Category: News

Global icon, Bollywood star and former Miss Sri Lanka, Jacqueline Fernandez was spotted checking into Cinnamon Grand Colombo with her family and friends. The actress is currently in Sri Lanka with 15 of her friends and family to launch the ‘Bring a Friend Home’ Campaign by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. This unique initiative by Cinnamon is to encourage Sri Lankans living in the country and overseas as well as expats in the country to nominate their foreign friends to visit the island nation. As a Sri Lankan herself who is proud to support the recovery of the tourism industry, Jacqueline ... Read more

During India’s 73rd Independence Day today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to travel to at least 15 tourist destinations within India by 2022. He also said that there is a “huge” scope to improve India’s tourism sector in his address to the nation from the Red Fort. The PM also said that India has so much to offer and that if domestic tourism increases it will, by default, attract international tourists. “I know people travel abroad for holidays but can we think of visiting at least 15 tourist destinations across India before 2022, when we mark 75 years of ... Read more

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, posted Africa’s highest average daily rate (ADR), according to the most recent 12-month data from STR. The market will play host to the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) on 23-25 September at the Sheraton Addis. From July 2018 through June 2019, Addis Ababa registered an absolute ADR of US$163.79 when measured in constant currency, which removes the effects of inflation. That figure was a 1.1% increase year over year. The next closest STR-defined markets in Africa were Accra Area, Ghana (US$160.34) and Lagos Area, Nigeria (US$132.51). “Addis Ababa continues to maintain high ADR levels when compared internationally,” ... Read more

Strengthening the information network of Kerala Tourism, seven renovated tourism information centres were opened in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi on Tuesday, with Hon. Minister for Co-operation, Devaswom and Tourism, Kadakampally Surendran inaugurating the facility at the Central Bus Terminal at Thampanoor in Thiruvananthapuram. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said Tourist Information centres in Chennai, Goa and Kolkata were also getting spruced up and strengthened with sufficient staff and technical back-up. “Tourist Information Centres have undergone a complete makeover to meet the demands of tourists visiting Kerala. Through the project, the government is also providing jobs for professionally-qualified and skilled youth ... Read more

Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jungle adventure aired on Discovery channel on August 12, the Tourism Ministry has decided to make wildlife its theme for the Incredible India campaign for the next two months. The show, Man vs Wild, shot in Jim Corbett National park, was premiered on August 12 and was showcased in more than 180 countries across the world on Discovery network channels. Prahlad Singh Patel, State Tourism and Culture Minister, has announced that the Tourism Ministry will make wildlife its theme for the Incredible India campaign for the next two months. Patel revealed that ... Read more

Influencers are having an increasing impact on people’s travel plans, with the majority of travellers now relying heavily on influencer’s recommendations when planning trips. Ellie Shedden, a qualified marketing specialist and owner of THE-OOP.COM, a digital marketing agency that helps small to medium businesses increase their reach and revenue, will speak on the ‘Impact of influential marketing in tourism’ at at the International Conference on Tourism Technology 2019, organized by ATTOI, at Le Meridian in Kochi on September 26. Around 60 per cent of  vacationers are swayed by influencers’ recommendations when deciding where to go, while 50 per cent look to ... Read more

Travel Money, Foreign exchange brand of FCM Travel Solutions and Travel Tours, the leisure travel brand of FCM Travel Solutions – Indian subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group Australia, is looking to widen their presence in Tamil Nadu with the launch of their newest store in Madurai. The store, hosting both the brands under one roof, was inaugurated by Gagan Malhotra, Brand Leader, Travel Money, Foreign Exchange Brand of FCM Travel Solutions. With this launch, Travel Money is present across 42 stores in India while Travel Tours is present across 38 outlets. Travel Money and Travel Tours stores have been ... Read more

