Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Shwetangi Tohan, Assistant Vice President – Business Development, Dook International, highlights, “Among all CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), only Kazakhstan is providing 14 days free visa for Indian tourists”. She also said they have added Kazakhstan to their portfolio.

The recently released report by HVS ANAROCK states that inbound tourism in India marks remarkable 55% year-on-year growth, with 7.2 million foreign tourist arrivals from January to October 2023, showing positive signs of recovery. It also mentions it is just 16% short of 2019 levels.

Manoharan Periasamy, Senior Director of International Promotion Division (Asia/Africa), Covering Deputy Director General Planning, Malaysia Tourism, said, “Malaysia has observed growth in terms of tourists from India with more than 472,000 numbers from Jan-Sept 2023″.  

Uttarakhand is set to revolutionize tourism with the launch of India’s first-ever Himalayan AirSafari using gyrocopters. This pioneering venture promises to offer an unparalleled experience, blending adventure with breathtaking panoramas of the Himalayas. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, in collaboration with Rajas Aerosports and Adventures Pvt Ltd is introducing gyrocopters – compact, agile aircraft- as a novel way to explore its stunning landscapes. The state marks a new chapter in tourism with the successful completion of the first gyrocopter trial flight from Bairagi Camp, Haridwar, on December 16, 2023. Under the innovative Himalayan AirSafari scheme, part of the visionary Breakfast Tourism initiative, tourists will embark on a journey unlike any other. They will soar across the skies, enjoying aerial views of the majestic Himalayan ranges and serene rivers, transitioning smoothly from one exotic location to another. Additional Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Col. Ashwini Pundir who was part of this trial flight, said that the Himalayan Air Safari scheme of various tourist places of the state will soon be launched through Gyrocopter. In this scheme tourists will fly from one place in a Gyrocopter, enjoy the natural beauty of the Himalayan peaks and rivers, reach another destination and after some time at the destination, return back to their place of origin. This venture is more than just a scenic tour; it’s a bridge connecting tourists to the lesser-known, remote jewels of Uttarakhand. It offers a unique opportunity to explore hidden destinations, all within a short, exhilarating gyrocopter ride. Get ready to experience the Himalayas like never before – from the skies! Join us as we unveil a new era of travel and exploration in India.  

Nancy Dai, Insights Experts, Forwardkeys said, “Travellers in Asia Pacific tends to stay longer than they did in the past. The length of stay of over 9 nights has increased by 7 per cent compared to 2019. This likely means that they will spend more during their stay and the economy recovery is going to happen faster than in visitor volumes.”  

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed that initially launched at five airports, excluding Chennai, DigiYatra expanded to eight more, operating in 13 Indian airports, servicing 85% of domestic passengers. With 35 million app downloads and 91 lakh uses, plans for 2024 include integrating 25 additional airports, encompassing 96% of passengers, up from the existing 85%. 

After one year of successful operations, ITA Airways has increased the number of flights to 7, allowing for a daily flight on the Delhi to Rome route. Fabio Bigotti, Country Manager-Japan and India, ITA Airways, said, “We are keenly interested in the Indian market and, based on aircraft availability, we are evaluating connections to other cities. Mumbai holds significant importance for us, and currently, we are assessing the possibility of establishing operations in a city outside Delhi.” 

Speaking at the MOT’s industry roundtable on developing India as a MICE destination, Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, Ebixcash Travel Services, advised the Ministry of Tourism to regulate companies that send people abroad for incentive travel. This trend results in significant losses for the exchequer, particularly concerning the outflow of foreign exchange.  

The captivating Indian superstar comes face-to-face with his new figures, launching in the London and Singapore attractions 18th December 2023 – Bollywood’s golden boy Ranveer Singh meets not one, but two, figures of himself at Madame Tussauds! The international star, known for box-office-breaking performances, unapologetic personal style and magnetic personality, visited the world-famous attraction in London to welcome his two new figures. He was accompanied by his mother, who, as a child, first introduced the would-be megastar to the world of Madame Tussauds London by showing him album pictures of her own visits to the iconic attraction. This is the first time the Bollywood star has been immortalised by Madame Tussauds and guests will be able to meet his new figures at Madame Tussauds’ London and Singapore attractions. Singh’s rise to fame was nothing short of iconic, with a streak of back-to-back blockbuster hits, solidifying him as a much-loved staple of Bollywood. He has starred in many awe-inspiring films internationally, from his acting debut in Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) to beloved films Bajirao Mastani (2015), Padmaavat (2018), and Gully Boy (2019). Maintaining his high-octane presence in India for over a decade, the star has appeared in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list every year since 2012 and has been celebrated by GQ, India Today, and The Indian Express as one of the nation’s top 50 most influential and powerful people. Ranveer Singh was involved throughout the creative process and specifically chose the distinct looks and styling for his figures. The London figure pays homage to Ranveer’s culture and heritage with the neon sherwani designed by Manish Arora as part of his wedding celebrations. The eye-catching outfit includes hundreds of individually sewn …

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has launched a new star hotel classification portal to boost the tourism and hospitality industry in the state. Under the new system, the hotels and resorts in Uttar Pradesh will now be classified under five categories — platinum, diamond, gold, silver and bronze. State Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said that the classification of hotels and resorts in the state will be done based on their quality, services and overall facilities and guest experience.