News

IndiGo announces Super 6E for enhanced flying experience

Indigo on Wednesday announced the launch of ‘Super 6E”, a new product offering with enhanced flying experience on its domestic network. The new “Super 6E” fare will include an extra 10kg baggage allowance, free seat selection including XL seat, meal /snack combo, check-in first and get your bags before anyone else, anytime boarding, delayed and lost baggage protection service, no change fee and reduced cancellation fee, as well as no convenience fee, the airline officials said. The offer has been designed to provide the most sought after services under a single fare for our customers who want to have all services bundled in single fare. Customers will be able to opt for Super 6E, only at the time of booking. This service is available on the IndiGo website currently and will be made available on other channels in phased manner, officials added. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer of IndiGo, said, “IndiGo is constantly looking to innovate and offer a seamless and hassle-free travel experience for our customers. With the advent of the summer holiday season, customers can avail of these Super 6E benefits under a single fare, while having maximum flexibility and control on their travel plans. At IndiGo we are constantly working towards offering the best travel experience aboard our lean, clean, flying machine.” Super 6E will go live from May 4 onwards.

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Large number of tourists flock to Kashmir to escape summer heat

Tourists from all across the country rush towards the scenic valleys of Jammu and Kashmir as plains across the country see high temperatures. "Weather is so pleasant in the valley right now, I've had a lot of fun visiting here. There are so many places to visit, this is the perfect time to enjoy Kashmir" said Deepika, a tourist. A large number of tourists can be seen visiting Srinagar to enjoy the Shikara rides in mesmerising Dal Lake and see the beauty of Mughal gardens. "There is no comparison of Kashmir with any other place in the country in terms of nature's beauty. I am happy to see the cleanliness of every place I visit here. This is the best time to visit Kashmir. The air here feels completely different, it is clean. Yeh sach hai agar kahi Jannat hai toh wahi yahe hai (It is true if there is a paradise anywhere, it is in Kashmir)," said Sumesh Koul, another tourist. Meanwhile, the traders and people associated with the tourism industry are happy with the response they are getting now. "Kashmir has been blessed by God when it comes to beauty. So many tourists are visiting Kashmir right now that people related to the tourism industry are hardly getting any free time now. After a long time, such a good business is coming back to Kashmir," said Rauf Trambu, Tour and Travel Agent. According to the travel agent, hotels in Kashmir are packed for the entire May and advance bookings for June have already started. He said it is expected that business will grow further in the coming months as the heatwave continues its spell in northern India. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow warning on Monday for Northwest India due to a Western Disturbance, soon after the heatwave spell subsided a bit across the country.

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Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 opens its door at ICC – Durban

Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022, officially opened on May 3, 2022, with a call for the continent to work collaboratively to drive tourism and accelerate the sector’s recovery at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. Over 634 Exhibitors and 625 buyers from 55 nationalities including 18 African nations will engage in approx 22,000 meetings scheduled over the next 3 days. The event was inaugurated by the ringing of the bell by the Minister of Tourism Republic of South Africa, Lindiwe Sisulu. The continent’s premier travel trade show has reopened its doors after a three-year hiatus. Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu officially opened the trade floor today, effectively putting into motion 22,000 scheduled meetings between exhibitors and buyers. “Africa’s Travel Indaba is a springboard for the continent to achieve even greater levels of recovery. We are here because we have a collective responsibility to reignite the African continent’s tourism growth and economy.” Sisulu called for greater collaboration among African countries to advance tourism on the continent, particularly when it comes to domestic and regional travel. “As we do business, we must remember that our continent is also our own market. All countries in Africa have potential for domestic tourism growth. Intra-continental tourism from Africa’s rapidly growing economies and growing middle class is an opportunity begging to be explored. We need improved collaborative efforts between our countries to achieve this.” Sisulu said all role players in the industry must continue to drive growth in tourism numbers by bringing together a range of Africa’s best and most unique stories and products from across the continent, and connecting them with buyers from across the world. She added that the event is about reigniting the spark in old relationships and building new, meaningful connections. “As a sector, we are here to cement our partnerships and collaborations. It can only be to our benefit that we are a sector committed to sharing ideas and knowledge, in a bid to ensure that we advance our Tourism Sector Recovery Plan.”

