Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, has said that there is a great opportunity to boost domestic tourism or regional tourism by creating synergy between neighbouring states, since most of the people today feel safer while opting for self-drive holidays instead of travelling by air or train. She also said that safety and hygiene will be priorities for tourists because they will travel to destinations only if they are assured that the place they are visiting, eating at and staying in is safe.

In a bid to comply with demands from travellers and travel agents regarding information on an airline’s health and safety measures, Travelport has launched the Airline Health & Safety Tracker. This free-of-charge tool is available to both Travelport customers and the wider industry. It highlights the safety measures being undertaken by more than 80 of the world’s largest airlines – all available immediately. Data is delivered to both online and offline travel agencies through the recently launched Travelport COVID API-COVID-19 Resource Hub, which is also available to the general public. The new tool provides detailed information on a range of topics, including lockdown rules, entry requirements and quarantine measures for travellers. Country-level information can be displayed at the click of a button, allowing agents to advise their customers easily and instantly. Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer at InterGlobe Technology Quotient, says, “Gradual shifts towards safer journeys with refined safety measures is leading us to an evolving industry. To be able to track and match these safety measures with respective requirements shall lay genesis for a better travel booking experience, one that is frequently ensured by Travelport, lately with the Airline Health & Safety Tracker. This readily-accessible aid shall undoubtedly bring much respite from tedious manual searching and help travellers meet their respective requirements.

jüSTa Hotels & Resorts has opened doors to its four properties in Rajasthan. Rohit Katyal, National Sales Head, jüSTa Hotels & Resorts, says that these properties are already getting some leisure bookings from Delhi, Jaipur and some parts of Gujarat, with most guests driving in. This Monsoon season, explore the Mewar kingdom of Rajasthan with jüSTa Hotels & Resorts. Spend some quality time with your loved ones at the gorgeous Lake Nahargarh Palace in Chittorgarh, dwell in the divinity of Shrinathji at Brij Bhoomi in Nathdwara, or simply experience the Venice of East at Sajjangarh Resort & Spa and Rajputana in Udaipur.

According to the Global COVID-19 Index published on July 28, Thailand leads out of 184 countries for its ongoing COVID-19 recovery effort. It received an index score of 82.06 that put it on the top of the global chart.

According to the latest analysis from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 40% of all destinations worldwide have now eased the restrictions they placed on international tourism in response to COVID-19. This latest outlook, recorded on 19 July, is up from 22% of destinations that had eased restrictions on travel by 15 June and the 3% previously observed by 15 May. It confirms the trend of a slow but continuous adaptation and responsible restart of international tourism.

OTOAI has recently written a letter to almost all European Embassies in India, requesting them to issue Gratis Visas to those travellers, who despite having a valid travel visa, could not undertake the planned holiday. Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, says, “OTOAI has written to most of the European Embassy requesting them to issue a Gratis Visa to the visitors who despite having paid and processed the Visa fee and due procedure, could not undertake the journey for reasons known to all of us.”

On behalf of the hotel industry of Odisha, J K Mohanty, MHCIMA, Chairman – Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha & IATO Eastern Region, has written a letter to Reserve Bank of India, to extend the moratorium period up to March 2021 and exempt hoteliers from payment of interest during this period as it is not possible to pay interest without earning. He also expressed his gratitude to RBI for announcing immediate action to avoid the crisis by allowing relief on loan moratorium on interest and principal repayment for a period three months and later extended to six months.

Air India, in a circular, has written to the travel agents against overcharging for the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) flights. The national carrier has recently opened the Vande Bharat Mission flight booking for travel agents and other OTAs. Now, they have warned travel agents against overcharging for VBM flights and said that if any agents found doing the same, they will lose their authority to sell Air India tickets. Air India has asked passengers to check fares on https://bit.ly/309voT7 and not overpay for Vande Bharat Mission flights.

Since different states in the country have different SOPS, guidelines and quarantine rules, there is a need for uniformity and common protocols across the country, so that people don’t have a fear in travelling, says Meenakshi Sharma, Director General, Tourism. “We need to start working towards making the state governments agree to it. If we start now, may be in 2-3 weeks’ time, we can have some consensus, and even ICMR and Ministry of Health might come up with suggestions on the request of MOT and the industry.”

The latest edition of UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows that the lockdown led to a 98 per cent fall in international tourist numbers in May when compared to 2019, and a 56% year-on-year drop in arrivals between January and May. This translates into a fall of 300 million tourists and US$320 billion lost in international tourism receipts.