Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

While remaining confined to their homes for months, all people can do is dream about travelling to different exciting destinations across the globe. The outbreak of the pandemic has transformed the outlook of the people and way they look at travel. Considering the need of the hour, putting safety measures in place, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s premier leisure and entertainment hub, has geared up to welcome tourists with Safe Travel Protocols. The harmonization, coordination and digitalization of COVID-19 travel-related risk reduction measures, including testing, tracing and travel health certificates, are essential foundations to promote safe travel. Safety Measures Undertaken For Safe Travel Over the past year, Yas Island has introduced comprehensive measures on health and safety protocol following UAE authorities’ guidance to ensure visitors feel confident to return to the destination like nowhere else. To ensure that the guests feel safe and secure while travelling to Yas Island, the authorities at Yas Island have undertaken extraordinary safety measures to make sure that island sanitization, physical distancing, and capacity guidelines are up to global standards. Thermal scanners at entry points will monitor guest temperatures and the island will take extra precautions high-traffic areas and frequent touch points with increased cleaning and disinfection practices. Yas Island awarded coveted WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp In recognition of its advanced safety efforts, Yas Island has received the coveted WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, marking it the first destination in Abu Dhabi to receive the international honor, providing additional reassurance to visitors looking forward to experiencing Yas Island and its many offerings – all safe in the knowledge that the island is maintaining the highest standards of public health and safety. Vaccination Drive Demonstrating its commitment to …

IATO Executive Committee has relooked and restructured its Regional and State Chapters to expand its wings and strengthen its membership basis. IATO Kerala Chapter Chairman, Sejoe Jose, Managing Director, Marvel Tours will be the new Chairman of the IATO Southern region. He will replace EM Najeeb, who has been the Chairman of the Southern Region and has immensely contributed to the growth of IATO in the Southern Region. James Kodianthara, Managing Director, Concord Exotic Voyages (I) will take reigns in Kerala from Jose. Jitendra Kejriwal, Chairman, Arika Tour & Travels will lead the Maharashtra Chapter in place of Vasuki Sundaram. Separate Chapters have been announced for Uttarakhand and Ladakh, where Nidhish Sharma,  Managing Director, Garhwal Adventure, Dehradun and Tsering Namgyal, Managing Director, Windhorse Expeditions India, Ladakh being appointed as Chairman for Uttarakhand and Ladakh respectively. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO while welcoming the new regional/state chapters mentioned that he is sure that this will help strengthen IATO membership base pan India and especially in Uttarakhand and Ladakh as there was no separate Chapter Chairman in these two states. With having State Chairman located at those places,  besides increasing membership base,  IATO will have better coordination and interaction with the state governments and the local trade

Amid speculations about the increase in Travel Allowance (TA) of the central government employees after the central government’s announcement of the restoration of Dearness Allowance (DA) from the month of July, a report has clarified that according to 7th CPC matrix calculation rule, the TA will not rise despite the rise of DA as the current DA is not 25 per cent and above. As the existing DA of the central government employees is 17 per cent, TA hike from July is not going to be applicable.

As part of virtual activities for commemoration of 75 Years of India’s Independence, India Tourism recently organised an online presentation for the travel and tourism students of Shri MD Shah Mahila College of Arts & Commerce in Mumbai. Participants were informed about the on-going ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ webinar series of the Ministry of Tourism and were encouraged to join the same. The specially edited video from the Dekho Apna Desh webinar series   “Lesser known stories of India’s struggle against the British” was also shown. This was attended by around 100 students and faculty members.

According to a study done by the university using data from India and five other countries, using domestic travel bans to control COVID-19 infections may be inadvisable. It found that imposing travel bans can counter-intuitively increase the total spread of coronavirus disease, creating a ‘lose-lose situation’. The national lockdown in the first wave trapped millions of migrants inside big cities like Mumbai that were fast-growing coronavirus hotspots.

In order to provide timely assistance to its members and the fraternity at large, ADTOI has formed a task force from among its members. Rajiv Arora of Phoenix Holidays, New Delhi has been made in-charge of this task force along with some volunteers who will coordinate and collecting the authenticity of information which will then be circulated to all members pan India. Its main task will be to collect authentic information on availability of oxygen cylinders, ventilators, beds at hospitals, medicines, etc.

Both Kerala Travel Mart Society as well as Hotel Association of India (HAI) have requested the FM to customise the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 3.0 that has been extended to the industry. They have also requested to investigate the anomalies in the operational guidelines and FAQ released by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC), due to which, the scheme itself is being nullified.

The UAE has extended the suspension imposed on entry of passengers flying from India into the country until May 14 on account of the situation. It had announced the suspension from midnight on April 25 until May 4. The only exceptions to the ban on entry are UAE nationals, diplomats and persons holding golden residency visas.

IATO has formed a Covid -19 Assistance Task Force to help its members who need help in this time of crisis. The main objective of this committee is to gather authentic information and provide assistance to members. it has requested support from its members for this as many members have their family members working or have contacts for hospitals, medical equipment suppliers and oxygen cylinder suppliers.

Following the orders from the Centre, Tuhin Kanta Pandey (IAS 1987-Batch) has been assigned the additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Pandey will hold the additional charge from April 26, 2021 to May 13, 2021 i.e. during the period of absence on leave of Pradeep Singh Kharola (IAS 1985-Batch). At present, Pandey is serving as the Secretary, Department of Investment & Public Asset Management, Ministry of Finance.