News

Coming Soon! Classic Imperial to set sail in Kochi backwaters in September

September will be a very good time to be in Kochi because that’s when Classic Imperial, the cruise vessel, will set sail in Kochi backwaters. The Classic Imperial is an IRS-class, sea-going, 300-tonne vessel with a capacity to carry 150 passengers at a time. The cruise vessel is expected to be the largest one in its class. Complete with top-notch facilities, Classic Imperial will be a grand addition to the list of tourist attractions in Kochi. The vessel will have two air-conditioned floors with a full glass-view. Already sounds dreamy, doesn't it? You can start planning a leisure cruise holiday aboard the Classic Imperial. Kochi backwaters is already a favoured destination, most popular for its scenic surroundings, a gorgeous mix of palms, calm waters, traditional houseboats and stunning sunsets. Classic Imperial will be a luxurious option for your special holiday, as well as a great venue for events like weddings and conferences.

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Alila Kothaifaru Maldives opens in the scenic Raa Atoll

Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced the opening of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, a private island retreat located in the picturesque Raa Atoll at the northern edge of the Maldives. The all-pool-villa resort offers a refreshing blend of serenity and discovery in a relatively untouched corner of the archipelago renowned for its abundant marine life. “As countries continue to open up and travel confidence grows, we look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives for a memorable getaway in what we hope will become the centerpiece of Raa Atoll,” said David Udell, Group President, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt. “We are delighted to add this beautiful resort in the Maldives to our growing Alila portfolio, with new Alila hotels opening in sought-after destinations such as Suzhou and Shanghai in China and Nha Trang in Vietnam in the future.” Housed on a 27.6 acre (11.2 hectare) island, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives can be reached via a 45-minute seaplane journey from Malé. As one of the deeper atolls in the archipelago, the Raa Atoll offers abundant snorkeling and diving options to discover its rich marine life, from colorful corals to manta rays and sharks. The resort offers easy access to the famous Hanifaru Bay UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and is close to Vaadhoo Island, one of the best spots to witness the spectacular ‘Sea of Stars’ phenomenon. Alila Kothaifaru Maldives features white-sand beaches overlooking the infinite expanse of ocean blue, a stunning house reef and lush greenery. Alila Kothaifaru Maldives offers 80 pool villas, of which 44 are along the beach and 36 are perched over water with direct access to the sea. Guests can unwind in these understated, sophisticated spaces that balance privacy with openness to the outdoors. Each villa comes with a private pool and sun deck where guests can bask in picture-perfect views and enjoy personalized service whether they are staying steps from the beach or above the turquoise lagoon. The Sunrise Beach Villas offer early birds captivating views to start their day alongside quick access to the resort’s main facilities such as the infinity pool, Play Alila kids’ club, Seasalt restaurant and Mirus Bar. The resort’s elegant minimalist architecture by Singapore-based Studiogoto encompasses terraced pavilions, villas and a treetop spa that are carefully integrated into the existing landscape to immerse guests in the picturesque natural surroundings. The low-rise structures and contemporary interiors feature open-air spaces and a calming palette of island-inspired colors and textures, creating an idyllic setting for complete relaxation and connection with nature. Alila Kothaifaru Maldives offers a delightful variety of culinary experiences including: Seasalt, the resort’s beachside all-day dining restaurant with an ocean view, serves coastal Mediterranean cuisine with Middle Eastern influences. Not to be missed are the restaurant’s signature salt-baked fish dishes. A spectacular Maldivian sunset alongside a refreshing selection of cocktails at Mirus Bar inspired by the region’s former spice trade routes and concocted with ingredients from the resort’s own herb garden. Umami offers Japanese-inspired menus prepared in a teppan theater with a premium selection of organically grown vegetables, Wagyu beef and sustainably sourced fish and seafood. The adjourning Yakitori Bar is the place to be to indulge in sundowners, from Asian-inspired craft cocktails and mocktails to fine Japanese sakes and spirits, amidst delicious smoky aromas from a robata grill. Pibati Café provides light bites and comfort food that are convenient for grab-and-go en route to an excursion. Guests dreaming of an ultimate castaway experience can set sail in a traditional Maldivian dhoni on a two to three-hour journey around the Raa Atoll before returning to the resort’s private sandbank, The Shack, a secluded spot for a gourmet picnic, a sunset barbecue or a romantic candlelit dinner under the stars. Nestled just above the treetops, Spa Alila features four double treatment suites, all with a private bathroom, shower and a floor-to-ceiling window with verdant views. Guests can indulge in rejuvenating treatments and beauty rituals that put a contemporary spin on ancient healing techniques and draw on the benefits of natural ingredients. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary daily yoga session in a tranquil outdoor space within the spa. The resort also offers a 24-hour fitness center and a beachfront infinity pool. A wide range of water activities and excursions organized through the expert marine guides at the resort’s Water Sports and Dive Center are also available while Play Alila, a dedicated play and learning space for young guests will keep them entertained with toys, games and fun, supervised indoor and outdoor activities. From barefoot chic to elegant sophistication, couples can tie the knot or renew their vows with an enchanting celebration set in tropical splendor, whether on a pristine palm-fringed beach with the glistening ocean as a backdrop or on the private sandbank at sunset followed by a bespoke dinner under the stars. “We are honored to welcome guests to one of the world’s most blissful destinations and we look forward to sharing with them the awe-inspiring nature that surrounds us,” said Alexandre Glauser, General Manager, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. “Here at our all-pool-villa sanctuary, guests can unwind in peaceful seclusion with charming views while our gracious hosts deliver personalised experiences leading to unique moments and treasured memories.”

