Category: News

Dubai had a record international overnight visitation in 2017, which totalled 15.8 million, up 6.2 per cent over the previous year.  The Emirate’s top 10 source markets contributed a share of 59 per cent of total tourist volumes, with the remainder made up of highly diversified markets across the globe, according to the Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (Dubai Tourism) Annual Visitor Report 2017. As per the report, three out of four visitors were families and couples, with individuals making up 14 per cent, friends 8 per cent, and colleagues 3 per cent of total visitation. Around 73.8 per cent ... Read more

Mumbai Port Trust, in association with private tour operators, is about to start a new cruise service from Mumbai to Goa. As per media reports, all necessary verification processess are completed by Mumbai Port Trust and are waiting for the government approval. “We have developed the domestic cruise terminal building. Operator is yet to get few permission and also delivery of vessel which operator has ordered from abroad got delayed. But we are hopeful that soon first Domestic cruise will start from Mumbai to Goa,” said Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust. The cruise service is said to start from ... Read more

Eco-friendly tourism concepts are attracting more vacationers worldwide, with the core principles of sustainability. According to a data published by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) around 10 per cent of the world’s economy is based on tourism activity with more bookings on eco- friendly hotspots. To qualify for a sustainable destination, Global Sustainable Tourism Council issues a list of benchmarks. It includes encouraging local business practices, conservation, community participation, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification etc. Meanwhile, locations like Vial and Yellowstone national park in US are putting up efforts with the government entities to make ... Read more

Gulf Air, the flag carrier of Bahrain has received its first 787 Boeing Dreamliner. The aircraft made exclusively in America is a mid-size, twinjet, long-haul jet airliner made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes back in 8th July 2007. Currently, Gulf air plans to introduce the Boeing 787 on its long-range service from Bahrain and London, with four more additional delivery from Boeing. Meanwhile, Gulf air introduced its new fleet of the 787, for the Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 race fans. “Gulf Air joins the growing number of airlines operating the 787 Dreamliner across the Middle East,” said Marty Bentrott, vice ... Read more

At the recently held Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Rajesh Mudgill, Managing Director of Planet India Travels made a come back as Hon Secretary of IATO after an interval, whereas EM Najeeb, Managing Director of ATE Group who had lost for a small margin in the previous election, gave a sweet revenge winning the Senior Vice President title this time. Pronab Sarkar (President), Rajiv Mehra (Vice President), Rajesh Kayasth (Joint Secretary) and Ravi Gosain (Treasurer) were elected unopposed. The new active EC members are Raj Bajaj, Tony Marwah, PS Duggal, Deepak Bhushan, and Vinay Tyagi. Sunil Gupta, Zia Siddique, and Vijay Sarthi ... Read more

Air India said it is introducing a direct flight from Amritsar to Bangkok starting from May 14, as part of its efforts to increase and augment services on key routes. The flight from Amritsar to Bangkok would operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The service will remain in effect till May 30 and a decision on its extension will be taken based on the response it gets. “Flight AI 336 will leave Bangkok at 13.00 hrs and arrive in Amritsar at 20.05 hrs. In-return flight AI 337 will leave from Amritsar at 05.45 hrs and arrive in Bangkok at ... Read more

Around 126 trekking routes in Uttarakhand will have WiFi network for the ease of tourists travelling to distant parts of the state. The Uttarakhand Information Technology Development Authority (UITDA) said it has prepared a plan to this effect. “All 126 trekking routes would be surveyed for installing towers with required frequency to provide the WiFi connectivity,” said Amit Sinha, the Director of Uttarakhand Information Technology Development Authority. The famous Roopkund trek would be the first to get the facility. Lack of connectivity on the trekking routes had led to tremendous difficulties in locating trekkers who lost their way. The facility would help ... Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi practicing yoga An Islamic University in Iran has approached India to start courses in yoga, ayurveda and unani medicine for its students. In an invitation dated 24 April, the Iranian Embassy in India wrote to National Commission for Minorities chairperson Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, requesting him to visit the Al-Mustafa International University, which counts “disseminating Islamic teachings” as one its chief activities. Upon receiving the invitation, Rizvi is all set to go to Iran on a five-day visit starting 9 May. He is expected to discuss the logistics involved in starting these courses in Iran. “The university ... Read more

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, the third Grand Hyatt branded hotel in India. “Once the Lulu Convention centre is completed, it will be an employment opportunity to atleast 4000 people. Altogether, Lulu employs around 25000 Keralites across its various units,” said Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala while inaugurating the project. Whereas Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, who presided over the inaugural function said he would like to see atleast 100 such convention centres across the country. “I want more roads in Kerala, especially to Kannur and Malappuram ... Read more

Ministry of Tourism has signed an MoU with Dalmia Bharat and the Archaeological Survey of India to adopt the iconic Red Fort monument in New Delhi and Gandikota Fort in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project. The ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme, launched by President Ram Nath Kovind on World Tourism Day in September last year, invites government and private parties to operate and maintain heritage sites. With a budget of more than Rs 5 crore per year, Dalmia Cements joins “monument mitras” including other private sector companies, which will look after the operations and maintenance ... Read more

Etihad Airways teams up with Emirati brand, A Friend of Mine by Xpoze to launch an exclusive luxury loungewear line to be offered to the airline’s First Class guests. The airlines is also planning to launch a new clothline for the guests who are staying in The Residence on board the Airbus A380 fleet. Inspired by the simplicity and elegance of traditional Emirati dress, the new clothline features earthy colours and is made of anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic Modal. The colours of the dresses have been selected to ensure that it complements all skin tones and can easily be matched with other items ... Read more

Oman’s first budget carrier SalamAir said it will operate three weekly direct flights to Tbilisi and two weekly flights to Baku starting from June 14. “It is the perfect time for SalamAir to fly to Tbilisi and Baku. The Eid holidays is a time for celebration and during this period there is generally a surge in travel to the Caucasia region. Our aim is to provide guests with better choice and flexibility to create their personal journey,” said Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir. “We want to bring Oman and the Middle East closer to Eastern Europe. There is great potential for ... Read more

The Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Tourism, Gvt of India, K J Alphons said that the government is taking all measures to double the tourists inflow in India in next three years. ‘Foreign tourist inflow in India last year grew by 15.6 per cent and receipts grew by 20.2 per cent. Our targets are very high and we want to double the tourist inflow and receipts in three years,’ he said. The minister also said it is possible to achieve the target as India has a lot of potential and a 5,000 year old history, which no other country in ... Read more

With an aim to help the small villages earn consistent revenue all throughout the year and protect the biodiversity of the places, the ecotourism board of Maharashtra is planning to develop 320 villages into tourist destinations. These sites will include tiger reserves, national parks, forts, hill stations, religious places and biodiversity parks, said Sunil Limaye, additional principal chief conservator of forests. “Our priority is protecting wild life and forests and we can only do this with the help of local villagers. The development of such places will help villagers realise that it can be their regular source of income and ... Read more

Assam’s tourism revenue has almost doubled in 2017-18, when compared to the earnings in 2016-17. The profit (before tax) of the corporation has almost doubled from Rs 2.24 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 4.22 crore in 2017-18. “The inflow of domestic and foreign tourists has gone up noticeably and the occupancy of hotels, even in the off-season, has increased by about 20 per cent. It is evident that the flow of tourists to Assam has increased by 20 per cent in the last year,” said tourism minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while releasing the annual achievement report 2017-18 of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation ... Read more