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China Eastern Airlines seeks U.S. approval to shift New York-Shanghai flights

China Eastern Airlines Corp on Wednesday asked the U.S. Transportation Department for approval to temporarily shift New York to Shanghai flights over COVID-19 measures. The carrier said because of "evolving coronavirus pandemic control measures in the Shanghai region, China Eastern has been instructed" by Chinese aviation officials "to divert Shanghai-bound passenger flights arriving from the U.S. to certain alternate airports in China." China Eastern asked approval starting March 31 to move existing twice-weekly Shanghai westbound passenger flights from New York to China's Fuzhou Changle International Airport through the end of April. China's aviation regulator said on Tuesday it will divert 106 international flights scheduled to arrive in Shanghai to other domestic cities from March 21 to May 1 due to COVID-19.The impacted flights include those operated by Air China, China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Air and Spring Airlines, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said. Shanghai, which reported five new local symptomatic transmissions and nearly 200 domestically transmitted asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday, said on Wednesday it has identified some key areas and would finish testing all people in those areas twice between Wednesday and Thursday. Tesla Inc is suspending production at its Shanghai factory on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a notice sent internally and to suppliers, while the notice did not give a reason for the stoppage. Volkswagen Group China said it would resume production in Shanghai on Thursday after a 48-hour suspension.

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Cambodia drops COVID testing requirements for overseas visitors

Cambodia on Thursday dispensed with a requirement for visitors from overseas to take COVID-19 tests, as the country moved ahead of most neighbours by relaxing most restrictions to spur more investment and tourism, officials said. The Southeast Asian country has vaccinated 92.31% of its population of 16 million against the coronavirus, one of the highest vaccination rates in the region, official data shows. Prime Minister Hun Sen said the new rules would start from Thursday and should help boost tourism and business. "Now it's the stage to open the economy by learning how to live with COVID," Hun Sen said in a speech. Foreign visitors would still need to be fully vaccinated and those unable to show proof of vaccination would need to be remain in quarantine for 14 days after arrival. Even with the removal of mandatory testing, authorities called on visitors to test themselves. "The Ministry of Health would like to urge all travellers that they should do rapid tests," Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in a statement. Authorities also plan to resume issuing visas on arrival, which were suspended during the pandemic, though the statement from the health ministry did not confirm when this would start. Cambodia, which reported 140 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, has registered 3,049 deaths in total due to the virus. International arrivals plummeted to 113,000, or a 90.6 percent fall, in the first seven months of 2021, compared with the same period in the previous year, the World Bank said. Similarly, entrance fees collected from Cambodia's famed Angkor temple complex plunged 98.7 percent to $236,000 over the period. Tourism accounted for two million jobs and contributed to a quarter of the country's gross domestic product before the pandemic, the World Bank said.

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Philippines relaxes entry restrictions for all foreign nationals

The Philippines has loosened entry restrictions for all fully vaccinated foreign nationals visiting the country starting this month, the Philippines' Bureau of Immigration said on Wednesday. In an advisory, which was effective immediately and signed by Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, foreign nationals coming from visa-required countries and regions need to secure an "entry exemption document" before visiting the Philippines. Morente said that foreign nationals must also be fully vaccinated, except for children below 12, travelling with their fully vaccinated parents. The travellers must present proof of vaccination and a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, the traveller must also self-monitor for seven days. The new policy widened the number of travellers allowed to enter the Southeast Asian country famous for its white sand beaches, diving resorts, and century-old heritages. As a key economic driver, the tourism industry's contribution to the Philippines' gross domestic product stood at 12.7 per cent in 2019, according to the Philippines Statistics Authority. The pandemic has badly hit the tourism sector in the Philippines, forcing hotels and airlines to lay off staff. Almost 1.1 million workers were affected in the tourism industry across the county. On Monday, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that the Philippines is now open to all foreign tourists, adding that Philippines embassies and consulates' resumption of visa issuance will also start on April 1, Xinhua news agency reported. "This latest development opens the country to all fully vaccinated tourists from all countries, and means the country's tourism industry is well on its way to recovery," Puyat said. "We have high hopes that all of these will result in an uptick in international travellers visiting the country during the summer season," she added. On February 10, the Philippines reopened its doors to foreign tourists from 157 countries and regions with the visa-free arrangement after almost two year of pandemic lockdown. Department of Tourism data showed that as of March 9, nearly 77,000 foreign travellers arrived in the country.

