Category: News

Kerala government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 22.55 lakh for the construction of 5 new boat jetties, as part of the infrastructure development under Muziris Heritage and Spice Route project. The project includes renovation and development of boat jetties at Kuttichira near North Paravoor, Gothuruth Valiyapally, Pallipuram Fort, Thiruvanchikulam, Kodungallur-Azhikode Marthoma Church. According to reports from the officials, about Rs 67.5 lakh was allotted for Kuttichira boat jetty followed by Pallipuram Fort and Gothuruth Valiyapally jetty granted Rs 42 lakhs for renovation. Meanwhile, Thiruvanchikulam temple jetty sanctions Rs 40 lakhs and Kodungallur-Azhikode Marthoma Church jetty with Rs 34 lakhs ... Read more

Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, passed a resolution to rename the Kolhapur airport as ‘Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj airport’. Moving across political boundaries, the chair passed the resolution without any deny, sending it to the Centre for sanctioning. There has been a long-term demand from the people of Kolhapur to rename the airport, as Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj used to be the main architect behind the infrastructural development of Kolhapur, including the airport.  

The Indonesian government is planning to further enhance its tourism service sector by developing nomadic tourism, which would be coupled with digital tourism. The decision was taken in the recently held annual national workshop meeting of Indonesian tourism stakeholders in Bali. To address this Indonesia needs to provide simpler and quicker transport vehicles to ensure foreign travelers to reach the destinations quickly without hassle. “Foreign wanderers do not want complicated procedures to travel from one to another point in an archipelago country like Indonesia. They like simple access. There has to be more addition of simple vehicles like seaplanes, helicopters and ... Read more

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to exploit the rich cultural heritage of Brijbhumi to promote tourism among international tourists. The move is expected to generate local employment in and around Mathura. “The government has decided to rope in various travel agencies to encourage the Taj Mahal-bound international tourists to visit Mathura as well to explore its various religious and cultural marvels, including the local temples and the museum,” said state Minister for Culture and Minorities Welfare Laxmi Narain Chaudhary. The state cultural secretary has been instructed to initiate talks with travel agencies to discuss this project and encourage them ... Read more

Commuting from the international and domestic terminals to the Metro station in Chennai has always been a difficult task for the people. Bringing huge relief to air passengers, the Airport Authority of India has set up 602-metre-long walkalators at the airport. The passengers will  have self-check-in counters at the airport Metro station from April 14 onwards. The walkalators were inaugurated by Chief Secretary Girija Vaidhyanathan in the presence of Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey. “The 12 walklators of 30 metres each have been provided in a stretch of 602 metres. The project cost for phase II works is approximately Rs 40 ... Read more

Travel Tours, one of the world’s leading leisure travel brand of FCTG (Flight Centre Travel Group) Australia, has stated their second retail and first franchise store at Salt Lake City in Kolkata. The new venture was inaugurated by Mr Shravan Gupta, Executive Director, Leisure Business FCM Travel Solutions and Mr Sitaram Sharma, President of Bharat Chambers and Commerce. The new branch of Travel Tours caters all kinds of needs associated with travel and tourism namely- family tours, business travellings, honeymoon packages, domestic and international flights, customised group holidays, hotels, car transfers, visa, cruise vacations and adventure holidays. According to the statistics ... Read more

The Ministry of Economy has issued a recall for 2013 to 2017 Mitsubishi Pajeros due to air bag defects. The V90W/V80W models made between January 2013 and December 2017 needs to be repaired. “We regret to inform that due to usage condition, the changes of temperature and longtime humidity, the propellant (ammonium nitrate) in the inflator for passenger side frontal airbag may be deteriorated and, as a result, the inflator body may rupture at the time of airbag deployment. Therefore the frontal airbag inflator for passenger side has to be changed,” said Al Habtoor Motors in a statement. Al Habtoor Motors said ... Read more