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Renest Hotels and Resorts signs up two new properties in Dharamshala and Haridwar

Renest Haridwar is spread over 60,000 square feet with 74 rooms ranging from exquisite balcony rooms, grand suites to comfortable deluxe rooms. Located in the picturesque town of Dharamshala, Renest Eliot Exotica offers terrific views of the pristine Dhauladhar Ranges. Equipped with a rooftop swimming pool and a well-endowed spa, Renest has been designed keeping the minutest details of a guest’s need in mind. The hotels will open to guests in July-August 2022. “Both the new properties are part of our targeted expansion plan. Post- COVID, we are seeing a significant surge in domestic tourism which is driving significant growth for us,” Vishal Lonkar, GM- Brand Development, Renest Hotels and Resorts says. “We expect growth in the hospitality industry to continue at a fast pace over the next 3-4 years. Our expansion plans are aligned to tap this opportunity,” Lonkar added. Renest Hotels and Resorts will continue to look for establishing new properties in exotic locations across India to cater to the growing leisure travels.

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Ethiopian Airlines explores commercial tie-ups with IndiGo and SpiceJet

Africa’s largest carrier Ethiopian Airlines, which already has a codeshare pact with Tata Group-owned Air India, is looking to have “commercial” tie-ups with domestic budget carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet, a senior company official said. The airline also said it is also evaluating the prospects of setting up an aircraft (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility in India. It currently operates its non-stop flight services to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The airline also has freighter services to Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Notably, the airline recently completed 50 years of operations in Mumbai. “India is one of our strategic markets in Asia and we have been providing critical air connectivity between India and Africa for decades. It is one of the critical destinations for the passenger and cargo services for Ethiopian Airlines,” Ethiopian Airlines’ Regional director for India Subcontinent Tigist Eshetu told PTI in an interaction. Ethiopian Airlines started flying to Delhi from the capital city Addis Ababa in 1966 and later started services to Mumbai as well from December 1971. It added Bengaluru to its network in late 2019. Ethiopian Airlines has been constantly expanding its operations in India with additional frequency, new cities and aircraft upgrades. This trend will continue in the forthcoming years too, she said. Stating that the airline is set to commence services from Chennai from July 2 with three weekly flights, which will be served with either a Boeing 737 Max or Boeing 787 Dreamliner depending upon the market demand, Eshetu said other destinations such as Ahmedabad and Hyderabad are also on the radar going forward. Besides, we have a codeshare agreement with Air India and SPA (Special Prorate Agreement) with Vistara. We are assessing and in communication with Spicejet and IndiGo for commercial tie-ups, she said, without divulging details. SPA is a pact between two or more airlines on the apportionment of through-fares on journeys with two or more legs operated by different airlines. Emphasising that India has always been its strategic market since 1966, she said, “It is our desire to continue to serve India with enhanced capacities.” However, COVID-induced restrictions have hampered the moderate amount of frequency the airline used to operate, she said, adding, “We are now operating much lower but are optimistic that services will restore to pre COVID levels (soon).” Global air traffic is recovering, and the improvement is expected to accelerate in 2022-23. Ethiopian Airlines has a recovery rate of around 70 per cent from the pre-COVID levels, and it expects this to improve in the coming year, Eshetu said. “India is one of the top markets where we expect a high recovery rate now that we have reinstated our passenger capacity,” she added. A major chunk (39 per cent) of the passenger traffic on the airlines’ Mumbai route comes from labour travel followed by business and corporate travel, which accounts for 30 per cent. As much as 55 per cent of the passenger traffic on the Delhi route comes from the business, leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) segments. Also as much as 90 per cent of the passengers traveling from India are transit passengers going further to airlines’ online African points, majorly to Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Botswana, amongst others, she said. “We have been navigating through the COVID-19 turbulence by capitalizing on our agility and diversified business model. Our cargo business has been instrumental in generating a revenue stream when passenger numbers dwindled following the COVID outbreak,” she said. She said that the airline had the agility to reconfigure a number of its passenger aircraft for cargo service owing to its capability. “Evaluation is currently in process at our head office for a possible set-up/tie-up with Indian authorities, she said. Noting that Ethiopian Airlines is on a massive expansion plan, in spite of the pandemic impact, she said, “there is interest from the Ethiopian side for enhancement in frequency and entry points. We believe the Indian side will also be on the same page as the boost in demand is from both sides.

