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Qantas signs second major sustainable fuel deal

Qantas, Australia's flag carrier, Tuesday agreed on a deal to buy almost 20 million liter of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from US biofuels company Aemetis each year from 2025. The sustainable fuel, which comes from certified feedstock from waste products and then blended with normal jet fuel, will be used to help reduce carbon emissions on Qantas flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Australia, reports Xinhua news agency. This is Qantas' second major offshore purchase of SAF with flights from London already using a blend of sustainable fuel since the start of this year. Its previous deal saw Qantas purchase 10 million litre of SAF in 2022 with an option to purchase up to another 10 million liters in 2034 and 2024. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the company was looking to source more SAF for its operations, but that was only possible overseas given it was not available to be produced locally. "Operating our aircraft with sustainable aviation fuel is the single biggest thing we can do to directly reduce our emissions," Joyce said. SAF produces up to 80 per cent fewer emissions than traditional jet kerosene and is compatible with Qantas' existing aircrafts. The airline has already committed AUD 50 million to support the development of a SAF industry in Australia and has aimed to be net carbon neutral by 2050. "For now, SAF is more expensive than traditional fossil fuels but with the right investment it could grow to a scale where the cost is on par," added Joyce.

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Istanbul showcases its experiences in New Cool promotional films

In 2021, Istanbul was voted one of the world’s best cities in reader surveys from a variety of leading publications; in fact, Istanbul is consistently ranked among the top destinations in surveys and ‘best lists’ published in international media. In three new commercials focusing on art, cuisine, and shopping in the metropolis, Istanbul is introduced to an even wider range of audiences. Titled “Taste in Istanbul is the New Cool”, “Shopping in Istanbul is the New Cool” and “Art in Istanbul is the New Cool”, the commercials spotlight the city as a popular destination that presents a wide variety of experiences for and digital channels in 178 countries. Art in Istanbul is the New Cool: A rich history, numerous arts and culture events Presenting visitors with different adventures in almost every district, Istanbul is a treasure trove of historical structures – a legacy of the city’s storied past – and ever-expanding art and culture scene. “Art in Istanbul is the New Cool” is dedicated to the city’s unique history, referencing the Hagia Sophia, considered ‘the Eighth Wonder of the World’. The film also spotlights the Atatürk Cultural Center, reopened last year with a renewed structure, along with modern and contemporary art museums such as the Istanbul Modern and Santral Istanbul. In addition, the ‘city that never sleeps’ features an extensive year-round calendar of arts and culture events such as the Contemporary Istanbul art fair and the Beyoğlu Culture Route Festival. Taste in Istanbul is the New Cool: Different flavours on every street The food of Istanbul has always been highly acclaimed. Influenced by the many civilisations that have shaped this city, Istanbul’s cuisine is a wonderful reason to explore the city. “Taste in Istanbul is the New Cool” spotlights the diverse gastronomic traditions of this city at the intersection of Europe and tulip-shaped cups served in restaurants and popular cafes, some with views of the Maiden’s Tower. Moving towards dinner, delectable mezes are presented in restaurants overlooking the Bosphorus. The film also highlights desserts such as the world-famous baklava and güllaç, a traditional Turkish dessert prepared with corn starch, rose water, milk, and sugar, along with Turkish coffee and Turkish delight. Tasty dishes like köfte (meatballs), kebab, and döner are shown, as are street vendors selling simit – a popular Turkish bread. The city’s countless fine dining establishments and international cuisine options are also featured, leaving no doubt that Istanbul promises a memorable culinary experience. Shopping in Istanbul is the New Cool: The global center of shopping is Istanbul. Istanbul stands out with extensive shopping options ranging from historical bazaars to concept stores to sophisticated boutiques. The Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest indoor shopping centres, offers visitors the opportunity to bring home authentic memories: handwoven carpets, hand-painted ceramic tiles, traditional tea sets, and other interesting souvenirs. Boutiques specialising in Turkish designers invite fashionistas to add one-of-a-kind pieces to their wardrobes, while international and world-renowned brands abound in Taksim and Nişantaşı, two of the city’s liveliest shopping districts. In addition, there are expansive shopping and entertainment complexes throughout the city.

