Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

The tourism department of Goa issued notice to several hotels against putting up in rented villas and bed and breakfast facilities that were not registered with the state tourism department. Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said that booking a non-registered hotel will soon be considered illegal and strict actions will be taken on bookings going ahead. Due to non-registration of such facilities, it was difficult to track the exact number of tourists who visit Goa every year, he added.

A new resort that has opened in the Maldives on October 1, 2021 has appointed Black Turtle as its official India representative. The representative company is led by Karishma Kazi. A premium all-inclusive resort, Cora Cora Maldives is the first resort in the Maldives that celebrates and embraces the culture and heritage of the destination. Located in the Raa Atoll, Cora Cora Maldives is 45 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport or 30 minutes by domestic flight, followed by a 20-minute speedboat journey. Comprising of 100 villas and suites, each one has been curated to reflect the spirit of the Maldives and is prevalent in all of the nine accommodation categories. Accommodation sizes range from the Beach Villas at 68 sqm to the two-bedroom Lagoon Pool Villa with slide inject an element of fun into the traditional over-water villas which the Maldives is famed for. Each villa is created with comfort in mind and set between the tropical vegetation and sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean. The Beach Villas are positioned on a sugar-soft, white, sand beach offering a mesmerizing view and the Overwater Villas offer a romantic experience. Cora Cora Maldives will be the first resort in the Maldives to showcase a licensed art gallery and museum, showcasing the cultural heritage of the island. With over 400 incredible local artefacts in the collection, guests can explore the rich history of the Maldives in breath-taking natural surroundings. Cora Cora Maldives will also host guest artists from around the world, curating exclusive exhibitions for guests. Cora Cora Maldives will offer its guests a one-of-a-kind immersive Maldivian cultural, experiential and culinary experience. Comprising of 100 villas, five restaurants, two bars, an …

GMJ Thampy, CMD of Riya Group, has been presented the prestigious UAE Golden Visa for 10 years by one of the highest authorities in the UAE government— General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. This visa, presented only to eminent entrepreneurs & personalities, allows Thampy multiple entries for 10 years. Otherwise, UAE offers a single-entry visa for limited days – 30 and 90 days. Thampy expressed his happiness saying, “I am extremely honoured for being able to establish a trustworthy footprint in the travel space in the UAE market and offer extraordinary services to its nationals and travellers.”

Baywatch Stayzz has been appointed as the GSA for The Fern Creek in Kodaikanal, which are experiential glam tents situated in the heart of Kodaikanal. Manish Kriplani, MD, Baywatch Stayzz and Baywatch Travels, says, “These are unique tents in 1.5 acres of land, offering experiential luxury for patrons. With 7 tents, one restaurant and indoor and outdoor lounge areas, they offer everything a traveller can ask for. We are also looking at expanding the number of tents in future.”

IRCTC is set to launch a special tourist train for exploring five North Eastern States under the initiative ‘Dekho Apna Desh’. The 14 nights and 15 days trip will take passengers to regular tourist places, but also untouched, unexplored and unimaginable destinations. The journey will start from Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station and will cover five states in Northeast, which would include places like Guwahati, Kaziranga and Johnhart in Assam, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Kohima in Nagaland, Una Koti, Agartala and Udaipur in Tripura, Shillong and Cherapunji in Meghalaya.

Indian government will be opting for reciprocal treatment to foreigners applying for visa, depending on their country’s visa policy for Indian tourists, reports an official of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In a bid to iron out the issues arising due to the travel policies currently, MHA held a meeting under the Union Home Secretary, where it was decided that reciprocal treatment will be adopted for tourists visiting India. He added, “Many countries have opened for tourists from foreign countries but have posed several restrictions for Indian travellers. The issues have been raised with the diplomats of concerned countries to get issues resolved.”

Ministry of Tourism is shifting its overseas office in Paris to Moscow, revealed Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism. On being asked if there will be another office in France, she revealed that there will be another office in Frankfurt, Germany to manage promotions in the region.

Switzerland Tourism will conduct a webinar on Wednesday, 6 October, 2021, focusing on the vibrant city of Zurich. The cosmopolitan city located in the heart of Europe, is a melting pot of culture, and is a buzz with activities and experiences, day and night. This captivating webinar will take viewers live to Zurich and give them a glimpse of its popular highlights and attractions. To register, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532

Welcoming visitors from around the globe, His Excellency Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on October 1st. The opening was attended by General Commissioners from GCC participating countries as well as a number of dignitaries, officials and partners. Following the inauguration, His Excellency toured the Qatar Pavilion which highlights the country’s achievements across various fields, showcases the most pioneering projects that are being developed in accordance with the National Vision 2030, and spotlights Qatar as the upcoming host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He also visited the pavilions of participating GCC countries, where each country’s most prominent achievements were showcased. The Qatar Pavilion was designed by internationally-renowned architect, Santiago Calatrava, who represented a modern interpretation of the four elements presented in the Coat of Arms of Qatar. Its architectural composition draws inspiration from the two crossed and curved swords, encompassing a Dhow and island with two palm trees, that are at the core of the national emblem of the state of Qatar. Santiago Calatrava said, “We are honoured to have been chosen for the design of the Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2020. Our relationship with the State of Qatar and its people lies very close to our heart. The Qatar Pavilion’s design draws inspiration from the four elements represented on the Coat of Arms of Qatar and pays tribute to the nation’s cultural heritage.” The coinciding pair of buildings of the Qatar Pavilion consist of two main galleries of exhibition spaces. Gallery 1 serves as an introductory space and invites visitors to explore the past, present, and future of Qatar through visual arts, sound …

Sharing details of the safety precautions taken by the destination, Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head, South African Tourism, says, “We continue to prioritise visitor safety by promoting socially-distanced, safe holidays in natural settings. We have devised bio-safety systems at all private game lodges and national parks, shopping hubs, restaurants and accommodation facilities.” This will be highlighted during its virtual roadshow from 20th to 22nd October.