News

Taj opens third hotel in the UAE in Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the hotel company owned by the TATAs, has announced the opening of their third hotel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm. It started operations in the heart of Palm Jumeirah. The luxury hospitality address in the city boasts 325 elegantly styled rooms and suites an array of culinary experiences and holistic wellness at the award-winning Jiva spa; replete with a private beach and the longest pool in Palm Jumeirah. This island hideaway’s contemporary interiors by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) weaves in traditional craftsmanship and is influenced by its surroundings. Guests can embark on a sensorial culinary journey across the resort’s many dining options which includes Indian fine dining at ‘Varq’; a unique gastropub experience at the ‘Roaring Rabbit’; Arabesque atmosphere at ‘Raia’, the rooftop bar & lounge; ‘Palm Kitchen’, which brings alive the flavours of international fare; or ‘The Coast’, a beachside bistro offering coastal delicacies. On the new launch, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “This opening is in line with our strong focus to be present in global growth markets. With the addition of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, IHCL expands to strengthen its footprint in Dubai. We are honoured to partner with the Arenco Group to bring Taj’s signature hospitality to Palm Jumeirah, one of the world’s most exciting destinations.” “We are thrilled to welcome our guests to Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, the latest addition to Dubai’s vibrant lifestyle, dining, and cityscape. This island oasis will allow guests to create memories of a lifetime as they immerse themselves in the sincere care and warmth that Taj is synonymous with,” said Ranjit Phillipose, Area Director – Middle East and General Manager of the property.

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Bengal govt making efforts to improve tourism infrastructure in Sundarbans, Minister tells Assembly

The West Bengal government is making all efforts to improve the tourism infrastructure in the Sundarbans and has solicited the participation of the private sector in the matter, State Tourism Minister, Indranil Sen, told the Assembly on Thursday. During the question hour, Sen, in his reply to a query, said the government, with the engagement of the private sector, is planning to set up ecofriendly hotels and entertainment arenas around the mangrove forest. The state, since the TMC's rise to power in 2011, has introduced some package tours from the city to the Sundarbans using two tourism department vessels that ferry them to the jungle and back. Sen said that the government was also weighing the possibilities of starting houseboat services in the next six months in several large waterbodies, much like the ones in Kashmir.

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Rhino census at Kaziranga National Park from March 26

A census of the one-horned rhinoceros population in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam will be conducted for three days from March 26, the state Forest Department said on Wednesday. The Unesco World Heritage site in the North-Eastern state is home to two-thirds of the world's population of the species. Eastern Assam Wildlife Division Divisional Forest Officer, Ramesh Kumar Gogoi, said, in a notice, that the 14th Rhino Population Estimation 2022 is scheduled to take place from March 26 to 28 in all the ranges of the national park. Accordingly, the forest will be closed for elephant safari during the three days in all the ranges, while jeep safari will be suspended in different ranges on separate dates as per a schedule. "The Rhino population estimation is a mandatory management practice and suspension of tourism activities during the period is necessary for the interest of the smooth conduct of the estimation," Gogoi said. The park is not just about one-horned rhinos and tigers but is also home to elephants, wild water buffalo, and several bird species. Ganges River Dolphins are also found in the rivers that crisscross the park.

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Gadkari inaugurates 19 highways projects in Raj, Haryana

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday inaugurated 19 National Highway projects of INR 1,407 crore in Haryana and Rajasthan, an official statement said. With the construction of these projects, tourism, agriculture, industry and trade will get a boost along with increase in employment in the states, the statement said. Time and fuel will be saved and pollution will be reduced, it added. The statement also pointed out that the construction of a U-turn near Ambience Mall will relieve the congestion on the Delhi-Gurugram border. The construction of various fly-overs on the Delhi-Jaipur highway will relieve traffic jams on the highway, it added. According to the statement, with the construction of various major and minor bridges on NH-48, the adjoining areas will get rid of water logging and the travel of the people will be smooth. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, state ministers and all MPsMLAs, officers and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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Saudi Arabia lifts precautionary and preventive COVID-19 measures

Saudi Arabia on Saturday lifted precautionary and preventive measures related to combating the coronavirus pandemic. An official source in the Ministry of Interior said measures including social distancing and wearing masks outdoors are no longer mandatory in the Kingdom. The ministry, quoted by the Saudi Press Agency, also said that social distancing in the Two Holy Mosques and all other mosques in the Kingdom would end, but worshipers still have to wear masks. Saudi Arabia will no longer require travellers to undergo mandatory COVID-19 quarantine upon arrival in the Kingdom. Passengers will also no longer need to provide a PCR test upon their arrival. All arrivals in the Kingdom on visit visas of any kind are required to get the insurance that covers the costs of treatment from any coronavirus infection. The ministry stressed the importance of continuing to stick to the guidelines of the national plan for immunization, which includes getting a booster dose and applying procedures to verify health status on the “Tawakkalna” app to enter facilities, activities, events, planes and public transportation. It explained that the measures taken above were subject to continuous evaluation by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom, according to the developments in the epidemiological situation.

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Projects underway to restore Shimla's glory: Himachal CM

The Himachal Pradesh government is committed to maintain the old glory of Shimla town, India's summer capital during the British Raj, and the Shimla Smart City Project is being executed by initiating various works, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Wednesday. Laying the foundation stone of INR 49 crore double-lane Dhalli tunnel here, he said that the old tunnel was constructed way back in 1852, and the new 147-metre long tunnel would provide much-needed relief to the commuters. Thakur also said that Shimla town has grown and expanded manifold and thus it is important that steps be taken for effective traffic management. He said that the state government was ensuring that all works under Smart City Project were executed at a fast pace. He further said that the project although was started in 2016 but it gained momentum during the tenure of the present government. The Chief Minister said INR 70 crore water supply scheme for Shimla town was completed within a record time of a year to overcome water crisis. He said INR 1,813 crore new water supply project for the town is being executed, which on completion would cater to the water requirement of the town for 100 years. Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said the tunnel would facilitate smooth plying of vehicle on the national highway. He said this tunnel connects Kasumpti and Shimla (Urban) Vidhan Sabha areas of Shimla district. Several works such as widening of roads, construction of foot bridges, pedestrian paths and parkings were being executed under the Smart City Project in Shimla town, he added. According to tourism industry representatives, Shimla gets 20,000-30,000 tourists on an average every weekend during the peak season- from May to June and November to January. Shimla for the first time in its history saw an unprecedented water crisis in 2018, resulting in widespread protests and even marches to the Chief Minister's residence at midnight. At that time rampant water shortage forced residents to lock their water tanks and the government to provide security to water supply employees. Old-timers blame the water crisis over the years for losing green cover and natural water streams and springs due to unplanned urbanisation. But climate experts blame decline in snow cover owing to deforestation and rise in pollution. As per studies conducted by the scientists of the Indian Meteorological Department, the snow season in Shimla has shrunk by 21 days over the 1991-2001 period.

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