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Army to organize 3-day snow sports festival in J-K's Bhaderwah to revive tourism

The snow-bound Bhaderwah in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir is all set to host a three-day snow sports festival from Friday, thanks to the Army which has come forward to give a boost to the efforts of the administration to Bhaderwah is holding the three-day snow carnival from February 18 in collaboration with district administration Doda and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering in the picturesque valley, also known as mini-Kashmir for its resemblance with the 'paradise on earth'. In the run-up to the three-day festival, different activities like snow sledging, skiing, boarding and snowman making are going on at Thanthera, Jaie Valley, Sartingal and Padri under the supervision of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Thathri, Athar Amin Zargar who has been appointed nodal officer of the festival Apart from these, other attractions will include live performance by band of Bhaderwah, photography exhibition cum competition, stalls by J&K Tourism department, high altitude warfare school and Indian Institute of skiing and Mountaineering, an army spokesman said. To finalise the arrangements, officials said the Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaderwah Rakesh Kumar also called a high level meeting of Army officers, civil administration and other stakeholders of the tourism industry for the success of the event. "The primary objective to organise snow carnival at this time is to give the much-needed boost to tourism in Bhaderwah valley which is the mainstay of the economy of the locals who have suffered a lot due to the coronavirus pandemic," Kumar told PTI. He said the snow festival will provide a platform to the youth to showcase their talent. Locals expressed their gratitude to the Army and said the event is a welcome step and hoped that it would help revive the badly-hit tourism industry. The tourism stakeholders were, however, critical of Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) for its alleged failure to highlight and boost tourism potential in Bhaderwah. "The Army, besides maintaining peace and law and order, is going an extra mile by taking the much required initiative to bring back the derailed tourism industry to life but on the other hand BDA, which is responsible to develop tourism, has completely failed to take any initiative to revive tourism," said a local tourism player and event Manager, Manoj Kotwal.

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Delhi tourism app takes bookings to visit Mughal Garden, says tourism secretary

The Delhi government’s mobile app “Dekho Meri Dilli”, developed by the tourism department, can be used to book a visit to Mughal Garden, opening for visitors from Monday, and other major tourist spots, Delhi government’s tourism secretary Swati Sharma said. The app was launched by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on September 27 last year. “Dekho Meri Dilli” recently added the ‘Biodiversity Parks’ developed and maintained by DDA and also the ‘Bharat Darshan Park’ developed by SDMC with complete information to give users a holistic experience of Delhi. The app along with its many user-friendly features offers six unique ways to discover Delhi and helps one plan a city tour ranging from half a day to even six days. It also provides access to Google Maps to the required destination when you search for one along with its operational days, timings etc and lists public and paid toilet facilities nearest to the user too. Sharma said that the app can be used for booking tickets to major tourist destinations and tourists will not need to stand in queues to get the tickets. “It will take the users to the respective sites of the tourist locations where tickets can be booked instantly. It will help people avoid crowds which is an important aspect of coronavirus pandemic management,” Sharma said. The tourism department designed the mobile application to facilitate a longer stay of tourists in the Capital by providing them with all the information on one reliable platform. At present tourists visiting Delhi stay in the capital for an average of 1.5 days and the Delhi government aims to increase the average stay of tourists to about 2.5 days

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Digital Boost To Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ Tourism Industry

The Tourism sector is anticipating space to breathe again. And, one of the most recent sighs of relief in this sector came from the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Government of Andaman and Nicobar Islands recently collaborated with BookingJini, a hospitality-focused SaaS platform. Seeing the surge in tourist footfall in the union territory, the platform has tied up with the Department of Tourism to assist the management of the rising footfall with the help of digital-centric solutions. Along with upgrading the booking system, BookingJini will also construct a robust network of more than 200 hospitality providers in the union territory and will provide them with a pedestal to garner more visibility. In addition to this, BookingJini will also take care of other travel-related queries. All these tasks will be catered to with the help of state-of-the-art technology and automation. “The digital experience is no more a luxury but a necessity. With BookingJini’s exclusive latest technologies and ‘for hotels’ approach, we will help service providers be in sync with the current tourist demand and industry trends,” said Mr. Md Parvez, General Manager, Andaman, and Nicobar Tourism, reported Orissa Diary. Talking about the ambitions of the tie-up with the Department of Tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, BookingJini Founder and CEO, Sibasish Mishra, said, “Via BookingJini, we intend to enhance the traveller’s overall experience.” Mishra added that their platform will lend a firm hand to the tourism industry in the union territory in the form of the latest technology. The platform, Mishra said, aims to empower the hospitality sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to be self-reliant regarding booking requests, customer service, and giving the guests a one-of-a-lifetime experience.

