Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

The admiration for rural tourism, according to Liz Ortiguera, CEO of PATA, is a silver lining to the pandemic-driven industrial impact, but it can have severe consequences if rapid rural growth is not done sustainably and responsibly. PATA strives to advance methods that promote good growth. PATA recently co-hosted the 15th UNWTO/PATA Forum on ‘Tourism and Rural Development,’ during which Ortiguera stated that rural tourism is growing in popularity across Asia-Pacific, owing to consumer demand and government efforts to ring-fence safe vacation destinations.

Etihad Airways hosted a meeting to explore how the market is opening and what prospects exist for the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. The meeting was attended by top clients at the MD and CEO levels. Also in attendance were, Martin Drew, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, and Murli Krishnan, Vice President, Revenue, both from Abu Dhabi; Neerja Bhatia, Vice President for the Indian Subcontinent; and Salil Nath, Regional Sales Manager, North Central India, Bangladesh, and Seychelles, both from India.

Tourism ministers and leaders from South Indian states were urged to push for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, as per Govind Mohan, Secretary, Culture. “A national implementation committee led by the Home Minister manages these programmes at the central government level, and the Prime Minister oversees them periodically.” The states must put equal focus on execution, with state-level implementation committees led by senior ministers reviewing what was done, what needs to be done, and then carrying out those programmes.

Embassy of India, Muscat has informed that the Government of the Sultanate of Oman has added Covaxin to the approved list of COVID-19 vaccines for travel to Oman. The Civil Aviation Authority issued a notification on 27th October regarding this. All passengers from India who have received two doses of Covaxin at least 14 days before the estimated arrival date will now be able to travel to Oman without the requirement of quarantine. All other COVID-19 related requirements/conditions, such as pre-arrival RT-PCR test shall be applicable for such passengers. This notification will significantly ease travel to Oman for Indian nationals who have taken Covaxin, Passengers, who have taken AstraZeneca/Covishield are already permitted to travel to Oman without quarantine.

A Heritage Walk was conducted on 26 Oct 21 by the Andaman Association of Tour Operators in association with the Ministry of Tourism (India Tourism Port Blair). The walk was a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations by AATO. Students of BBA Tourism of JNRM College participated in the walk along with AATO members and India Tourism officials. The walk was flagged off from National memorial Cellular Jail by AATO president Shri.M.Vinod and Assistant Director India Tourism Port Blair Shri.Ramakrishnan. JNRM faculty members Shri.Abdul Salam & Ms.Saida also graced the occasion. From Cellular Jail the participants walked to the Battle of Aberdeen war memorial where Joint Secretary AATO Shri.Saikat Biswas briefed the participants about the famous war of Aberdeen and the importance of the war memorial. The walk terminated at JNRM college, where the participants were distributed certificates and refreshments. Speaking on the occasion Shri.M.Vinod highlighted the importance of Celluar Jail in the freedom struggle of India and urged the students to carry forward the vision of the freedom fighters on the occasion of 75 years of India’s independence. Delivering the vote of thanks Shri.K.Hamza, General Secretary of AATO thanked India Tourism Port Blair, JNRM tourism faculty and Heaven on Ocean Tourism (Coral Safari) for the support rendered for conducting the Heritage Walk. AATO in association with the ministry of tourism will be conducting FAM trips for the JNRM students and also organise photography & Essay writing competition as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has initiated a campaign to raise awareness on the copyright issues faced by hospitality establishments over playing recorded music. The campaign has been launched in the wake of recent incidences that occurred in Pune when two Mumbai-based private firms extorted Rs1.37 lakh from businessmen under the pretext of issuing them copyright licenses for staging musical performances at marriage ceremonies in a star hotel. HRAWI has met and submitted a written appeal to the Pune Commissioner of Police requesting him to take cognizance of the crime and register economic offence against the private agencies for extortion

EaseMyTrip will be entering into a non-binding agreement offer with Traviate Online Private Limited for the acquisition of the business. This will be the first-ever acquisition by EaseMyTrip that will add a new revenue stream and fast track its expansion in the B2B hotel and holiday space. The consummation of the proposed transaction is expected in 3 months, subject to finalisation of definitive agreements, customary closing conditions and other necessary approvals, as may be required.

The next three to five years could see failures of multiple airlines that do not have the financial strength to invest in decarbonisation, says the CAPA-Envest Airline Sustainability Benchmarking Report 2021. “Climate change is a critical challenge, and climate inaction is a critical mistake. We have partnered with Envest Global to assess the impact on airlines of increased pressure to reduce aircraft carbon emissions, and to assist them in understanding global trends and meeting the growing expectations of stakeholders,” says CAPA Chairman Emeritus Peter Harbison.

G Kamala Vardhan Rao, DG, Tourism, has said that every state is competing when it comes to tourism. “Every state has a different budget allocation in a big way. Hence when state governments worlk alongside central government, it’s a fine way of synergy and a way forward by developing products. Once product is developed, we are now seeing some green shoots after the pandemic,” he said.

Speaking at the Conference of Tourism & Culture Ministers of Southern Region in Bengaluru, Ajay Bhatt, MoS, Tourism, has said that under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, MOT has sanctioned 15 projects, which include projects in Andhra Pradesh worth ₹141 crore; 5 projects in Kerala worth ₹413 crore; three projects in Telangana worth ₹266 crore; projects worth ₹73 crore in Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry projects were ₹148 crore.