Category: News

Kumarakom, chosen as one of the iconic destinations in India, needs collective effort to make it a world-class destination, opined Union Minister of State for Tourism KJ Alphons. He also pointed out that it can only be attained through the development of all panchayats in and around the Vembanad Lake. The minister was addressing a two-day stakeholder consultation programme held to discuss various issues related to the comprehensive tourism development programmes in Kumarakom. The minister urged the authorities to take immediate actions to stop encroachments on the lake, which was once spread over 38,000 ha and had shrunk to just 12,000 ha ... Read more

The state government is planning to develop the picturesque Umrangso as an international tourist destination. The state Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also said that the government would enhance development activities in Dima Hasao district. There are also plans to set up Assam Civil Service Training Centre and a Horticultural College at Umrangso. The CM announced the plans  while attending the 168th birth anniversary programme of Dimasa freedom fighter Veer Sambhudhan Phonglo. “Umrangso is a very scenic place and the state government is keen to develop it into an international tourist destination along with the development of the entire district,” Sonowal said. The ... Read more

Haryana is planning to launch agri-tourism in the state. The state is also planning to set up 340 ‘Bagawani Villages’ along with collection centres, said Haryana Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar. The minister was talking in connection with 3rd Agri Leadership Summit-2018 to be organised at Mela Ground, Rohtak from March 24 to 26. The government also planning to increase the number of Kisan Bazar to facilitate the farming community in the state. The minister also added that the international horticulture market at Gannaur in Sonipat is the dream project of the government and the work on the project is likely to commence ... Read more

Starting May 1, China will be imposing strict penalties for those with low scores on its so-called social credit system. Chinese citizens with low scores will be unable to travel via plane or train for up to an year, states a release by National Development and Reform Commission. China’s controversial social credit system is President Xi Jinping’s plan to score citizens based both on financial and social behavior, creating a number similar to a credit score in the United States. It is not just the criminal acts and financial that will affect the score, it also records who they speak ... Read more

The 12th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy co-organized by UNWTO, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Republic of Korea will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala capital city from 19 – 22 March 2018. The event would be inaugurated by K J Alphons, Minister for Tourism, on March 18 at the RGCC Convention Centre, The Leela Raviz Kovalam at 7 pm. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Govt of Kerala, Xu Jing, Director, Regional Progrmme for Asia and Pacific, UNWTO and Byungchae Yu, Director, Tourism Industry Policy Division, Ministry ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: India.comIndian Tourism Minister K J Alphons’ latest remarks about foreigners wearing bikini in India is making headlines now. He seems to have told a national media that there needs to be a certain “code of conduct” by tourists, including foreign  tourists, that’s in sync with the culture and traditions of the place they visit.   Minister for Tourism K J Alphons “There needs to be an understanding as to what should be the dress code as they walk the streets,” he said referring to the bikini clad tourists roaming around in the streets. “Abroad, foreigners walk the streets in ... Read more

According to a report published by Kayak survey, about 47 per cent of people aged 36-55 prefers spending on travelling. The survey further states as about 38 per cent of people are willing to spend money on travelling, rather than spending on food and shopping. The new survey report thus breaks all the popular belief as, not only youngsters but also middle-aged people are ambitious upon travelling. The survey has been conducted among 1,004 Indians aged 18-65 from 9th to 17th January. About 16 per cent of Indians, ahead of summer prefer to spend over Rs 3 lakhs followed by ... Read more

Sub Sea Systems, a world leader in innovative products for the marine tourism industry, will debut its latest creation, Aquaticar, at the 2018 Deal trade show in Dubai this April at the World Trade Center. Aquaticar is the world’s first underwater driving experience. Adventurers age 5 and up can drive futuristic vehicles through an underwater world of wonder that can be themed to fit nearly any experience– from a teeming coral reef to a rugged Mars landscape, or even a dark ride with startling surprises around every corner. Guests are dry from mid-chest up, and wet from mid-chest down, allowing pioneering underwater ... Read more

Abu Dhabi has launched a comprehensive new digital initiative which will act as a ‘one-stop’ reference for all cultural information regarding the destination.  The new initiative will allow users to gain instant access to every possible aspect of cultural life and heritage in the emirate. A website would act as a main hub for information, along with a mobile app (iOS and Android), social media presence as well as podcasts on Soundcloud and iTunes that feature weekly broadcasts of cultural topics and discussions with experts. The initiative was launched as part of the UAE Innovation Month. “Through launching an accessible digital platform ... Read more

IndiGo and GoAir are planning to cancel around 620 flights this month due to engine malfunction. The airlines will give passengers an option to choose an alternate flight or get a full refund. Of which 480 belongs to IndiGo will cancel 480; the rest are of GoAir. Earlier this week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had grounded 11 Airbus A320 neo aircraft due to recurring malfunctions in their engines. The malfunction has occurred with sub-population of engines manufactured by Pratt and Whitney (PW). Of the 11, eight belongs to IndiGo and three to GoAir. IndiGo has cancelled almost 488 ... Read more

India has over 100 million internet users on a daily basis, within their various gadgets, making India as the world’s third largest internet users globally. The data have been published by Ookla, a Seattle-based internet speed analyst in terms of fastest broadband among Indian states. Chennai tops the list with a fixed broadband speed, which marks a download speed of 32.67 Mbps and 26.15 upload speed, with Bengaluru in the second place with 31.09 downloads and 27.20 upload speed. Meanwhile, northeast marks the slowest internet speed of 3.62 Mbps download speed making it 82 per cent slower than rest of ... Read more

A pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed onto a busy Miami highway killing 4 and leaving many injured. The pedestrian bridge was installed last Saturday, connecting the Florida International University campus with the city of Sweetwater, Florida. The 950-ton bridge, collapsed crushing vehicles beneath its massive slabs of concrete, was expected to open to foot traffic next year. Eight cars were crushed under the bridge and at least 10 people were transported to local hospitals, two of them in critical condition. The situation went worse due to vehicles being forcefully stopped due to a red traffic signal. As per reports, the police requested ... Read more

Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran urges Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to initiate talks with the Chief Ministers and Transport Ministers of neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to discuss about tourism possibilities. The Tourism minister was talking exclusively to Tourism News Live at a roadshow organized by Kerala Tourism in Italy. The development of a tourism circuit connecting the three states would be a blessing to the tourism industry, he said. “The major issue the tourism stakeholders point out in going ahead with developing a tourism circuit is the heavy interstate permit charges,” the minister said. Kadakampally also said he ... Read more

Malabar Group’s much-awaited gift for Trivandrum, Mall of Travancore is all set to unveil officially by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on March 23rd at 3 pm. The Mall, located just near the International airport, will deliver the largest shopping experience to the people of Trivandrum. “The Mall has been built up with the consistent handwork and perseverance of Malabar Group representatives for the past 12 years”, said M P Ahmed, Malabar Group Chairman. With an investment of over 400 crores, the mall is spread across 6.5 lakh sq ft and houses 3 floors, that act as an umbrella for over ... Read more

As part of the Missing Link Project, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), is constructing one of the longest four-lane tunnels in the world, between Mumbai and Pune. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2021. The project, joining Kusgaon village and Chavani village in Pune, would be at a length of over 19.8 km. The two twin tunnels will together constitute (4+4) four lanes for a hassle-free, to and fro commuting. Construction programme would be a challenge as one of the tunnels would be passing 150 metre below a lake in Lonavala. “Though there are tunnels longer than ... Read more