Category: Top Stories

‘Iconic Week’ to celebrate the spirit of Jammu and Kashmir was kick-started here on Saturday. Marking the beginning of the week-long celebrations, Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu inaugurated ‘Spirits of J-K’ — a Sufi festival, at SKICC here. The festival is organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department. On the occasion, Aghaaz-e-Nishast”, a discourse on mysticism, was held in collaboration with the Academy of Art Cultural and Languages. Also, a mystic gallery was set up where traditional artefacts and manuscripts and rare copies of the Quran and the Bhagwat Gita besides rich Sufi literature, 19th-century copper, brass ware and ... Read more

Newly launched airline flybig has entered into an agreement with IRCTC to facilitate travellers to book tickets for any of its northeast destinations through the latter’s Air’ platform, an official said on Friday. The pact will allow the passengers to book their travel tickets to any NE flybig destination through the IRCTC portal, which will help in boosting tourism in the region, he said. The partnership is launched in line with Dekho Apna Desh’ to promote NE sectors’ flora, fauna and culture. It also boosts Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, promoting connectivity and economic growth of the region. flybig will always ... Read more

BR Ambedkar’s famous power suit, peacock’s feathers, Lord Shiva’s throat or the less prominent fourth hue of the Indian flag, an ongoing exhibition at the DAG here examines the history of the colour blue in the country prompted by its seemingly universal value. The exhibition, titled “Indian Blue”, showcases a range of artistic practices from the realistic to the abstract, from landscapes and portraits to history paintings and figurative narrations, across an equally astonishing range of mediums — oils, watercolours, acrylics, print, sculpture — and periods. “Even though all art deals with colour, we have never before examined a colour ... Read more

Australian airline company Qantas on Friday said it will start operating flights on the Sydney-Delhi route from December 6 onwards. Qantas said the Sydney-Delhi flight is its first commercial service between Australia and India in almost a decade. “Flights from Sydney to Delhi would operate via Darwin, while flights from Delhi to Sydney would operate nonstop,” the airline’s statement noted. In line with current Australian government regulations, these flights are limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families and parents. The Sydney-Delhi flight will operate three times a week with its Airbus A330 aircraft, it said. The frequency ... Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Kushinagar international airport, which is an endeavor to connect Buddhist pilgrimage sites around the world as well as facilitate travel of pilgrims to the final resting place of Lord Buddha. Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is the final resting place of Gautama Buddha where he attained Mahaparinirvana after his death, and is among the most important pilgrim spots for Buddhists. The airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore and the new terminal building is spread across 3,600 square metres. It has been developed by the Airports Authority of ... Read more

Small yet highly advanced, Malta is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets and one of Europe’s leading investment locations, driven by its reputation for stability, predictability, and security. The island nation’s strategic location between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East is perfect for business owners, and its stable political climate makes holds great appeal to anyone seeking an alternative residence. Now, with a minimum investment of EUR 175,000, you can acquire Maltese residence including visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area in a matter of months via the Malta Permanent Residence Programme. A prime location for business and private residence ... Read more

Pilgrimage to the Himalayan temples of Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri resumed on Wednesday with the weather clearing up across Uttarakhand. The pilgrimage to Badrinath, however, could not resume as the Pipalkoti-Joshinath-Badrinath stretch of the national highway remained blocked at several places due to a landslides, Chardham Devasthanam Board Media incharge Harish Gaud said. As the weather improved, pilgrims waiting at different stopovers on way to Kedarnath began reaching Sonprayag to visit the temple. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was also among 4,475 devotees who visited Kedarnath on Wednesday. A total of 1,433 pilgrims visited Gangotri ... Read more

India’s first liquor museum opens in Goa. The museum, titled ‘All About Alcohol’, was built by a businessman named Nandan Kuchadkar. The museum is spread over an area of ​​13,000 square feet. Situated at a distance of 10 km from Panaji, the museum is open from 3 pm to 9 pm. This is a start to let the world know about the legacy of Feni, Goa’s unique liquor. Nandan says that when such a thing came to his mind, he inquired whether there was such a museum anywhere in the world. He added that countries like Scotland and Russia are ... Read more

LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort reopened on 14th October. Families and fans can now have their long-desired chance to enjoy a complete experience as LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park, Hotel, and SEA LIFE Malaysia return to operation. LEGOLAND Hotel and SEA LIFE  started daily operations. LEGOLAND Theme Park already opened from 14th October and Water Park will be open from 27th October. LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort is also gracing guests with a brand new attraction, Planet LEGOLAND®. It is an immersive build experience that encourages children and their parents to unleash their imaginations by building, unbuilding, and rebuilding the world of their dreams ... Read more

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “It is great news that the U.S. will reopen its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers from the UK and EU from Nov 8. It has been a long time coming, but the Travel & Tourism businesses on both sides of the Atlantic will be breathing a sigh of relief. “Visitors from the EU and the UK contributed more than $46 billion to the U.S economy in 2019, showing just how critical this move will be to the U.S recovery. “WTTC believe governments should axe red lists completely, and instead base the risk on individuals ... Read more

Sri Lanka has consistently ranked among the world’s favorite destinations for travellers seeking unadulterated escapism and the experience of a lifetime. The island offers a unique mix of sensory delights, making it a must-visit for the traveler that yearns to be inspired and awed. According to the Conde Nast 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards, Sri Lanka ranks among ‘The Best Countries to Travel to’, as voted for by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers. The prestigious travel publication Condé Nast Traveler invites readers to submit their vote for the destinations and experiences they wholeheartedly recommend. In the most recent survey, over 800, 000 ... Read more

Including 7 routes between Thailand and European cities in support of the Phuket Sandbox program, 10 routes between Bangkok and European cities, and 19 routes between Bangkok and Asian cities. Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced its winter flight program during 31 October 2021 – 26 March 2022. Mr. Nond Kalinta, THAI’s Chief Commercial Officer, said THAI has arranged and adjusted its flight schedules and offered full inflight services, as per the latest COVID-19 control measures in support of the government’s policy to welcome international visitors to Thailand as of 1 November, 2021, and in response to increasing demands for ... Read more

Amid chanting of Vedic hymns and blowing of conch, Ravana was worshipped at a Shiva temple here on Friday when the country celebrated Dusshera to mark the victory of Lord Ram over the demon king. The event was organised by the Lankesh Mitra Mandal at the temple on the banks of the Yamuna river. Like a drive against crop residue burning, the government should also start a drive against Ravana’s effigy burning as it also pollutes the environment, the mandal’s national president Omveer Saraswat said. Crop residue burning in some northern states cause high levels of air pollution in the ... Read more

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says the UK’s Travel & Tourism sector’s year on year recovery may only claw back a third, whilst international travel spending continues to plummet. Latest research from WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism sector, shows the recovery has been severely delayed by the lack of spending from international visitors. WTTC blames strict travel restrictions, such as the destructive ‘traffic light’ system, for wreaking havoc on the sector. Now, despite its highly successful vaccine rollout, the UK is set to record further losses in inbound visitor spending than the previous year, a ... Read more

The ‘Tourism Experiences of the Future’ challenge will source innovative ideas and disruptive business models related to the tourism needs of the future, in line with growing demand for new experiences. All proposals must be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and should include the introduction or adaptation of digital and technological elements, as well as being focused at least one of the following areas: Optimizing and maximizing the potential of experiential tourism Harnessing the positive impact of new technology Alternative business models Innovative experiences The competition is the first national initiative dedicated to identifying new companies that will lead ... Read more