Switzerland Tourism invites members of India’s travel trade to participate in its exclusive webinar on Jungfrau Bahn – Railways to the Sky. This webinar will take place today at 3:00 pm and will highlight popular activities and excursions in Switzerland accessible by the Jungfrau Railways – Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Grindelwald-First – Top of Adventure and Harder Kulm – Top of Interlaken. Participants get the opportunity to learn about the various products as well as get the latest news and updates from Jungfrau Railways. Travel partners who attend all the webinars also stand a chance of winning a trip to Switzerland. For more information, please contact Jaspreet Kaur on 9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

LOT Polish Airlines starting from March 6 introduces a free of charge option to postpone and change the date of travel for Passengers who have purchased LO tickets in individual tariffs only. A passenger with a LO (080-) ticket purchased on/before March 31, 2020, valid for journeys from March 6, 2020 to April 24, 2020, regardless of their destination, has the option of changing the travel date at no extra cost until December 31, 2020, provided that the same route and booking class are maintained. 1. REBOOKING A free change of the travel date can take place provided that the same route and booking class as used in the original ticket are kept. If the Passenger chooses a date and flight on which the original booking class is not available, Passenger needs to pay the fare difference. Change fees are waived. The rules apply equally to all types of PLL LOT individual fares. All changes must be handled on a voluntary basis. Whenever a change of itinerary is done in accordance with the above, it is necessary to add the OSI element in the following format: OSI LO WAIVER2020 In case of ticket reissue it is mandatory to add FE WAIVER2020 in the endorsement restriction box of the e-ticket. 2. REFUND In the event that the Passenger does not want to take advantage of the option of changing the date of travel free of charge, any refund of the ticket may only be made in accordance with the applicable fare conditions used in the original ticket. 3. ROUTING CHANGE Change of route is not allowed. Standard fare rules apply.

Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced that it has postponed Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to 28th June – 1st July 2020, at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, U.A.E. Due to the escalation of the COVID-19 epidemic around the world, after consultation with all their stakeholders, the venue management, supporting associations, and in alignment with the advice from the UAE public health authorities regarding travel to and from impacted countries, they have taken the decision to postpone the event which was due to take place on 19 – 22 April 2020 in Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Whilst the UAE is following the strictest medical and hygiene protocols in line with international standards, they have made this decision in the best interest of the industry to enable them to organise an event which provides effective participation and experience for all. Arabian Travel Market (ATM), is the leading global event for the Middle East inbound and outbound travel industry for the last 27 years.

A fraction of the travel fraternity has come together to create awareness about the implementation of tax collection at source (TCS) on outbound travel as proposed in the financial bill 2020 being implemented from 1st April. Upset that this proposal will have a negative impact on the agents, the additional tax will be passed on to the clients, thus making packages sold by travel companies in India more expensive. An OTA registered outside India, foreign hotels or tour operators do not levy this tax. Indian travellers will consequently seek to book directly with foreign offices. The industry players are voicing their concern over different social media platforms while industry associations are making representations to the concerned government departments.

Travel agents can get upto Rs 2000 as commission and Rs 2000 as credits in their TUI B2B portal on a minimum sale of Rs 10,000. Login to TUI travel.in, or email to b2bholiday@tui.in or call 1800111884. The offer is valid for the first 100 customers, terms and conditions apply. TUI offers Maldives for Rs 47,599 per person on twin sharing basis. Al if you register with TUI, you are assured Rs 5000, credits and also a chance to win free ALEXA.

In its 16th year now, HICSA has become indisputably known as the premier hospitality event in the South Asian Region. It is now scheduled for 22nd and 23rd July 2020 at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai. Notable speakers confirmed or invited to HICSA 2020 include Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, Christopher J Nasseta, President and CEO, Hilton, Dimitris Manikis, President and MD – EMEA, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Federico J González, President and CEO, Radisson Hospitality AB, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO, IHCL, Radha Arora, President, Rosewood Hotel Group and Marc Steinmeyer, Founder, Tauzia hotels, to name a few.

Switzerland Tourism invites members of India’s travel trade to participate in its exclusive webinar on Jungfrau Bahn – Railways to the Sky. The webinar will highlight popular activities and excursions in Switzerland made accessible by the Jungfrau Railways. For more information, please contact Jaspreet Kaur on 9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Recording the highest growth rate in domestic and total tourist arrivals in 24 years, Kerala attracted around 1.96 crore domestic and foreign visitors in 2019, registering a healthy growth of 17.2 per cent as compared to the figures in the previous year. The total earnings from tourism stood at Rs 45,010.69 crore, notching a robust 24.14 per cent increase. The total number of tourists was pegged at 1,95,74,004, of whom there were 1,83,84,233 domestic tourists and 11,89,771 visitors from abroad. In 2018, the number of tourists visiting Kerala was 1,67,01,068 (domestic tourists 1,56,04,661 and foreign tourists 10,96,407).

Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) has been sharing a regular updates with the Ministry of Tourism(MOT) and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on the impact of COVID-19 on the industry and apprise the Government on the effect of the outbreak has been till now. The update letter reads, “This is one of the worst crisis ever to hit the Indian tourism industry  impacting all its geographical segments – inbound, outbound & domestic, almost all tourism verticals— leisure, adventure, heritage, mice, cruise, corporate & niche segments. The whole tourism value chain across hotels, travel agents, tour operations, destinations, restaurant, family entertainment venues & air, land & sea transportation.” – Inbound foreign tourism of $ 28 bn + in value terms accounts for on an average basis almost 60-65%  between October to March. As the news of the virus started picking up from November, the percentage  of cancellations started going up in this segment exponentially and is reaching a peak of almost 80% now in March in many Indian locations. The value at risk from this segment will be in multiples of tens of thousands of crores. – The forward bookings for the inbound season of October 2020 – March 2021, which should have started picking are all muted.  These are showing highly discouraging signs with cancellations of important global travel marts which are marketplaces for contracting for the next season. – The value of NRI segment from developed markets whose major season for visit to their families and relatives is around 60% + during April to September. There are reports of large-scale forward cancellations from these and unless the progression of the virus stops the almost entire value …

Hardeeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C), Civil Aviation, has advised travellers to voluntarily get themselves checked for COVID-19, in case they have any symptoms. Addressing a press conference on the issue, he said, “My advice to everyone, whether they have gone as a tourists or have come in to India as part of a tour group, if they have symptoms, they should get themselves checked. While the numbers of cases of COVID-19 in India is not very high, we can’t afford to take chances. If someone came in before the universal checking of all passengers at airports started, they should come forward for a check in case of any symptoms. Some people have been identified already, and if they show any signs, they will be immediately tested. We are taking all external precautions needed, and the cabinet secretary is taking meetings every day. Under the overall control of PMO, and the PM personally, we have two groups—one is a group of ministers headed by Mr. Harshvardhan, of which I am a member. There is another group headed by the Cabinet Secretary. Each of these groups meet a number of times to take stock of the situation. It’s a case where all parts of the Government are active and in 24-hour contact with each other.”