Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

If 2023 was the year of solo travel and self-discovery, 2024 has been all about creating unforgettable memories with friends. Travel experts are observing a growing trend of friends exploring new destinations together, a shift that’s expected to continue well into 2025. Both small and large groups are travelling not just for unique experiences but to deepen connections through shared adventures and endless conversations—all set against stunning backdrops. For those seeking all this and more, Israel is the spot. Here’s why.   Explore underwater wonders in Eilat Located at the southern tip of Israel, Eilat’s marine life is nothing short of a magical world. Dive into the clear waters of the Red Sea at Coral Beach Nature Reserve and swim among colourful schools of fish. At Dolphin Reef, the charm of wild bottlenose dolphins offers an unparalleled encounter. Distance from Tel Aviv: Less than 350 km south Stargazing in the Negev Desert Hike around the rim of Makhtesh Ramon, the world’s largest erosion crater in the Negev desert. Camp out at night as stars and the milky way light up the sky creating an outwardly celestial view. Distance from Tel Aviv: Approximately 200 km south Explore oasis in Ein Gedi Not far from the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi is an oasis and nature reserve where friends can find peace in crystalline pools and scenic waterfalls. Keep an eye out for the resident rock hyraxes sunning on nearby boulders, adding a touch of the wild. Distance from Tel Aviv: 140 km southeast Time travel at Timna Park In Timna Park, towering red sandstone formations like Solomon’s Pillars bring ancient history to life. Walk through history, following trails once used by Egyptian …

Shillong  The 4th Shillong Literary Festival, 2024 was inaugurated today by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, in presence of the tourism minister, eminent authors, columnists, and officials. The inaugural session, held at the iconic Ward’s Lake, currently adorned in Cherry Blossoms, set the tone for three days of literary brilliance and creative dialogues. Shri Conrad K Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister said, “We have been trying very hard to make it a calendar event not for just the state but hopefully one day on to the national and even international level. This is just the beginning, and we intend to make it much bigger in the coming years”.  He added that the festival aims to bring together writers and provide a canvas for the youth to engage, exemplified by initiatives like the Meghalaya Grassroots Movement Program (MGMP). Hon’ble Chief Minister expressed that in coming years, the festival will not only be confined to literature, but different aspects of fine arts. At the end of the day, this festival, beyond literature and fine arts, is about the people and the youth of Meghalaya where they can use the platform to engage with people across the world and get a chance to connect and learn. He underscored the importance that the festival holds to the students, not only the college ones but also young children. He added we need to document all the cultural and historical aspects of our state. We are hopeful that through initiatives like this we would not only encourage the habit of jotting down things, but also, coupled with CM Research Scholars’ programme, promote a healthy research and documentation on the people and culture of …

Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, ixigo, revealed a surge in travel during the wedding season. “Indian travellers are on the move this wedding season, with around 35 lakh weddings expected across India between 23 November and 15 December 2024. Flight bookings to major metro hubs and top leisure destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar, Jaipur, and Goa are seeing a strong 70-80% YoY increase,” he said. 

VisitBritain is hosting ‘Destination Britain Middle East and Asia’ trade mission for the first time in India from 20-22 November in Bengaluru. The event brings together UK tourism suppliers and over 70 buyers from India, the GCC, Japan, and South Korea. The mission aims to drive visitor spending across the UK by showcasing Britain’s tourism products and regional offerings. 

Pasang Dorjee Sona, Tourism Minister, Arunachal Pradesh, said, “We are still in the process of framing the tourism policy. The government is committed to fostering sustainable tourism. While inviting people to explore our natural treasures, we must also protect our fragile ecology. This balance is a major focus as we develop the policy. The policy is not finalised yet, but we are optimistic about having it ready by the end of next month.” 

Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director, Tourism Australia, said, “Inbound aviation capacity between Australia and India recovered quickly after international travel resumed and now sits well above 2019 levels. By December 2024, aviation capacity will be 333% of what it was in December 2019, with 26 flights per week between the two countries, compared to just 8 flights per week in 2019.” 