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IndiGo commences flights to Thailand after two years

In line with its vision to strengthen international connectivity, IndiGo announced the resumption of flights to Thailand. The airline will operate these flights under the air bubble agreement till March 26, 2022, and thereafter as part of its scheduled commercial international operations. The flights will connect Bangkok with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru and Phuket with Delhi and Mumbai. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are pleased to resume operations between India and Thailand with flights to Bangkok and Phuket as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Thailand is one of the favourite tourist destinations for Indians and the resumption of services will surely bring cheer and affordable flying options for those planning summer travel to international destinations. These flights will not only bring down airfares on these routes but also promote trade tourism and mobility, giving a fillip to economic recovery in both the countries.” Thailand is opening its borders nearly two years after it restricted entry for tourists in March 2020. The country reopened its border to vaccinated travellers from every country on February 1, 2022. Fully vaccinated foreign travellers from India can enter Thailand without quarantine. As per the new rules, travellers will need a negative PCR lab result before arrival and two more PCR tests after landing—one upon entry and another on their fifth day in Thailand.

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Reliving the legends of the Bundelas and Chandelas

Madhya Pradesh lies at the heart of India and it holds on closely to a long list of legends steeped in folklore and history. Some stories have been told and retold, but some still lie hidden in obscurity, waiting to be discovered. Some have been passed on from generation to generation and many are lost in translation and are now best described as myths. Inquisitive that I am, delving deeper, brushing away the cobwebs and blowing away the dust, I uncover the vivid dramas of honour, friendship, valor, sacrifice, devotion and duty that were once enacted on this heartland. Recently I was invited by Madhya Pradesh Tourism on one such voyage, taking me down the corridors of time to dwell on the legends left behind by the Bundelas of Orchha and the Chandelas of Khajuraho. – Gurjit Singh Ahuja My journey started in New Delhi, where I met with my fellow group of writers, bloggers, journalists and tour operators invited by MP Tourism. We set out from Hazrat Nizamuddin Station onwards to Jhansi, passing by Mathura, Agra, Gwalior each city, a city of wonder and awe in their own right and a maze for a person like me to be lost in. I greatly looked forward to being back in Jhansi, Orchha and Khajuraho. Not to miss out on my excitement to run into the ever-elusive ‘Panthera Tigris Tigris’ or the Royal Bengal tiger at Panna. Yes, you guessed it right, it was not my first visit to any of these cities, having been schooled in Jhansi, in the 80s, both Orchha and Khajuraho were in easy reach and I have great memories of cycling to Orchha from Babina Cantonment, and swimming in the Betwa and Grand Picnics along the river Ken and at Raneh falls in the environs of Khajuraho. Every time I return to a city, it’s like a homecoming for me, irrespective of the destination or the time duration I spent there. My enthusiasm is never dulled, as every visit warrants meeting old acquaintances, making new friends, clicking that new photograph, under different light or perspective, I always end up discovering and learning more. So you can understand my excitement of returning to Orchha, Khajuraho and Panna, and this time it was even more special as I was to witness the Khajuraho Dance Festival, something that I had on my wish list for the last 35 years! And imagine the icing on the cake, the Festival was being held inside the western temple group complex with the grandiose Kandariya Mahadev and Devi Jagdambi temples as the backdrop! For me, it revived my memories of watching Yanni live at the Taj. Believe me when I say wishes do come true! We were accorded a very warm welcome by MP Tourism at the Jhansi railway station as we alighted from the Gatiman Express. They have a Tourist Information Office right within the railway station and is easily approachable by all tourists. We were soon efficiently whisked away in our waiting Innova’s to Orchha where we checked-in at the Betwa Retreat, a cosy property operated by MPSTDC right on the Orchha riverfront and very approachable to all Orchha attractions and temples. Like Ayodhya, Orchha has a great connection with Lord Rama according to Hindu mythology and belief during the day Lord Rama rules Orchha as its King from his seat at the Ram Raja Temple and returns every night to sleep at Ayodhya. Besides being venerated as a Hindu