Al Batinah, home to 12 wilayat is a vibrant region along the Gulf of Oman. Stretching 270 km along the Gulf, from Muscat to the UAE border, Al Batinah is nestled between the Western Hajar Mountains and the sea. It is called Oman’s “belly” for its rich agricultural landscape, brimming with date palms and banana plantations. One of the greenest regions in the country, Al Batinah’s lush scenery contrasts beautifully with its coastal charm, making it a vital cultural and economic hub. Travellers can explore: Barka Castle: Nestled in Barka’s heart, an 18th-century fortress which was once a key defensive stronghold. Rising across multiple levels to an octagonal tower, it still watches over the bustling coastal souq. Unique for its two gates—Yarubi and Al Bu Said—the castle stands as a majestic reminder of Oman’s storied past. Nakhal Fort:  The town of Nakhal is home to a large fort perched on top of a rocky outcrop. Built to protect the oasis and trade routes through to the coast, this fort holds a commanding position in the town with stunning views out across the wadi (valley) and palm plantations as far as the eye can see. Of particular interest are the family rooms furnished with traditional items as they would have been originally used. Ayn Al Thawarah: Nestled amid lush date palm groves, Ayn Al Thawarah is a natural spring famed for its crystal-clear waters. Flowing into the falaj irrigation system, it nourishes the surrounding plantations. A favourite retreat for locals and tourists, weekends buzz with visitors soaking their feet and enjoying shisha—while weekdays offer peaceful solitude. Al Sawadi Beach and Islands: Al Sawadi Beach is perfect for family fun, offering picnic …

Speaking at UP Tourism’s ‘Mahakumbh 2025 Prelude’ event, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, said, “We see the Mahakumbh as an opportunity for cultural exchange.” He invited global tourists to experience world’s largest spiritual gathering, scheduled to be held from 14 January-26 February 2025 in Prayagraj.

Under the budget announcement’s special assistance programme for states, the Centre has approved 40 projects totalling ₹3,295 crore to turn tourist destinations into iconic hubs, with the primary aim being the decongestion of known and traditional tourist destinations. The focus of the exercise is to tap the future potential of these sites.

PA Mohamed Riyas, Tourism Minister, Kerala, said, “The govt plans to introduce a new policy to enhance the tourism sector by making it more women-friendly & safest global destination.” An audit report has been prepared on the prevaling women-friendly environment & is being presented at the Global Women Conference.

Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi won the ‘Fastest Growing Leisure Destination’ award at the ITA. On behalf of NTO, Nikhil Jeet, Manager, Country (India), DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “With a team of dynamic professionals, we have ensured that Abu Dhabi’s wide range of tourism offerings reaches every travelling Indian.”

A select group was invited to experience the exceptional dining offerings at both Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal. The carefully curated itinerary showcased Atlantis as an exceptional culinary centre in Dubai, offering a diverse range of world-class dining experiences. Guests had the opportunity to explore the resort’s renowned culinary scene, with highlights including Ariana’s Persian Kitchen by Ariana Bundy, La Mar by Gastón Acurio, Nobu, and many other distinguished restaurants, each presenting unique flavours and unforgettable experiences. Atlantis, Dubai stands out as a global gastronomic hub, home to 35 extraordinary restaurants, including Michelin-starred venues like Ossiano, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, and Hakkasan, as well as celebrity chef-led dining experiences such as Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, Estiatorio Milos by Chef Costas Spiliadis, and Jaleo by José Andrés. These renowned restaurants cater to every taste, from cutting-edge culinary concepts to iconic international chefs, offering an unparalleled dining experience in Dubai. The familiarisation trip was a resounding success, introducing guests to a deeper understanding of the resort’s culinary excellence and reinforcing its position as a top-tier destination for food lovers from around the world. Since its pre-opening, Indiva Marketing has built a strong partnership with Atlantis, Dubai focusing on PR, marketing, and sales in the Indian market. The collaboration has contributed to the resort’s growing presence and success in attracting Indian visitors, and it has continued to go from strength to strength.  

