Electronic visa will be launched in Russia from August 1, 2023, allowing Indian nationals to apply for their visa quickly and conveniently. The visa would allow entry into the Russian Federation on a guest, business, tourist visit as well as to participate in events. The term for issuing a single-entry visa would be no more than four calendar days and consular fee would be around $40. “This is a great initiative to boost tourism and ensure hassle-free visa for tourists without much documentation. Now, with e-visa and direct Delhi-Moscow flights operated by Aeroflot airlines, Russia is more accessible than ever. The e-Visa will be valid for 60 days and allow travellers to stay in Russia for no more than 16 days,” explained Prashant Chaudhary, MD, Salvia Promoters and representative of Russian Union of Travel Industry in India.

While launching the UDAN 5.2 for helicopters, MoCA Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “Under this we have increased the VGF and reduced the fare cap. Along with this, we have also started single window service platform of HeliSewa. Through this, you will be able to get all the approvals from ATC on your mobile. We have also started UDAN 5.2 for small aircraft. Today we have awarded 22 routes, which underlines the fact that air travel facility is being made available to citizens living in remote areas.”

Rail Europe, the leading provider of European train tickets and passes, is delighted to introduce its latest addition: the Eurail Greek Islands Pass, is now part of its B2B inventory and available via its B2B website and API. “With the launch of the Eurail Greek Islands Pass, we are proud to present an unparalleled opportunity for our B2B partners’ to enhance their customers’ travel experiences. The Eurail Greek Islands Pass serves as a gateway to a myriad of experiences across Greece’s captivating islands, from the alluring glamour of Mykonos to the inspiring landscapes of Santorini, and the pristine serenity of Crete, three top destinations in Europe. We are thrilled to foster further collaboration with our partners as we jointly promote this unique pass and showcase the captivating islands it encompasses.”, says Björn Bender, CEO & President, Rail Europe. The Eurail Greek Islands Pass allows travellers to explore the Greek islands via national ferry – travel possible via the Attica Group (Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries & Hellenic Seaways) – for 4 domestic travel days, as a mobile pass. It’s also a great addition to the Eurail Greece pass, for travellers willing to visit highlights like Athens, Thessaloniki and Olympia, or the European continent as a whole. Eurail passes is the perfect choice to discover the wonders of Europe by train. Rail Europe’s trade partners from across the world have been promoting and selling these rail passes for decades. Considered as the most popular pass, Eurail Global Pass is seen by many as the easiest way to travel within Europe. It offers unlimited rail travel across 33 destinations in Europe, giving travellers a unique experience and an in-depth knowledge of the …

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels is proud to announce the launch of its newest hotel, Zone by The Park Gopalpur, one of the cleanest beaches of East India and a flourishing tourist destination in Odisha. The hotel was virtually inaugurated by Naveen Patnaik, chief minister of Odisha. Nestled with just a short walk from the picturesque Gopalpur beach, the hotel offers a truly enchanting location. Strategically positioned, it provides easy access to the nearby Rangeilunda Airstrip Berhampur, which is 6 kilometers away. Zone by The Park Gopalpur features 40 well-appointed rooms with tech-savvy amenities. The guests can enjoy dining at Bazaar – an all-day dining, and unwind at Z Bar – a high-energy bar. They can take a dip in Playa – the pool, rejuvenate at the spa, and utilize the versatile banquet halls or the open area for events accommodating up to 700 guests. The guests can explore their Zone Social Avatars, and can choose to be any of these – Adventurer, Foodie, Shutterbug, Networker, and Party Animal, while exploring the coastal town. The expert team will help the guests create and suggest experiences based on their avatars. Vikas Ahluwalia, General Manager and National Head – Zone by The Park Hotels said, “We are extremely happy to launch Zone by The Park in Gopalpur, and would like to thank our partners Specadi Resorts Pvt Ltd for partnering to bring Zone in Odisha. By entering Odisha, a distinguished global tourism, sports capital and emerging fast as technology resource hub, we want to deliver our innate ‘social by design’ experience to price-conscious and design-conscious travellers. With demands of a growing city, the hotel will be one stop for guests who are seeking …

