News

IRCTC to run special tourism train for Thai Amavasya & Shakti Peeta Yatra from January 22

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will operate a special tourism train, Thai Amavasya and Shakti Peeta Yatra from January 22, 2022. The train, starting from Madurai, will travel to Karur, Erode, and Salem covering Kasi, Gaya, Allahabad, Kolkata, Kamakhya, Puri, and Konark. On January 22, the special train will begin its journey and return on February 3, 2022, to promote domestic tourism among the general public. “The IRCTC has opened its doors to rail-based tourism to professionalise and upgrade the services, and has been providing various package tours, including the Bharat Darshan tour package, rail tour packages, LTC packages, charter coach-train packages, customised tours, educational tours for schools and colleges, city tours, and car rental services,” IRCTC said in a statement. The 13-day tour package will cost INR 12,285 per person, inclusive of GST. Travellers in the states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry can take the low-cost tourist train package, for which the central and state government staff will be able to use LTC. The package includes sleeper class train ticket, accommodation in non-AC hall/Dharmashalas, non-AC road transfers, South Indian vegetarian food, tour escort, and security for each coach apart from travel insurance, protection kit, sanitiser, and mask.

Read more

Now, government wants airports, flights to play Indian Music

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday asked all airlines and airports to consider playing Indian music in their flights and terminal premises. The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) had on December 23 requested Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to promote Indian music in flights operated by Indian carriers. Therefore, the ministry wrote a letter to all airlines and airports on Monday stating that music played by most of the airlines across the globe was in quintessential of the country to which the airline belongs, for example, Jazz in an American airline or Mozart in an Austrian airline and Arab music in an airline from the Middle East. "But, Indian Airlines seldom play Indian music in the flight, whereas, our music has a rich heritage and culture and it has one of the many things every Indian has a reason for truly proud of it," the ministry noted. India has a rich diversity of traditional music, it noted. "Owing to India's vastness and diversity, Indian music encompasses numerous genres in multiple varieties and forms, which include classical music, folk, light vocal, instrumental music, etc," it mentioned. India has a history spanning several millennia and developed over several geo-locations spanning the sub-continent, it said. Music in India began as an integral part of the socio-religious life, it noted. The ministry said it is in receipt of request from ICCR for playing Indian music in the aircraft being operated in India and also at airports. "It is, therefore, requested to kindly consider playing Indian music in the aircraft being operated in India and at airports following the regulatory requisites," the ministry stated. Scindia had on December 23 visited the headquarters of the ICCR here and met its president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. The ICCR, which works under the Ministry of External Affairs, had said on Twitter that various suggestions were made during the meeting "including promotion of Indian music in flights operated by the Indian air companies". Eminent artists and musicians, including Malini Awasthi, Anu Malik, Kaushal S Inamdar, Shounak Abhisheki, Manjusha Patil K, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Rita Ganguly and Wasifuddin Dagar were also present during the meeting, it added.

Read more

Covid-19: No night curfew for now as it may affect tourism, says Goa CM

The Goa government on Tuesday decided not to impose night curfew in the coastal state for now so that the tourism business amid the Christmas-New Year festival season is not affected. Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, told reporters in Panaji that his government was monitoring the Covid-19 positivity rate and stringent decisions would be taken during the meeting of the task force scheduled to be held on January 3 in case this rate rises. "Imposing immediate night curfew is not feasible being a tourist state. We will need time. We have appealed to tourists to take maximum precautions. The health department and police have been instructed to ensure Covid-19 norms are not violated," he said. The positivity rate (infections detected per 100 tests) stood at 4.03 per cent on Tuesday, up from 3.99 on Monday, with the Chief Minister saying this rise was caused by two weddings that saw attendees from London and Germany. He asked local residents to not party with foreign nationals who are yet to complete their quarantine period. "There are 1,300 foreigners who have arrived here recently. Their re-testing would be done after quarantine period is over. The maximum number of tourists will arrive in Goa on December 31," Sawant said. He informed that 94 per cent of the eligible beneficiaries in the state were fully vaccinated, while the remaining six percent were "delaying in taking the dose". Sawant said, as per the Centre's order, those in the 15-18 age group will be vaccinated against Covid-19 from January 3 and registration for this drive will begin on January 1, on which date precaution dose administration for frontline staff and healthcare workers will also start. The state will install genome sequencing facilities at Goa Medical College and Directorate of Health Services for detection of the Omicron variant, the CM said, adding that a US-based firm had agreed to provide one such machine free of cost, which would be kept at DHS.

Read more

Thai Golf Pass 5 launched in India, promotions, and other activities to begin in January 2022

