The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has suggested fast-tracking the creation of a National Tourism Council on the lines of the GST council. Merely drafting a National Tourism Policy is not enough for the development of the tourism sector in the country, a Parliamentary committee has said. 

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO said, “In new Foreign Trade Policy, IATO recommended that the benefit of SEIS scheme should be continued for the tour operators and travel agencies for the next 5 years.”    

IATA said India’s decision to re-introduce coronavirus testing for international passengers is “disappointing and a step backwards” as the current situation is different from when the pandemic started around three years ago.

The second edition of the Sky Diving Festival in Madhya Pradesh is going to start from 05 January 2023 at Datana Airstrip in Ujjain. To promote adventure tourism in the state, The Sky Diving Festival is organised by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. The delegations of PravasiBhartiya Sammelan, Global Investors Meet and G-20 conference will also be able to enjoy this adventure activity. The said activity is being conducted by the DGCA and USPA certified organization “Sky-High India”. Speaking about the festival Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department, Madhya Pradesh and Managing Director, MP Tourism Board Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla said, ‘The first edition of skydiving festival received a positive response. All the booking slots were booked. In view of this, now the second edition is being organized. During this time, adventure lovers will be able to enjoy sky diving in Ujjain with the help of trained personnel with high standards. Participants will get the thrill of seeing the city of Mahakal from a height of 10,000 feet. Sky diving timings are from 8 am to 5 pm, which can be booked on www.skyhighindia.com

As Thailand gears up for its first full tourism high-season since 2020, Cross Hotels & Resorts is continuing to enhance its presence in Bangkok with the signing of a new hotel management agreement (HMA) for a stunning riverfront property with Kene Hotel Bangkok Co., Ltd., that is sure to reignite the desire for authentic, community-based travel experiences. The imminent opening of Away Bangkok Riverside Kene, a beautiful 169-key lifestyle property located just steps from the Chao Phraya River, bodes well for the Thai capital as it looks to welcome guests back after a hiatus. A key gateway city for Cross Hotels & Resorts, Bangkok has been consistently ranked among the world’s most popular cities. Colloquially known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, it was voted the leading capital in the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index attracting more than 22 million visitors. “I am thrilled to partner with Kene Hotel Bangkok Co., Ltd., as Away Bangkok Riverside Kene is without a doubt a strong addition to Cross’ growing and diverse portfolio. By empowering a new generation of travellers, our promise to ‘Transform Hospitality for All’ extends not only to our owners, our business and our people, but also to Alpha Gen adventurers who are seeking stylish hotel choices that perfectly encapsulate Bangkok’s happening riverside communities. Furthermore, our chic and functional meeting spaces are an added attraction for businesspeople and MICE organizers planning their next event,” said Harry Thaliwal, CEO of Cross Hotels & Resorts. One of Asia’s 21st century mega-cities, Bangkok was founded in 1782 as the Thonburi Kingdom and today tourists can still see much of the city’s traditional architecture as well as experience deep-rooted ways of life on the waterfront …

With reference to the recent news on Covid-19 preventive measures stating that RT-PCR Test would be made mandatory for international arrival passengers from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand which has been circulated during the past weekend. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) India Offices (New Delhi & Mumbai) have been closely monitoring this news and would like to inform that until now there has not be been any official announcement either from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare or from Ministry of Civil Aviation of India. The last measure of official announcement is based on “Guidelines for International Arrivals” issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 22nd December, 2022, which mentioned that 2% of the total passengers in flight shall undergo random post arrival testing at the airport on arrival. Kindly be informed that since 1st October, 2022, international travellers to Thailand no longer require to show any proof of vaccination or ATK test result. Tourism in Thailand is back to normal and has no restrictions of travel across the country. All businesses and tourism related products and services are opened and are geared up for the New Year celebrations with suitable measures. Thailand ensures top level of safety and health administration for all tourists and locals alike with the SHA certification and protocols. However, the Tourism Authority of Thailand encourages all travelers to follow suitable health safety precautions and be mindful of one self and people around them.

Clarks Safari celebrated Christmas with girls of Aashray Care Home on 15th December 2022. This year apart from decorating the properties, announcing special packages for the guests, conducting festivities for the guests, the brand decided to do something different. Therefore, organized Christmas festivities with female children from humble backgrounds. Apart from Aashray Care Home, where orphan girls are placed, the group will celebrate Christmas with many other orphanages across India. They got phenomenal response for this initiative, and have decided to incorporate this as a mandatory CSR activity.   The team conducted 2 day festivities in which games were organized, personality grooming classes were conducted, easy life hacks and survival techniques for young girls. More than 100 plus girls participated in the festivities. The brand distributed gifts, prizes at the end of the event. Experts from the field of grooming and personality development gave workshops on maintaining hygiene, improving day to day communication, and meditation. A gynecologist was also present at Aashray Care Home, to address gynecological issues of the females. There were further sessions around survival techniques, strengthening mind, boosting confidence, etc.  Mr.Prakash Bedi, Vice President, Clarks Safari shares, “As a brand we are conscious of our social responsibilities and celebrating Christmas with Aashray Care girls is a step towards it. Also the management has decided to sponsor the education of twenty girls from the care center. These festivities were aimed towards making these girl children independent and more confident. Through workshops we taught them some of the easy hacks, which they can implement in their regular life. We are getting phenomenal response and are planning to conduct many more such events in the future.” Clarks Safari under the aegis …

