Category: News

NIPAH virus attack continues to trouble even though there aren’t much casualties or new infections reported. The tourism industry is one which is suffering on the onset of this virus attack. Though the incidents induced an uncertainty in the minds of travellers, the tourists haven’t cancelled or postponed their trips to Kerala. However, still there is some news circulating which is discouraging the travellers. “Initially the tourists had concerns about the virus attack. It feels like a negative propaganda to weaken the tourism industry. The tourism industry is doing fine and some media are making the news in a way ... Read more

Tourism Kelowna will be the first organization in the Thompson-Okanagan region to initiate a new industry sustainability project. The project made by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), the Biosphere Certification Adhesion Program will be launched in Kelowna first, followed by Kamloops and other places across the region. Based on TOTA’s ‘Drive for Sustainability’ plan, the project will bring together community stakeholders to work together and execute long-term stewardship of local tourism while offering visitors an ‘authentic, remarkable experience’. Five years ago, TOTA had decided to expand the tourism business window from traditionally 45 days in the summer to 200 ... Read more

Registering record revenue in 2017, the tourism industry in Virginia is booming. The tourism industry, being state’s fifth-largest employer gained $25 as revenue in 2017. According to reports, this records a 4.4 per cent rise when compared to 2016. The industry totally contributed $1.73 billion to state and local revenue, recording a rise of 2.8 per cent. As per state’s reports, the domestic visitors spend $68 million a day in Virginia last year. The tourism sector of Virginia was the key force for $5.9 billion in payroll income last year, registering an increase of 4.8 per cent from 2016. According ... Read more

For many Mumbai is not just a city, it’s a feeling. People from various parts of the world love to visit the city over time and have shared fond experiences of the metro city. The city which is India’s financial capital and home to Bollywood industry has large number of attractions like Bollywood Theme Park, 150-year-old houses in Khotachiwadi in Girgaum, Kala Ghoda festival to the cricket matches at the famous Wankhede Stadium. Taking advantage of these attractions, the Maharashtra government is all set to entice tourists by making Mumbai on the sought out tourists spots in the world. The ... Read more

As per the tourism industry’s reports, Tunisia has achieved considerable growth in tourism sector registering a great recovery after the industry was hit badly by jihadi attacks in 2015. The tourist arrivals in the country recorded more than 2.3 million till May 20th, recording a rise of 21.8 per cent in visitor numbers when compared to same period last year and 5.7 per cent more when compared to same period in 2010. Reports suggest that the recovery of tourism industry is partially accelerated by the conventional market including France and Germany, up by 45 per cent and 42 per cent ... Read more

As a step to improve the tourism sector of Malaysia, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has strengthened calls for abolishing Tourism Tax (TTx). The tax was implemented on September last year for foreigners at a flat rate of 10 Malaysian Ringgit (RM10) per room for a night at hotels and other private lodgings. However, MATTA believes that the tourism tax had a reverse impact on tourism industry, especially in the case of price sensitive tourists as well as long-haul travellers who like long holidays in the country. The tourist industry in ASEAN countries had recorded good ... Read more

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced that the central African country has become the official tourism partner of English Premier League giants Arsenal FC. The agreement is signed for three years. The ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo will be featured on the left sleeve of all first team, under-23 and Arsenal Women’s matches in the new season for these three years.  Rwanda will now hold the distinction of being Arsenal’s first ever tourism partner. As per reports, Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams will visit Rwanda and club coaches will host coaching camps to support the development of the game for boys and ... Read more

According to a senior home ministry official, the government has received Rs 1,400 crore as revenue from the e-visa scheme. Since its inception of e-visa in 2014, the tourists from 163 countries are benefited from the scheme. The e-visa has been instrumental in boosting the tourism sector of India. It is evident from the fact that 19 lakh tourists used the e-visa facility to visit India last year. The government expects that the tourist arrivals will be more than 25 lakh this year. The e-Visa scheme was implemented by the foreigners division of the home ministry as to improve the ... Read more

The Sikkim government and tourism stakeholders of Himalayan state has wholeheartedly welcomed the Union tourism ministry’s proposal to lift the restrictions on foreign tourists who loves to travel to Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Sikkim. Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons and his ministry proposed the plan when they had a meeting with senior Union home and defence ministry officers last week. The restriction will be lifted only if the home and defence minister give nod to the plan. For travelling in some parts of the Sikkim, the foreigners need to apply for travel documents such as the protected area permit ... Read more

The NIPAH virus attack has been creating quite a stir in Kerala. However, many false rumours are spreading on light of the virus attack. The most important of that being advising people not to travel to Kerala. Many are trying to project the virus attack as a major outbreak in Kerala and this will ultimately affect the tourism industry as many will restrain from travelling to Kerala. However, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI) conveyed that the virus attack has been projected in a larger way than the truth and assured Kerala is still a safe place to visit and ... Read more

Italy has launched a new digital platform named ‘Trame d’Italia’ as a move to promote lesser-known destinations in the country. The digital platform which was officially unveiled at a conference conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will gift the travellers an enticing experience of the regions which are rich in culture, history and culinary traditions, yet undiscovered and unexplored. The platform offers three routes as of now: Northern Monferrato-Piedmont’s vineyard landscape named World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, the historic territory of Lunigiana between Liguria and Tuscany regions, and the Brianza in northwest Lombardy. The routes soon to ... Read more

The next edition of the Malabar Kayaking Championship will be held at Meenthullipara, Pulikkayam and Arippara in Kerala’s Calicut district from July 18 to 22. The championship is being organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode District Panchayat, Thiruvambadi and Kodencherry panchayats and Madras Fun Tools. Two-time world extreme kayaking champion Joe Morley from the United Kingdom, 2012 London Olympics finalist Mike Dawson from New Zealand and noted kayaker from Italy Max Benetton were the big names featured in the previous years. Comprising an international kayaking championship, kayaking training programmes and rafting sessions, the Malabar River Festival is organised ... Read more

As per the recent statistics, Morocco’s tourism revenues has jumped 18.1 per cent year on year to $2.1 billion in the first four months of 2018. The statistics were published by the country’s foreign exchange regulator. Between January and April, remittances from around 4.5 million Moroccans living abroad posted a 13 per cent increase to $ 2.11 billion  compared with $ 1.85 billion during the same period previous year. Tourism revenues and remittances from Moroccans living abroad are the main sources of foreign currency reserves for Morocco. On the other hand, foreign direct investments in Morocco dropped by 17.1 per cent ... Read more

Experts believe that the declaration of 10-year residency visas for investors and specialists will encourage more medical professionals to UAE. As per reports, Dubai is emerging as a prime destination for medical tourism destination, with Mena region ranked first. By 2020, the Emirate is targeting 5,00,000 medical tourists from 3,25,000 in 2016, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.3 per cent. The rise in demand for healthcare services in the Emirate over the past 10 years was accelerated by population growth, medical tourism and increase incidence of life style related medical conditions. The growth has been substantiated by ... Read more

Brazil’s Tourism Ministry has announced that they have signed an agreement with the Brazilian LGBT Trade and Commerce Chamber to promote the country as a gay-friendly tourism destination. Through the agreement, the government hopes to increase awareness of Brazil as a gay-friendly destination and also improve treatment of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT). “Brazil is still a very conservative nation, but tourism helps bridge gaps and improve communication,” said Tourism Minister Vinicius Lummertz. Though Brazil is rich in natural resources and dozens of tourist destinations with potential to attract millions of people, the country still struggles to become a power in ... Read more