Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled a new safety video, filmed on location at Louvre Abu Dhabi, to give passengers across the globe, a glimpse of what attractions the capital has to offer. Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience Brand & Marketing, Etihad Airways said: “Our safety video needed a refresh including the safety messaging requirements due to COVID. This new video goes beyond its main purpose of educating guests about essential safety information, it also reflects our brand and personality, while leveraging the very best of our beautiful home, Abu Dhabi.” The video is set at Louvre Abu Dhabi, with Etihad’s very own cabin crew demonstrating safety features of the aircraft and other Etihad employees acting as guests. Emirati voice-over artists were used to voice the video in English and Arabic. To further ensure a consistent guest experience, the accompanying music is part of Etihad’s new signature sound collection which is used across the airline for a variety of touch points. The sonic branding is inspired by Abu Dhabi and is an eclectic mix of Emirati and international instrumentation and arrangements, played by musicians from the UAE and around the world. Etihad’s new safety video will be progressively rolled out starting with the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners in April 2021. To protect health and safety, the new video was filmed following strict COVID safety protocols, including all cast and crew having to present a negative PCR test.

Indian flag carrier Air India has announced that it will operate a direct flight between Moscow’s Sheremetyevo AS Pushkin Airport and Goa airport every Thursday from April 14 to October 28, 2021. The carrier has opened bookings for the flight via its website, booking offices, call centre and authorised travel agents.

TAAI- WITT and FICCI – FLO have announced to organise a webinar to empower women and skill the female workforce in the industry for sustainable tourism. The webinar powered by TravTalk is scheduled for 9th April from 11 am – 12:30 pm. Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI and Jahnabi Phookan, National President, FICCI FLO informed that the event will be joined by Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism as a special invitee. Other speakers include Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism, Mamta Verma, Principal Secretary, Gujarat Tourism, Priya Paul, Chairman, Apeejay Surendra Park Hotels, Parineeta Sethi and Madhu Jain. To join the webinar, log on to  http://zoom.us/j/95192672623   The event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will be taking part in the inaugural edition of ITB India. This first edition of ITB India, which will take place from 7th to 9th April, has been organised to connect stakeholders to the Indian travel market through a three-day, business-to-business, virtual event. DCT Abu Dhabi will be presenting a virtual exclusive session as part of the event, where HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi, will be discussing Abu Dhabi’s roadmap for the future of travel and tourism. Addressing the UAE capital’s continuous efforts to overcome the challenges which have been brought on by the pandemic, he will focus on the importance of collaboration within the industry and highlights the emirate’s long-term vision to deliver appealing yet distinctive tourism and cultural destination that is ready to welcome the world. Showcasing the ambitious Go Safe campaign, which has standardised health and safety protocols across the emirate, he will also discuss other pioneering initiatives, real-time trends, and upcoming projects and attractions that will create memorable experiences for travellers in Abu Dhabi. “We are delighted to participate in the inaugural ITB India. India is a key source market for us and we value the trust that Indian travellers have in us as a destination,” said HE Al Shaiba. “Through our ongoing initiatives to maintain high standards of safety and hygiene, including the Go Safe initiative and a countrywide efficient vaccination drive, we aim to make Abu Dhabi the preferred travel destination for Indian travellers. “Abu Dhabi boasts a wide range of tourism and MICE offerings, catering to all types of travellers. We …

Close to 300 Indian travel agents tuned in to CruiseWorld India 2021 organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Northstar Travel.  Helmed by Genting Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, STB and leading cruise agents, the session instilled confidence in Singapore”s cruise recovery and the steps taken by the Singapore cruise industry in the safe resumption of cruising even as Singapore has not opened for international cruise travel. Singapore has pioneered the world’s first Cruise Safe certification programme with stringent hygiene and safety measures throughout the passenger journey. The results have been very encouraging.  More than 90 sailings had taken place and 120,000 Singapore residents had experienced seacation with cruise to nowhere itinerary.

Air Seychelles is set to resume operations of its commercial flights between Mumbai and Seychelles twice a week, starting Thursday, April 8, 2021. Remco Althuis, CEO, Air Seychelles says that it is the right time to launch these flights since Seychelles has reopened its borders on March 25 to welcome visitors on its shores regardless of the vaccination status. “We are very optimistic about the Indian market for Seychelles, especially after seeing so many Indian visitors to the Maldives. Hence, we want to use this opportunity to get more Indians to see Seychelles and hopefully, in the future it’d lead to an increase in the visitor numbers to India once the pandemic is over,” he adds.

As part of its efforts to develop tourism in the state, the Karnataka government has decided to build heliports at major tourist destinations, informed, Tourism Minister CP Yogeshwar. He said that Kalaburagi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Hampi and Mangaluru are the destinations where heliports will be developed.  

PATA India has announced that its members in good standing, who are interested to participate in the virtual PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart being held from May 26-27, 2021 will enjoy a 33% discount on registration fee for the first delegate, which will be reimbursed to them by PATA India after the event. Members will be required to register directly with PATA with a payment of USD 300.00, which is the registration fee for Chapter Members, under intimation to the India Chapter. Upon completion of the event and the member’s fulfilment of participation in the event, PATA India will reimburse an equivalent of USD 100.00 to them. Please note this offer is available for the first ten participants, on a first come first serve basis, who complete their registration and pay the required fees to PATA. The deadline for registration is Saturday 10thApril, 2021. Use the reference code PIC while completing the registration. Upon completion of registration, please intimate confirmation to Poonam Rajput at manager@pataindia.org. The offer is available for members in good standing which implies that Members must have paid their membership fees for 2020-21.

Deltin Group is all set to launch a large integrated resort in Goa. The complex will have hotels, a theatre, a water park, a shopping arcade and a convention centre. Spread over 125 acres, this property will be situated close to the airport. Also, the group will be investing INR 150 crore to build a new casino vessel, which would replace Deltin Caravela. A statement provided by the company to investors, said, “We hereby inform you that the company has received an in-principle approval from the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board for setting up of an integrated resort consisting of hotels, convention center, multiplex cinema, retail area, electronic casino, waterpark, and other facilities at Pernem, Goa.”

Following the fresh lockdown measures introduced in Maharashtra from April 5, Kiran Dighavkar, Assistant Commissioner, BMC – Mumbai, clarified that passengers landing in Mumbai city during curfew hours – whether from out of state or internationally – will be allowed movement within the city. Their boarding pass and/or flight ticket will be enough for this. The night curfew is in place from 8pm to 7am and anyone breaking the rules will be fined Rs 500, said government officials.