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Flybig Adds Shillong As 8th Destination In The Northeast

Flybig has been on a rapid expansion mode ever since its flight operations began in January 2021. On 2nd May 2022 Shillong became the 8th destination for flybig in the Northeast of India after 4 cities in Assam, 2 cities in Arunachal Pradesh and 1 city in Tripura. It can be clearly projected through estimates that the Shillong-Delhi operation of flybig would introduce enhanced efficiencies and productivity for several local and regional businesses especially those who aspire to connect with a major transport and commercial hub such as Delhi and beyond. In terms of seat capacity added by flybig through the Shillong-Delhi operations it added 312 seats per week which accumulated to a capacity of 16,224 seats per annum. Speaking on this growth and route expansion, CMD flybig Captain Sanjay Mandavia said, "I feel very proud and privileged that flybig has become the fastest growing airline in India with true people connect. Not only have we effectively converted thousands of passengers from rail to air, but we have also provided connectivity to lakhs of passengers from across India, including the whole North-East.” It is to be noted that conventional travel by train takes about 42 hours while travel via other airline operators on the Shillong-Delhi route takes 8-10 hours (with atleast one stoppage).

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Hyatt Centric Debuts In India With Hyatt Centric Janakpuri New Delhi

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Hyatt Centric Janakpuri New Delhi, marking the Hyatt Centric brand’s debut in the national capital. Hyatt Centric Janakpuri New Delhi features 224 rooms. “Hyatt Centric Janakpuri New Delhi is the perfect destination for curious-minded, modern-day explorers who want to be at the heart of the action,” said Shikha Singh, General Manager at Hyatt Centric Janakpuri New Delhi. “Our engaged and passionate team is excited to share their local knowledge, encouraging our guests to discover something new. With its accessible location, multi-dimensional event spaces, and unique food and beverage experiences, Hyatt Centric Janakpuri New Delhi offers share-worthy experiences for both local residents and visitors, featuring designs and collaborations based on a shared vision of finding new ways of sustainable living and the advancement of local artisans.” Hyatt Centric Janakpuri New Delhi offers 52,000 sq feet of flexible meeting and event spaces – one of the largest in Delhi NCR – suited to host up to 2,500 guests in one go. Each venue, which offer both indoor and outdoor settings, are perfect for large conferences, small meetings, and extravagant weddings.

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Uttarakhand Aims To Double The Tourist Inflow To 70 Million By 2030

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Puskar Singh Dhami has asserted that he is expecting a boom in the Char Dham Yatra this season and called upon all the stakeholders to be prepared for a record footfall this season. The Chief Minister addressed the inaugural Uttarakhand Tourism and Hospitality Conference 2022 organised by Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board in Dehradun recently. The conference witnessed to the launch of short commercial films ‘Apnatey Hai Dil Khol Ke’. The films by UTDB based on themes of overall tourism, wellness tourism and Homestays and meant to promote tourism in the state. Dhami said interest in Char Dham was back on track after two years of pandemic challenge and pilgrims and tourists in big numbers are expected to arrive in the state. “Last two years, Char Dham was not smooth due to pandemic and the subsequent restrictions due to it. But now this year we are expecting a record footfall,” Dhami pointed out. Referring to better connectivity, Chief Minister asserted that the day was not far when travel time between Delhi and Dehradun will be just two hours. “Elevated road is coming up that will provide faster and smoother connectivity between Delhi and Dehradun, and people would then prefer travelling by road than taking a flight,” he added. Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj stressed on promoting caravan and camping tourism. “It’s like “Room on Wheels”. Our state has lot of opportunities on that count. What we need is to develop campground with toilets and cafeteria on it,” Maharaj said. He called upon the stakeholders to become service provider emphasizing that tourist are bread and butter for the state. Maharaj also referred to the importance of winter tourism besides Char Dham Yatra. “Char Dham is in summer season, we need to promote skiing and other linked activities to promote winter tourism too’, he added. He also reminded of assistance provided to the tourism stakeholders during the trying times of pandemic. Earlier, Tourism Secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that the state in last two decades has made a place for itself in the tourism world and was today an all-weather destination. Referring to commercial films launch, Jawalkar said the films were meant to promote tourism in Uttarakhand. The Board has developed a mobile app for the safety of devotees coming this year on Char Dham yatra or a pilgrimage to the Hemkunt Sahib. The need to develop an app like this was felt after the 2013 Kedarnath disaster in which thousands of people were killed and thousands went missing. Once they have registered themselves on the app, a tab will be kept on their movement en route to the five centres of faith with the help of 28 high definition cameras put up at 14 pre-identified locations along the travel route, Jawalkar said. Additional Director Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board Vivek Singh Chauhan accorded the vote of thanks. Col Ashwin Pundhir, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Adventure) was present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the state government is preparing a master plan for the expansion of Auli at a cost of about 250 crores. The ground exercise has started regarding this and these days the officials are doing survey work in Auli. Till now, Auli, which was famous for snow sports, is now planned to be developed as an international tourist destination. Recently, the National Games of Skiing was organized here.

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