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Portugal, a MICE destination that is waiting to be discovered and rediscovered by Indian clients

MICE tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the Indian outbound travel market and, based on pre-pandemic figures, Portugal is looking forward to attracting and hosting, and continuing to show their event organisers skills. Claudia Matias, Director, Visit Portugal, India, believes that though nearby destinations will probably benefit the most from the Indian MICE market, however with travel resuming and with increasing traveller trust and flexibility, the same will happen with long-haul destinations in Europe, such as Portugal in the medium term. – Prashant Nayak India is a promising growing market and Visit Portugal is capitalising on India’s outbound MICE sector. As Indians are now travelling abroad for work all year, they expect the corporate MICE trend to continue to rise. In recent times, they have seen significant growth in MICE to Portugal from India. They also witnessed significant growth in the number of travellers arriving from India for business travel in 2021 and 2022, underlining the importance of the India market to Portugal. “Portugal is the MICE destination that is waiting to be discovered and rediscovered by Indian clients. There are many interesting facts about Portugal. As a country of strategic location with connections over the world, Portugal has become an ideal place to travel, live, study, work and invest. We recently launched a motivational teaser, especially aimed at the meetings industry, which highlights the key characteristics and potential of the country, as a destination for corporate and associative events. Our events industry plays a vital role in our tourism strategy since it contributes to seasonal and regional tourism spread across the country. The video is available on the Visit Portugal YouTube channel. The teaser can be viewed and shared with all stakeholders,” informs Claudia. Visit Portugal also has a website dedicated solely to MICE tourism, in order to provide the most up-to-date information to the travel sector, where it’s possible to request directly a proposal directly to their team. Portugal is one of the powerful players in the global MICE market in terms of infrastructure, network, and accessibility. They have a strategic location with well-served air connections to the main outbound markets, and Lisbon is an international hub to America, Africa, and Europe. The country offers concentrated diversity all at a short distance, ranks second in road system quality and eleventh in the ground transport network. They have five mainland international harbours too. Portugal is a safe and stable country with 900 years of history and UNESCO World Heritage classifications, highly appreciated gastronomy and wines, and world-class hospitality offering a good quality/price ratio. They have the Best European Golf Destinations, with 91 golf courses. Their venues can be an 18th-century palace with 50 seats, a modern museum with a capacity for 250 guests, or a multi-purpose arena capable of hosting thousands of participants. Adding to this, Claudia says, “Portugal is a country of seven contrasting regions with an amazing culture and heritage, diversity and inclusiveness, warm hospitality and mild weather. With over 300 days of sunshine each year and services and infrastructure that equal the best and most modern in Europe, it’s easy to see why large worldwide businesses are flocking to Portugal.” Portugal is certainly an excellent choice for MICE events for an array of reasons. The country has been proving itself as a major event organiser, such as hosting the Web Summit, Europe’s biggest tech conference. The country also has amazing conditions to host smaller events, such as business meetings or commercial presentations. This diversity is only possible because of a wide range of highly qualified companies and professionals, as well as a diverse range of quality venues and hotels and multiple international air routes. “One can have great local experiences in Portugal from our, cuisine and amazing wine tourism experiences, nature, and landscapes to enjoy in a balloon ride, golden beaches with amazing sunsets, water sports, surf spots, dolphin and whale watching, UNESCO heritage and history, monuments, medieval castles, cobblestone villages, for cultural tours. Our cities, besides the trendiness, the Michelin restaurants offering are a must-try. Portugal is also a wonderful tax-free shopping destination with a 23 per cent VAT return. They can club many experiences in our amazing golf courses, for example at the Algarve Motorsports Park. This complex, the tracks, and the facilities provide one of the best motorsport experiences in the world. The options are endless,” assures Claudia. Portugal now welcomes all visitors, regardless of the country of origin or purpose of travel. Visitors arriving on mainland Portugal from India will be required to present the following documents as a mandate and no quarantine will be obligatory upon arrival. The document includes a negative RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test) – 72 hours before boarding, or a negative Laboratorial Rapid Antigen Test- 24h before boarding (according to the European Commission list). Children under 12 do not need to present certificates or tests.

