Category: News

The domestic air traffic grew at a robust rate of 26 per cent in April with various airlines together carrying 11.5 million passengers, up from 9.1 million in the same month last year, as per government data. SpiceJet holds the top position once again in terms of seat utilisation per aircraft with 95.5 per cent seats being booked. It was followed by IndiGo (91.9 per cent), GoAir (89.5 per cent), Vistara (88.8 per cent), AirAsia (87.5 per cent), Jet Airways (85.6 per cent) and Air India (84 per cent). As far as punctuality was concerned, IndiGo holds the crown with ... Read more

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is loosening its residency laws and is planning grant long-term visas for up to 10 years to investors and highly-skilled professionals. The 10-year residency visas will be granted to specialists in science, medicine and research, and to “exceptional students.” The plan aims to attract global investment and innovators. The UAE Cabinet approved the new rules yesterday, saying plans are also on track to allow foreign investors 100 per cent ownership of their UAE-based companies this year. Under current laws, foreign companies must have an Emirati owning 51 percent of the shares, unless the company operates ... Read more

Jet Airways has launched its first non-stop service between Mumbai and Manchester, which will operate for four days a week including Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Jet Airways’ flight 9W 130 will depart from Mumbai at 02.30 am (local time) and will arrive in Manchester’s Terminal 2 at 07.55 am (local time). The return flight, 9W 129 will depart from Manchester at 09.35 am (local time) and arrive in Mumbai’s Terminal 2 at 00.40 pm (local time). “We are extremely pleased to begin a new chapter in our decade-long relationship with the United Kingdom. The new service will bring Manchester into our ... Read more

Till now tourists need to apply for travel documents such as the protected area permit (PAP) and the restricted area permit (RAP) before visiting Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Sikkim. And, now, as part of its plans to attract more tourists, the government is proposing to remove restrictions for foreigners who want to travel to these destinations. The restrictions can be removed only if the home ministry and the defence ministries approve the proposal since some areas in the north-east are considered sensitive due to a long history of insurgency in the region. “The ministry has proposed opening up the north-east for tourists. In ... Read more

Kerala tourism is targeting up to 15 per cent growth in number of tourist arrivals in 2018. The state witnessed overall growth of 10.94 per cent in tourist arrivals in 2017. Domestic tourists were up by 11.39 per cent, while the number of foreign tourists increased by 5.1 per cent in the period. “We are looking at an overall growth of up to 15 per cent in total number of tourist arrivals to the state in 2018. We are looking at a growth of 15 per cent rise in domestic tourists and 10 per cent rise in foreign tourist arrivals,” said P ... Read more

Your winter will be much more exciting this year. This is due to the fact that the tourists will be able to spend a good amount of time at Lambasingi, the ancestral village at the core of Chintapalle area in the Visakhapatnam. The village is a favourite spot for the travellers as single-digit temperatures are recorded during intense winters and is referred as ‘Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh’. The spot attracts lakhs of tourists from in and around the state every year. However, the main drawback cited by the tourists was the lack of enough accommodation at the village. Bringing a solution ... Read more

Registering a whopping sale of 38mn travel tickets this year, Digital wallet company Paytm is reported to have recorded 3x growth in this financial year when compared to last year. In less than two years since its inception, Paytm has registered a colossal growth in ticket bookings. It claims to be IRCTC’s largest re-seller of train tickets, the second largest source for bus tickets, and ranks among the top three in flight tickets. As per company’s reports, more than 85% of all travel bookings are done through the app and its travel services are vastly accepted across the metros, mini metros ... Read more

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has unveiled its “Giant Suitcase” initiative for the Holy Month of Ramadan. With more than 75 per cent of travellers admitting to over-packing clothes for their holidays, this programme will provide them with the opportunity to do-good through a simple donation programme. Etihad has placed a Giant Suitcase in their terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, encouraging travellers to donate just one item they know they can do without to those less fortunate. Research shows the vast majority of leisure travellers over-pack for their holiday. Etihad staff will also contribute during giant ... Read more

Emirates has commenced its signature Ramadan service for customers during the holy month. Emirates’ Ramadan service consists of specially crafted iftar meals on board, relevant programming on its ice inflight entertainment system, and the distribution of dates and water on the ground for those breaking their fast. Emirates provides iftar boxes with a nutritional meal for customers breaking their fast on board. The boxes have been redesigned this year by local homeware specialists Silsal Design House. The designs are inspired by the Middle East, its people, places and culture. Silsal has also created bespoke Emirates Arabic Coffee Cups available at ... Read more

Ever since South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met at the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone, it is reported that tourism to security-related spots near the border has been booming. The number of visitors has to these sites has gone up to 1,500-3,000 per day when compared to 1,200-2,300 tourists per day the same time last year. The rise in number of tourists is also attributed to the release of restrictions on package tours imposed by the Chinese cities following a political row last year. The tourists’ sights comprise of Dora Observatory from ... Read more

Chinese multinational company Fosun International Ltd is planning to expand the business in North America’s tourism and leisure market through acquisitions. Fosun, the parent company of Club Med Sas aims to begin a new product line for China by acquiring travel agencies, resorts, theme parks or anything related to tourism sector. Currently, Fosun and Med receives most of the revenue from Asia and Europe. The firm presence in North America will enhance the tourism portfolio of the company. It is believed that the ongoing trade tensions between US and China will not affect the travellers and tourism sector. “We take ... Read more

Twelve countries, including United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, have issued travel advisories for their citizens in Indonesia following recent terrorist attacks in Surabaya and Sidoarjo in East Java. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that issuing travel advisories was a country’s responsibility to alert its citizens. “Travel advisories meant a country was still safe to visit, explaining that there were three levels of alerts, namely travel advisory, travel warning and travel ban,” he said. He also explained that several countries issued travel warnings last year amid Mount Agung’s eruption in Karangasem, Bali, with island seeing a loss of ... Read more

Pakistan tourism has always been turbulent owing to the security issues in the country. However, a start-up named Find My Adventure is steadily drawing tourists to the country. The portal which went online on 2016 is concentrated on making travel easier for those who are exploring Pakistan. Pakistan’s tourism sector has started blooming with the improvement of security situations. As per the reports of World Travel and Tourism Council, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in 2017 was Rs 930.9 billion, constituting 2.9% of GDP. It is expected to rise by 5.9% in 2018 and Rs 1,727.7 ... Read more

Zimbabwe attracted more than 2.4 million tourist arrivals in 2017, a 12 per cent increase from the previous year. The increase in arrivals can be attributed to the country’s safe ans peaceful environment,” said Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga while addressing the gathering during the launch of the National Tourism Master Plan. In 2017, Zimbabwe received a total of 2422930 tourists, registering an increase of 12 per cent compared to the 2167686 footfalls in 2016. Already in 2018, the country has recorded an increase in the number of tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year,” he said. The ... Read more

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is offering a 5 night-six day tour package covering Russia starting from Rs 97,100. IRCTC’s tour, titled Charming Russia, is set to depart on June 1. The package includes night stay of 03 nights at Saint Petersburg and 02 nights in Moscow. The package allows the tourists to visit Palace Square, Winter Palace, Peter and Paul Fortress, Petroff Palace in Saint Petersburg. Along with this the tourists will also get a chance to visit and enjoy the world famous Moscow Circus, sightseeing of Lenin’s Tomb, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, and enjoy the bullet ... Read more