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Fully vaccinated Indians can now visit New Zealand from August

The New Zealand Government today announced further relaxations in border restrictions, allowing all fully vaccinated international travellers, including India, to travel to Aotearoa (New Zealand) from August 1, 2022. Fully vaccinated Indian visitors will be able to travel to New Zealand without self-isolation on the provision of a negative pre-departure test. Negative Rapid Antigen Tests [RAT] will be required on arrival and on day 5/6. New Zealand had been progressively opening its borders from April, first to Australian visitors and then in May to visitors from visa waiver countries. Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive, René de Monchy said, “We look forward to welcoming manuhiri [visitors], family and friends back from August. New Zealand has plenty to offer international visitors from breathtaking landscapes, and rare and remarkable wildlife to our rich culture and heritage; our people and place are what make us unique, and we look forward to sharing this with the world again.” In 2020, Tourism New Zealand in India rolled out the “Messages from New Zealand” campaign which featured everyday New Zealanders sharing video messages of hope and care with their international whānau (family). Through this initiative, New Zealand reached out in a heartfelt and genuine way by sending messages of positivity and optimism to Indian travelers. As part of efforts to prepare for the reopening of borders, Tourism New Zealand has also been supporting travel partners with new resources such as a dedicated marketing hub, regular training sessions and most recently, the launch of a revamped travel trade website.

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Discover Switzerland’s best train journeys with Rhaetian Railway

