Kerala Tourism today launched a pioneering travel initiative led by ten influencers from around the country who will carry out a new-media campaign to attract domestic tourists in the post-Covid era. Rani George, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism, flagged off the Kerala Blog Express, titled ‘My First Trip 2021’, which is slated to conclude on March 29. The influencers will tread different itineraries for six nights and five days, facilitating production of exclusive contents for Kerala Tourism.The images, videos and literature generated by them will be shared on social-media platforms as #MyFirstTrip.  They will announce to the world that destinations in God’s Own Country continue to be open for tourists. Kerala Tourism Director V.R. Krishna Teja, IAS, and Biju. B.S, Deputy Director, Marketing, Kerala Tourism, were also present at the function held at the Hotel Mascot in the city. “The trip will give the participants a chance to not just visit the famous tourist destinations in Kerala, but experience the cuisine, culture, art and other popular activities around,” Smt George said. “Tourism industry was struck by the pandemic and Kerala was no exception. Gradually, we learned to live on with Covid-19. We started to see visitors coming to Kerala from November-December 2020. Now, these vloggers can also spread the word to the world that Kerala is safer to explore since Covid-19 cases are on the decline in the state. So, people would understand the situation,” she added. Teja, in his address, said that through the trip, the vloggers would certainly experience the warmth of people and understand how safe the state was to explore. While the previous editions of the Kerala Blog Express had only international bloggers and social media influencers, …

JTB India has confirmed key NTOs, hotels and airlines as exhibitors for its B2C virtual platform dedicated to MICE which will be held on April 28, 2021. These includes key Tourism Boards, Global Hotel chains & Airlines. The last date for signing up for this show is 30th March. JTB invites the trade to participate in this unique show to take advantage of its wide corporate network. The event will see attendance from top corporate companies in India. For more information, contact Kritika Kunden at kritika.kunden258@jtb-india.com or Deepali Gupta at deepali.gupta040@jtb-india.com.

FHRAI has cited and lauded the SC order where a waiver of compound interest on loans above Rs 2 crore has been announced which has come as a major relief and positive sign for the Hospitality industry. FHRAI plans to continue engaging with the government for sector-specific relief.

Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri has inaugurated the Kurnool Airport in Orvakal, Andhra Pradesh, which is the  6th airport in the state to become functional after Kadapa, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Rajahmundry & Vijayawada. Flight operations from Kurnool will commence from 28th March under the RCS-UDAN scheme to Bengaluru, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai which will bring the region closer to the major hubs in the South India.  

ForwardKeys’ air ticketing data has revealed that domestic air travel in the first week of March 2021 has bounced back to 84% of 2019 levels. “Although the path to recovery has been bumpy but the air traffic levels have increased in a calibrated approach. Back in the lowest month of April 2020, domestic passengers were at 14% of 2019 levels but approching April 2021, situation is certainly improving.”

Sharing his views on the potential of Kevadiya and the Statue of Unity, Nirav Munshi, Manager Commercial (Tours, Travels & Hotels, Marketing, PR), Gujarat Tourism, says, “Kevadiya and the SoU are a two-day destination but it can be more since there are many attractions to be visited at Kevadiya. A night trip to SoU is even more fantastic with colorful lightings. We believe international tourists will also enjoy these attractions at Kevdiya due to the high level of cleanliness and hygiene, proper security and amenities that will suit their standards.”

