Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

From 1ST March 2022, there will no longer be a quarantine obligation requirement even for those arriving from non-EU countries. To enter Italy, any of one of the Green pass certificates like vaccination certificate, certificate of Covid 19 recovery or negative test result will be sufficient. This was established by an ordinance signed by the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza. We are moving more and more towards the relaxation of the Covid containment measures. The Italian government has decided to further simplify arrivals from abroad to support the tourism sector. The end of the quarantine regime for arrivals from abroad is another fundamental step in the government’s plan, for a new phase of co-existence with the virus. The executive order has already lifted the mandate to have a swab test for those arriving from European Union countries. The measure goes hand in hand with an improvement in the epidemiological situation after the recent re-opening of night clubs and the end of the mandate to wear a mask outdoors. This will put an end to the state of emergency by 31st March 2022. Among the measures envisaged in the Government roadmap that is put forth by the Minister of Tourism Mr. Garavaglia, is the elimination of the Super Green Pass mandate in hotels. At the moment, this law mandate which was enforced in Christmas 2021 still remains in force in all hotels and accommodation facilities. Starting April 2022, in view of the Easter holidays, it should be easier for Italian and foreign tourists to stay in hotels with the abolishment of the mandatory use of the Reinforced Green Pass as it will be no longer necessary to have a Covid vaccination …

Abu Dhabi has updated its Covid-19 travel protocol as on March 1, 2022 and has removed the requirement for PCR test to travel to the country for fully-vaccinated Indian travellers. Key changes include no rapid test required under six hours at the airport and no RT PCR test required under 48 hours. Children under 16 are exempted.

This March, a delegation of 15 key members of the travel trade fraternity pan India and 2 B2B media will represent India at Marhaba 2022 – a B2B showcase organised by Atout France at the Dubai Expo. The two-day event taking place at the Expo 2020’s Pavillon France and the Raffles Hotel Dubai, is the first of a joint collaboration between the Atout France offices of Dubai, Israel, India and Russia. By bringing together travel professionals from these markets, the event aims to encourage business across the source markets. The attendees will have the opportunity to interact with regional French tourism boards, iconic French tourist attractions, high-end shopping options, hotels, palaces, DMCs, transportation companies and amusement parks. Sheetal Munshaw, Director Atout France India, shares her thoughts, “Marhaba 2022 is indeed special for us as it is the first time after 2 years that members of the Indian trade will network and interact with the French partners in person. In the last 2 years, we have been interacting only virtually with our partners and this event will be a semblance of what we knew in pre-pandemic times. It is also special as it’s a first regional collaboration with our own counterparts. Like most organisations, the pandemic divided us geographically but united us virtually and broke many barriers. This is one such foray into bringing our network closer and proving versatile platforms and opportunities for our key stake holders to engage and enrich their business opportunities. As borders open up and travel resumes, Marhaba is the perfect occasion to revive exchanges between our key stake-holders”. Beside 2 500 scheduled business meetings on the Marhaba platform, Atout France will host two special evenings …

SriLankan Airlines adorns one of its aircraft with customized livery to reaffirm its status as the official airline of the much-awaited ‘Raid Amazones 2022.’ Raid Amazones 2022 is an annual sporting event in which a large number of French female athletes compete in a number of sports and activities against the backdrop of an iconic tourist site. Every year, the event highlights an attractive tourist destination by highlighting inherent elements such as its ecological beauty, residents’ way of life, and culture, which are publicly displayed to the world through worldwide media following the athletes on their tour. The event’s 20th edition will take place in the areas surrounding the iconic Sigiriya rock fortress, which are rich in ecological beauty, cultural heritage, and authentic Sri Lankan village life. The first leg will be held from March 13 to 23, 2022, and the second leg will be held from March 27 to April 6, 2022. The event is likely to attract over 550 participants, including athletes and officials.

To provide further updates on the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Singapore and India & Sri Lanka, Singapore Tourism Board will be organising another round of webinar exclusively for the Indian & Sri Lankan travel trade. The ‘Welcome Back to Singapore’ webinar will be held today at 11:30am IST/SLST. The virtual session will also touch on Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight operations and the customer experience at Changi Airport and Jewel Changi Airport. To register, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. SIA operates daily flights from four Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) points in India and Sri Lanka: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Colombo. In addition, SIA operates non-VTL flights from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. SIA recommends customers to check that they have selected a VTL flight before they book. SIA’s VTL POINTS TO SINGAPORE Country City Flight Number Frequency India BOM SQ423 7x weekly DEL SQ403 7x weekly MAA SQ529 7x weekly Sri Lanka CMB SQ469 7x weekly

Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to the Secretary General, UNWTO, has said that had it not been for domestic tourism, a lot of countries wouldn’t have survived. Hence, she advises, “Domestic tourism must remain at the heart of the strategy, with international and regional strategies complimenting it and not becoming replacements to that strategy.”

Oman has a plethora of exciting activities to enjoy during the colder months, as well as tranquil beaches to cool off on during the scorching-hot summer months. While the Gulf area is commonly associated with skyscrapers and five-star resorts, Oman remains one of the prized Arabian pearls that can reconnect one with the diverse traditions and customs of a civilisation that extends back hundreds of thousands of years. More and more people are flocking to Oman to discover what makes this country so special, including marine life off the southern coast of Dhofar Province, a wealth of rich history to discover in Muscat, mountains and deserts to discover, and a paradise of extravagant festivals to discover. Oman also has a terrific infrastructure that is excellent for visitors and is a safe place to visit solo or in groups. Experience Oman’s diverse heritage Ancient mosques, forts, and tombs tell the narrative of the battles, beliefs, and people who shaped this distinct region of the Middle East. The majority of these architectural marvels are open to the public all year and are among the most spectacular relics of the pre-modern Islamic world. Many breathtaking ancient sites adorn the country’s historic cities. Their roots reflect Oman’s many influences and layers of history, with some going back to the Sassanid Empire, the last Persian Empire kingdom before the emergence of Islam. Five Omani sites have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Despite the extraordinary developments that have happened in Oman over the years, the country has remained committed to its traditional arts and crafts. A variety of customs, ranging from music and dances that differ by location, are still widely practiced today. …

Luxury takes many forms in New Zealand and to showcase them, Tourism New Zealand will conduct a webinar today at 11am IST. The luxury accommodation in New Zealand is varied and unique. There are award-winning lodges spread throughout the country. Travel agents are urged to attend this webinar for more inspiration to help them plan their clients’ luxury trip to New Zealand. To sign up, contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532 or register directly at https://event.webinarjam.com/register/364/k68xnt0v

Luxury takes many forms in New Zealand and to showcase them, Tourism New Zealand will conduct a webinar on February 22, 2022 at 11am. The luxury accommodation in New Zealand is varied and unique. There are award-winning lodges spread throughout the country. Travel agents are urged to attend this webinar for more inspiration to help them plan their clients’ luxury trip to New Zealand. To sign up, contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532 or register directly at https://event.webinarjam.com/register/364/k68xnt0v

Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Tourism Minister, urged that tourism officers look into other strategies to entice traders and organise traders’ meets, stating that it could provide a platform to engage with traders from various segments and give the tourism sector a boost. Since, last year’s investors’ meet in Vizag drew a positive response. He said that the government’s new tourist strategy was also investor-friendly.