With a history dating back to 1889, the Rhaetian Railway is Switzerland’s leading meter-gauge railway. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, its core products – the premium panoramic trains “Glacier Express” and “Bernina Express” are marketed globally. The Rhaetian Railway serves a number of major tourist destinations, such as St. Moritz and Davos. Sebastian Blaettler, Market Manager – Asia-Pacific, Rhaetian Railway, was recently in India to meet and greet travel trade partners and help them successfully promote their products, thereby providing Indian travellers with an outstanding travel experience of pristine and picturesque Switzerland. In an exclusive interview with TTJ, Sebastian shares more about these iconic train journeys in Switzerland. – Sonika Bohra Q. How important is the India market for Rhaetian Railway? Rhaetian Railway has two major products: The Glacier Express connects Western Switzerland with Eastern Switzerland, whereas the Bernina Express connects Eastern Switzerland with Italy. The India market, like the other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, is still growth market, which means the numbers are already there. A large number of FITs are travelling on our network from these regions. Even before the pandemic, the Asia-Pacific region was on our growth markets list, and year on year, the bookings have increased. It is clear that after COVID, these markets will pick up again, which is why we are investing in the market and visiting agents on a regular basis. Q. Train journeys in Europe are an exciting concept for travellers across the world. How unique or different are the journeys of the Rhaetian Railway from other rail operators in Europe? Travel agents who are new to our products perceive train journeys as just another mode of transportation. However, at Rhaetian Railway, we clearly focus on touristic products. Glacier Express and Bernina Express are premium panoramic train journeys. With a part of the network of Rhaetian Railway featuring in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, we have this touristic significance attached to us. So, this is one of the highlights in the itinerary of Glacier Express and Bernina Express. It is the most significant selling feature for us. In terms of scenery, it cannot be compared to any other rail journeys in Europe, especially on the Bernina Express, where one travels to the highest crossing of the Alps at 2253 meters. It means one can see the glaciers and the eternal ice all year round. At the same time, one travels from the Italian-speaking region to the German-speaking region, so you see a lot of diversity just condensed down into two hours. I definitely think it’s one of the most iconic rail journeys in Europe. Q. Among your rail experiences like Glacier Express, Bernina Express, etc., which are the most popular with the Indians? The Glacier Express route is longer than Bernina Express, but it depends on where Indians want to visit in terms of the itineraries. As Glacier Express runs from Zermatt to St. Moritz, it is more popular for people staying in Zermatt. On the other hand, Bernina Express connects Switzerland with Italy; it is more popular with travellers who want to travel from Italy to Switzerland. It depends on the choice of the customer. However, a part of the stretch of Glacier Express and Bernina Express is the same, and it runs on this UNESCO World Heritage route. We also have quite a few brands under our umbrella which customers choose depending on their choice of itinerary. Q. What are your current marketing initiatives with your travel trade partners in India? Are you looking at expanding your travel partner network in India? We have a selection of travel trade partners who may book directly through us or have access to our system. Many of our travellers also have a Swiss Travel Pass, and we are looking forward to expanding our network. For direct collaborations, we primarily focus on travel agencies that specialise in Switzerland or those who have strong rail expertise. In terms of our marketing initiatives, we are beginning to understand that many of our agents must have lost touch and knowledge of our products because of the pandemic, and it is important to get back on track with them. Our India representative, Kunal Kothari, has a lot of first-hand product knowledge, so we constantly strive to educate our trade partners on our products, the Swiss Rail Travel System, and those promoting the Swiss Travel Pass. We are always looking for a win-win situation for all our stakeholders. Q. The Rhaetian Railway is known for its selection of culinary and historical experiences. Can you throw more light on these offerings? Onboard our trains, the gastronomic experience is a key differentiation. The Glacier Express provides full meal service as well as something truly unique and local. We also offer “Excellence Class,” the first and only luxury travel pass in Switzerland. Travelling between Zermatt and St. Moritz in the Excellence Class takes eight hours, and during that time, passengers can enjoy premium environmental service. A seven-course meal with local wine pairing is included in the package. It is strictly limited to 20 seats per way per day, which means it is only available in one carriage of one train. This service naturally distinguishes the Glacier Express from the norm. Passengers in the first and second classes of the Glacier Express can pre-book their meals. It’s included in Excellence Class. The best part is we also offer one Indian option in the meal. In the main course, we have Indian veg and Indian non-veg option. While the rest of the menu is international, one Indian main course is always there, to the delight of Indian customers. Also, starting this year, every passenger on the Bernina Express gets an exclusive gift, a tin box in the shape of the Bernina Express for each passenger, in collaboration with Lindt. The historical experiences are woven throughout the train journey. The reason behind being credited as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was because of the pioneering engineering spirit when the line was built and how it’s embedded into the landscape. Our first rail route started in 1889. The last route to open was in 1914, so even that has a history of more than 100 years old. We also have a small railway museum located along with our railway network. This small boutique museum covers the history of the Rhaetian Railway. We have found an increase in international tourists visiting this museum.

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Argentina targets digital nomads with new visa, hopes to entice remote workers

Argentina on Tuesday joined a growing list of countries trying to woo remote workers by implementing a temporary visa targeted at digital nomads, who can work anywhere in the world as long as they have a good internet connection. Interior Minister Wado de Pedro said the government hopes the new visa will help the country bring in much-needed hard currency by attracting people interested in working temporarily in Argentina. Those workers will “live the Argentine experience and return to their countries being the main salespeople of this beautiful country,” he said. Digital nomads usually have a higher purchasing power and spend an average of around $3,000 a month, which is double what a regular tourist might spend, said Florencia Carignano, the national director for migration. “We want to attract people who after the pandemic changed their mentality and now prioritize their freedom, want to visit new places and enjoy life in a different way,” she said. “The pandemic accelerated a trend that was already happening.” Argentina will become the second country in South America to officially launch a visa targeting remote workers. Neighboring Brazil did so earlier this year. “We know there are around 40 million people around the world who are digital nomads,” Carignano said. The new visa will be valid for six months and can be renewed once, compared to a maximum of a three-month stay for a regular tourist visa. It will also provide a series of benefits, including discounts on flights with state-owned airline Aerolíneas Argentinas. Only citizens of countries that do not require a tourist visa to enter Argentina will be eligible to apply. Applicants will have to submit a resume and a document that proves their work relationship with at least one employer. Dozens of countries around the world, including several Caribbean islands, have launched programs to woo digital workers in part to make up for the shortfall in tourism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were waiting for this decision by the government as it will undoubtedly have an impact on the city,” said Fernando Straface, international relations secretary for the city of Buenos Aires. Argentina’s capital has been particularly active in trying to get remote workers to move to Buenos Aires, touting its solid infrastructure and the relative weak value of the local currency. “We are an ideal destination for digital nomads because of the quality and cost of living,” Straface said. “Buenos Aires has consolidated its global reputation as a the leading city in the region to live, study and work.”

