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Personalised travel to be the core of post-COVID tourism

Tour operators should focus on hygiene and healthcare to address travel concerns, say speakers at KTM seminar Ethical tourism is all set to define post-COVID travel, necessitating stakeholders to provide customised visitor services that sustain nature and support local communities, speakers at a seminar held at the 11 th edition of the ongoing Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) said here on Friday. Tour operators are on the path to revival, but they need to focus more on hygiene and healthcare to address post-pandemic travel concerns of tourists. Long-haul travel will not be the norm in the next three years, when most tourists will be keen on domestic trips in an unprecedented scale, they said, at a session on ‘Changing Trends in Travel’. Additional Chief Secretary V. Venu, who was till recently Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), called upon travel operators to equip themselves to address the “anxious traveller”, who needed reassurance, as life was limping back to normalcy after the worldwide spread of the pandemic. “Trips will become increasingly personalised, and people will travel in small groups to relatively smaller destinations. So, the information provided to them should be authentic. Responsible Tourism, which strives for sustainable nature and a stronger role of local communities, will gain vitality,” he said. Tourism should no longer be measured by gross revenues, but by its impact on the local community, said Berlin-based social anthropologist Rika Jean Francois. “We must stop cultural erosion. Destination management is far more important than destination marketing. Administrations should adopt a no-tolerance policy that guarantees ethical tourism,” she said. Delhi-based tourism entrepreneur Amit Sharma said the travel industry was moving from being part of the service economy to an experiential economy. “We have to curate experiences and cater for customised services in the changed travel equations after COVID-19,” he said.

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JAW-DROPPING BRIDGES CONNECTING INDIA!

Jaw-dropping bridges connecting India! Train travel in India is more like an emotion, and almost everyone can relate to that! The very thought of sitting by the window seat, and passing through the diversity of terrain over mountains, rivers, forests, paddy fields, brings excitement for the trip. Also, India's railway network is the world’s fourth-largest, and holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest under single management. So you know why we love travelling in trains. If you are also a train lover, check out these jaw-dropping bridges in India that have been bridging the gaps beautifully. Pamban Bridge, Tamil Nadu It’s India's first sea bridge that was opened in 1914, and served as the only link between the mainland and island Rameshwaram till 1988, after which a road bridge was also built. This beautiful bridge was designed by German engineer Scherzer, and has been built in such a manner that its central part opens up to allow ferries to pass through. As per reports, it took more than a decade to build it, and although it lies in a cyclone prone area, it stands tall till date. Havelock Bridge, Andhra Pradesh It’s a steel and stone link that stretches between Chennai and Howrah over the Godavari. It’s the oldest of all the three Godavari bridges, which was to be replaced by Godavari Truss Bridge and decommissioned in 1997, which was again replaced by the Godavari Arch Bridge. Yet, this majestic Havelock has outdone its expectations, as while the bridge has a life expectancy of 70 years, it ended up serving people for up to 97 years, as per the records. Zuari Bridge, Goa You need to cross this bridge for the sake of beauty and thrill! Spanning across 1319 m in length, it’s an iconic railway bridge that connects India via tunnels and takes you over pristine waters. It’s famed for not only being the longest bridge of the Konkan rail network, but is also known for offering a scenic ride by the Zuari River. Also, this bridge connects South and North Goa, so don’t miss it when you are off for a Goa trip. Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Mumbai This engineering wonder is entirely supported by cables that run from the base to the tower of the bridge. Famed for being one of India's most beautiful bridges, it runs over Mahima Bay, and was opened to the public in 2009. The bridge serves as a main point that connects the Southern and Western parts of Mumbai, and has helped to reduce travel time from an hour to just 10-15 minutes. Howrah Bridge, Kolkata Kolkata is synonymous to Howrah Bridge! One cannot separate one from the other. It’s the iconic landmark of Kolkata that stands tall over the Hooghly river. If records are to go by, this beautiful bridge dates back to 1943, and took around six years to build it. Another interesting fact about this bridge is that it’s a cantilever bridge and is suspended over the river, which means it’s supported only on the ends, and not a single nut or bolt was used in its making.

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Travel To Kedarnath Via Helicopter: Here’s How To Book Tickets, Price And Other FAQs

The gates of Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand opened on Friday in the presence of thousands of devotees, administrative and temple committee officials. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami along with his wife also visited Kedarnath to offer prayers and witness the ceremonious opening of the temple gate. Around 10,000 devotees reached Kedarnath on the opening day as they offered prayers at the holy site. As the Char Dham Yatra began, Uttarakhand government announced helicopter services for devotees. This means you can now easily book your tickets to reach Kedarnath via helicopter on the official website – heliservices.uk.gov.in. The Uttarakhand government, in a notification, said that devotees can book their tickets to Kedarnath only via the official website. No other website is allowed to book tickets so devotees should be careful of fraud websites trying to lure customers. How to book helicopter ride for Kedarnath : - Log on to heliservices.uk.gov.in - A popup notification will appear after you log onto the site and you can close it - Click on the button ‘Heli Service User Registration’. Fill details in the required information including nationality, mobile number and email and select submit. - After registration is completed, then proceed to booking the helicopter ride - Now choose date and the time slot you plan to travel to Kedarnath. Helipads at Sirsi, Phata and Guptkashi operate helicopter services for Kedarnath. - Prices of helicopter tickets to Kedarnath (Round trip) The helicopter services for Kedarnath is operating from three helipads – Sirsi, Phata and Guptkashi. Guptkashi – Rs 7,750 Phata – Rs 4,720 Sersi – Rs 4,680 What documents are required to travel to Kedarnath via helicopter - Ticket as printed from portal. (No digital ticket will be accepted) - Passenger-wise ID proof as submitted at the time of online booking

