IndiGo has announced direct flights from Kurnool to Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai March 28 onwards, strategically enhancing regional connectivity in southern India. The LCC will begin these operations under the UDAN scheme.

Minister of Tourism & Culture, Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the second edition of India Dialogues Conclave, hosted at Delhi’s Shangri-La Hotel. The platform has been created with the vision of giving voice to young India on the digital surface at large. It allows Heads of state, political leaders, social media icons, youth icons, ministers, policymakers and game changers to present their views. 

The Nautilus is the ideal choice for a private Indian Ocean escape, and the picture-perfect bohemian hideaway offers guests incomparable romantic experiences this Valentine’s Day. The celebrated property offers guests the choice of two specially-curated packages, alongside exceptional experiences like indulging in bespoke culinary feasts anywhere on the island or sliding into the tourmaline-tinted seas to spot manta rays and whale sharks. Valentine’s Day packages at The Nautilus The Nautilus’ Rejoice in Love offers you the opportunity to pamper your Valentine with the ultimate day of romance, starting with a champagne breakfast upon your private castaway sandbank. Head to the island’s overwater Solasta Spa for a soothing couple’s treatment, enjoy beach-front sunset cocktails and end the day with a personally curated beach dinner set beneath the starry-sky. For the ultimate couple’s experience opt for the Passionate Souls package and begin the day with a lavish champagne breakfast upon the luxury yacht, Nautilus One. Indulge in a healing-specific couple’s massage at the serene Solasta Spa and end the day by toasting to your true love over sunset cocktails by the ocean accompanied by a candlelit dinner upon the pristine white sands. The Nautilus is the realisation of a vision of boundless privacy and unscripted ultimate luxury, where guests can choose exactly what they want to do, where and when. Hedonistic gastronomy The Nautilus delights in veering off script, crafting bespoke culinary journeys designed just for you. You could choose to dine upon your private sandbank for an intimate champagne breakfast, or, opt to set sail upon a luxurious glamourous yacht with personal sommelier and wine tasting. Epicureans in particular may indulge with a special lunch by the lagoon, a romantic beach …

Kazin DMC has entered into an exclusive agreement with Almaty Multiprofile Clinical Hospital to bring free medical assistance to its travellers as part of standard inclusion in each package. This first-of-its-kind arrangement by a DMC includes door-to-door ambulance service, doctor on call, first-aid assistance and overnight hospitalisation.

HVS ANAROCK’s latest report titled ‘Room for Growth’ states that the three Indian cities (Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai), though still underpenetrated, have been performing at par with other Asian cities, especially on the occupancy front. As for RevPAR, Bengaluru is in the same range as Beijing and Shanghai.

In response to suggestions requested from tourism stakeholders to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) recently issued for restoration of tourist visa, the trade has recommended that Conference Visa may also be restored along with the tourist visa for supporting the M!CE market, and that SOPs be customised for the same.

Royal Jordanian Airline has appointed STIC Travel Group as its India GSA for passenger services. “Travel agents can contact any of the STIC offices across India. I hope that together we can contribute to growth of business,” says Subhash Goyal, Chairman, STIC Travel Group.

Hyatt has announced the launch of Hyatt Delhi Residences in New Delhi’s Aerocity. The property includes 124 apartments divided into 70 one-bedroom, 42 two-bedroom and 6 three-bedroom apartments, and 2 two-bedroom and 4 three-bedroom duplex townhouses, with spacious interiors paired with Hyatt’s signature service excellence. This hotel does not participate in World of Hyatt.

IATO, in association with TravTalk, is hosting a webinar today at 11:30 am, to educate attendees on new ideas in strategic cost cutting and its benefits. The speaker for the session will be Amol Bajaj, Head – Apprenticeship, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC). To register, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91-9650196532.

India’s apex hotel association, FHRAI has appealed to Government of India to aggressively promote domestic tourism this year, and recommended that incentivising domestic tourism by offering tax exemption under Section 80C of up to Rs50,000 to Indian nationals will encourage them to travel, thus helping achieve the goal.