Golf management company SLW in association with the Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced the launch of Thai Golf Pass Season 5 in India, one of its kinds loyalty programs for any country, where activities will start from January 2022 with on-ground promotions all over India and four golf tournaments in Thailand. A unique initiative by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi, Thai Golf Pass provides a seamless golf experience exclusive to Thailand, where members can earn rewards on redemption of loyalty points. The user-friendly online programme also brings all the suppliers under one platform. The inaugural season of the initiative saw the website launch, two promotional events in India and an event in Bangkok, 83 loyalty partners, and 2,307 membership registrations. A total of 522 Golfers travelled to Thailand under the Thai Golf Pass. Commenting on the launch, Vachirachai Sirisumpan, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi Office, said, “Golf is one of the important segments which we focus on and continue to promote Thailand as Indian Golfer’s favourite destination. In fact, destination diversity and vast choices of golf courses throughout the country are key factors attracting the large numbers of visitors coming to play golf in Thailand. I am happy to work closely with SLW to launch Thai Golf Pass– Season 5 and would be more excited to see all golfers joining the programme. I would like to take this opportunity and look forward to welcoming all Indian golfers to have the first tee-off in Amazing Thailand once the situation improves.” “Thai Golf Passport was launched in India in 2017 to offer Indian golfers a seamless golf experience in Thailand. Indian golfers can be a part of this amazing reward programmes whenever they tee off in Amazing Thailand,” said Anil Dev, Managing Director, SLW. “More than 250 quality service providers like Callaway and a number of golf courses, resorts, and hotels are already on board as partners. While travel business took a hit due to Covid-19, we are gearing up to make Thailand the destination of choice when travel resumes,” he added. Commenting on the initiative, Chitranjan Bakhshi, Business Head, SLW Golf Holidays, said, “Thailand is the most popular destination got golfers from India. The Thai Golf Pass, which is supported by TAT, is a brilliant scheme to reward the keen golfers to experience this destination.” During the special address at the virtual launch event, Rtn Parag Sheth, Founder, South Asian Fellowship of Golfing Rotarians (SAFGR), said, "SAFGR will be the biggest Golfers Club in South Asia as our members are avid travellers who travel all over the world for golf. We regularly organise golf events for our members. SAFGR is also organising the world’s largest virtual golf tournament, where 5,000 participants are expected to be present for the eradication of Polio. Thailand is a great destination for them to discover beaches, shopping, food that adds to a great holiday. SAFGR has already planned to make Thailand an annual golfing destination. We had planned a golf retreat in 2021 but could not go due to the Covid pandemic. The event is now planned to be held in Pattaya in March 2022 and hopes this to be an annual feature." “Our association welcomes this move which is a programme unique to India. While hotels and airlines have loyalty programmes, it is a first of its kind where a country has created such a programme. We support all golf tourism initiatives and are sure that this will really encourage golf travel,” added Rajan Sehgal, President, Indian Golf Travel Association (IGTA) at the launch event.

Read more

Indian Embassy in Thailand organises Indiatourism roadshow in Khon Kaen highlighting adventure tourism and Buddhist pilgrimage in India

Taking efforts to promote Indian destinations and the potential of tourism opportunities in India post Covid-19, the Embassy of India, Bangkok organised an Incredible Indiatourism roadshow in the Khon Kaen of Thailand. First Secretary Dharmendra Singh and Attache Anil Singh of the Indian Embassy in Thailand interacted with tour operators of Khon Kaen and Udon Thani provinces who attended the event in large numbers. The focus state of the roadshow was Himachal Pradesh Tourism where the Embassy highlighted and presented opportunities in adventure tourism and Buddhist pilgrimage in India. The Thai travel trade showed enthusiasm to collaborate with Incredible India and promote the movement of tourists between both countries. Earlier this month, Thailand decided to reinstate its mandatory Covid-19 quarantine for foreign visitors and scrap a quarantine waiver due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19. The decision to halt Thailand's 'Test and Go' waiver means visitors will have to undergo hotel quarantine, which ranges between 7 to 10 days. The 'sandbox' programme, which requires visitors to remain in a specific location but allows them free movement outside of their accommodation, will also be suspended in all places except for Phuket, and the Phuket Sandbox programme will continue as usual and travellers will not have to serve quarantine. Travellers from Thailand coming to India should register on the Air Suvidha portal before the scheduled travel and share their travel history of the last 14 days. They are also required to upload a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours before departure. A sub-section (5 per cent of the total flight passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing (free of cost) at random at the airport on arrival.

Read more

Full list of curbs as yellow alert kicks in Delhi

As Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday declared a yellow alert in the wake of a spike in the number of fresh Covid-19 cases, the following restrictions will be imposed in the national capital under Level 1 of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP). The Delhi government had recently imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am. However, under the yellow alert, the night curfew will now be enforced from 10 pm till 5 am. Schools, colleges, educational institutions, and coaching institutes will remain closed. Private offices are permitted to function with 50 per cent capacity from 9 am to 5 pm. To limit the number of passengers, interstate buses and the Delhi Metro will run at 50 per cent of its seating capacity and passengers will not be allowed to travel standing up. While restaurants can operate with 50 per cent capacity from 8 am to 10 pm, bars will be permitted to run also at 50 per cent capacity from 12 noon to 10 pm. While, cinema halls, multiplexes, banquet halls and auditoriums will remain closed, salons and beauty parlours will function as usual. In addition to that, only 20 people will be allowed to attend weddings and funerals. Addressing a virtual press briefing earlier on Tuesday, Kejriwal said, "Delhi is mostly recording mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 cases. That is why there is no reason to panic. However, to ensure that the infection rate does not rise exponentially, a few restrictions under level 1 (yellow alert) is going to be imposed as the positivity rate continues to be more than 0.5 per cent for the past two days." GRAP, approved by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in July this year, decides which activities would be allowed under what circumstances in case of a surge in Covid-19 cases. According to the plan, there are four levels of colour-coded alerts namely, yellow, amber, orange and red. A yellow alert is declared when the infection rate continues to be either at the mark of 0.5 per cent positivity for two consecutive days or crosses it. Under the Level 1 alert, 1,500 positive cases could be reported in the national capital in a span of one week.

Read more