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Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism to showcase city’s diversity at ATM 2022

Dubai’s new Department of Economy and Tourism is to showcase the city’s diverse proposition at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022. The department will be joined by government and private sector partners to promote Dubai’s varied culinary, cultural and events offerings. This year’s ATM, which has the theme of ‘The future of international travel and tourism’, will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. “ATM is an important platform for global and regional tourism and this year the forum is happening at a time when the world is increasingly looking to take a leaf out of Dubai’s successful tourism recovery strategy,” said Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing. Dubai’s participation is fundamental for driving the future of global tourism to position the city as a leading trade, investment and travel hub. Dubai has been ranked as number one global destination in Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2022, while the city’s ever-growing gastronomy sector is one of the key pillars that is set to take the spotlight at ATM 2022. The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) will provide ATM visitors with updates to Dubai’s food scene, as part of its continuous efforts to elevate Dubai’s position as a year-round global gastronomy hub. These include the arrival of the Michelin Guide Dubai and renowned fine dining food critique brand – Gault&Millau, along with the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list which features 16 Dubai restaurants. DET will also be actively amplifying Dubai’s array of festivals and events including Dubai Food Festival, which runs alongside ATM and takes place from 2-15 May 2022. Another key initiative to be promoted at the Dubai stand will be Dubai Can, a sustainability campaign to encourage people to turn the tide on plastic and inspire mass action to actively reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles. The Dubai stand will also highlight key activities of government bodies and industry stakeholders including Dubai Police, Dubai Health, Accor and Marriott International.

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Kerala is first post-pandemic choice of tourists: Foreign travel agents

Kochi: Kerala has emerged as the first choice of global tourists amid a COVID-19 slide, as travellers from across continents find the southern Indian state rich and alluring as a cultural experience, according to foreign travel agents at the ongoing Kerala Travel Mart (KTM). Enquiries about Kerala top among all the destinations about which they have been receiving queries ever since the pandemic started tapering off, reveal the foreign travel agency delegates, who are among the international buyers at the four-day KTM-2022 which began here on Thursday. As Sagara and Samudrika convention centres in the Willingdon Island set the stage for 55,000 business meets, the foreign delegates said Kerala is invariably the most sought-after destination for those visiting India, a KTM release said here. Zsolt Jurak, who is owner of World Travel Master KFT in Hungary, said Kerala is "one of the best parts in the whole of India" because of its traditional values, Ayurveda wellness, tasty food and warm people. "I am glad to see that the event is back after the pandemic and people can travel freely in the state," gushed Jurak, who has been to Kerala "several times earlier" as a tourist. "At the KTM-2022, I am specifically looking for new possibilities and places, alongside certain unique and extraordinary things," he added at the venue of the event being organised by KTM Society. Billed as India's biggest tourism event, it will conclude on May 8. Eunsook Park, an official of Withus Tour in South Korea, said her compatriots, who are interested in pilgrimage, are keen to visit the churches of Kochi. "Normally, Koreans are interested in pilgrimage programmes and such tour packages. They choose Kerala and Chennai for pilgrimage packages, especially the Catholic pilgrimage package to visit Kochi," she pointed out. "Its natural beauty makes Kerala an apt place to relax," adds Park, who has been busy with promoting the state's latest travel products such as caravan tourism.

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Photographers needed to capture Midnight Sun in Iceland; free flights & boarding!

Iceland, a dream destination of many, is giving an opportunity to people with the 3rd eye (photographers) to make their dream come true! The stunning Nordic nation is noted for jaw-dropping sights of northern lights in the winter. Come summer, the country turns equally magical with the phenomenon of Midnight Sun which means that Iceland remains shining with sunlight almost 24/7 Now, here’s the catch. Hotel Rangá, a luxury lodge set on the South Coast of the island, is inviting aspiring photographers to spend 10 sunlight-filled days in Iceland. One lucky photographer (winner) of the Midnight Sun Catcher Competition will get the golden chance to capture the beauty of the country, which is brimming with numerous waterfalls, glacier volcanoes, amazing beaches filled with black sand, and hot springs. However, people who want to enter the contest will have to keep a few things in mind. 1) The winner must give his full commitment to a 10-day excursion in Iceland. 2) He/she will have to contribute a number of exceptional-quality pictures and videos of Iceland's Midnight Sun at the end of their stay. 3) In exchange of content, the hotel will offer free flights to and from Iceland along with complimentary room and board at the hotel. 4) Winner will also get the option to visit The Highland Center Hrauneyjar, which is the hotel's sister property. 5) The deadline to apply is May 15, 2022. Apparently, last year in October, the hotel had launched a similar campaign but it was for the Northern Lights Catcher. The contest was such a huge hit that the hotel had to choose two winners instead of one. The winners were given a fully paid-for trip to Iceland to click the northern lights.

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