Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism, has said that it has emerged from her discussions with industry stakeholders that the most significant enabler in the times to come is the safety factor and that there is need for harmonisation of quarantine rules across states. “People have to feel safe to travel, which means safety protocols need to be in place, but equally important is to create the perception of safety, for which, the Government, associations, industry and citizens should work together. In order to create ease of travel, we also need to create harmonisation around the rules within different states, owing to local conditions,” she said.

During week #3 of the ‘TogetherThailand’ digital campaign by TAT India, Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration Certification (SHA) will be the main theme. This is aimed to make tourism part of the overall national preventive measures for COVID-19 and ensure that tourists have a positive and safe experience.

With the aim to educate the travel trade about the eight big cats, wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism, a Kolkata-based tour operator Time Travels is conducting a 35-series live webinar starting from August 10. The hour-long webinars with have 35 experts from nine countries speaking on their area of expertise. Supriya Khaitan, CEO, Time Travels  and Co-Founder of FOMONoMore, says, “We created a big team of experts from all walks of wildlife who wished to address the need for conversations, and this led us to establish FOMONoMore.”

As physical distancing continues to be a norm, South Korea is making health safety its top priority. It is promoting its Hanok – a traditional house accommodation – as a preferred choice of stay for visitors since it ensures a secluded stay with minimal interaction with service staff and other guests. A Hanok also lends an authentic Korean experience with thorough privacy for tourists.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has launched a social media campaign called #BufferMeinSafar to promote wildlife tourism in the state. The campaign aims to attract tourists to its national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. While the core area of the forests are closed during monsoon until September, the buffer areas remain open for visitors. Activities in its buffer areas include safaris and bird watching besides spotting various species in the buffer zones. MP Tourism is offering packages for tourists that are specially designed keeping in mind safe travel, stay, and excursion during pandemic. The board has come up with short road itineraries mainly for two to three nights for weekend travel from neighbouring states.

As part of its ‘Mission Begin Again’, the Indian Government will permit cruise ships to commence sailing from 1 October. In light of this development, Jalesh Cruises announces the commencement of its cruise MV Karnika from 6 November, 2020. Jalesh Cruises will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing to all passengers.

SpiceJet has secured slots at London Heathrow Airport to operate flights effective September 1, 2020. This is presently under the bubble arrangement between India and UK and effective end of summer schedule i.e. October 23, 2020. It is in discussion to secure slots for winter schedule for regular operations.

HVS ANAROCK’S latest monthly newsletter titled ‘Hotels & Hospitality Overview India’ reveals that Kochi was the top performing market in India in June with negative growth in RevPAR at 50.3 per cent, followed by New Delhi at 72.4 per cent. Bengaluru and Goa were the lowest performers for the month of June 2020. 

In an effort to bring back tourism to India, 12 inbound operators will travel to Rajasthan between 6-9 August, 2020. The initiative named ‘Unlocking Tourism – India is Ready’ will have a 20-people contingent visiting offbeat destinations of Rajasthan namely Tijara, Kesroli, Talabgaon and Geejgarh. The idea was conceived in a Whatsapp group called ‘Inbound Fraternity’ and was further initiated by Sanjay Razdan, Managing Director of Razdan Holidays, and Sunil Misra, Managing Director of Cosmos Travel.

In a series of online meetings, 35 registered trade associations representing different tourism sectors from Kerala unanimously decided to continue under one organisation called Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI). They re-elected EM Najeeb as President. A 65-member committee and 35-member Task force was also formed. Sajeev Kurup, Former Secretary of KTM Society, has been elected as the General Secretary. The main aim of CKTI is to ensure survival and then revival of the industry during and after the pandemic.