On the occasion of World Tourism Day (WTD), the UNWTO revealed this week its global campaign, ‘Tourism Opens Minds’, in a universal pledge to address the challenges facing the tourism sector.  This global initiative presents an opportunity to rediscover the way people travel and encourages tourists to venture into a wider range of destinations, to open their minds and hearts to places they haven’t previously imagined visiting. A YouGov survey released earlier this week showed that while 66% of travellers prefer familiar destinations over exploring new horizons, 83% report that the experience of traveling to new places, broadened their perspective and enabled them to develop a better understanding of other cultures.

Hilton unveils the much-anticipated upscale full-service hotel brand, DoubleTree by Hilton, in the vibrant city of Varanasi. The city, home to historical structures, temples and forts and is also a member of the UNESCO creative cities given its cultural prominence. DoubleTree by Hilton Varanasi is conveniently located in the city centre, has opened under a franchising agreement between Hilton India and JHV Construction Co Pvt Ltd, a well renowned and prominent business conglomerate in Varanasi. Known for its w hospitality and commitment to guest comfort, DoubleTree by Hilton has rapidly emerged as a fast-growing brand within the Hilton portfolio. This opening further underscores Hilton’s unwavering commitment to expanding its footprint in non-metros and delivering exceptional experiences to travellers throughout the region.

Continuing its trusted partnership with the Thailland government, VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, re-won the contract to process visa applications for Thailand from India. The company will cater to travellers from India across visa categories through visa application centres and drop off centres as per the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Embassy in Delhi and Royal Thai Consulate General in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai. VFS Global’s relationship with the Government of Thailand dates to nearly two decades. The company has processed more than 2.2 million Thai visa applications since 2005. As a part of the mandate, VFS Global will roll out drop box services in tier 2 cities such as Ranchi, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Indore, Nagpur, Nasik, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Currently the service is available at Agra, Amritsar, Dehradun, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Guwahati, Patna, Bihar, Bhubaneswar, Jamshedpur, Siliguri and Visakhapatnam. The VFS Global newest visa application centre (VAC) in Lucknow (a drop box facility earlier) will also accept applications for Thailand visas. “The renewal of the Thai visa contract attests to VFS Global’s superior business performance, commitment to improving customer experience, and unshakable faith placed in us by the 70 sovereign governments we work with, including Thailand,’’ said Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global.

Switzerland Tourism cordially invites the travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar highlighting Zurich today at 3pm. A melting pot of cultures, Zurich provides multiple versatile experiences, and is the ideal hub for exploring Switzerland. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2024! Write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Ministry of Tourism has launched a Travel for LiFE initiative where a booklet was unveiled for the same on occasion of World Tourism Day. Speaking at the event, V Vidyavathi, Secretary, Tourism, said, “This shows our commitment towards a sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism sector.” The event witnessed the global launch of the pathbreaking initiative and 5 TravelForLife pledges by MOS. These pledges mark a significant step towards a greener and more responsible tourism future.

Hon’ble MOS, Tourism, Ajay Bhatt, has stated that he is happy that the Ministry is taking MissionLiFE forward by developing a targeted set of actions for the tourism sector as well as tourists on the occasion of World Tourism Day. He said, “Bharat Mandapam and the recently-inaugurated IICC in Dwarka are two world-class facilities for M!CE. They are ready to host conferences from all parts of the world.”

In order to promote tourism in the state, the Travel Trade Association of Uttar Pradesh (TTAUP) conducted a one-day buyer-seller meet in Lucknow. Around 30 exhibitors participated in the show which was inaugurated by Jaiveer Singh, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Uttar Pradesh. The seller profile included airlines, DMCs, travel insurance companies, and B2B agencies.

The newly opened exquisite resort, Amari Raaya Maldives, operated by ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry with over five decades of hospitality management experience that delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travelers, is celebrating the launch of its very first maai spa, which opened on August 1, 2023. To mark this occasion, the resort is offering an exclusive holistic wellness package titled ‘Reconnect Mind, Body, and Soul.’ This package is designed to support the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of guests while igniting creativity through a series of thoughtfully tailored experiences. The exclusive wellness package starts with daily sunrise or sunset yoga and healthy smoothies at the much-loved Amaya Food Gallery. Included in the package is a private dinner at watch tower, one of the remnants of Seb’s castaway story that is converted to a private dining and star gazing venue. The private watch tower dinner will serve nutritionally balanced wholesome meal including vegan option by the resort’s renowned chefs. Guests will also receive a 120-minute signature massage at maai spa, using the signature algae massage oil; that detoxifies, nourishes and releases muscle tension and a mini revitalization facial for softer and smoother skin. Guests are also invited to explore their creativity side by taking a private art therapy session at the resort’s art zone and complete the pot pourri of wellness experiences by enjoying a USD 20 resort credit at UNO Salon that caters to luxury beauty services at Amari Raaya Maldives. Reconnect Mind, Body and Soul starts with USD 882++ per villa per night for 03 nights stay at our cosy villas together with special …

Learn more about the largest cruise ship in domestic waters – Costa Serena – and its sailings ex Mumbai and Cochin in November and December 2023 at this exclusive webinar on September 21 at 3pm. It will highlight specially curated itineraries for a truly international experience with an Indian touch. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Sharing news that his state entered top 10 list of foreign tourist arrivals, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary (Tourism & Culture) & MD, MP Tourism Board, says, “Madhya Pradesh is in the top 10 state for foreign arrivals in 2022 as per MOT report. It is therefore essential to understand the needs of these tourists. The tourism department is dedicated to communicating and promoting the offerings of the state to foreign tourists and stakeholders and at least 8-10% of the total budget has been earmarked for international promotion.”