holy city, Orchha has been a longstanding witness to the many ups and downs from medieval times. It has recorded history which mentions the Afghan-Suri Dynasty, the Mughals, the Marathas and the British. The Jahangir Mahal at Orchha stands testament to the close bond established between Vir Singh Bundela and Mughal Emperor Jahangir at whose behest, Vir Singh killed Abul Fazl and presented Jahangir with his head as a trophy. Also resonating in Orchha are the legends of its legendary beauty and courtesan Rai Praveen, the poetry of Keshavdas and heroics of the Bundela Prince Hardol, who drank poison willingly to testify his honourable intentions, and clear his sister-in-law from charges of adultery. Even today, Hardol is invited to weddings in Bundelkhand and it is a tradition that people leave him a wedding card to seek his blessings. These legends come live every night at the sound and light show in the precincts of the Raja Mahal. Orchha becomes surreal at night at its fort, palaces, temples and cenotaphs are illuminated, a different dimension of Orchha comes to life as it transforms itself into a time long gone. I loved my sunrise boat ride on the Betwa as the morning sun cast its golden hue on the cenotaphs of the Bundela kings and the singing minstrel woke up the ghats to his booming chant of the Hanuman Chalisa. Among Orchha’s many temples and monuments, the one that signifies Orchha for me is the Chatarbhuj Temple, which is noted for having one of the tallest Vimana among Hindu temples standing at 344 feet. Post breakfast we all set out for Khajuraho and en route we made a detour to visit Dhubela to relive the legend of Mastani and Baji Rao. Mastani was Maharaja Chhatrasal’s daughter and the legendary warrior Veer Chhatrasal built his palace near lake Dhubela, which now houses a museum showcasing his legacy and memorabilia, along with many ancient artifacts and sculptures unearthed in the adjoining regions. No visit to Dhubela is complete without a visit to Mastani Mahal, which is also located close to the main palace. With your vivid imagination running wild, you can still feel the presence of Mastani and Baji Rao in the environs as history comes alive. Post lunch we continued to Khajuraho and checked into our recently refurbished ‘Bundela Resort’ our pit-stop, for the next two nights. In the evening, all excited, we went to the Western Temple Complex for the 48th edition of the Khajuraho Dance Festival, an event I was anxiously waiting for. The festival this year was organised from February 20-26, 2022. We were there for the last two days. A carnival and an art conclave were held on the sidelines of the dance festival to exhibit local talent, handicrafts, gastronomy, and delicacies. I loved the Karela-Matar-Tikki chat, a flavor bomb and a local Khajuraho favourite priced at a mere Rs. 20, what a steal! The dance festival venue was packed to capacity and a clear absence of international visitors was visible due to restricted international travel norms. The Festival had attracted art and dance aficionados and discerning patrons from all over India to witness the performances as the stage came to life with the dancers performing their tribute to art and gods with the magnificent backdrop of the illuminated temples. The whole environment was transformed to a different dimension, something that I have never experienced in my past visits to Khajuraho. The next morning, we had an early wake-up call as we were off on our early morning safari to the Panna Tiger Reserve. Although the park boasts of a healthy tiger population, sighting the elusive cat remains a challenge. With the riven Ken cutting across the reserve, Panna is one of the most picturesque parks. I was busy clicking away my swooping panoramic shots and enjoying the startled Sambar, spotted deer and a wild boar that our gypsy spooked. The big cat remained elusive, and we hoped for better luck next time as we bid adieu to Panna. Our afternoon was well spent exploring the sculpted treasures that adorned the walls, platforms and ceilings of these grandiose temples made by the Chandela kings of yore as their tribute to the Gods and their own stamp in time to be remembered by. Tired after the visit, we all landed up at the iconic Khajuraho landmark and watering Hole ‘Raja cafe’. I met up with ‘Mr. BO,’ that’s how he likes to be called the cafe’s second-generation owner, an ever-smiling personality whose cafe satiated my senses with some excellent cold coffee and pizza. At the cafe, we also met up with Ranvir Singh and Akhilesh Mishra, Co-founders of ‘K Segway’, a company that has just launched Segway exploration tours of Khajuraho. My evening was again devoted to the Grand Finale of the Khajuraho Dance Festival and the memory of the performances with the temples resonating to the sound, the light effects, the foot thumping and mudras of the performers will stay etched for a long time to come, what a grand ending to a dream trip!