The “Greatest Of All Trips,” a unique, out of the box IP that was brought to life with two of the most renowned brands! EaseMyTrip.com and Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – the leading leisure and entertainment destination in the Middle East region are teaming up to deliver an unparalleled travel experience. This innovative campaign features 30 of India’s top content creators engaging in thrilling challenges across Yas Island’s award-winning theme parks. These creators explore the destination’s exceptional attractions, while creating compelling content and facing challenges to inspire Indian travellers to explore the destination as a memorable experience. By combining EaseMyTrip’s expertise in travel with Yas Island’s premier offerings, this partnership presents exclusive packages designed to elevate the Yas Island adventure. Designed to offer an unforgettable journey blending excitement with adventure, the campaign is set to redefine destination marketing! The challenges undertaken by the creators will be presented in an engaging episodic series on the YouTube page of Yas Island, which will inherently build audience interest, excitement and engagement over time. Each episode will showcase the participants’ originality, skills, and experiences as they navigate through Yas Island’s thrilling attractions, one activity at a time. The series will end with crowning one ultimate winner who would showcase exceptional content creation abilities, creativity, talent, problem solving skills and would best capture the essence of Yas Island’s world-class offerings. Adding star power to the campaign is celebrity host Sonu Sood, an acclaimed actor known for his significant contributions to Indian cinema and charitable efforts. Truly matching the superhero identity, his participation adds considerable prestige and appeal, enhancing the campaign’s reach and impact among Indian audiences. The series invites viewers on an exhilarating adventure through …

Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries than any other, has launched its longest flight with the addition of Sydney flights. The flag carrier landed on Sydney soil for the first time on 29th November, marking a monumental milestone as it expands to its second destination in Australia, reaching 351 destinations across six continents within its global network. Flight between Istanbul and Sydney will be operated with the airline’s new, modern fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft which is designed for long haul comfort with 32 flatbed seats in business class, and 297 recliners for economy travellers. Set to be operated four times a week via Kuala Lumpur, flights will take 19 hours with its 9,300-mile flight path. The new route will not only bolster the ties between Türkiye and Australia, driving growth in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, but also provide Australian guests the flag carrier’s robust flight network, ensuring they can explore the world with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines. Following the launch of Turkish Airlines’ first flight from Melbourne in March this year, Sydney becomes the second Australian city added to flag carrier’s ever-expanding network. The inaugural flight sets the stage for Turkish Airlines’ future plans to introduce direct, non-stop services from Sydney to Istanbul, revolutionising travel between the two iconic travel destinations. On the arrival of the first aircraft in Sydney, Bilal Ekşi, CEO, Turkish Airlines stated, “This momentous occasion marks Turkish Airlines’ longest flight path in history, as we happily add our second Australian city to our flight network. The arrival of our first flight from Istanbul to Sydney represents our ongoing commitment to connect travellers across the globe, providing a seamless …

Rail Europe, together with Lufthansa Group, Swiss tourism boards, and high-speed rail operators, recently organised an exclusive familiarisation tour to Switzerland and Paris for its key partners. Rail Europe planned this trip after a gap of almost four years post pandemic and this trip was a reward to their GSAs for their continuous efforts to sell train travel in Europe. Their adventure began in the picturesque Swiss Alps in Interlaken region. The unique experiences were the Raclette rafting on the lake of Brienz with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains, chocolate making workshop, adventurous activities like First Glider where everyone could fly like an eagle and the First flyer on the Grindelwald First mountain. Then the group headed to Montreux region with experiencing the Prestige class on the scenic train of Golden Pass line and enjoyed some snow activities on the Glacier 3000. The highlight of this region was cellar wine tasting at the Domian Bovy, Charlie Chaplin’s Museum, and the stunning view from the Chillon castle. The objective of this trip was to showcase the agents the benefits of Swiss Travel Pass and their add-ons such as discounts on mountain excursions and free entry to museums, and to experience the high-speed TGV Lyria from Geneva to Paris – the headquarters of Rail Europe. From the romantic Swiss Alps, they boarded the high-speed train to the city of Love Paris. The group strolled through the streets of Montmartre, explored the city with hop on hop off city tour, got on the highest level of the Eiffel tower and ended the mesmerising FAM trip with the romantic dinner on the Seine river cruise. This trip was a resounding success where they experienced Rail …

As South Africa and India commemorate 30 years of diplomatic relations, Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism, South Africa, will visit India in December. She will engage in bilateral discussions to strengthen tourism ties, focusing on streamlined visa processes, digital innovation, enhanced air connectivity, and rural tourism.