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Norway removes all pandemic restrictions, including mask mandate

In a bid to move towards a post pandemic future, Norway has removed almost all its remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including the mask rule. The Nordic nation’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre made the announcement on Saturday and said that though they have lifted most of the lockdown measures in the country, they will still keep a few restrictions for the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. The PM said, “We are removing almost all Coronavirus measures. The Coronavirus pandemic is no longer a major health threat to most of us. The Omicron virus causes far less serious illness and we are well protected by vaccines." He further justified his action by saying that the residents are well protected by COVID-19 vaccines and from Saturday, Norwegians no longer need to wear masks in crowded places. Not only this, the 3 feet social distancing measure is also abolished. The Norwegian government has also lifted the self-isolation requirement and replaced it with a recommendation wherein infected adults are asked to stay at home for four days. Travellers from across the globe can enter the country without any requirements for vaccination certificates or testing. The rule change means that travellers can freely visit the country just like pre-pandemic days once again. However, visitors must be aware that most international airlines still follow the mask rule onboard. Apparently, Norway went into a partial lockdown in December 2021, after the discovery and spread of the Omicron variant.

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Raffles the Palm Dubai

Raffles the Palm Dubai is offering some extravagant surprises for couples this Valentine’s Day. Matagi, known for its unique Itameshi cuisine, has a spectacular eight-course Valentine’s Day dinner to try, for example. The dinner is Dihram850 per person, with a serene ambience perfect for the occasion. DJ Hilde will set the mood with romantic tunes all throughout the night. As a parting gift, guests will be treated to petit fours at the end of their meal. The relaxed jazz lounge Sold will be hosting a three-course meal, prepared by the expert team of chefs, paired with a bottle of the finest bubbly, red or white grapes for Dhs599 per couple. Couples can also opt for a beverage package that includes a choice of selected sparkling, red or white grapes bottles. Looking for an outstanding afternoon tea? Head to the Blüthner Hall Afternoon Tea for mesmerizing interiors and delicious bites. The soft drinks package is Dhs220 per person, or you can get a glass of bubbly and canapé for Dhs350 per person, complete with chocolate-dipped berries. Plenty on offer, then, ahead of the big day!

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Indians appreciate vacations with loved ones more compared to pre-pandemic days, states OYO survey

Indians appreciate vacations with loved ones more now as compared to pre-pandemic days and one-third of them have already made travel plans to celebrate Valentine's Day together, according to a global consumer survey by hospitality technology platform OYO. Nearly 62 per cent of Indian respondents were looking to treat their loved ones to a quick getaway to a nearby destination, as per OYO's global Valentine's Day consumer index 'Let Love In With Travel 2022'. Stating that travel plays a huge part in bonding with loved ones, the OYO survey said the world took this for granted until the pandemic pulled the brakes on travel plans. "Two out of three respondents said they appreciate vacations with loved ones more today than pre-pandemic days. Indian respondents don't take their holidays for granted anymore," it added. When it comes to Valentine's Day destinations, a majority of Indian travellers prefer to spend the day by the beach in Goa, followed by the cozy hillside of Manali, it said. Nearly 38 per cent of them said they travel to spend quality time and share meaningful experiences with loved ones, while 26 per cent travelled for a break from the routine and another 25 per cent for the love of exploring new places and cultures. "A whopping 84 per cent also believe that travel strengthens their relationships with loved ones," the survey said. A majority of Indian respondents voted for Paris as the city that best defines the statement 'Love is in the air', followed by Goa and Kolkata. However, as for India's top international wishlist for Valentine's Day, the survey said, "With 28 per cent each, India remains divided between Paris and Maldives. Switzerland takes the third spot." As for dream proposals on the day, 31 per cent of the respondents said they would "prefer the question to be popped on a cruise during sunset in Goa", while "18 per cent said they would say yes while enjoying snowfall at a homestay in Himachal Pradesh". In Germany, according to the survey one in two respondents would love to spend Valentine's Day by the beach, while 70 per cent preferred spending the day with their partners or spouse, followed by family.

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