News

Govt mulls Covid booster shots for all above 18 years

The government is considering a Covid vaccine booster for all those above 18 years in view of a surge in coronavirus infections in several parts of the world and to ease difficulties faced during international travel, sources said on Monday. Currently, healthcare and frontline workers and those above 60 years are being administered precaution doses. All people above 60 years have become eligible for the precaution dose of Covid vaccine after the Union Health Ministry removed the co-morbidity clause recently. The prioritisation and sequencing of the dose is based on the completion of nine months, or 39 weeks, from the date of administration of the second dose. "The government is considering a booster dose of Covid vaccine for all those above 18 years in view of a surge in infections in parts of the world and to ease difficulties faced during international travel," a source said. India began administering precaution doses of the vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with co-morbidities from January 10 this year. Since January 10, more than 2.17 crore precaution doses have been administered to the identified categories of beneficiaries so far. India began Covid-19 vaccination for children in the age group of 12-14 years from March 16 this year. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021, with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year. The next phase of Covid-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 last year for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified comorbid conditions. India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1, 2021. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 years of age to be inoculated against the viral disease from May 1, 2021. The next phase of Covid vaccination commenced from January 3 this year for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years.

Read more

Top destinations for the best mood-boosting activities

Taking a vacation is the ultimate way to feel good, with 85 per cent of Indian travellers stating that their motivation for travelling is to improve their mood. Travel can lift spirits and boost happiness levels for weeks after returning home. Booking.com has chosen five of the top destinations with the best moodboosting activities based on traveller reviews. From scuba diving in the Andamans to yoga on the beach in Varkala, adventure sports to wellness therapies and delectable food, include a mood-boosting activity in your next vacation to make it the most joyful yet. Outdoor activities in Neil Island Neil Island is a perfect gem of the Andaman Islands, blessed with magnificent biodiversity, unexplored coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and tropical woodlands. Officially known as 'Shaheed Dweep,' it is one of the platforms travellers' top-recommended outdoor activity destinations. It's the ideal place to find happiness, with activities ranging from surfing to scuba diving and paddleboarding. Explore the easy cycling trails immersed in nature inland, or head to the beach to sunbathe, read, or simply lie down. Wellness in Auroville, Tamil Nadu Auroville is a quiet town in Tamil Nadu that is an experimental township. It's well-known for hosting weekly workshops, therapies, and community yoga, making it the ideal vacation for rest and relaxation - and one of the top destinations for wellness according to Booking.com travellers, which is a key factor in feeling content. Visitors can de-stress and relax in its wet and dry tropical climate, as well as take walks on its open roads to instill inner peace. The township's community is very close-knit, and the atmosphere is very welcoming. Matrimandir is a secular gathering place in town where people can meditate and experience tranquillity in peaceful silence. This lovely town has become synonymous with community healing and is a haven for those seeking inner peace. Yoga in Varkala, Kerala Varkala, a coastal town in southern Kerala, is a hipster's paradise, with palmcovered red cliffs, pristine golden beaches, and pilgrimage sites. Varkala is more of a state of mind than a location, but it is one of the top recommended yoga destinations on the travel site, according to travellers. Head to Papanasam Beach, ten kilometres from Varkala, where visitors can enjoy sunset sun salutations by a natural spring, or sunrise for early risers. Whether you practise Vinyasa or Bikram, a yogi novice or a yogi master will find a relaxing retreat. Waterfalls in Shillong, Meghalaya Shillong, known as the "Scotland of the East," is home to several scenic waterfalls and has been named one of the best waterfall destinations by the platforms travellers. Meghalaya has 16 major waterfalls, one of which, Nohkalikai Falls, at 1,115 feet, is said to be India's tallest plunge waterfall. This waterfall is fed by rainwater that collects on the top, making the once-in-a lifetime sound of water plunging to the earth difficult to forget. The city is also notable for its towering pine conifers, pineapple shrubs, and undulating terrain. Along with the breathtaking waterfalls, visitors can stroll through Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village known for its wood carvings and traditional craftsmanship. Nature in Munnar, Kerala Munnar, located 1,600 metres above sea level and a few hours from Alleppey, is one of Kerala's most scenic areas. With its vast tea plantations, beautiful cottages, and vibrant hiking trails, it's no surprise that the city is one of the top destinations for nature walks. Few people visit the lush green mountains, eat authentic food, or indulge in an ayurvedic spa while still embracing the sheer magnificence and raw natural beauty of this town.

