Category: News

The Central government has dropped two tourism projects worth Rs 154 crore, proposed by Kerala, under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The proposed projects included the Sivagiri pilgrimage circuit and a spiritual circuit linking 133 places of worship right across Kerala. The Union Ministry of Tourism has not cited any reason for dropping the ₹69.47-crore Sree Narayana Guru spiritual circuit and the ₹85.23-crore spiritual circuit, in its letter to the Kerala Tourism secretary. The two projects were initially approved under Swadesh Darshan — as part of integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits — in 2014-15. State Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran ... Read more

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday announced phase-wise resumption of economic activities in areas outside Covid-19 containment zones. The guidelines will come into play from June 1 and would be effective till June 30. Hotels, malls and restaurants to open Activities to be allowed from June 8 as part of Phase 1 plan: Religious places of worship for public, hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services. Shopping malls to be allowed to open from June 8. Health Ministry would issue SOPs for the above activities, in consultation with the Central Ministries/ Departments concerned and other stakeholders, for ensuring social distancing and to ... Read more

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has decided to waive off 25% of the fixed electricity charges applicable to industrial consumers and private hospitals for the months of March, April and May. Further, a decision was taken to defer payment of the remaining amount (75%) till December this year, without levying any interest. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a press conference on May 22 had announced that directions have been issued to KSEB to provide relief on fixed electricity charges for the lockdown period and waive off interest for the deferred fixed charges. The state electricity minister MM Mani ... Read more

Expedia Group, one of the world’s largest online travel agencies, is committing $275 million to help partners rebound from the impact of COVID-19. Research carried out by Expedia Group in April 2020 shows lodging partners want support from online travel agencies (OTAs) in four priority areas as they look to rebound from the pandemic: Demand trends insights on leisure and domestic travel, investments in marketing and demand generation for travel and destinations, increased visibility on sites and financial relief. Expedia Group’s recovery programme is comprised of global initiatives to support industry recovery and property-level relief designed to help independent partners ... Read more

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a global safety and hygiene stamp, which will allow travellers to recognise governments and businesses around the world, which have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols. Eligible businesses such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, restaurants, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports, will be able to use the stamp once the health and hygiene protocols, outlined by WTTC, have been implemented. Destinations will also help to award the stamp of approval to local suppliers. The initiative has received the backing of UNWTO. Gloria Guevara, WTTC president & CEO, said: ... Read more

Greece will reopen to visitors from June 15, just days before its peak tourism season starts. Visitors from 29 countries will be allowed, during the first phase. These countries are Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Israel, Switzerland, Japan, Malta, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Albania, Estonia, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Hungary, South Korea, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Finland. Visitors will be randomly tested, the tourism ministry said, and the government would monitor and evaluate developments related to the coronavirus. The list will be updated before July 1, the tourism ministry said. The Mediterranean nation, ... Read more

Pakistan will allow outbound international flights to resume from Saturday, after closing its airspace to commercial flights to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. “Both national and foreign airlines shall be allowed to operate from all international airports of Pakistan,” Abdul Sattar Khokhar, Senior Joint Secretary at the Civil Aviation Authority, said in a statement. Reuters has reported that two remote airports in southern Baluchistan province will be exempted from the operations. On Friday, Pakistan reported the largest one-day spread of the infection, with 2,636 cases and 57 deaths in the last 24 hours. Pakistan has recorded a total ... Read more

The Giant Ferris Wheel – synonymous with Vienna and tourism – which had been turning without interruption since the end of World War II was switched off for the first time in 75 years in mid-March due to COVID-19. But on Friday, the wheels were made to turn again, signalling the rekindling of life and business in the beautiful Austrian capital. Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, set Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel in motion again, along with Nora Lamac, whose family has operated the Giant Ferris Wheel for generations. Vienna is gradually opening shops, bars, restaurants and museums, as well as ... Read more

The global airline industry’s debt could rise by $120 billion to $550 billion by year-end, with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc in the sector. An International Air Transport Association (IATA) analysis showed that $67 billion of the new debt is composed of government loans ($50 billion), deferred taxes ($5 billion) and loan guarantees ($12 billion). Another $52 billion is from commercial sources including commercial loans ($23 billion), capital market debt ($18 billion), debt from new operating leases ($5 billion) and accessing existing credit facilities ($6 billion). “Government aid is helping to keep the industry afloat. The next challenge will be ... Read more

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has slammed the Indian government for announcing a stimulus package that had virtually nothing for the country’s struggling aviation industry. The international airline lobby found it disappointing that the Indian government’s Rs 20 lakh crore relief package for industries, ignored aviation. “Compare that to the $123 billion in government financial aid announced around the world, including $26 billion in the Asia Pacific region,” said Alexandre De Juniac, director general, IATA in a webinar organised by CAPA India. Juniac said that there is likely to be a 47% decline in passengers carried by India’s airlines ... Read more

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) warned on Friday that swarms of locusts could pose serious danger to flights during take-off and landing. “Generally, locusts are found at lower levels and therefore pose a threat to aircraft in the critical landing and take-off phase of the flight,” the aviation regulator noted in its circular. “Almost all air intake ports of the aircraft will be prone to ingestion in large numbers, if the aircraft flies through a swarm.” The circular said that though a single locust is small in size, the pilot’s forward vision can be impeded if large numbers ... Read more

The coronavirus pandemic which has devasted the global economy by eroding millions of jobs, has resulted in worldwide lockdowns affecting freedom of movement. This has led to severe impact on business and industry, affecting the mental health of people as humanity grappled with the threat of the deadly pandemic. The lockdown period has been a period of introspection for many, as they finally got the time to rediscover themselves. In this regard, ATTOI in association with Tourismnewslive.com, would like to undertake a survey among its key stakeholders and individuals, asking them about their experiences during lockdown. The survey is sure ... Read more

Dubai has decided to open its ice rinks and ski slope, after weeks of closure. Its indoor ski slope has started to draw people in small numbers, with the added protection of surgical masks and gloves. Earlier, this week Dubai had decided to ease restrictions on travel and business. Authorities are trying their best to ensure safety of people, with strict social distancing and cleaning measures. Dubai had implemented a month-long 24-hour curfew in April and has gradually eased restrictions since then, including allowing malls and restaurants to open at limited capacities. This week, there was no restriction on movement ... Read more

Ayurveda has played a huge role in building Kerala’s tourism brand, along with the state’s scenic backwaters and houseboats. The importance of ayurveda in boosting immunity is known to all, but the concept probably needs further marketing in international destinations. With the Covid-19 epidemic decimating economic structures around the world, ayurvedic immunity could become a powerful tool in the hands of the state government. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday inaugurated Ayur Shield – a set of ayurveda immunity clinics – to spread this message. An ayurveda community website, called ayurvedacommunity.org was also launched on the occasion, which will ... Read more

President Donald Trump has said US will soon open up to travellers arriving from low-risk countries in Europe and elsewhere. Trump’s travel ban put on hold 26 European countries as well as the UK and Ireland, since March 13. With US deciding to ease the restrictions, it will now be possible for people from select nations which have fattened the coronavirus curve to travel to America. Trump said travellers coming from countries with low Covid-19 risk profiles will be given the green light. “Where they’re starting to make some progress, we’ll open it up. But only where they’re making progress.” ... Read more