Category: India

If tourism needs to get a boost in the Kashmir valley, it needs to raise civic infrastructure and build institutional framework within tourism industry so that the benefits reach the local economy and help common people. “Limited number of five-star hotels in Kashmir is a lacuna that needs to be overcome. Kashmir needs more of them. What is the point of asking more airlines to fly to Srinagar when the starred hotel infrastructure is quite weak?,” said Kapil Kaul, CEO of New Delhi-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India while addressing a session at the second day of the three-day convention of ... Read more

Andhra Pradesh Tourism, in association with E Factor, is conducting first- ever Vizag Yachting Festival. The festival, which was scheduled to be inaugurated on March 28, has been postponed to a day and will be inaugurated today. The five-day event will see a fleet of nine luxury yachts arrive at the coast promising an exciting line-up of events for adventure seekers. “We have set ambitious goals to develop Andhra Pradesh as a tourism destination for every kind of tourists – be it the millennial generation traveller seeking an exciting adventure, a family of four looking for a placid beach side holiday ... Read more

Indian Railways will replace Shatabdi Express trains with its first engine-less semi-high speed train for inter-city travel in June this year. The train boasts of world-class amenities and has been completely manufactured in Chennai under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ programme. The train that has been codenamed ‘Train 18’ after the year its year of manufacture, is self-propelled like the Metro trains and capable of traveling at speeds of 160 kmph. THe train will have driving cabins on both ends and coaches will be inter-connected with fully sealed gangways. Compared to current trains, it will cut down travel time ... Read more

The state tourism department of West Bengal is planning to conduct a survey of existing trekking routes in north Bengal and explore new ones as part of a plan to encourage adventure tourism in the region. The department plans to engage firms which have experience in the field of trekking to conduct a comprehensive survey and to collect data on the trekking routes of the eastern Himalayan region. The firms would also have the task to explore prospective routes which can be promoted in due course among travelling enthusiast. The survey will be conducted in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar. ... Read more

India’s first semi-high speed train Gatimaan Express is all about to extend its service to Jhansi from 1st April onwards. The new move is as part of helping the tourists, said North Central Railway officials in a statement. “The new move is an added advantage for international and domestic tourist, as it would boost the economic viability of the train,” said Divisional Commercial Manager Agra. On 19th February 2018 the train’s service has been extended up to Gwalior. The train runs at a top speed of 160 kmph between Nizamuddin and Agra Cantt, followed by an average speed of 130 ... Read more

The 53-year-old actor has urged fans to help him in the fight against water scarcity through a Facebook live. The actor went Live via his Facebook page and revealed that the reason his popular show Satyamev Jayate didn’t return for a fourth season is that its entire team, including him, has been working in the drought-stricken villages of Maharashtra for the last three years. The actor informed that they have started an NGO named Paani Foundation in 2016 and decided to tackle the challenges of droughts. “A lot of people have been asking me about my show ‘Satyamev Jayate’ for ... Read more

Summer is just approaching, and the temperature has gone up to 40-43° Celsius in several cities of Gujarat. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) department has issued a warning for a heat wave that is expected to hit Gujarat over the next 48 hours. Several regions will be affected by loo. According to the Met department, temperatures in coastal Gujarat are likely to soar. On Monday, Porbandar was the hottest area with a temperature of 43° Celsius, followed by Surat with a temperature of 41° Celsius. Two people have died due to the intense heat in the state.

Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati, File) One of the world’s leading bicycle manufacturers, Trek Bicycle launched 34 bicycle models in premium and super premium category. The products will be available across its dealers in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Indore. The bikes in India will be priced between Rs 26,000 and Rs 3.60 lakhs. “Trek Bicycle India will also double the network of retail outlets to 26 from the existing 13 outlets by the end of December 2018,” said Navneet Banka, country manager Trek Bicycle India. The company does not have exclusive retail outlets in the ... Read more

