Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is planning to build and operate budget hotels across the country, primarily focusing on tourist destinations. IRCTC is in talks with various state governments for the same and the company has earmarked Rs. 500 crores in the first phase of the project.

Ministry of Tourism has revamped Swadesh Darshan Scheme with 9 key reforms based on learnings from the implementations. The reforms include Broad basing of central sanctioning monitoring committee/ whole of Govt approach; strengthening state level institutional structure; strategic destination selection; detailed benchmarking/ gap analysis; focus on both hard and soft interventions; strengthening of project implementation and monitoring; sustainable operations and maintenance of destinations; focused promotion and destination marketing; and impact assessment and corrective measures.

Ethiopian Airlines has started thrice weekly operations to/from Chennai from 2 July. Chennai has joined the vast Ethiopian network as a fourth destination in India after New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The flights to Chennai will be operated using B737-8 aircraft as per the below schedule.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) announced it is acquiring Oakwood Worldwide (Oakwood), a premier global serviced apartment provider, from Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd. The acquisition increases Ascott’s global portfolio by 81 properties and about 15,000 units. Oakwood’s approximately 8,500 operational units are expected to immediately contribute to Ascott’s recurring fee income streams upon completion of the transaction slated in 3Q 2022. Ascott’s acquisition of Oakwood will leapfrog Ascott’s global presence to more than 150,000 units in about 900 properties across over 200 cities in 39 countries. It will add new markets which include Cheongju in South Korea; Zhangjiakou and Qingdao in China; Dhaka in Bangladesh as well as Washington D.C. in the United States of America (USA). Recently named the ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’ in DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards 2022, Oakwood’s award-winning portfolio includes flagship properties Oakwood Premier Tokyo and Oakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul which were ranked top 10 properties in their respective countries in the DestinAsian awards. New properties such as Oakwood Premier Melbourne and Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto, will also add to the group’s destination highlights. Mr Kevin Goh, CLI’s Chief Executive Officer for Lodging, said: “This acquisition of Oakwood is part of Ascott’s roadmap to playing a bigger role in the lodging market. There are significant synergies between Ascott and Oakwood, given our complementary footprint and product offerings. We intend to build on the strong reputation and heritage of the Oakwood brand, especially in markets across Southeast Asia, North Asia and North America. Oakwood will continue to grow alongside Ascott’s current portfolio of global brands as we continue to build growth momentum for our lodging business. We will be able to leverage Ascott’s extensive expertise as a …

Venice is all set to become the world’s first city to make an entrance fee compulsory for its tourists from next January in a bid to tackle overtourism. Starting from Jan 16, 2023, tourists will have to pay an entrance fee if they want to visit Venice, jewel in Italy’s tourism crown. The ticket’s prices will range from a three-euro minimum right up to 10 euros. The price will not be fixed, but will vary according to the number of visitors: The more requests for entry, the higher the cost. If the entrance fee is not paid, the tourist may face a fine of 300 euros (£258), according to The Independent. Venice’s councilor for tourism Simone Venturini on Friday announced the date at a press conference. The councilor termed this a “great revolution,” and a solution for the over tourism problem that the lagoon city has been facing for decades. Residents and children aged under six will be exempt, as will disabled people, homeowners, those who come to the city for health reasons or to visit relatives, and those coming to attend a sporting or cultural event, according to CNN’s report.

Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, has said that the first lesson from pandemic was that closing borders is not the right response to a pandemic. “Data has revealed that borders should not have been closed and relaxations should have come much sooner,” he added.

PATA, as part of its latest quarterly updated international visitor arrivals (IVAs) forecast has projected that Asia Pacific will reach an IVA count in 2024 of 510-832 million. Liz Ortiguera, CEO, PATA, said, “While a positive turning point is predicted to occur in 2022 for all the 39 Asia Pacific destinations covered in these updated forecasts, many market variables are currently influencing travel and significant challenges still lay ahead.”

Deoghar airport in Jharkhand is reported to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12. The airport is ready to be operational as two flight run trials have been successful. When operational, the airport will be the second of international standards in Jharkhand after the Birsa Munda international airport in Ranchi and will provide air connectivity to Jharkhand, northern West Bengal, and south-eastern Bihar.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has shared that they know that SEIS will not be given by the government. Hence, they have requested the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce that at least for tour operators and travel agents, whatever they earn in foreign exchange, a 5-10% duty drawback should be given to them. “But nothing has happened. We have had no response or no further meetings on this with them. There has been no headway. So, it looks like the government doesn’t want to do that. We have told them that to support the industry, this is the minimum they can do.”

Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Odisha, has announced that direct flights will be operated between Bhubaneswar to UAE very soon. Patnaik made this announcement while addressing the diaspora from Odisha in Dubai recently. Odisha government has already proceeded with a viability gap funding (VGF) plan for direct flight services between Dubai and Bhubaneswar.