Akasa Air, India’s newest airline, today announced the addition of Goa, the 12th destination to join the airline’s fast-growing network. Offering two daily flights from Goa to Bengaluru, increasing to three daily flights from February 1, 2023, and two daily flights from Goa to Mumbai, this enhanced connectivity between the commercial cities and one of the country’s most popular tourism hubs, will help boost economic growth and also help increase the tourist footprint. Akasa Air, which commenced operations in August 2022, has been progressively scaling up its operations and has taken delivery of 10 aircraft, carrying over 5 lakh revenue passengers in less than six months from the start of its operations. By end-December 2022, the airline expects to cross over 500 weekly flights and has announced a total of 18 unique routes across 12 cities, namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Lucknow, and Goa. Commenting on the new destination announcement, Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder, and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “We are pleased to announce our 12th destination, Goa with flights from New Goa Manohar International Airport (Mopa), one of the newest airports that was inaugurated by our Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi-ji on December 11, 2022. We are really excited to connect Goa with two of our strong metro cities in the South and West, Bengaluru & Mumbai. We launch Goa with five daily departures connecting to Bengaluru and Mumbai. The city of beaches, Goa, has played a significant role in putting Indian tourism on the global map and is one of the most popular tourist destinations within India, all year round. It has also emerged as a manufacturing base for several …

Festive is truly here as the year comes to an end, and Santa is busy getting everything ready for Christmas. One such gift he comes bearing all the way from the North Pole is a Luxury Three-Bedroom Ferretti yacht for us at Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa. If you are looking for the perfect way to explore the stunning island nation of the Maldives, then look no further than the newly launched Hideaway Majesty yacht at the resort. This luxurious yacht is the perfect way to get around and enjoy the many sights and sounds of the Maldives in the vicinity of the resort. Hideaway Majesty offers three–bedrooms, perfect for couples, groups, or families to stay and relax in while they enjoy the surrounding beauty near Hideaway and make unforgettable memories. The yacht can be booked for transfers and charters, allowing guests to stay and explore the many islands, lagoons, and beaches that is around the enchanting Haa Alifu Atoll in North Maldives. The yacht features state-of-the-art amenities, allowing guests to enjoy the best of both worlds: the comfort of a luxurious stay and the excitement of exploring the open waters. The yacht has a kitchen at a well-equipped galley, an outdoor terrace with comfortable seating, indoor dining lounge, entertainment system, air-conditioned cabins, and even a crew to ensure that your stay on board is nothing short of perfect. Hideaway Majesty is used to transport our guests to great curated locations for them to enjoy Hideaway’s truly Maldivian experiences. Up to 12 guests can experience what Majesty has to offer if booked as a private excursion or day trip. Guests can hire it for different activities including a unique dining …

Akasa Air, India’s newest airline, today operated its first flight from Lucknow – the 11th city in its network, marking the airline’s entry into Uttar Pradesh. Akasa Air will offer daily flights on the Lucknow-Bengaluru and Lucknow-Mumbai route starting today. The first flight on the Lucknow-Mumbai route departed at 1100 hrs IST from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. The airline’s entry into Uttar Pradesh was felicitated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath-ji, in the presence of Akasa Air’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Vinay Dube and his team. Commenting on the commencement of the first flight from the state, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath-ji stated, “Uttar Pradesh is one of the leading states in domestic tourism and tourist movement in India. Our state is transforming into the most preferred investment destination in India and therefore, enabling new growth trajectories for shaping the vision of a new India. Witnessing India’s newest airline, Akasa Air, starting operations in Uttar Pradesh early in their journey, reaffirms my faith in the potential of the state in generating employment and ensuring economic prosperity for our country.” Commenting on the commencement of the maiden flight from Lucknow, Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air said, “We are thankful to the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath-ji for his support on this momentous occasion as we successfully launch our inaugural flight from Lucknow, the 11th city in our fast-growing network. Lucknow is renowned for its rich culture, architecture, and cuisine while being a popular tourist destination, established textile and an emerging automobile hub. We believe, with the important work being done by …