Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman is organizing an exclusive webinar for the travel trade. Join the webinar to explore the offerings of the country on Monday, 22 December 2023 at 3pm (IST). Save the Date! Kindly register to attend the webinar. Contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532 for more info.  

Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, BLS, said, “A PAN Card is not a mandatory requirement for a Schengen Visa. However, voluntarily submitting your PAN Card or additional financial credentials can enhance the overall strength of your visa application and provide further assurance of your financial stability to the authorities.”

Sitapaat Suttisuntrangkura, General Manager, Cross River Kwai, said, “We have our Indian specialists that will help us to maximize our capability to arrange or accommodate Indian Clientele upon their needs and requests as Indian market is quite new for us”.

In an exclusive interview with Ayyappan Rajagopal, Chief Executive Officer of Cleartrip, quotes that same old mundane itinerary would not work anymore; clients/customers demand and want new experiential and unique itineraries to attract a greater number of loyal clients.

Ministry of Tourism has developed Incredible India thematic brand films for welcoming of foreign tourists to the country which have been specifically curated for the leading overseas market. Brand films are being circulated domestically and internationally for promotion purposes.

‘United Weaves of Bharat’ Christmas tree glows at Sheraton, New Delhi narrating the story of twelve artisanal heritage textiles from the soil – the ties that bind magnificent artistry of our local craftsmen with the glorious history & traditions of India. The 13 feet multi-tiered visual spectacle has been wrapped with the hand spun yarns and adorned with weaving techniques namely Chanderi, Benarasi, Chikankari, Bhagalpur silk, Ikat, Bandhani, Phulkari, Khadi, Ajrak, Muga silk, Kutch embroidery and Kalamkari. Sourced locally from artisans across different states, the tree has been crafted using recycled materials, echoing our commitment towards sustainability and Responsible Luxury. The tree celebrates the heroes of Indian textile industry- the weavers, spinners and dyers and pays an ode to their indigenous workmanship that keep the art form alive .With weaves dating back to Vedic and Mughal eras , every textile reflects a unique socio-cultural narrative around  a rich legacy of the past that continues to thread its way in the modern tapestry, uniting all generations.

The popular touring exhibition celebrates Harry Potter and the entire Wizarding World Magic is in the air with the Asia Pacific premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition at The Londoner® Macao today. The all-new, behind-the-scenes, interactive touring exhibition is the most comprehensive exhibition ever presented on Harry Potter and the entire Wizarding World. Spanning more than 30,000 sq. ft., with over twenty celebratory galleries, the exhibit is a perfect complement for The Londoner Macao. To mark this momentous occasion, a launch ceremony took place yesterday at The Londoner Macao, with guests enjoying an exclusive VIP tour. The event was attended by: Bai Bing, Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Cheang Kai Meng, Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao SAR Government; Sean McCreery, Executive Vice President of Operations of Sands China Ltd.; Virginia Lam, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Sands China Ltd.; Julian Moon, Head of EMEA and APAC Consumer Products of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands, Franchises, and Experiences; and Tom Zaller, President and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions. Dr. Wilfred Wong, President of Sands China Ltd. said, “We are absolutely delighted that The Londoner Macao is the first touring destination in Asia Pacific for Harry Potter: The Exhibition. One of our goals is to offer a diverse range of world-class entertainment that is family-friendly. This touring exhibition is truly spectacular and will appeal to a broad audience of all ages. We look forward to welcoming long-time Harry Potter fans as well as those just starting to experience the …

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, today, welcomed its 50th Airbus A320neo to its young, modern fleet. With this latest addition, Vistara now has a total of 66 aircraft, including 50 Airbus A320neo, 10 Airbus A321, and six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. In line with the focus to expand its domestic and international footprint, Vistara is on course to have 70 aircraft by the end of FY2024, thereby providing better connectivity and a wider network to its customers. Vistara currently operates over 300 daily flights, connecting 32 domestic and 18 international destinations. Vistara’s fleet is not just one of the youngest in the industry but has also been recognized for its overall inflight experience which is at par with some of the biggest and best airlines in the world. The airline has always focussed on investment in modern aircraft with cutting edge technology and fuel-efficient engines. Vistara has also been recognized with ch-aviation Asia’s 3rd Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2023, for the second consecutive year, which is a testament to its efforts in this area. Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The only Indian carrier to feature amongst World’s Top 20 Airlines, Vistara has been named ‘16th Best Airline’ globally while also being recognized as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row, ‘Best Airline Staff in India and South Asia’ for the fifth consecutive year, ‘Best Cabin Crew in India and South Asia’ for the third …

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, inaugurated direct 4x weekly flights between Mumbai and Doha. The inaugural flight, operated on Vistara’s A321neo aircraft, commenced from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at 18:45 Hours (IST) on 15 December 2023 and arrived at Hamad International Airport, Doha, at 20:30 Hours. With a consistent surge in demand for travel between India and the Middle East, Vistara has been focussing on expanding its presence in the region. The airline already provide direct connectivity to five destinations in the region, namely Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai, Jeddah and Muscat. Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “Based on the remarkable response to Vistara’s Middle Eastern routes, we are confident that the launch of operations to Doha will further strengthen our footprint in the region. Doha – an essential commercial hub and home to a large Indian diaspora – is Vistara’s 50th destination and the sixth in the middle east. We are excited to bring the Best Airline in India and Southern Asia to Doha with direct connectivity from Mumbai. We firmly believe that Vistara’s widely appreciated product and globally awarded service make for just the right combination to cater to the market requirements and customers’ demand.” Ms. Sujata Suri, Senior Vice President, Finance and Procurement at Hamad International Airport said: “We are pleased to announce our new partnership with Vistara, linking Doha to Mumbai—a strategic collaboration that reinforces Hamad International Airport’s commitment to expanding connectivity and offering passengers unparalleled travel experiences. As Doha becomes Vistara’s 50th destination, this collaboration signifies a shared commitment to excellence and marks a milestone of its own for Hamad International …

In order to provide impetus to the development of adventure tourism in the country, MOT has set up a National Board for Adventure Tourism under Secretary (Tourism) and comprising Central Ministries, states and industry stakeholders to provide guidance for the development of the sector. Seven strategic pillars have been identified for development of sustainable tourism, adventure tourism and ecotourism. These include state assessment, skills, marketing, strengthening safety framework, national and state level rescue grid, destination and product development, and governance and institutional framework.