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Vietnam welcomes tourists again with unclear quarantine, testing rules

Vietnam is poised to welcome international travellers on Tuesday but a lack of clarity on the rules of a wider reopening while the coronavirus is still rampaging is causing confusion. It remains unclear what kind of quarantine and testing rules the Southeast Asian nation will impose on foreign visitors when it reopens after a two-year closure. It doesn’t help that Vietnam has been seeing a surge, with daily cases averaging about 165,000 in the past week through March 14. The tourism resumption was announced on February 17 with the government saying it would lift most curbs starting March 15 yet until now, the government hasn’t issued specific guidelines. It said a month ago that tourists must present proof of being vaccinated or having recovered from Covid-19 with a negative test result; and once landed in Vietnam, must undergo 24 hours of self-quarantine. In November, the country started allowing international travellers on group tours and only to select destinations provided they were vaccinated or have recovered from the virus, and can show a negative test taken in the past 72 hours or less. While the tourism ministry favoured a quarantine-free broad reopening, the health ministry on March 1 proposed ordering tourists to undergo a three-day self-isolation. A day before the reopening, Deputy Premier Vu Duc Dam directed the health ministry to “promptly revise regulations and requirements” for foreign tourists and send the proposal to the tourism ministry by the end of March 14. Still, there isn’t a guidance available on government websites. The confusion doesn’t help Vietnam’s travel industry, Pham Ha, chief executive of Hanoi-based tour operator Lux Group, wrote in a March 9 opinion piece in VnExpress International. Officials showed some movement on rules Tuesday by announcing a resumption of 15-day visa exemptions for citizens of 13 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and South Korea, according to a post on the government’s website.

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Planning a summer getaway? How to spend 5 days in Paris under ₹35,000

Paris- The city of lights. The city of love. The city for literature and art lovers. The fashion capital of the world. A city that goes by many names; there are hundreds of reasons that make Paris one of the most 'Instagram-able' destinations in the world. Situated on the Seine river, the city is a haven for singles and couples, with not-to-miss Parisian cafés, majestic skyline views, cathedrals, the Louvre, Champs Elysées, Sacré-Cœur, and of course, the iconic Eiffel Tower. There's no way you can do it all in one day but here's what all of you can do for less than ₹35,000 in 5 days (yes, accommodation included). LOOK FOR HOSTELS, HOTELS ON SHARING BASIS A hot pick among tourists, Paris is home to many budget-friendly hostels and shared (both mixed or females-only) dorms. You can find hotels costing as low as ₹2,000-2,500 per night, including breakfast, lounge areas and live DJs – and if you are a solo traveler, socializing begins right from here. Some streets (arrondissements) in Paris are less preferred by expats/visitors due to higher crime rates, so look up areas before booking one. Estimated expenditure – ₹10,000 for 5 days HOP-ON HOP-OFF SIGHTSEEING TOUR (HOHO) If you don’t speak French, another fantastic way to save yourself from remembering French names of the routes. Although the city is well-connected via buses and metros (which usually cost €1.90, or nearly ₹160 for one-way journey), you can book a 1-day or 2-day hop-on hop-off bus pass and enjoy the panoramic view on a double-decker bus for as low as €35. Not to forget, with packages including a cruise on River Seine. The bus runs on selected routes, covering most of the tourist sites, for all day, every hour. You can just hop off at your favourite spot. Estimated expenditure – ₹3,000 (or less if you opt for local bus/metro) PLACES TO VISIT You can look for bundle packages, which includes most tourist attractions, at discounted prices. Below are some of the places you can visit (with estimated prices separately): 1. Eiffel Tower and Seine River Of course, the Eiffel tower is number 1 on the list but imagine witnessing this majestic monument twinkling with golden lights as you relax on a night cruise with a glass of champagne. Two ways to get the most of it - A – Stand atop the Eiffel tower and enjoy the panoramic skyline of Paris (Book a ticket with access to 1st floor which allows you all the way up to the summit) B – You can enjoy the monument via river cruise (estimated price ₹1,500, but one can get this for FREE as a part of various packages) Estimated Expenditure – ₹6,000 for the top of tower. Nearly ₹3,000 if you skip the top floor and book only till second floor. Home to high-end exclusive designer shops, like Zara, Gap, Sephora (flagship Paris store, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, nightclubs, restaurants and more, Champs Elysées is a must-visit for all shopaholics. It is often called 'the world's most beautiful avenue.' Notre Dame de Paris (aka ‘Our Lady of Paris’) is a Gothic cathedral known for its architecture, rich history. It was listed as a heritage site in 1991 by UNESCO. In 2019, fires engulfed the famous cathedral and was shut down for tourists. France plans to restore it to its former glory in time for the 2024 Olympics. You can book a guided tour or get an audio guide to know more about its history.

