KD Singh, Founder & President, TravelBullz in a message to travel trade partners has said that the success of the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ initiative, which allows vaccinated foreign tourists to enter Phuket from 1 July, is part of a bigger effort to reopen Thailand for international tourists. However, India & other high-risk countries are unlikely to be open soon for tourists. Sharing details, he said, “Phuket Sandbox – 1st July 2021 is a go however, the Indian subcontinent and several other countries that have been classified as high-risk by the authorities are unlikely to be open soon.” “We wish to emphasise that this is a constantly changing environment, and everyone we know in the Thailand tourism industry is doing everything they can to ensure that Phuket Sandbox is a success, paving the way for the Thailand reopening plan to continue on track. The good news is that properly vaccinated tourists will not need to go through quarantine and there would be no minimum night’s stay restrictions if they do not plan to visit other cities in Thailand. Guests who wish to travel to other cities will be mandatorily required to first stay in Phuket for 14 to 15 days, after which they are free to travel any place in Thailand as long as their RTPCR test remains negative before departing Phuket. The success of Phuket’s Sandbox is thought to be part of a bigger effort by the government to reopen Thailand as a tourist destination,” Singh further added. According to sources, the following is the reopening strategy by the Thailand government: 1st July to 30th Sept.  – Phuket Sandbox – No Quarantine Required plan 1stOct – 31st Dec – 8 more provinces- No Quarantine Required,  including …

IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) National Committee & Kerala State Committee, in their online meetings held on 15th June 2021, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Kerala for taking a step to form Welfare Board for the employees working in tourism industry. The formation of a Welfare Board for Travel and Tourism Industry employees was one of the essential demands submitted by IAAI to CM & Tourism Minister on 31st May 2021.

The 1st virtual ‘Korea Travel Expo’ is all set to begin soon. The 3-day event will see a host of exhibitors including top Regional Tourism Boards, attractions and DMCs of Korea. Get ready to meet representatives from Seoul & Busan tourism boards, Jeju Convention & Visitor Bureau and Lotte World. Register at www.koreatravelexpo.com, email jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 9650196532.

Ashok Travels and Tours (ATT), the Travel division of India Tourism Development Corporation, New Delhi (ITDC) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have signed an MoU, under which ATT will provide online travel solution for booking air tickets and travel-related services to 414 units and commands of CISF during official journeys. The MoU was signed by Shri. Rajiv Anand GM (ATT) and Shri. V K Yadav, AIG Administrator on 16th June 2021, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, C&MD, ITDC said, “The travel industry has been severely impacted with the ongoing pandemic. We are honoured that CISF has given us an opportunity to provide an essential service to them. We look forward to helping CISF in Resource optimization and facilitating optimal planning.”

FAITH has urged the chief ministers of all states for proportionate relief on statutory obligations to the pandemic hit tourism industry and other measures. With almost no business expected for tourism, travel and hospitality companies they have requested a complete waiver of all statutory expenses for FY 2021-22 without any penalties. These expenses include all fixed electricity and other utility charges, excise duties, property taxes, interstate tourist transport taxes, waiver of SGST, or any other local taxes. They have also asked for an automatic renewal of all licenses, permits, permissions, which were expiring in FY 2021-22 without any financial charges or penalties; Industry status for tourism travel & hospitality; refund of unutilised GST credit lying with state governments to the tourism, travel & hospitality players to get immediate liquidity; reduction of VAT on state aviation turbine fuel and special reduction of state level airport taxes to incentivize travel; reduction of license fees for performance & events to boost state MICE. For unorganised workers working with the tourism sector, who don’t have the safety net of PF/ ESI, coverage of sustenance wages and medical condition as a grant with ‘direct transfer’. Special recognition of tourism travel and hospitality micro small & medium enterprises choosing work from home services as an additional option under the relevant provisions. FAITH further asked for permission to leverage open spaces such as terraces and adjacent areas for F&B to enable compliance with social distancing norms while also enhancing the eating out experience to stimulate the industry demand. Other demands include state level tourism task force along with representatives all FAITH member associations; liquor VAT under GST and reduction of state liquor VAT / excise to stimulate …

Pramod Sawant, CM, Goa, has informed the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) that the state’s hospitality sector would open fully only after the positivity rate drops below 5%. Tourism activities will not be reopened in Goa until everybody in the state gets at least one dose of the vaccine, he said. The CM added that the administration is aiming to achieve this goal by 31 July. “The government will permit full-fledged opening of the industry when the case positivity rate is below 5%.”

The Korea Travel Expo, from 23rd-24th June, will have the famous tourist attraction in S. Korea— Lotte World. “They will have a 3-people team and showcase their array of Theme-Park, Aquariums and Observatory. They are exhibiting in India for the first time,” revealed Young-Geul Choi, Director, KTO, New Delhi. Register at www.koreatravelexpo.com, email Jaspreet at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 9650196532.

Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism has said that there is great concern at all relevant levels of MOT regarding SEIS, and they understand that it will be of great support to the industry. “Secretary, Tourism is himself leading all the discussions with the concerned officials, and we hope to get a positive news very soon on that,” she added.

Recognising the immense potential of rural tourism, Ministry of Tourism (MOT) has formulated a ‘Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India – An initiative towards Atmanirbhar Bharat’, which is driven by the spirit of Vocal4Local, revealed a recent tweet by MOT. The Ministry has been actively working on promotion & development of rural tourism, which can contribute significantly to the mission of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, added the tweet.

Considering the prevailing situation of COVID-19, it has been decided that all centrally protected monuments, sites and museums under, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), shall be opened from June 16, 2021, revealed Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C), Tourism & Culture in a tweet. The order in this regard also mentions that appropriate guidelines and SOPs issued by Union and State/UT Ministries/Deptt. have to be scrupulously followed while regulating the flow of visitors.