Read more

Los Angeles Tourism hosts webinar for travel trade to highlight destination updates

To highlight destination updates and share more information on new attractions, the Los Angeles Tourism has created an on-demand webinar on what’s new in LA, including new hotels, attractions, experiences, and more. The portal is aimed to educate and engage travel trade partners from across the globe after an eventful year of exciting developments and new experiences with Los Angeles’ Comeback Story unfolding in South California. In addition to the latest updates about the destinations, travel trade stakeholders can learn what their clients can expect when they plan a trip to LA. Tour operators can also experience an exclusive virtual tour of the revamped Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood on the web portal. “The importance of travel trade to Los Angeles can’t be overstated,” said Kathy Smits, Senior Vice President, Global Tourism at Los Angeles Tourism commenting on the development. “We are so grateful for the continued support of our valued partners and hope these webinars will serve as a useful tool,” he further added. The on-demand webinar can be accessed at any time and represents the first in a series of travel trade webinars promoting LA. Travel sellers can visit the webinar library to rewatch the ‘What’s New’ webinar as needed and keep an eye out for new webinars in the future. Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) is the nonprofit destination marketing and sales organisation for the Los Angeles tourism industry and the resource for where to stay and play in the LA area.

Read more

Jharkhand Tourism to organise adventure tourism activities at different sites in the state

The state tourism department is planning to revive the pandemic-battered sector by organising adventure sports like parasailing/para motoring (solo/tandem), rock climbing/rappelling rope course, kayaking, banana boat rides, surfing, jet skiing, etc., across a number of tourist hotspots later this month. Sources in the state tourism department on Sunday said that they have begun looking for agencies in order to organise the aforementioned activities. “We have currently floated our requirements on our website (www.tourism.jharkhand.gov.in/) for the interested agencies. The agencies can send their plans by March 24. We will then evaluate the proposals to finalise an agency or multiple agencies,” said an official, adding that the department is eyeing to kick-start the activities by the end of this month. “Tentatively, we are eyeing to hold it for a month from March-end to Aprilend,” the official said. “Places like Netarhat, Betla and Dalma are rich in flora and fauna and they have the topography for organising activities like parasailing, rock climbing and the likes. Similarly, Patratu dam or the water bodies in Ranchi, Koderma and Dhanbad are ideal for water-related activities. We are planning to host adventure camps in these locations,” the official said. Upon contact, the state tourism director Rahul Kumar Sinha said the department has allocated funds to some districts for the same. “We are yet to finalise the agency and dates for the same but in the meantime, we have sanctioned funds to some districts for organising the sports. They are free to choose their own agencies and start whenever they want. We will announce the dates soon once we pick an agency,” he added.

