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Qantas takes off from Melbourne to Delhi

Marking a significant step towards Victoria's reopening to the world, Qantas’ first flight departed from Melbourne to Delhi this morning. The service will operate four times a week from Melbourne to Delhi via Adelaide using an Airbus A330, while the return leg will be directly from Delhi to Melbourne. This is the first new international route to commence from Melbourne since the onset of Covid-19. Earlier, this month, the national carrier operated its first commercial flight from Sydney to Delhi. Qantas’ Sydney-Delhi and Melbourne-Delhi services have been the fastest-selling routes on the Australian carrier’s international network since borders reopened. The airline stated that the Melbourne-Delhi service has sold extremely quickly, with almost all flights this month fully booked across all cabins, and forward bookings well ahead of initial forecasts. Qantas, Domestic and International CEO, Andrew David, remarked that with borders reopening, the airline is adding new destinations to its route map once again. “Usually it takes 12 months to sell out flights on a new international route, but these flights sold out in a few hours,” said a statement from Qantas quoting David. He went on to say that this reflects the pent-up demand that there is for travel, especially from people wanting to see family and friends after borders were closed for so long. “We’re also seeing even more demand for flights from Delhi to Melbourne with international students and skilled migrants now able to return to Australia. With a big Indian expat community and growing trade and investment ties, India is going to be an incredibly important market for the Flying Kangaroo as international travel recovers,” David was quoted as saying.

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The Tasman takes Luxury Collection into Australia

Marriott has announced the opening of the Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart, marking the debut of the Luxury Collection brand in Australia. The Tasman showcases Hobart, a destination steeped in rich history and Australia’s second oldest city. Located on the island state of Tasmania, Hobart is renowned for its epicurean culture, vibrant art scene, and breath-taking natural surroundings. Centrally located within the restored heritage area of Parliament Square overlooking Hobart’s historic waterfront, the Tasman is just steps away from the famous Salamanca Markets, St. David’s Park and the historic Sullivan’s Cove. “Hobart is a truly captivating and dynamic city, allowing a seamless fit for the Luxury Collection, known for creating experiences for global explorers in some of the world’s most enchanting destinations,” said Philipp Weghmann, vice president and global brand leader of the Luxury Collection. “The Tasman will offer our guests a transformative journey, drawing on the incredible history, evocative contemporary culture, and awe-inspiring natural wonders of one of the most intriguing and farthest corners of the globe.” The Tasman is an elegant heritage reconstruction of former state government offices that brings together three eras of design: Georgian, Art Deco, and contemporary. The one-of-a-kind design direction of the Tasman was realised by award-winning Australian architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp and acclaimed Australian interior design firm Joseph Pang Design Consultants. The hotel marries contemporary design with the historical legacy of the site, which contains buildings spanning 180 years. The Tasman offers 152 guest rooms and suites carefully conceived to showcase the captivating architectural narrative of the property. The Heritage Building offers rooms that blend history with modern craftsmanship and design, featuring convict-hewn sandstone details, restored gas fireplaces and marble bathrooms. The St. David’s Park Suite, overlooking the park, is the jewel of the Georgian era building with its restored original fireplace and handcrafted Tasmanian blackwood timber bath. The hotel’s Art Deco rooms date back to 1937 and showcase a modern, pared-back interpretation of this iconic style expressed through thoughtful design details, including Tasmanian native sassafras timber-inlaid ceilings. The striking Pavilion Building overlooks Sullivan’s Cove and the ocean beyond, and it houses the hotel’s contemporary-designer rooms.

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Priority is to generate awareness about approvals and licences among adventure tourism stakeholders in the state: Sriharan Balan

As Tamil Nadu Tourism has started the process of regulating the Adventure Tourism activities in the state by rolling out the first-ever draft Adventure Tourism guidelines for the state, the Association of Adventure Tour Operators, ATOAI, has named a young tour operator from Chennai, Sriharan Balan, the Deputy Managing Director of Madura Travel Services as its Chapter Chairman to build an adventure tourism eco-system in the state. Although a top-ranking state in terms of foreign tourist arrivals and domestic tourism numbers, Tamil Nadu, so far, had no policies or guidelines to regulate adventure tourism as a niche activity of tourism. “It’s a new chapter of ATOAI and I have to build the chapter from scratch,” Balan said in a telephonic interaction with ETTravelWorld. However, Balan is quite happy with the way his appointment has been received by the tourism department of the state at a crucial time when the state is finalising the adventure tourism guidelines. He met Sandeep Nanduri, MD, TTDC, and shared ATOAI’s views on the draft guidelines. “We have asked for ATOAI representation in the empowered committee for adventure tourism classification which forms part of the new policy,” Balan said. Explaining his priorities, Balan said that since there was no system of licensing or approvals for adventure tour operators in the state, his priority will be towards educating and creating awareness about becoming part of a system among the adventure operators in the state. When operating without proper licences and approvals, there is always a danger of actions on the part of the department in case something untoward happens, which Balan says leads to a huge loss of investment. He cited the recent government action on non-approved Bed & Breakfast units and camping sites in Kodaikanal and other places. The state has huge potential in adventure tourism, Balan says, highlighting over 130 hill stations along the Western Ghats, beautiful beaches, backwaters, world-class mangroves, etc. “Adventure tourism activities have been happening around these destinations without proper licences and registrations so far. It has to change for the overall good of the industry,” he said.