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Jharkhand may have 'dolphin safari' at Sahibganj, Rajmahal to boost eco-tourism

The Jharkhand government has proposed two stretches of the river Ganga in Sahibganj district for 'dolphin safari' in a bid to boost eco-tourism and promote conservation of the national aquatic animal of the country, a forest department official said on Sunday. The proposed stretches at Singhidalan in Rajmahal and Ojhatoli in Sahibganj are likely to be declared as "dolphin tourism sites", he said. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recently sought proposals for two places - Sahibganj and Rajmahal - for the eco-tourism project from the state government, Sahibganj divisional forest officer (DFO) Manish Tiwary told PTI. The state forest department has submitted its proposal to the Centre last month, he said. "As per the Centre's demand, we identified two sites at Singhidalan in Rajmahal and Ojhatoli in Sahibganj for the project. The distance between the two sites is around 40 km. We submitted our plan by the end of April. Now, we are waiting for its approval," Tiwary, who played a key role in drafting the proposal, told PTI. The presence of dolphin and economic and tourism possibilities were considered while selecting the sites, the official said. "The proposed sites will help better monitoring and patrolling of the species and will boost local employment through tourism," he said. The two sites may be connected to the Centre's 'Dolphin Jalaj Safari' project, the official said. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) had, in October 2020, launched the safari project at six places in the country- Bijnor, Brijghat, Prayagraj and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Kahalgaon in Bihar and Bandel in West Bengal. Dolphins, protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, are found in an 83-km stretch of the river Ganga in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) conducted a survey on the Ganga stretch in Jharkhand in January this year and found 81 dolphins. "We believe the number will be higher as the river is very wide in Sahibganj. As per our estimation, the population of dolphins will be between 130 and 135," Tiwary said. Former state wildlife board member DS Srivastava told PTI that the protection of dolphins has been a major issue due to lack of monitoring and patrolling on the stretch. "The forest department had seized two dolphins from a poacher's house in Sahibganj last year," he said. Last year, it had sent a proposal to the state government for "setting up a dolphin sanctuary in a bid to conserve the aquatic animal and check unscientific fishing on the stretch". However, the department is yet to get the government's nod on the proposal, he claimed. "If the government accepts the proposal, this could be the second such reserve in the country after Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar," he said. A senior forest official, on condition of anonymity, said, "Poaching and unscientific fishing are the major threats to the species in the river. If the proposed sanctuary is approved, there will be certain restrictions and we will also have the power to plan strategies for conservation of the aquatic animal."

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