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Tamil Nadu to focus on drawing foreign tourists

The whole world is working towards reviving tourism post COVID–19 pandemic, and with world travel gaining momentum once more, India again welcomes oversea visitors. Tamil Nadu, among all other states in India, is gaining a lot of healthy attention from foreign tourists. The state has gathered interests from countries like Australia, Thailand and Brazil. Before this, most foreign tourists to Tamil Nadu were from countries like France, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Italy, UK and US. What draws the foreign tourist the most? In the case of Tamil Nadu, it’s the heritage and spiritual tourism that catches a lot of foreign interest. Places like Puducherry, Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Rameshwaram and Madurai are hubs for heritage and spiritual tourism. The state tourism is now trying to bring in wildlife tourism in focus, along with heritage and spiritual tourism. There are a total of nine national parks in Tamil Nadu – Mudumalai National Park, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Mukurthi National Park, Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary, and Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. Except for a few, most of these parks see lesser footfall. Bringing them in focus could become a big game changer. Also, the upcoming 44th Chess Olympiad, which is expecting visitors from more than 150 countries, can be a great opportunity to publicise various tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu. Special hotel deals and international fairs and pushing rural tourism can be good initiatives as per the tourism department officials.

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‘NamasteIndia’ Campaign to encourage International visitors to travel to India

On the second day of the Arabian Travel Market, Dubai -2022, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India held a press conference that included influencers and international media, where various tourism potentials in India were discussed. During the press conference, Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand Satpal Maharaj went on to discuss the importance of the state that can be leveraged for the promotion of tourism such as wedding tourism, and adventure tourism in the State of Uttarakhand and also highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the government with regards to increasing the footfall of tourists in the state. Other matters discussed included various infrastructure development projects including Haridwar International Airport and more. The ministry has been aggressively promoting different tourism destinations and products, while the major focus has been on the potential of MICE, Wellness Tourism, Film Tourism, Medical Tourism, Wildlife Tourism, Luxury Tourism as well as Adventure Tourism. The Middle East has been the major target market for Indian tourism as a large number of tourists from the Middle East visit India for MICE, medical, wellness and luxury tourism. The conference also highlighted that India was open to International visitors for which the Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India has been promoting Indian tourism in the Middle East market like Arabian Travel Mart. The Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai -2022 being held from 9th to 12th May 2022, where India Pavilion will be showcasing India as a “365 Days Destination” with multi-faceted tourist destinations which include Adventure, Culture, Golf and much more. The event will have 18 Participants from India representing the State Tourism Government of Nagaland, Kerala that will also include Travel Agents, Travel Operators as well as Hoteliers/Resorts, at the India Pavilion. Other than this, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh will also be showcasing the potential of tourism the States have to offer.

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Second edition of Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart to be organised to showcase local products

Rajasthan Tourism Department and Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Rajasthan (FHTR) will jointly hold the second edition of Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM) in Jaipur from July 22, 2022 to July 24, 2022. The three-day event will provide opportunities for hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators of the state to show their products to travel agents across the country. A series of road shows will also be organised across the state to publicise various initiatives taken by Rajasthan Tourism, including the recently launched Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy, 2022., Guest House scheme, the Revised Homestay(PG)scheme, Revised Heritage Guidelines, among others. The first road show will be organised in Jaipur, followed by Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Mandawa, etc.

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