautiful nature, fresh air, better accommodation facilities – everything that complements yoga practice is present in Thekkady.” Barbara is running an institution in Germany ... Read more

Transit passenger flying to other international destinations will enjoy a short stay over of two days at Dubai and Abu Dhabi without paying any visa fee. United Arab Emirates has decided to grant free transit visas for two days, which can also be extended for up to 96 hours by paying 50 Dirham (nearly Rs 930). The implementation date has not been decided. Furthermore, a number of express counters at the passport-control hall across UAE airports will be set up for obtaining quick transit visa.\ India is already the number one international tourist source market for Dubai. According to Dubai ... Read more

IRCTC Tourism came up with a nine-night and ten-day trip from Mumbai to Australia and back, starting October 21. The program covers two nights in Melbourne, two in Sydney and three nights in Gold Coast. The package named as ‘Astonishing Australia’, includes all the costs like meals, hotel stays, air-fare, among other things.   The 10 day program will be carried out in cooperation with Qantas Airways will be as follows: Day 1: Flight leaving from Mumbai to Melbourne. Day 2:  There will be orientation tour, admission to Eureka Skydeck in Melbourne, dinner at local restaurant. Day 3:  Visits to Melbourne Cricket ... Read more

Yoga Ambassadors Tour 2018, organized by Association of Tourism Trade Organizations India (ATTOI) draws global attention. Two crew from France-2 channel have reached Kerala to cover the event. The team include reporter Quesa and cameraman Giona. They have been filming the yoga practice of the delegates and interviewed some of them. The news of Yoga tour along with a documentary of Spice Routes will be broadcasted in September. The TV team will be in Kerala for six days. Quesa has visited India several times before, but it is the first time he is in Kerala. “This is a better place ... Read more

Malabar River Cruise project will kick start on 30th June 2018. The project targets comprehensive development in the tourism sector of Malabar. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will lay the foundation stone for the project at Parassini kadavu in Kannur. “Once the project is in operation, it will be a big leap in the tourism sector of Malabar”, said the Tourism Minister Kadakampalli Surendran. Dream Project of Malabar The government aims at generating 2 lakhs new employment opportunities within 5 years of the project. Renowned travel guide book publisher ‘Lonely Planet’ has ranked Malabar in 3rd Place among the ‘top ten ... Read more

First quarter of the tourism year depicted substantial increase in the number of tourists in Kerala. Number of tourists (local and foreign) during the first three months of the year shows 17.87% increase than the previous year. 6,54,854 more  tourists visited Kerala during this period, which is the highest rate of increase since a decade. Same period in the last year, the number of tourists visited Kerala was only 36,63,552; while it is 43,18,406 in 2018. The number of indigenous tourists shown 18.57% increase so far. In 2017, increase in the number of local tourists for the whole year was ... Read more

Photo courtesy: Syed Shiyaz Mirza The first electric bus of KSRTC will be launched on 18th June 2018. The trial run will be at Trivandrum for 15 days. Later it will be extended to Kochi and Calicut. Gold Stone Infratech Ltd, Secunderabad is the manufactures of the bus. Their BYD K9 model of the e-bus is opted by KSRTC. It is a 40 seater bus with modern amenities like CCTV camera, GPS and other entertainment facilities. These buses have already been in the fleet of Andhara Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana public transports. Buses are manufactured with the technological ... Read more

House boat of ‘Spice Routs’ witnessed a varied birthday celebration in the backwaters of Kuttanad on 16th June. Nicole Rene’e Matthews, from Michigan was the birthday girl. Nicole was one of the delegates participating in the Yoga Ambassadors Tour 2018, organized by ATTOI (Association of Tourism Trade Operators India). Delegates from 22 different countries along with the officials of ATTOI and the house boat staff greeted Nicole with flowers, gifts and hugs to make the birthday celebration an unforgettable event. While thanking everyone for the wonderful moments, Nicole said, “It was the first time I am celebrating my birthday away ... Read more

  Yogachemmal Dr. Meena Ramanathan is a yoga therapist and a consultant in yoga, and is also the Deputy Director at CYTER (Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research), Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondichery. She has been practicing and teaching yoga since 2004. Dr Meena took a wonderful session on the subject ‘Yoga Therapy: Its principles & practices’ at the International Conference on Yoga, conducted as part of the Yoga Ambassadors Tour 2018, organized by ATTOI, in association with Ministry of Ayush and Kerala Tourism in Kovalam. Manoj Attingal of Tourism News Live catches up with Dr Meena to know more ... Read more