Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore Airlines (SIA), and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) re-launched the Free Singapore Tour today after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19. Three of the existing tours available since pre-Covid-19 – the City Sights Tour, Heritage Tour, and Jewel Tour – have been refreshed to include new points of interest. A brand-new Changi Precinct Tour will introduce travellers to the interesting sights and sounds of the eastern region surrounding Singapore Changi Airport. Each tour lasts 2.5 hours and will be available daily, with plans to progressively increase to nine tours a day. With transit and transfer passengers accounting for about 30% of passenger traffic at Changi Airport pre-pandemic, the tour was first introduced in 1987 to enhance the airport’s attractiveness as a transfer hub and to entice transit and transfer passengers to visit Singapore as a holiday destination. In 2019, over 80,000 passengers went on the Free Singapore Tour. The top markets were India, Australia, and Indonesia, with Indian and Australian travellers making up more than one third of the total participants. New Changi Precinct Tour to showcase eastern Singapore The Changi Precinct Tour is a new itinerary that will bring participants to the eastern part of Singapore to visit local community spaces such as the Tampines heartland, and to admire the rustic charms of Changi Village and Changi Beach. It offers a glimpse of how local residents live, and tells the tale of Singapore’s history on this part of the island, away from the usual hustle and bustle of Singapore’s city centre.   Refreshed itineraries to offer travellers new experiences At the Jewel Tour, in addition to visiting popular attractions like the Shiseido Forest Valley …

Oman Air is passing a major milestone this month with the occasion of its 30th anniversary, a journey which began in March 1993 with a single flight between the cities of Muscat and Salalah. The route, operated by Boeing 737-300, marked the launch of the airline’s domestic network, which was followed shortly after with its first international flight between Muscat and Dubai. Over the past three decades, the airline has gone from strength to strength and now flies to over 45 destinations as far as Europe and the Far East, with a strong international presence and a reputation for providing high quality products and outstanding customer service. “Thirty years as Oman’s national airline is a milestone to be proud of,” said Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “In that time, Oman Air has grown from a small regional carrier connecting Omanis across the country to an award-winning airline connecting visitors from around the world to Oman’s diverse natural beauty and rich culture.  Despite the challenges of the last few years, our goal continues to be to serve our country   by enabling Oman’s Vision 2040 ambitions, whether through job creation, supporting the tourism and logistics industries, or increasing inward investment. With three decades of experience and expertise to build on, we’re looking to the future with renewed optimism.” A cornerstone of Oman’s socio-economic development, since its maiden flight, Oman Air has carried millions of passengers into the country, providing them with an authentic introduction to Omani hospitality and culture. It has laid the foundations for a tourism industry that has increased ten-fold over the last 30 years, contributing to the creation of hundreds of thousands of direct …

Sumi Yashshree Hotels, a leading hospitality company, based in North East India, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kall Trip as its GSA for the Western & Southern India regions, effective 16th April 2023. The partnership will enable Sumi Yashshree Hotels to increase brand presence & grow revenue in West/South India and offer its unique hospitality services to a broader audience. Kall Trip is a well-known travel technology marketing company that specialises in providing customized hotel marketing solutions to its hotel clients since 2011. With a strong travel agent network, its own bulk email solution, and extensive experience in the travel tech industry, Kall Trip is wellequipped to to represent Sumi Yashshree Hotels in the West & South Indian market.”We are excited to partner with Kall Trip as our General Sales Agent for West & South India,” said Sadip Lama, MD of Sumi Yashshree Hotels. “Their expertise in the travel industry and proven track record of delivering exceptional services to their clients make them an ideal partner for us. We are confident that this partnership will help us to reach new heights and strengthen our presence in the West & South Indian market. As the General Sales Agent for Sumi Yashshree Hotels, Kall Trip Pvt. Ltd will be responsible for promoting and marketing the hospitality services of Sumi Yashshree Hotels to the travel trade and consumers in West & South India. They will also provide assistance to travel agents and tour operators in booking Sumi Yashshree Hotels for their clients, along with ground transportation services. Read more…

The Clarks Hotels & Resorts has made its debut in Dechu, A village in Rajasthan, with the Clarks Exotica, Dechu, earlier known as The Oasis Resort & Caamp. The destination is adorned with historical monuments, and golden sand. Clarks Exotica offers its guests a range of offerings, like a swimming pool, bar, and authentic Rajasthani delicacies. The impeccable service of Clarks Exotica truly welcomes you to experience the royalty of the bygone era.

G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism & Culture, speaking at the Inaugural session of the 2nd Tourism Working Group Meeting under G20 at Siliguri, said that the aim is to make India a seamless, modern, and smart tourism destination. “The ideas discussed will aid in developing tourism in mission mode. It will also aid India in maximising its potential in the tourism sector,” he said.

Travelport has announced a $200 million investment from the company’s owners, Siris Capital Group and Elliott Management. “The $200 million investment from our owners, Siris Capital Group and Elliott Management, reflect their confidence in Travelport and the continued recovery of the travel industry,” said Greg Webb, CEO of Travelport. “

Manisha Saxena, the newly appointed Director General, Ministry of Tourism, GoI, has taken charge in office after getting relieved of her duties as Principal Secretary Tourism, Government of Mizoram, in March. Saxena is a 1996 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Mizoram-Goa-Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.

MAI will commence direct non-stop flights from Yangon to Chennai every Saturday from May 6, 2023 enhancing the connectivity between the two countries further after Delhi (Mon, Wed, Fri) and Kolkata (Thu, Sun) and Gaya. This will boost the leisure, MICE, VFR, Corporate, labour and medical travelers with comfortable connections to Yangon and beyond to other international and domestic network of MAI. MAI is offering a special one way Economy fare starting as low as Rs.22,907 and one way Business class fare starting at Rs.47,840. MAI offers 30 Kgs free registered baggage allowance to all Economy class passengers and 40 Kgs free registered baggage allowance to all Business Class passengers in addition to 7 Kgs hand luggage. MAI will be operating on this route with A319/A320 or Embraer 190 aircraft once a week on every Saturday. The flight 8M 630 will depart Yangon at 0800 Hours and arrive Chennai at 1015 Hours. The flight 8M 631 will depart Chennai at 1115 Hours and arrive Yangon at 1515 Hours. MAI is a full service carrier and offers 3% commission on basic fare to all IATA agents. MAI currently operates to 27 International destinations and 18 domestic destinations and has seamless interline arrangements with 34 carriers. MAI also offers special benefits to various categories of passengers. For Pilgrims like Monks and Nuns there is an extra 5% discount on international fares , for Corporate traveler MAI offers 10 Kgs extra free baggage allowance and one time free date change. For Diplomats there is a 5% discount on international fares along with priority check in and priority boarding and for medical travelers MAI offers additional 5 Kgs free baggage allowance and one time …

Speaking at the side event of the 2nd TWG meeting in Siliguri, Arvind Singh, Secretary, MOT, said that the event is a great occasion to discuss, ideate possibilities to achieve the SDG’s. “The deliberations reiterate the notion that Adventure tourism can be a positive cause for achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals,” he said.

Ahead of the 2nd Tourism Working Group Meeting, Harsh Vardhan Shingla, Chief Coordinator of G20 India, highlighted the opportunity for India’s North Eastern region to showcase its cultural heritage and tourism potential. At a press conference in Darjeeling, Shingla announced that 10 ambassadors from G20 nations would visit the area and engage with local stakeholders to discuss the region’s potential.