For the past couple of days, facebook has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, putting scores of people in fear and doubt about the data breach. In response to the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data breach controversy, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra has called for Indian Startups to find an alternative of Facebook – a Desi version of the social networking site. “Beginning to wonder if it’s time to consider having our own social networking company that is very widely owned and professionally managed and willingly,” he tweeted. Mahindra even announced that he is ready to “assist with seed capital” ... Read more

Ministry of Tourism said it has sanctioned four projects under the Tribal Circuit theme, one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Under the scheme, government has sanctioned the amount for two circuits being developed in Nagaland, one in Chhattisgarh and fourth one in Telangana. Rs 97.36 crore and Rs 99.67 crore have been sanctioned for the development of Peren- Kohima- Wokha and Mokokchung-Tuensang-Mon Tribal Circuits in Nagaland respectively. For the development of Jashpur-Kunkuri-Mainpat- Ambikapur-Maheshpur-Ratanpur-Kurdar-SarodadadarGangrel- Kondagaon-Nathyanawagaon-Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot-Tirthgarh circuit in Chhattisgarh, the government has sanctioned Rs 99.94 crore. Telangana’s integrated development of Tribal Circuit – Mulugu-Laknavaram-Medavaram-Tadvai- Damaravi- Mallur-Bogatha Waterfalls received ... Read more

Kerala government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 22.55 lakh for the construction of 5 new boat jetties, as part of the infrastructure development under Muziris Heritage and Spice Route project. The project includes renovation and development of boat jetties at Kuttichira near North Paravoor, Gothuruth Valiyapally, Pallipuram Fort, Thiruvanchikulam, Kodungallur-Azhikode Marthoma Church. According to reports from the officials, about Rs 67.5 lakh was allotted for Kuttichira boat jetty followed by Pallipuram Fort and Gothuruth Valiyapally jetty granted Rs 42 lakhs for renovation. Meanwhile, Thiruvanchikulam temple jetty sanctions Rs 40 lakhs and Kodungallur-Azhikode Marthoma Church jetty with Rs 34 lakhs ... Read more

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to exploit the rich cultural heritage of Brijbhumi to promote tourism among international tourists. The move is expected to generate local employment in and around Mathura. “The government has decided to rope in various travel agencies to encourage the Taj Mahal-bound international tourists to visit Mathura as well to explore its various religious and cultural marvels, including the local temples and the museum,” said state Minister for Culture and Minorities Welfare Laxmi Narain Chaudhary. The state cultural secretary has been instructed to initiate talks with travel agencies to discuss this project and encourage them ... Read more

Commuting from the international and domestic terminals to the Metro station in Chennai has always been a difficult task for the people. Bringing huge relief to air passengers, the Airport Authority of India has set up 602-metre-long walkalators at the airport. The passengers will  have self-check-in counters at the airport Metro station from April 14 onwards. The walkalators were inaugurated by Chief Secretary Girija Vaidhyanathan in the presence of Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey. “The 12 walklators of 30 metres each have been provided in a stretch of 602 metres. The project cost for phase II works is approximately Rs 40 ... Read more

Travel Tours, one of the world’s leading leisure travel brand of FCTG (Flight Centre Travel Group) Australia, has stated their second retail and first franchise store at Salt Lake City in Kolkata. The new venture was inaugurated by Mr Shravan Gupta, Executive Director, Leisure Business FCM Travel Solutions and Mr Sitaram Sharma, President of Bharat Chambers and Commerce. The new branch of Travel Tours caters all kinds of needs associated with travel and tourism namely- family tours, business travellings, honeymoon packages, domestic and international flights, customised group holidays, hotels, car transfers, visa, cruise vacations and adventure holidays. According to the statistics ... Read more

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), in association with Western Coalfields Limited, is planning to introduce mine tourism at Wani in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. With the new initiative, tourists on their part, would be allowed to visit coal mines in Bhandewada and Ukrani, which further make a better understanding of the complexities in mines. The itinerary includes a trip to Wani-Yavatmal mine followed by a visit to Bhandewanda mine, an excursion to open cast mine. Experienced tour guides will be provided to briefly educate the tourists. “Mine tourism is a niche segment, and we are expanding it further by ... Read more