Category: News

India’s first engine-less train will roll on the tracks from September this year for trial run. The Train-18 is a semi-high speed self-propelled trains like Metro trains and can run at a speed of 160 kmph. All new luxurious T-18 coaches will be replacing existing Shatabdi coaches and coaches of intercity trains. As per reports , Mumbai may get the first set of T-18 coaches. The coaches may be maintained at the Virar car shed. The trial is likely to be conducted on the Delhi-Agra-Bhopal stretch. Train 18 is coming with a number of unique features than the traditional trains ... Read more

Jatayu Earth Centre will be open to public from today onwards, said a press statement issued by the authorities. The ticket charge per person is Rs. 400. The tickets are being booked through the website www.jatayuearthscenter.com. “There is a great response to online ticket booking,” said the statement. The entry to the Earth Centre is only through online booking so as to restrict the crowd. On the ‘Uthradam’ day (first day of Onam), the JEC is dedicating the World’s largest bird sculpture as well as the Swiss made hi-tech cable car to the people. The inauguration which was scheduled on August ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: Seamedu Kerala has always been a favourite destination for students of foreign countries for their higher studies. Renowned universities and comparatively cheaper fees structure and cost of living makes Kerala a preferred place for higher education for foreign students. Kerala government is planning to utilize this positive atmosphere prevailing in the education sector, by promoting a unique concept of ‘Education Tourism’. By this programme, the government plan to provide education of international standards to the students, while they could enjoy the benefits of tourism. The concept is yet to get consensus from the universities; however, the Kerala Infrastructure ... Read more

Emirates SkyCargo said it will carry flood relief cargo of over 175 tons to Kerala, joining the UAE community in their support of the people of Kerala. Over more than a dozen flights, the air cargo operator will transport the relief goods, which have been donated by various UAE-based businesses and organisations, to Thiruvananthapuram – the nearest online Emirates station to the areas most affected by the flood. The goods, including lifesaving boats, blankets and dry food items, will be handed over to the local flood relief and aid organisations for distribution.

The President, Ram Nath Kovind at the inauguration of the International Buddhist Conclave- 2018 The President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the “International Buddhist Conclave (IBC), 2018” today. The Minister of State (Independent charge),  K J Alphons presided over the inaugural function. The 4 days long Conclave has been organized by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the State Governments of Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh from 23rd – 26th August, 2018 at New Delhi and Ajanta (Maharashtra), followed by site visits to Rajgir, Nalanda and Bodhgaya (Bihar) and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh). The President also launched the Ministry ... Read more

Team Bond Safari ready for the mission While Kerala has been going through the worst time in its history following the unprecedented rain and flood, lots of people from different walks of life have come forward to take the responsibility of the rescue operations. ‘Bond Safari’ of Thiruvananthapuram was such unsung heroes, who took part in the rescue operations especially in the Chengannur area. Tourism News Live got an opportunity to catch up with Jackson Peter, Managing Partner of Bond Safari, a group of professional scuba divers in Kovalam who are helping people to familiarize with under water activities, regarding their rescue operations ... Read more

The wait for air passengers to avail in-flight connectivity within the country’s airspace is about to get over as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has said that it is in the final stages of rolling out the norms for inflight connectivity license for the airlines operating in the country. According to a report, once the inflight connectivity license norms are rolled out, the DoT will give service options to the airlines and telecom operators in the country within two months. This means that if everything goes well, the Telecom Commission would allow in-flight connectivity as soon as October this year. ... Read more

Seychelles has welcomed over 13,500 visitors from India in 2017 making it the seventh largest source market for the destination. In the first half of 2018, over 8,000 Indians travelled to Seychelles showcasing a steady rise of 13.3 per cent from January to July 2018 vis-a-vis the same time period in 2017. This rise in numbers can be attributed to the India tourist office’s committed focus on promotion of the destination, interest and efforts from the hotels and DMCs to capture the Indian market, increased customer awareness due to innovative digital presence along with direct flights from Mumbai 5 times ... Read more

FLORIA Wonder Garden Good news for flower enthusiasts! Royal FLORIA Putrajaya 2018, the flower and garden festival of Malaysia is commencing on 25th August and will conclude on 2nd September 2018. The annual flower festival is happening at Precinct 4, Putrajaya in Malaysia. The Royal Floria Putrajaya is Malaysia’s largest flower and garden festival. It started in the year 2007 as a two-yearly event organised by Perbadanan Putrajaya. Later it has become an annual event from 2010. The event is hosted by Putrajaya Corporation (Perbadanan Putrajaya or PPj) in association with the Federal Territories Ministry, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, ... Read more

Sustainable and responsible tourism will be the focus of the second edition of the Philippine Harvest under the helm of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to be staged at the Central Square Mall at Bonifacio High Street, Global City in Taguig from August 24-26. As one of the main thrusts of the Department, the trade fair is themed “Sustainable Living, Food and Travel” highlighting farm tourism, local food, and tourist destinations around the country. In partnership with Central Square Mall, the Store Specialists Incorporated Group and the Tourism Promotions Board, the event will bring together DOT-accredited farm sites across the ... Read more

TripsAcademy, India’s first interactive online and offline learning experts in travel and tourism, has launched a new mobile learning app for travel professionals. The app, first of its’ kind in the world, is available for download in both Android and iOS versions on the respective App Stores. Through TripsAcademy’s app, travel professionals can now learn at any time, any place and at any pace convenient to them. All courses within learning programmes are modular and highly engaging comprising of videos, quiz and various other interactive sections. Each interactive learning module takes no longer than 5 to 7 minutes to complete. ... Read more

Operations of the Kochi International Airport will resume on 29th August 2018 at 2:00 PM. It was decided by the authorities after a review meeting held yesterday.  The circular issued by CIAL on 22nd August states that three more days will be required to make the airport fully functional. Earlier it was declared to resume operations from 26th August. As per the circular, the date was extended as most of their staff got affected with the floods and they are out of station. Furthermore, hotels, restaurants and eateries around the airport are still closed. Communication, logistics facilities etc. are yet ... Read more

The floods in Kerala has devastated many lives, taken their shelters away and damaged many properties. Tourism and hospitality industry is one of the worst hit businesses in the state with Idukki and Munnar being marooned and devastated and roads, rail and airways become nonfunctional. Kerala’s tourism industry stakeholders have formed an independent task force to support the relief and rehabilitation work that is underway in the State. Around 28 travel, tourism and hospitality industry associations met in Kochi to form Kerala Tourism Task Force, an independent voluntary body, to support the government and the administration in different districts of ... Read more

When Kerala was badly affected by rain and flood that the state has never experienced in history, we have seen lots of heroes arisen from nowhere to help the flood ridden people. Mesh Manoharan, from Chendamangalam near Kodungallur, which was one of the most affected places, was just one among the many victims of the flood. But, the trained scuba diver he is, Mesh gave it a thought to check on the water level and the situation around, took his kayak out in the river flowing behind his home and rescued 70 people from the flood affected area. Mesh is ... Read more

Portugal’s tourism industry is in a positive swing as per the statistics revealed by the department of tourism. As per the records Portugal’s tourism revenues shows an increase of 13.9 per cent during the first six months of year compared with the same period last year. The total revenue from tourism was 6.9 billion euros during this period. March recorded the highest increase in tourism revenue with 20.3 per cent.  May has 19.5 per cent and February shows 16.1 per cent increase, during the first half of the year. “Tourist revenues in Portugal are growing 5 times more than the ... Read more