Read more

Airlines bullish on Kolkata, international flights get ready for take off

Air India is reintroducing its flights to Kathmandu, launching flights to Hong Kong and increasing frequency to Dhaka. AirAsia India is set to connect Bagdogra with Bangkok. In addition, it has plans to introduce flights to Kathmandu, Dhaka and Abu Dhabi from other airports in the region. SpiceJet will connect Bangkok from mid next month in addition to its current flights to Dhaka and Chittagong. IndiGo has daily flights to Bangkok and two flights-a-week operation to Dubai. It also has Kathmandu on the radar but that could take a couple of months. These are some of the connections that officials of various airlines revealed at an interactive meet with travel trade industry stakeholders organised by the tourism ministry and the Travel Agents’ Association of India (TAAI) on Monday ahead of the start of the scheduled international flight operations from March 27. Though there are worries that the restart of international flights could be deferred again following reports of a rise in Covid cases globally, the industry is bullish of riding the wave and emerging unscathed. “We are learning to ride the waves. Once the international scheduled flights resume, we are confident most of the international carriers that had ceased operations during the Covid will return to Kolkata,” said Manav Soni, President (East), TAAI. While hoping the civil aviation ministry will be able to stick to the March 27 date for resumption of scheduled international flights, India Tourism deputy director general and regional director (east) Sagnik Chowdhury said the manner in which domestic tourism had flourished in the past year and a half was heartening as it more than made up for the absence of foreign tourists. “Pre-pandemic, more than half the domestic tourism pie comprised religious circuits. Following the pandemic, most of these pilgrimage spots were shut for prolonged periods. Yet, domestic tourism grew by at least 20%. Not only did those who holidayed abroad travelled within the country, many who did not travel began doing so as Covid made them realise the importance of making the most of life now instead of waiting for later,” he said. An Air India official even hinted at a possible resumption of the Kolkata-London flight, which flew with capacity passengers on Sunday. “Even the last flight which will carry passengers from London to Kolkata is nearly full. The service is being suspended for the time being. But discussions are on and the flight may be back in the reckoning soon after the aircraft are refurbished,” said an Air India official. On the domestic front too, the airlines revealed new flights in the summer schedule beginning March 27. SpiceJet is introducing direct flights to Guwahati from Durgapur. New destinations like Khajuraho and Pondicherry will also get connected with Kolkata via stops at Delhi and Hyderabad, respectively. IndiGo and Vistara are increasing frequency on multiple routes while Alliance Air is concentrating on connectivity in the eastern and north eastern sectors with a new evening flight to Ranchi from Kolkata and introducing new flights using Dornier aircrafts to remote locations in Arunachal Pradesh like Pasighat and Tezu. IndiGo too will connect to new sectors like Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh and Pantnagar in Uttarakhand via one-stop flights.

Read more

Shanghai Disneyland closes as virus rises, Shenzhen reopens

Shanghai Disneyland closed Monday as China's most populous city tried to contain its biggest coronavirus flareup in two years, while the southern business center of Shenzhen allowed shops and offices to reopen after a weeklong closure. Meanwhile, the cities of Changchun and Jilin in the northeast began another round of citywide virus testing following a surge in infections. Jilin tightened anti-disease curbs, ordering its 2 million residents to stay home. China's case numbers in its latest infection wave are low compared with other major countries, but authorities are enforcing a "zero tolerance" strategy that has suspended access to some major cities. The government reported 2,027 new cases on the Chinese mainland on Sunday, up from the previous day's 1,737. That included 1,542 infections in Jilin province, where Changchun and Jilin are located. Shanghai, which has a population of 24 million, has avoided a citywide shutdown but appealed to the public to stay home. Bus service into the city has been suspended and visitors are required to show a negative virus test. Disney Co. said Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park were closed until further notice. On Monday, Shanghai reported 24 new cases. The city earlier suspended access to two residential areas and carried out mass testing at dozens of others. Shanghai residents posted photos on the internet showing empty streets and subways during what usually is a crowded Monday morning rush hour. The government of Shenzhen, a finance and technology center that abuts Hong Kong, announced businesses and government offices were allowed to reopen Monday while authorities took steps to try to prevent a resurgence of virus cases. Bus and subway service, which had been suspended, was restarted. Last week, the city of 17.5 million shut down all businesses except those that supply food and other necessities and told the public to stay home following a spike in cases. Shenzhen is home to some of China's biggest companies including telecom equipment maker Huawei, electric car brand BYD Auto and Tencent, operator of the popular WeChat message service. The shutdowns prompted concern trade might be disrupted if ports near Shanghai and Shenzhen that are among the world's busiest are affected. The Shanghai port moved paperwork functions online but said cargo was moving normally. The smaller port of Lianyungang barred foreign sailors from coming ashore. The government said last week it was trying to fine-tune anti-disease controls to reduce their economic cost and impact on society. Tangshan, a steel industry center east of Beijing, the Chinese capital, imposed controls Sunday that allow only emergency vehicles to move around the city after seven cases were found, state media reported. Authorities in Beijing were investigating a duck restaurant where four employees contracted the virus. State media said owners of the Yu Le Xuan restaurant were accused of failing to register the identities of 477 diners as required over five days, making it harder to trace potential contacts.

Read more