Kovalam in Kerala and Eden in Puducherry to receive Blue Flag certification, which is a globally recognised eco-label accorded on the basis of 33 stringent criteria in four major heads which are environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environmental management, and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. India now has 10 International Blue Flag beaches with the addition of Kovalam & Eden beaches this year and recertification for 8 beaches which got the tag in 2020.

Speaking at a webinar on developing tourism in Mizoram, Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism, said that her ministry wants to make a difference in the next two months. “It is a high priority at the ministry, for us, to take up the development and promotion of tourism in the north east region. We are also exploring with MoCA, adding more routes on the Viability Gap Funding by the MoT for priority areas. Once the plan of action is worked out, we will deep-dive and start. The NE is one of the most beautiful parts of India and so much needs to be done,” she said.

To ease the VISA process, the Govt of India has developed a user-friendly app namely SU-SWAGATAM (Visit India). This App has integrated requisite services empowering foreigners with facilities right from the visa application stage till their exit from the country. Foreign nationals intending to visit India can use the app to fill visa forms. The app is also integrated with the e-FRRO portal thereby, facilitating tourists to apply for extension of visa, residential permit, and exit permit from concerned FRRO/FRO. One can also use the app for getting useful information on various utility services like Tourist places, places of entertainment, lodging, food and shopping, etc

EbixCash Travels(Via.com) has taken the initiative to re-engage with the trade by conducting Travel Sub-agent Meets across the country, ensuring all COVID protocols. Naveen Kundu, MD, EbixCash Travel Services (parent company of Via.com) says, “The agenda of these meets is to bring agents out of their COVID shells and offices/ homes, to get back to work and their business. We have been telling the small and medium enterprises that, we as a conglomerate will help you with technology, credit lines, and efficient payment remittances. When the partners and the principles meet, they develop a camaraderie, which will eventually work in favour of customer, suppliers and business.” EbixCash Travels is all out to support, reassure and extend help to its trade partners business. The meets are being conducted to understand challenges and help overcome them.

In view of Expo 2020 Dubai, which is scheduled to starts from 01st Oct 2021, Dr. Ahmed Albanna, the Ambassador of UAE to India notified that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has eased off procedures and coronavirus protocols for Indians, entering the country. This will be valid for visitors with tourist visas or work visas. They have devised a mechanism to expedite the issuing of visas to all foreigners to visit the Dubai Expo. Expo 2020 coincides with the UAE’s 50th anniversary in 2021, marking an important milestone for the UAE.

With the continuous endeavour to provide unique travel experience, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) brings Korea to India virtually. Considering the current global pandemic and its restrictions to travel, this year KTO is all set to provide a series of Korean virtual and buying experiences for Indian consumers via the launch of its KXperience project. This is an online experiential event organized for the first time in India by KTO. The visual experiences include K-Food, K-Pop, K-Beauty and K-Drama and multiple discount offers on Korean products being sold in India. Starting from 17th September 2021, the event aims to create an experience that can be enjoyed by the travel seekers and Korea lovers until 15th November.

With services expected to start by December from the new ferry jetty at Sentosa Cove village, reaching Southern islands from Sentosa will be a stone’s throw away. From December, a new series of sustainability tours will be launched, that will take tourists to the southern islands, through the unique heritage, biodiversity and nature of the Sentosa along with surrounding islands, as per the media release by the Sentosa Development Corporation(SDC). Tourists to the Southern islands, St John’s and Lazarus island, can expect “low-carbon leisure experiences”, along with bicycle tours, boutique camping and food delivered to them via drones. This is part of the endeavour to transform Singapore into a sustainable tourism destination and make it a carbon-neutral destination by 2030.

Third week of the ‘Thailand Build Back Better Together’ campaign bTAT India offices, will be focus on Family Fun in Thailand. Thailand is known to be one of the best family destinations.This week, the highlight will be Bangkok as a destination, as it has lots to offer for the families. Along with Bangkok, two beach destinations will be presented—Pattaya and Hua Hin, which are famous seaside resorts that are normally combined with Bangkok. To participate register on https://forms.gle/QbzmCFECm3C7FHE16

Recently, an interaction session with Gujarat Tourism was held in Delhi, where the new developments and new places to visit in Gujarat were showcased in video presentations. A presentation on tourist’s facilities, monuments, national parks and other attractions were presented. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said that they are seeking an approval from the Gujarat government and proposing to have the IATO convention in Gujarat in December.

Kerala Tourism Department launched its mobile app which ensures a hassle-free travel for tourists coming to Kerala and giving them an opportunity to discover unexplored attractions themselves and record their impressions during the visit. It provides all information about destinations at finger tips. It identifies unexplored destinations in all panchayats in Kerala and will help attract local tourist spots to grab global attention.