Category: News

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation has revealed its efforts to enter MICE, Cultural and Sports Tourism. In a press event held recently, the Managing Director of MMPRC Thoyyib Mohamed said the corporation believes it is time to diversify Maldives tourism to more niche markets. “We have seen temporary efforts in marketing Maldives to several niche markets in the past; without a significant result. Therefore I believe we need a good understanding of niche marketing and even better plans to achieve results. Now we are in the process of creating a marketing plan to reach several niche markets in a ... Read more

India’s tourism industry will discuss in depth methods to improve personalised travel plan using latest technologies in the industry the world over, as Kochi is set to host the 3rd International Conference on Tourism Technology (ICTT) beginning on Thursday. Kerala’s Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran will inaugurate the September 26-27 event, where around 500 delegates are set to benefit from half-a-dozen sessions that aim to enrich owners of hotels and resorts, online tourism marketing managers and tour operators with newest ways of bettering business. The two-day meet at Le Meridien will pay special attention on stronger application of artificial intelligence in ... Read more

The magnificent and rich in culture, Kullu week long dusshera festival will begin from October 08, 2019. Kullu Dussehra is one of the most popular events of Himachal Pradesh, signifying the victory of good over evil.   “This is the best time for a traveler to experience the beautiful festival of Dusshera. International folk dance festival is also organised during this festive and troops from various countries visit Kullu Manali to participate. The most beautiful folk dance from all 12 states of Himachal Pradesh happens during this week long festivals. Carftsmen and Traders come from various cities to showcase their ... Read more

Marriott International’s recently unveiled travel programme, Marriott Bonvoy, will be presenting all things couture through a unique, thoughtfully curated, member-only experience at an event created by Red Carpet Creative in collaboration with Runway Prestige New York. To be held at Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers from 11th to 13th October 2019, the event extends the glitz and glamour of global catwalk into South Africa with a group of New York Fashion Week designers showcasing their creativity in the Mother City. Built on the belief that travel enriches the world and connects people, Marriott Bonvoy offers access to an extraordinary ... Read more

Ibis Kolkata The GST Council, headed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising representatives of all states and Union Territories, met today in Goa. The GST Council has agreed to lower tax rates imposed on the hotel industry. The 37th meeting of the GST Council has decided to tax hotels with room tariff of Rs 7,500 and above at 18 per cent instead of the earlier 28 per cent. Hotels with tariffs in the range of Rs 1,000 to Rs 7,500 will have to pay GST at a rate of 12 per cent. Lastly, hotels with tariffs below Rs ... Read more

The Fern Hotels & Resorts, India’s leading environmentally sensitive hotel chain has opened The Fern – An Ecotel Hotel, an upscale hotel amidst sylvan surroundings, in the picturesque hill town of Lonavla , 90 kilometres off Mumbai. This is the second property which the company has started managing in Lonavla. Earlier this year, Viola Beacon Resort started its operations. This takes the tally to 18 hotels managed by the company in Maharashtra. Overall the company is managing 66 hotels. “We are very happy to announce the opening of an ecotel in the Western Ghats, an area which has been declared ... Read more

Kerala Tourism was bestowed three prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards, including the one for an ethnic food restaurant run by women at Kumarakom under its Responsible Tourism Mission, at a glittering function at Nur-Sultan (Astana) in Kazakhstan last evening. The awards were received by Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran and Tourism Director, P Bala Kiran from Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macau Government Tourism office and Dr Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, during the PATA Travel Mart 2019. The two other gold awards were for an advertisement campaign of Kerala Tourism — Come Out and Play — and ... Read more

Given that artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising travel industry across the world, a major international summit next week will deliberate in depth about prompt and speedy application of the technology in India to boost tourism. Amid the worldwide trend of people letting the computer to plan their trips, the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI) is set to focus on the potential of AI in the country’s tourism that has of late seen a spurt in such apps to help travellers. The September 26-27 International Conference on Tourism Technology (ICTT) here will see 500 delegates discussing ways to improve ... Read more

Algarve tourism chiefs say the region must diversify and build on its renowned ‘beach holiday’ brand in order to benefit from the rapidly evolving global tourism market. Joao Fernandes, Algarve Region Tourism Board (RTA) President and Algarve Tourism Association (ATA) boss, said Algarve tourism unquestionably remains very strong. However, it can drive greater recognition and wealth creation by improving and diversifying its offer. The news comes ahead of the 2019 Algarve Tourism Conference running from 9am-5pm at the Hilton Vilamoura Resort on Friday September 27. This year’s central theme is ‘health and wellness’ travel. Worldwide ‘wellness tourism’ spend is rising ... Read more

Tejas Express connecting Lucknow and New Delhi will begin operation from October 4. The train will be flagged off by Yogi Adityanath, CM. On the inaugural day, the train would not run on its scheduled time from Lucknow. The commercial operation of the train would start the same day with the return service from New Delhi operating as per the scheduled time. It would be the fastest train between Lucknow and New Delhi with travel time of about six hours and fifteen minutes. The train was announced in 2016 as a high-end service between Lucknow Junction and Anand Vihar Terminal. ... Read more

Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise travel, announced today on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” that GRAMMY Award-winning artist and superstar Kelly Clarkson will serve as the godmother to its newest ship, Norwegian Encore, debuting in Miami in November. The cruise line’s President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Stuart appeared on Clarkson’s new nationally syndicated daytime show produced and distributed by NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution, to invite her to join the Norwegian Cruise Line family as godmother to Norwegian Encore. As godmother, she will perform at the christening ceremony in Miami on Thursday, Nov. 21, as well as fulfill ... Read more

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Dubai, then join Ski Dubai for one of the best ski lessons Dubai has to offer! Whether you’re fresh to the slopes or a seasoned pro, you’ll find a ski or snowboarding class ideally suited to your abilities at our Ski School inside Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates. Children as young as three can join us today and experience the magic of winter sports at the world-class Dubai attraction, Ski Dubai. With professional ski and snowboard lessons from some of the world’s top Ski professionals, you could master ... Read more

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today made a strong pitch for reduction in GST rates on hotel rooms, elimination of disparity in inter-state taxes on tourism vehicles and introduction of affordable airfares to expedite growth of tourism in the country. Inaugurating state Tourism Ministers’ Conclave 2019 in the presence of Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel at Kovalam beach resort, Vijayan said though tourism in the country has high growth potential, removal of impediments like high tax rates is essential to consolidate India’s position as a prime global destination. “Tourism industry is faced with ... Read more

At the Tourism Ministers’ conclave 2019 at Kovalam, tourism minsters from different states today proposed the formation of Regional Tourism Councils and developing tourism circuits, which can be region-based and in neighbouring states. “We resolve to jointly promote our tourist attractions across the world in order to give a cutting edge to our campaigns,” the resolution said. The resolution, moved by Odisha Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, said setting up Regional Tourism Councils will facilitate periodic interaction among different states and enhance collaboration. The conclave also took note of the high and varied inter-state tourist vehicle taxes and called for ... Read more

Tourism Minsters from different states today made a strong case for reduction, simplification and rationalization of various taxes and levies, including Goods and Services Tax (GST), in tourism and travel industry to attract tourists and cushion stiff global competition. “The Tourism Ministers’ conclave 2019 at Kovalam, Kerala notes with concern that the GST Council of India has imposed 28 per cent GST on hotel room tariff over Rs 7,500 and 18 per cent tax on rooms with tariffs between Rs 2,500 and Rs 7,500. This tax rate is high compared with other countries,” said a resolution unanimously adopted by the ... Read more