Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), in its recent interactive meeting of members, discussed the highlights of the revised guidelines for tourism service providers by MOT. The virtual event saw members discussing the new criteria and their issues with it, including categorisation of tour operators in five categories, inclusion of green shoots/start-ups, MDA scheme eligibility, etc. The EC clarified members’ queries and looks at taking the same to MOT.

Goa Tourism might have suffered a loss of around Rs2,000 to Rs7,200 crore and approximately 35-58% job losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report titled, ‘Coping with COVID-19: Survival and Revival of Goa’s Tourism Industry’ by Goa Tourism Ministry and KPMG Advisory Services.

Antara Luxury River Cruises recently hosted around 20 luxury travel planners for a familiarisation trip which started from Kolkata. It was the maiden voyage of Antara Cruises to explore ‘Europe on the Ganges’, and the trip lasted for two nights and three days. The luxury river cruise brand was launched in August this year.  

As part of its Secure Himalaya project, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); and UNDP India have developed first-ever Virtual Reality experiences of Snow Leopards for increased awareness and conservation in high-altitude Himalayas.

Lufthansa has launched its ‘Calendar of Hope’ initiative with an aim to help street and slum children in India. In a collaborative effort to help spread hope with kindness, the airline has dedicated the 2021 edition of its iconic calendar to support the most vulnerable in the fight against the hardships of COVID-19. Lufthansa is partnering with ImpactGuru, a Harvard incubated start-up, for this initiative. This will ensure that 100 per cent of the contribution goes directly to help the children at Aasraa Trust, which supports over 3300 street children in Dehradun, as well as Sunshine Children Education Society, which gives shelter to over 250 slum children in Delhi.Dehradun

Ministry of Tourism recently conducted its Domestic Tourism Roadshow in the western state of Goa. The chief guest at the event was Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism, who shared that a complimentary development of domestic tourism is needed to further make way for an enhanced growth of international tourism.

Understand eight pieces of the digital puzzle and learn nine new skills to grow your business in 2021 with IATO’s skill development webinar in association with TravTalk today at 11:30 am IST. Lifestyle Entrepreneur & Digital Media Strategist Siddharth Rajsekar will answer queries. To register, contact Jaspreet Kaur at +91-9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Meenakshi Sharma, DG, Ministry of Tourism, has said that their campaign for the international market highlighting they are COVID-proof and geared to work with them is ready. “Representatives from the industry have seen some drafts, and it should be finalised in a month or so. The campaign says what India is trying to do,” Sharma says.

Aaditya Thackeray, Cabinet Minister, Tourism & Environment, Government of Maharashtra, has said that they want to make tourism a priority sector. “I have been personally available to remove any hurdles that might come in the way because we want to develop this sector across the state and not just Mumbai,” he said.

Nepal Airlines will resume its Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi daily flights from December 17, 2020. This was confirmed by Narayan Podayal, Delhi Manager, Nepal Airlines, who says, “The flight will depart Kathmandu at 11:20 hrs and take off from Delhi at 14:00 hrs local time. Passengers transiting via Nepal will not be allowed to board. All travellers will be required to submit and carry negative PCR test report not older than 72 hours at time of boarding.”