MRVH Resorts Private Limited, a real estate company with interest in hotels and housing, is pleased to announce its partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to open Ramada Resort by Wyndham Omkareshwar Khandwa Road. This franchise agreement signing highlights the MRVH’s dedication and commitment to bring world class hospitality experience to the destination with the right mix of facilities to cater to leisure and MICE guests. MRVH Resorts Private Limited, Directors, Mr. Harpal Singh Sachdeva and Mr. Jitendra Singh and Mr. Rahul Chawla stated that this affiliation indicates our determination to bring one of the world’s most recognized international hotel brand “Ramada Resort by Wyndham” to the pilgrim destination of Omkareshwar, much in time before grand ‘Simhastha’ in 2028. This Ramada Resort in Omkareshwar would have 150 keys including villas. Additional features to include facilities like All Day Dining & Bar Lounge, Banquet Halls, Lawns, Meeting Rooms, Fitness Centre, Swimming Pool and Recreational Facilities. The hotel is currently in advance planning stage and expected to open towards end of 2026. Omkareshwar is a popular Hindu pilgrim destination and the temple is also known as Shri Omkarnath Temple situated in Madhya Pradesh on Mandhata Island. The hotel would be situated strategically on 13.5 acres of land providing tourists with experience of panoramic hill views with lush landscapes and ample opportunity for guests to take up activities within the resort. Mr. Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts stated that “Signing the new Ramada Resort in the prominent pilgrimage destination Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh is another great step for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in enhancing its offerings supporting the growth of spiritual tourism in India. When open in December 2026, Ramada …

Shri Vrindavan Residency (SVR), a real estate firm with interest in hotels, residential and commercial sectors, is pleased to announce its partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to open Ramada by Wyndham hotel in Vrindavan. This franchise agreement signing highlights SVR’s dedication to bring elevated hospitality experience to the temple city with a variety of facilities to cater to leisure, weddings and MICE guests. Shri Vrindavan Residency, Partners, Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh and Mr. Narendra Singh stated that “We are delighted to partner with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, that shares our commitment of excellence and customer satisfaction. By bringing one of the world’s most recognized international hotel brand “Ramada by Wyndham” to the pilgrim destination of Vrindavan, we look to redefine comfort and quality service delivery for the discerning travelers here.” The proposed Ramada by Wyndham hotel in Vrindavan would consist of 72 keys with additional features such as All Day Dining, Banquet Halls, Meeting Rooms, Fitness Centre, Swimming Pool etc. The hotel is under development and expected to open by 2026. Vrindavan is a historical city with about 5,500 temples dedicated to the worship of Radhakrishna. The city forms a part of the “Krishna pilgrimage circuit” that is under development by the Indian Ministry of Tourism. Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts stated that “We are excited to announce our partnership with SVR to bring our leading Ramada hotel brand to the prominent pilgrim destination Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. With a focus on delivering memorable guest experiences, Ramada by Wyndham continues to be a classic among travelers seeking comfort, convenience and elegance. This signing reaffirms our commitment to expand our footprint in pilgrim destinations across India and …

Himanshu Arora, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at GoMechanic.in, is a dynamic leader with a wealth of experience in the automotive industry. With a career spanning 15 years, Himanshu has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a keen business acumen that have been instrumental in driving GoMechanic’s success. Starting his career at American Express, Himanshu honed his skills in corporate sales and business development before venturing into entrepreneurship. As the Co-Founder of Servizzy and now leading GoMechanic alongside Ms. Muskan Kakkar, Himanshu has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the car servicing sector. His educational background includes a post-graduate diploma in International Business from Jagan Institute Of Management Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the same institution. This academic foundation, combined with his hands-on experience, has equipped Himanshu with a comprehensive understanding of business operations and strategic management. Throughout his career, Himanshu has held key leadership positions at renowned organizations such as Thomas Cook India and AUDI AG, where he excelled in global enterprise sales and business travel management. His strategic vision and innovative approach have been instrumental in driving growth and profitability for the companies he has served. As a visionary entrepreneur, Himanshu is known for his ability to identify market gaps and capitalize on emerging opportunities. His commitment to excellence, coupled with his relentless drive for success, has positioned GoMechanic as a trailblazer in the automotive service industry.

Receiving the ‘Most Innovative Tourism Board’ award on behalf of the NTO at the India Travel Awards, Pooja Raut, Digital Lead, Brand Manager, Singapore Tourism Board, said, “It’s a significant boost for us to continue doing great work. STB has always been synonymous with innovation. We aim to push boundaries and introduce Singapore’s unique nature and culture to the Indians.”