Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

An Amadeus consumer research conducted with 6000 travellers across India, Singapore, France, Germany, UK & US found that technology plays a crucial role in supporting recovery as 4 in 5 (84%) travellers said the technology would increase their confidence to travel in the next 12 months.

Madan Prasad Bezbaruah, Secretary-General, Hotel Association of India (HAI), has said in a statement that Government should immediately open online applications for hotels to claim the benefits under SEIS for FY 2019-20. “We appeal to the Government of India to make the online application process available to hotels. These benefits are offered to hoteliers as a fixed percentage of their annual net foreign exchange earnings. The incentive enables hotels to subside input costs of imports and facilitates Indian hospitality to match global standards of hotels that a foreign tourist is accustomed to.  Given the hardship that hotels are going through since March, this delay may prove to be a crippling injury to an industry that is struggling with a force majeure scenario. The request to allow the hotels to avail the SEIS benefits that have already accrued to them for the year 2019-20 is fair and legitimate and should be acceded to. It is not a concession,” he said. HAI has urged the government to look into the matter urgently and has submitted a representation to Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to this effect. They claim that the process will go a long way in providing some relief to the hospitality sector which has been heavily burdened with high fixed costs of salaries, utilities, and licenses, etc.

The 2-day virtual roadshow organised by The Tourism Office of Spain in India will have regional tourism boards, hotels and DMCs from Spain who will focus on restarting tourism into Spain from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. Elisa Robles-Fraga, its Director, says, “We are organising our annual show virtually for the very first time.”  

The Goa government is drawing up a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for hotels amid the ongoing tourist season. “We are in the process of issuing guidelines for hotels, which will make it mandatory for them to reserve one room as an isolation room on their property,” said CM Pramod Sawat. Any guest who tests positive for COVID-19, but is asymptomatic, can be put up in the isolation room on hotel premises.  

Keeping the new demands of travellers in mind, Tourism Ireland India’s recent webinar focussed on hotels, attractions and COVID safety measures. Huzan Fraser Motivala, its India Representative, says, “Self-drive tours will be popular and one of the best ways to experience Ireland is through self-drive.Indian visitors will definitely increase in 2021-2022.”

The Madhya Pradesh government has reconstituted its tourism cabinet, which will be headed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while the principal secretary of the tourism department will be the secretary in-charge of the cabinet committee. The panel will focus on promoting tourism in the state by developing infrastructure to generate employment in the sector.

Sharing an update on the association’s convention that it had planned to conduct virtually, Pradip Lulla, Acting President & VP, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), says, “We were planning to conduct our virtual convention in November 2020. However, we realise that people do not enjoy attending virtual events, especially when there is high possibility of technical glitches during the event. We will revisit our convention next year.”

When it comes to hospitality no country comes closer to perfection than Thailand offering something for everyone of diverse interest, every age and every budget. From pristine sandy beaches to lush jungles, bustling busy cities to traditional villages, Michelin star menus to roadside noodle stalls, historic Buddhist temples to 21st century sky scrapers, Thailand is truly amazing! Amazing Thailand also has Amazing Golf facilities. Ideally located more than 250 golf courses throughout the country, by the sea, by the mountains, by the lakes, inside the cities even besides the airports. Top quality courses, reasonable green fees, friendly caddies. From the beach resorts in the south such as Phuket to the mountainous surroundings in the north or the bustling cities of Bangkok and Pattaya, there are golf courses to suit every preference. To promote the Amazing Golf Experience, SLW, the leading Golf Management company had launched the first ever loyalty program for a country in 2017. ‘Thai Golf Passport was launched in India to offer Indian golfers a seamless golf experience in Thailand. Indian golfers can be a part of this Amazing reward programs whenever they tee off in Amazing Thailand’ said  Anil Dev, Managing Director, SLW.’ More than 250 quality service providers like Callaway and a number of Golf Courses, Resorts and hotels are on board as partners. While travel business took a hit due to Covid19, we are gearing up to make Thailand the destination of choice when travel resumes’ he added. Vachirachai Sirisumpan, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) New Delhi Office commenting that “Golf is one of the important segments which we focus on and continue to promote Thailand as Indian Golfer’s favourite destination. In fact, destination …

Tourism Ireland India will have four Irish suppliers as part of its webinar today at 3.30pm IST to discuss Ireland’s offerings and its safety guidelines. Huzan Fraser Motivala, its India Representative, says, “We have an interesting line-up of Irish hotels, attractions and tours.” Contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) conducted its 38th Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually with members attending the proceedings online while the Executive Committee (EC) presented the financial year’s report physically at The Park Hotel, New Delhi. Sharing updates, the association also put forward its expectations from the next union budget of the government which includes deemed industry status, removal of cascading effects of GST on tourism industry, withdrawal of TCS for overseas tour packages, extension of SEIS among other.