Category: Featured

A veteran in the travel and tourism industry in India, E M Najeeb, Senior VP of IATO and President of the Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry, has seen many changes including the rise and fall of tourism and the golden rise of the God’s own Country. The tourism industry veteran brings with him a wealth of experience. Tourism News Live spoke to EM Najeeb about his experiences and his thoughts on tourism and the outlook over the next few years. Tourism brings people together from all over the world. How do you see the role of tourism in society? The world ... Read more

Vishu, the Kerala festival of colours, joy and prosperity, is celebrated with much pomp and glory across the state. Vishu comes on the first day of the Malayalam month ‘Medam’ (April), which is also the Spring Equinox, when the duration of day and night are equal. This year, Vishu falls on April 15, Monday. Vishu is celebrated in all other parts of India as well, to mark the beginning of the new year of the Hindu calendar, but is known with a different name in different states. For Example, in Mangalore and Udupi districts of Karnataka it is known as Bishu, ... Read more

The four pilgrim destinations Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand, are collectively known as Chardham. Attracting more and more pilgrims each year, it has become one of the most important hubs of religious travel in Northern India. Traditionally, this pilgrimage tour should begin from the West and end in the East. Thus, the Char Dham Yatra commences from Yamunotri, then proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath. In accordance with the Hindu conventions, thousands of devotees take up this pious tour in the hope to experience bliss and successfully purge their souls of all worldly demons. Each ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: sabyaofficial An exotic and pristine destination, Seychelles offers mesmerizing backdrops for photo-shoots and makes for an ideal location for larger than life celebrations. Charmed by its beauty, Seychelles was recently chosen by the prestigious magazine Condé Nast Traveller, India for their April issue cover photo shoot with Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar. Photo Courtesy: sabyaofficial Adding to the glamour of the association was the reveal of the destination wedding collection designed by India’s eminent Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the jewel of Indian fashion and wedding industry. The destination provided a perfect backdrop to showcase an enchanting white wedding setup with Manushi, ... Read more

Come April and the tiny hamlet of Kadammanitta in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala will witness the world’s most majestic display of the ritual art form of Patayani- the Kadammanitta Patayani. The event will start on April 15, during the auspicious occasion of the harvesting festival, Vishu. Proceedings begin with the lighting of fire and the beating of the ‘thappu’ (Patayani percussion instrument) to appease Goddess Bhadrakaali. The fire for this ritual is brought from the sacred lamp inside the temple. The following days devotees can witness the procession of various Padayani Kolams. It starts with the kolam of Ganapathi. The other kolams in ... Read more

Karita Aaltonen hails from Finland, which is one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries and is the world’s happiest country. But, however, Karita feels that Kerala is the most beautiful place in the world. She was in Kerala in June 2018 for a 10-day Yoga Ambassadors Tour, organized by ATTOI (Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India). Karita is now back in Kerala with a group of 13 women from Finland. “We had a very beautiful trip here in Munnar. I Love this place. Kerala is the most beautiful place in the world. And, I wish every one ... Read more

….Once upon, as all the stories gears up, here is a story of a grassland! When the greedy minds multiplied, they wandered searching of plots to wreck the good and create what benefits them the most! They cut the grasses, they implanted wattles, synonym to weed! The wattle trees, literally ruled, swallowing the last drop of water underneath! And gradually, affected the ecology. The bison, birds and the frogs vanished! Nearby villagers, helplessly gazed at their vague cultivations! And there stuck, fortunately or unfortunately, a forest fire which destroyed all the wattles, leaving the meadows dark and brown! But, a ... Read more

What we love about Japan in Autumn? The stunning Fall Foliage that changes the moods and colours of the entire country — and it’s not just in October! The special part is that Japan changes into Fall colours from early October all the way to the end of December, and this is also variable due to different plant species and climates in this stunning country that makes for a visual treat. Here is the ultimate guide to the best autumn foliage viewing spots in Japan: The act of viewing autumn leaves is called “momiji-gari” in Japanese. So enjoy ‘momiji-gari’ Japanese ... Read more

Here’s a list of emerging destinations in  Thailand, suggested by the Thai Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat in his speech at the recently concluded ITB Berlin 2019. “These cities will also focus on responsible tourism in order to make these areas and tourist attractions sustainable, as well as preserve their own local identity,” he said. Chiang Rai: The amazing rescue of the Wild Boars team of young footballers at the Tham Luang Cave hit the headlines in June-July 2018. Tham Luang is now becoming a major tourist spot in its own right. The Cave itself is undergoing preparation for the visitors ... Read more

The last of the Himalayan kingdoms, there’s nowhere on earth quite like the majestic Bhutan. And, this is the perfect time to visit this beautiful land, if you like to experience the traditional Buddhist dances and rituals. Paro tshechu, held every Spring in the Paro Dzongkhag, is considered the most spectacular and colourful of all the festivals here. This year, the festival has started on March 17 and will be concluded on March 21, 2019. The Paro Tshechu is one of the biggest festivals in the country. On the first day, all mask dances are held inside the courtyard of the Dzong. ... Read more

The sixth edition of Kerala Blog Express, the annual campaign of state Tourism Department, was flagged off on March 21. Rani George, Secretary, Kerala flagged off the sixth edition of the two-week-long Kerala Blog Express from the Grand Hyatt, Kochi at 10.30 am. This year the campaign has 30 bloggers from 21 different countries across the globe participating in the event. The participating bloggers were selected through a voting system. For the first time ever in six years, the Kerala Tourism Department is organizing two trips back to back, one catering the International bloggers and another version exclusive to bloggers ... Read more

North Island, situated around 30 km from the main island of Mahé in Seychelles, is an exclusive escape, ideal for couples looking to take a short break to celebrate their babymoon in a private-island paradise. With talcum powder beaches, lush palms, azure waters and colourful coral reefs, North Island balances rest and relaxation with escape and exploration, all in perfect harmony with nature. Head to this paradise island in Seychelles for an extraordinary babymoon experience! In the lap of luxury: Take a scenic 15 minutes helicopter flight to reach the island from Mahé International Airport. With just 11 spacious villas, ... Read more

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has won first prize in the category of TV Cinema Spot at the prestigious international Golden City Gate Tourism Awards 2019. Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism has received the award on March 8, 2019 at ITB, Berlin. The promotional films/television commercials such as Yogi of the Racetrack, The Reincarnation of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Sanctuary in Paris, Maharani of Manhattan and The Masala Master Chef, produced by the Ministry as part of its Incredible India 2.0 Campaign received the awards. The Golden City Gate Tourism Multi-media Awards are given annually in various categories related to the tourism and hospitality ... Read more

On the east coast of India, waves sing in the ears of a beautiful small village. Songs sung by the waves always keep the village dreamy. Once you step into this mesmerising beauty, you will be overtaken by the whispers of your heart, completely, which will find the tune of the Waves’ Song !!! This mesmerising village is Tranquebar. Here, the history mingles with present, with a significant aroma of Danish culture. The name of this small village in the local Tamil dialect is, Tharangambadi, which literally means, music of waves. What is unique to Tranquebar? The history, that too the ... Read more

Situated off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 granite and coral islands that will enchant you with its beauty. Blessed with pristine beaches and breathtaking natural beauty, Seychelles has a lot more to offer to the young adventure seekers. Topping it up with visa on arrival that is free of cost for tourists and direct flights from India, this paradise destination makes for a great getaway with your loved ones. Here are some fantastic reasons to visit the paradisiacal islands of Seychelles this year… Enjoy at some of the world’s most gorgeous ... Read more