Antara Luxury River Cruises announces an exclusive sailing departure along the stunning riverscapes of the Ganges to celebrate the Festival of Colours, Holi. Europe on the Ganges, Holi Special, a 3-day itinerary will sail from and to Kolkata starting 27 March. Celebrating the festival in the traditional Radha-Krishna style with Organic gulals, pichkaaris with scented water, petals of Marigold, the cruise will sail to the island of Mangaldweep for a memorable Holi party. From there, a stop at Serampore, a pre-colonial city on the banks of the river will include a heritage walk through the Danish taverns and other historic sites. The intimate, ALL-SUITE, state-of-the-art, and environmentally-friendly luxury ship GangesVoyager II will lead the exclusive Holi departure. With only 28 luxury suites on the vessel and stringent health & safety protocols, the cruise is a perfect setting for a safe and immersive travel experience. The Holi Special was announced at the heels of Antara Cruises’ much-coveted sailing to the largest mangrove forest of the world, the UNESCO World Heritage region of the Sunderbans. Hailedrevolutionary for conscious and transformational tourism in the region, the never-done-before, one-of-a-kind journey included awareness sessions about Sundarbans’ unique eco-system, local experiences, wildlife sightings, along with ALL-INCLUSIVE and UNMATCHED hospitality, Anantara Cruises’ signature. Known to craft unforgettable experiences with its lavish onboard facilities, French balconies and expansive spaces, Michelin-inspired dining, expert-led on-board, and off-board activities, butler services, and impeccable hospitality, Antara Cruises are redefining travel experiences, event celebrations, and experiential journeys for the Indian and overseas audiences. Speaking on leading the luxury river cruising concept in India, Co-founder and COO of AntaraCruises, Hemant Mediratta says, “We are excited at the overwhelming response that our cruise has received in such a short span …

Announcing its Bespoke Charter offering, Antara Cruises is now sailing the Ganges, crafting exclusive, intimate, and unforgettable event experiences for private group holidays, incentives, and life celebrations. Owned by pioneers of luxury river cruising in the region, Heritage River Journeys, AntaraCruises are redefining travel experiences, event celebrations, and experiential journeys for Indian and overseas audiences. Keeping with Antara Cruise’s bespoke ALL-INCLUSIVE hospitality, the ALL-SUITE, state-of-the-art, and environmentally-friendly luxury ships Ganges Voyager I and Ganges VoyagerII are leading the charter experiences starting this October. Family reunion holidays, intimate weddings, milestone celebrations, or be it a corporate retreat, the charters offer a perfect setting for private groups looking for truly unique, luxurious and experiential travel and for those who seek to connect together in more meaningful ways. Besides the lavish facilities on-board, which includes the ‘all-suite’ offering, French balconies, expansive social spaces, plush-on-board amenities, unique gastronomy experiences, wellness, sunrise yoga, butler service, expert-led on-board, and off-board activities; customization and personalization is part of the key offerings to guests. Antara’s bespoke hospitality services and a dedicated coordinator will ensure that the cruise customization is one-of-a-kind, stress-free and fun also incorporating the guests’ personal finishing touches to create an unforgettable occasion for friends and family on board. Mr Raj Singh, Chairman of the group and a pioneer in river cruising in India, has over the last 15 years collaborated with some of the leading international luxury river cruise brands to offer the Ganges cruise experiences under Heritage River Journeys and he says “The modern-day Indian luxury consumer is incredibly dynamic, undergoing radical changes, they are seeking luxuries that were never available before and we aim to introduce them to the Antara experience – Imagine an ultra-luxury ship that is all yours, …

Updating the trade on its preparedness for the future, Dr Dhananjay Regmi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said that Nepal is all set to welcome international tourists. “We are looking at changing the perception of Nepal. It’s not just a pilgrimage site, but it has a lot more to offer including lower hill treks, nightlife & adventure activities as well.”

Carla Puverel, GM, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, shares that the Indian market is very important for them. “It is one of the few markets that are travelling regularly right now. Hence, it’s very important that we attract them. Also, the Indian market may give feedback, allowing us to adapt to their needs. It is a very loyal market—they come to a property once and if you can make a connection or build a relationship, then they return, often with friends and family. There is word of mouth publicity and that’s very important right now. Also, many Indian carriers are flying into the Maldives as well as close to where we are located, and not just only in to the international airport. Hence, it’s very important to make those connections and relationships,” she says.