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau (TTB) has partnered with the Mumbai Metro and the wider metropolitan region, to expand awareness of Taiwan as a destination and promote tourism. Dr. Trust Lin, Director, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Singapore Office, flagged off the train wrapped in colourful campaign images, on its maiden journey from the Versova Metro Station. Featuring photos of popular web-series stars, Sumeet Vyas and Sapna Pabbi on vacation in Taiwan, the vibrant imagery highlights the great variety of holiday experiences offered by Taiwan, ‘The Heart of Asia’, as well as its rich history and scenic beauty. Sumeet Vyas’s role in English ... Read more

Seychelles Travel Guide, the official mobile application of Seychelles Tourism Board, is your key to the holiday of a lifetime. Seychelles has so much more than sun, sea and sand; and while you plan your getaway to these mesmerizing islands, this app will be a perfect guide for all activities, attractions, accommodations and tourism services provided in the archipelago. The app has some amazing features like the ability to share information with friends and family on Facebook, an interactive map, navigational guide, currency converter among many others listed in detail below: Point of interest directory – Find information on various ... Read more

With an aim to give a much-anticipated fillip to the adventure tourism sector in Vizag, the Andhra Pradesh tourism authorities have decided to introduce parasailing at the Rushikonda beach. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is all set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard with a private operator. The facility will be made available to the public only after the signing of the MoU. The APTDC is also planning to introduce a new boat service at the Rishikonda beach. The beach, at present, has a boating facility, which can carry only 8 passengers. The new boat will ... Read more

Ramada Khajuraho Wyndham is on an expansion spree – new Ramada hotels to be launched in Kapurthala, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Lucknow. The brand will have hospitality properties in Gandhidham, Aligarh and Thiruvananthapuram by 2020. This expansion is part of the company’s comprehensive plan to bolster its footprint in the wider Indian sub-continent, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio in region currently includes 46 hotels and more than 4,100 rooms with plans to add 40 hotels and more than 5,000 rooms by 2025, reinforcing its presence in the region’s rapidly growing mid-market hospitality segment. ... Read more

As torrential rain lashes Kerala, the tourism department has decided to postpone the 67th edition of the Nehru Trophy boat race, which was scheduled on Saturday (Aug 10) at Punnamada lake in Alappuzha. The tourism department has made the announcement considering the risk from the heavy rain and flood. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was slated to inaugurate the race at 2 p.m tomorrow. The Champions Boat League (CBL) was also planning to be flagged-off along with the Nehru trophy, with Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar as the chief guest cheering the crowds. A total of 79 boats, including 23 snakeboats, were scheduled ... Read more

Kerala Tourism has unveiled a unique product to literally extend the feel and taste of Onam festival to visitors by enabling them to enjoy a variety of traditional dishes including the famed multi-dish ‘sadya’ and trips to sylvan rural stretches. The project , worked out by the State Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission, will facilitate tourists to stay at village homes as guests, join the celebrations of the festival of flowers, partake home-made delicacies and meals and receive attractive gifts before bidding farewell. The product , ‘Enjoy Onam feast, get Onam gifts ’, piloted in 2017 in selected places, will be ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) New Delhi recently concluded the “Amazing Thailand Road Show to India” in New Delhi and Amritsar. Thirty five of the top representatives of hotels, resorts, attractions, DMCs and airlines from Thailand participated in the roadshow to showcase and promote their products to the travel trade in both cities. The evening started with a B-to-B session between the sellers from Thailand and the buyers from India that included travel agents, tour operators and wedding planners from Delhi and Amritsar. The session was followed by a presentation by Isra Stapanaseth, director of TAT, which focussed on promoting ... Read more

MMPRC – Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation has appointed Think Strawberries as its Representative Office in India effective August 1, 2019. The company will implement the destination’s Marketing and PR strategy in the India market. Think Strawberries was the India Representative of MMPRC from 2013 to 2016 as well. “As Maldives has seen a 96.4 per cent growth in Indian tourist arrivals in 2019, its a matter of pride for us to appointed as the Marketing and PR Representative for MMPRC in India. We will continue to promote Maldives in the India market with Media, Trade and Consumer activities ... Read more