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India sees massive surge in advance bookings over weekend as travellers step out

According to the recent data shared by EaseMyTrip, there has been a 40%-50% jump in advance air ticket bookings across the country for the upcoming long weekend of Holi, as compared to the same period last year. If one has to guess, this could be a strong testament to the underlying pent-up travel demand. With the number of Covid cases declining significantly and resuming international travel, a surge has been observed in last-minute travel bookings as well. It looks like the demand is set to grow further in the coming days as people are still cognizant about new pandemic waves. The data shows that people are showing a preference for 5-star hotels during the Holi weekend. This is understandable as there is a growing requirement for higher standards of sanitization. Bookings to and from states such as Goa, Kashmir, Himachal, have seen a 40% rise in bookings. International destinations like Dubai and Sri Lanka have also witnessed an increased demand for this long weekend. Approximately 30-40% of these people are opting for flexible bookings and cancellation policies or refund measures. Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip stated that the rise in travel bookings during this period highlights the growing sentiment among travellers to venture out for leisure travel. Pitti said a huge rise in demand for the coming months is expected. “We have witnessed a 50% jump in air ticket bookings for this long weekend, which has been further supported by the easing of travel restrictions. The travel sentiment is strongly reviving as we are witnessing an increasing demand for offbeat and international destinations, which is an optimistic step towards complete travel normalcy. This momentum will continue further as we are expecting the pent-up travel demand to sustain for the whole year, which will contribute to the much-needed revival of the sector,” Pitti said.

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Par panel suggests improving last mile connectivity, introduction of ranking system to boost tourism

A parliamentary panel has recommended a slew of measures to boost tourism in the country, including development of last mile connectivity, regularising the adventure tour markets and introduction of a competitive tourism ranking system among cities. It has also suggested promoting night tourism and providing better wayside facilities for travellers to to give a boost to the sector. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, in its report also recommended that the Ministry of Tourism should "exercise greater fiscal prudence" and ensure that unspent budgetary provisions are surrendered timely in future. "The Committee also takes a serious note of keeping the unspent provision of INR 1,056.97 crore till the close of financial year 2021-22 despite reduction in the budgetary outlay at the RE 2021-22 stage in disregard of the provisions of General Financial Rules," read the report. The report noted that there is a substantial under-utilisation of the budgeted funds during financial year 2021-22. "Against the revised estimates RE 2021- 22 allocation of INR 969.80 crore, only 47.70 per cent amounting to INR 462.55 crore could be spent till January 31. "It means that the remaining expenditure would have to be squeezed in the last two months of FY 2021-22. Since as per norms stipulated by the Ministry of Finance, there is a ceiling of 25 per cent on expenditure in the last quarter, occurrence of huge savings is a certainty," it said. The report noted that savings of INR 1056.97 crore vis-a-vis the budget estimates (BE) 2021-22 allocation "not only betrays fiscal indiscipline by way of under-utilisation of the earmarked funds which will have an adverse bearing on infrastructure development-oriented activities of the Ministry, but is also indicative of shortcomings in budgetary planning and monitoring of the budgeted funds." "The Committee observes that a resource constrained country like India cannot afford to keep a vast chunk of its resources locked up and surrendered towards the end of the financial year. The committee, therefore, recommends at the highest level of the Ministry," read the report. The committee recommended that on the lines of World Tourism Rankings and "Swachh Survekshan", a competitive Tourism Ranking System should be introduced amongst Indian cities which would provide the impetus for them to create, maintain and promote more and more tourist spots within their cities. A very rapidly emerging trend in global tourism scenario is 'night tourism', the panel noted and said the Ministry should focus on this domain and make more sites available for visit during nights, allow extended hours, provide exhaustive information on websites and social media pages and aggressively market the concept. "Though India has opened some of its monuments for public to visit at night, it is still in a very nascent stage. Sufficient information is also not available regarding the participating sites, their timings and other such details. This will open a new dimension of looking at our existing tourism heritage and invite repeat visitors," it said. The committee also observed that last mile connectivity to several destinations is a deterrent to promotion of tourism. "Since last mile connectivity is a key driver for promotion of tourism, the Committee recommends that while preparing Master Plan for connectivity to tourist destinations, last mile connectivity should mandatorily be included in the concept and the Detailed Project Report," it said. Noting that there is lack of good wayside amenities, including toilets at several tourist destinations which causes inconvenience and discourages them from visiting such places, the committee asked the ministry to focus more on improvement of such amenities. The committee said 22 projects have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism at a cost of INR 108.54 crore to provide enhanced facilities for tourists at railway stations. "Though more than ten years have elapsed since their sanction in FY 2011-12, their full operationalization is still a far cry. The committee is unhappy at the continuing delay in full operationalisation of these projects and constrained to facilities at the 22 railway stations selected for the purpose. "The Committee, therefore, recommends that concrete steps be taken to translate into reality the vision of developing top-class facilities at the 22 railway stations within a designated timeline," it said. Fourteen states have deployed tourist police in one form or the other, it said. Keeping in mind the importance of safety and security of tourists, the committee in its earlier reports had asked the Ministry of Tourism to take up the matter with the remaining States, it said. The committee, however, is dismayed to note that no further headway has been made by the remaining states towards creation and deployment of tourism police at major tourist destinations," it said. It also said that the ministry should document good tourism practices from other countries. It also recommended an urgent need to regularise the Adventure Tour Operators Market and promote registration of companies, indulging in these activities on a centralised platform to increase credibility and enforce safety regulations.

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