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Leave Travel Allowance: When is the right time to claim your LTA?

Are you planning to go on a holiday? It is time to think about how you can save taxes while enjoying your holiday in some scenic locations of India. Salaried taxpayers cannot afford to miss out on any tax deduction benefits as it can significantly increase their tax outgo under the Income Tax Act. Depending on the salary structure offered by the employer, the employee can use the available tools in the law to lower their tax liability. Apart from deductions, the Income Tax Act also offers exemptions that help reduce their tax obligation. The Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) is one such exemption. LTA is given by the employers to their employees for travelling while on leave, and it is claimed as an exemption subject to fulfilment of conditions stipulated under the Income Tax Act. Terms and Conditions For LTA Claim LTA can be claimed only against travel within India but not allowed for foreign travel. Travel by employee or their family members, including spouse, children, dependent parents, and siblings can be considered for the LTA benefit. For employees born after October 1, 1998, the LTA is available for a maximum of 2 children. LTA benefits are available for travel expenses and exclude payment towards food and stay. You can only claim the LTA twice in a block of four years. A block year is not like a financial year, and the Government of India decides it. Currently, we are in the block year of 2018- 2021, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the people could not travel. That is why the government announced the LTC cash voucher scheme in October 2020, valid only until March 31, 2021. Under this scheme, if you had purchased any goods or availed of any services attracting a GST rate of not less than 12 per cent through digital means, you could avail the exemption of deemed LTC fare – up to Rs 36,000 per person for a maximum of four family members or one-third of the travel expenditure, whichever was less. Cash payments will not be considered to avail benefits in this scheme. It is essential to be on leave from work during the period you are claiming the LTA. Travel expenses allowed under the LTA are subject to terms and conditions. For example, on air travel, the fare on travel by national airline using the shortest route or actual expenses incurred, whichever is less, are allowed as an exemption. Similarly, if the journey is performed through means of transport other than airways and the destination is connected through rail, the cost of first-class train fare through the shortest route or the actual expense incurred, whichever is less, can be permitted as an exemption. Right Time To Claim LTA The right time to claim the LTA is when you can maximize your tax-saving by using the LTA option. LTA can be claimed for up to two travels in a block of four years, and if you couldn’t claim during that block, you get a chance to carry it over to the first year of the subsequent block year. If you are eligible to claim the LTA and have incurred actual travel expenses which can be claimed as an exemption, you should not miss it, as it can help you lower your tax liability. Prefer claiming LTA for a journey where you have incurred higher actual expenses and matches to the LTA allowed in your salary structure. Suppose you claim LTA for a trip on which you had incurred a much lower actual cost compared to travel expense permitted as per the I-T Act and the LTA threshold specified in your CTC. In that case, you will end up exhausting your LTA option for a paltry tax saving benefit. For example, if you have travelled during your two different leave periods, i.e., ‘A’ with Rs 10,000 eligible LTA expense, and ‘B’ with Rs 50,000 eligible LTA expense during the block year. If your salary structure permits you a higher LTA, you should claim LTA for a journey ‘B’ because it will allow a greater tax exemption. It is important to mention here that LTA depends on the salary structure offered by the employer, and it may not be available to you if your employer has not extended you this benefit. If you plan to claim the LTA benefit, always keep original travel tickets, travel agent’s invoice, and other travel proof in safe custody; you may need them if your employer asks for it.

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