JANDEC Travel JSC, and Ambassador Cruise, Halong Bay, Vietnam, a holistic tourism service provider and cruise liner based in Vietnam, assigns AllKnown Marketers (AKM) the task of performing its trade and marketing initiatives in the Indian market. The AKM team will be responsible for endorsing these diversified products & services, hence, to encourage Indian tourists to experience Vietnam’s gastronomy and culture, nature and other outdoor adventures. Since JANDEC Travel JSC, and Ambassador Cruise, Halong Bay, Vietnam debuted in the Indian market early 2023, the business penetration will further enhance its presence through a strong partnership with sustainable efforts and consistent outreach between both parties. Jandec Travels JSC Vietnam deviates from any traditional travel companies in promoting holiday packages by catering to all age groups including individuals, families, groups, or corporate organizations. Constantly improving its holiday trails through innovation and creativity with the aim of making every holiday a unique living experience for all. Meanwhile, Ambassador Cruise is a 5-star cruise company that operates in Halong Bay. A state-of-the-art cruise company, premium options of cruise packages have been designed from overnight cruises, day cruise and dinner cruise. Every cruise offers shore excursions, on board entertainment and dining options to suit Indian travellers. Commenting on the appointment, Vu Cong Vice President said, “We are delighted to commence our journey in the Indian market with AllKnown Marketers. The travel industry has undergone a sea change in the past couple of years, however we are certain that exciting times await the entire industry to resume fully soon. The AKM team will assist us in navigating through the Indian travel trade diaspora and to comprehend the ever-evolving Indian travellers. We are looking forward to marking our …

Mauritius is known worldwide as one of the finest holiday retreats. This paradise island in the Indian Ocean is primarily perceived as a luxury and beyond-the-beach destination in India. The AKM team will deliver all trade, marketing and communication activities on behalf of the MTPA throughout the year to reaffirm this positioning by highlighting our diverse offerings, including our mosaic of cultures, traditions, religions and culinary delights. Commenting on this appointment, Arvind Bundhun, Director of the MTPA, says, “We welcome AKM on board and are confident that with the support of our local stakeholders, there is room for further achievement. Our strategy is focused on innovative trade, PR and digital campaigns which will give Indian travellers the true essence of the destination. Mauritius is a year-round destination, and we invite you to feel our island energy.” Sunil Mathapati, Country Manager, adds, “It gives us immense pride to represent the MTPA in India and work closely with the team to curate unparalleled travel experiences for the Indian market. Mauritius as a destination has bountiful offerings and hence has an immense potential to entice new-age travellers across all segments. We are working towards aligning our activities with MTPA’s strategy and charting out an extensive calendar to grow the brand’s presence in India.”

The 18th edition of Australia Marketplace India 2023 held in Bengaluru recently witnessed record participation from both Australian delegates as well as Indian buyers. It saw 86 Australian delegates meet with 94 buyers from 8 cities in India. India has been the fastest recovering market for Australia and ranks as the fourth inbound market in terms of visits, which is 375500 for year ending May 2023. The three-day event saw the highest attendance this year which reiterates the demand for Australia among the Indian travellers.

Costa Cruise and TripJack, have partnered to offer cruising experiences during season time. From November 2023 to January 2024, Costa Serena will offer a total of 23 sailings and a dual homeport of Mumbai and Cochin. It will sail to Mumbai, Cochin, Goa and, for the first time ever, the beautiful Lakshadweep islands with a 2, 3 and 5 nights itineraries. Abdul Thingna, VP, Hotels & Holidays at TripJack said, “We are excited to partner with Costa Cruise, a renowned name in the global cruise industry. This collaboration aligns with our mission of providing unique and remarkable travel experiences. The cruise dates in November and December 2023 offer an incredible opportunity for Indian travelers to experience international cruising, and we are confident that our partnership will deliver exceptional value and unforgettable memories.” “We are delighted to collaborate with Tripjack in bringing the incredible world of Costa Cruise to Indian travellers,” said Nalini Gupta of Costa Cruise. “This partnership will allow us to cater to the specific preferences of the Indian market, ensuring that our guests have an exceptional cruising experience.”

Outward remittances under the Reserve Bank of India’s liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) rose in May 2023 to $2.88 billion as compared to $2.33 billion in April, mainly due to an uptick in travel spend. People in India spent close to $1.5 billion on international travel in May, against $1.10 billion in April.

Encouraging travel agents to sell adventure tourism as well, Ajeet Bajaj, President of ATOAI, said, “Almost 80% of the market today is soft adventure travel and we want to network with travel agents and tour operators in Mumbai and other cities to discuss responsible adventure tourism, best practices as well as how to select and start working with good adventure tour operators across the country.”