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), in association with Western Coalfields Limited, is planning to introduce mine tourism at Wani in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. With the new initiative, tourists on their part, would be allowed to visit coal mines in Bhandewada and Ukrani, which further make a better understanding of the complexities in mines. The itinerary includes a trip to Wani-Yavatmal mine followed by a visit to Bhandewanda mine, an excursion to open cast mine. Experienced tour guides will be provided to briefly educate the tourists. “Mine tourism is a niche segment, and we are expanding it further by ... Read more

The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that the road in Industrial Area 3 will be closed for three weeks from March 25 until April 15 Motorists have been advised to use alternative roads heading into Dubai through the industrial area, and can instead use the second industrial street and the fourth industrial street. The road works include putting down new asphalt will affect motorists travelling towards Sharjah Ring Road, reads the official Twitter account of the Sharjah RTA. The temporary road closure is part of a series of works to improve the infrastructure.

Photo Courtesy: KUNA Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) has discovered tens of cemeteries and engraved items belonged to the Bronze Age from a popular eastern resort on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. The new discoveries are reminiscent of a Bronze Age culture, known as ‘Um Al Nar’, that existed around 2500 BC in the area of modern-day United Arab Emirates and northern Oman. The area was once a vibrant trade zone that linked vast civilisations across eastern Saudi Arabia, said he director of NCCAL’s department of antiquities and museums, Sultan Al Duweish. “The rare findings are ... Read more

The Royal Thai Embassy in Muscat launched SMART Visa aimed at entrepreneurs investing in new businesses, highly skilled professionals and executives. The SMART Visa will be issued from April 1, 2018. “The SMART Visa is offered to foreign executives and entrepreneurs who wish to invest in Thailand’s targeted industries such as medical and wellness tourism, smart electrics, agriculture, etc,” a spokesperson from the Royal Thai Embassy said. Applications for the Thai SMART Visa will only apply to the “S-Curve” targeted industries, including next-generation automotive, smart electronics, medical and wellness tourism, “food for the future”, and agriculture and biotechnology, as well as ... Read more

Bollywood diva IIeana D’Cruz has been chosen as the brand ambassador for Tourism Fiji in the Indian sector. By the new move, the Fiji Tourism board plans to exhibit more of its tourism products for the travellers in India. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Government of Fiji said, “Fiji and India share an age-old connection with over 40 per cent of Fiji’s population being of Indian origin”. “We celebrate Indian festivals such as Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi in Fiji too. Now tourism is fast becoming a key point of connection for both countries. With Ileana D’Cruz as ... Read more

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) had recently launched new electronic visa system to facilitate the passengers’ journey and to prevent unnecessary queues at the visa on arrival desk at the airport’s counter. But, at present, a temporary counter has opened at the New Muscat International Airport terminal for tourists flying to Oman to get visas on arrival. Visa on arrival counters have been set-up in case of emergencies for eligible tourists who are not aware of the new electronic visa system that was officially launched on March 21. “We are still keeping the visa on arrival option for a short span of time ... Read more

Indian Railways generated a sum of Rs 1,097 crores of revenue through imposing fines and penalties from ticket-less passengers. The amount has been collected during April 2017 to February 2018. According to reports, a sum of another Rs 200 crore had been generated by authorities during the month of March. In addition, Indian Railways has earned over Rs 600 crore per year via “flexi fares” (an increase of fare based on demand in premium trains). Surprisingly, railway also states that about 3 crores of passengers annually (April 2017 to February 2018) commute without a valid ticket. Among the offending stations, ... Read more

At least 48 people were killed due to the fire at a busy shopping center at Kemerovo in western Siberia, with scores more reported missing, including children. Out of the 48 killed, 41 are children as per the reports. The preliminary findings of the inquiry said the fire started around 1100 GMT in one of the cinema halls and destroyed more than 1,000 square metres of the center. The roof collapsed in two theaters in the cinema and around 120 people had been evacuated from the burning center. The shopping complex opened in 2013 houses a multiplex cinema, restaurants, a sauna, ... Read more