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Ministry of Tourism waiting to introduce many new schemes: G Kamala Vardhan Rao

G Kamala Vardhan Rao, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, sharing his comments during the recently concluded IATO Convention in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, said that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is waiting to introduce many new schemes, but the ongoing situation erupted due to the spread of new Covid-19 Omicron variant, the decision is in the doldrums. But he mentioned that they are closely monitoring the situation and looking at every aspect before taking any decision. “As far as this crisis is concerned, the Government of India and the Ministry of Tourism is monitoring the situation daily and keeping a tab on the number of cases. Country-wide vaccination has crossed more than 130 crore and beyond and we are looking into each and every aspect of the condition and doing constant deliberations on what measures to take, with regards to updating the guidelines and also reviewing the decision to resume scheduled international flights,” he said during the inaugural ceremony. Commenting on the resumption of international scheduled flights, Rao stated, “Currently, the relaxation purely depends on the spread of Omicron variant and how it behaves. We are waiting to introduce many schemes, which the Ministry will reveal and take forward in the time to come. Tourism is not one department; tourism is an amalgamation of various departments. I would like to say that we should never lose, confidence and courage. We are talking about the road to recovery and maybe we will have a roaring recovery in the tourism sector in this country,” he mentioned. Later after inaugurating the convention, Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, in conversation with ETTravelWorld said that he is quite hopeful for a good tourist season in 2022 and business will certainly start from October 2022. “It was nice to see a large number of registrations and actual turn around in equal numbers to make the convention successful. We had very productive business sessions with quality speakers sharing their thoughts. The members are happy, and we have tried to send a positive message aboard that India is safe. Our primary aim is to get more foreign tourists to India as soon as possible. Let’s pray and hope that we don’t get to any third wave of Covid-19. My outlook for 2022 is that business will start, and we should have a good season from next year. We have been writing to the government to scrap the quarantine system and have a more stringent checking at the airport, which is important,” Mehra mentioned. Whereas, Rajnish Kaistha, Hony Secretary, IATO & officiating Chairman of the Convention to ETTravelWorld, said that they have received positive feedback from the members on the convention. “When we started working for the Gandhinagar Convention, we were a little apprehensive in the beginning as to how people will react as the memory of Covid-19’s second wave was still fresh in the minds of the members. But then we decided, it is about time, we must move on and send a message to the world that things are getting back to normal in India. There could have been no better way to do this convention and I am glad that the Gujarat government supported us for the initiative, and it turned out to be a good convention with almost 600 registrations at a time when there has been no business for inbound tour operators and fear of Omicron variant spreading,” he said.

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Delhi, Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka ban Christmas and New Year celebrations amid Omicron scare

In a recent COVID update, the governments of Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have banned all Christmas and New Year celebrations. All kinds of mass gatherings and cultural events have also been prohibited as cases of Omicron variant are spreading rapidly in the country. An order issued by District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) reads, "All DMs and District DCPs shall ensure that no cultural event/gatherings/congregation/take place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in NCT of Delhi.". The district magistrates have also been asked to identify potential COVID-19 superspreader regions in Delhi amid Omicron fear so that necessary measures to control the spread could be taken. The order said that all district magistrates must conduct surveys of the entire area falling within their jurisdiction and identify the colonies, markets and slums which have potential of becoming COVID-19 hotspot. Maharashtra Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of Omicron cases in India till now. The state has imposed section 144 till December 31. The BMC has issued new guidelines wherein people only up to 50 percent capacity are allowed in closed spaces and only 25 percent in open spaces. Also party organisers need to get permission from the authorities if the gathering is more than 200 people. Uttar Pradesh The midnight mass in UP churches will be only for invitees. The government has also called off all kinds of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Hotels and clubs in various parts of the state have decided not to throw a New Year bash this time. Karnataka Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the New Year celebrations at all public places will take place in a restricted manner. Restaurants will be allowed to operate on 50 per cent seating capacity and only fully vaccinated people should be allowed. No special events and DJs will be allowed. The new curbs will come into effect from December 30 and will remain till January 2. Till now, India has reported 213 Omicron cases across 15 states.

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Dubai continues to see tourists flocking despite global Covid-19 concerns

Dubai, the Middle East's business and tourism hub, cannot afford another lockdown. Its economy, whose foundations have creaked under coronavirus restrictions, relies heavily on the travel industry. Brazilian tourist Livya Feho used a 24-hour Dubai layover to visit the Expo 2020, in a city that remains one of the few international tourism hubs still open for travellers during a coronavirus-disrupted holiday period. Feho, travelling from Israel to Brazil, snapped a few selfies at the global fair's main square, festooned with Christmas trees and other holiday decorations. With the Omicron variant circulating in the UAE, was she not worried about catching Covid-19? "Yes, a bit ...but I had the booster dose... and I am also using the mask. So I think I will be fine," she said. Dubai, the Middle East's business and tourism hub, cannot afford another lockdown. Its economy, whose foundations have creaked under coronavirus restrictions, relies heavily on the travel industry. It received 5.5 million visitors in 2020, despite global lockdowns, and this year had welcomed 4.88 million by the end of October, official data shows. UAE infection numbers are rising again. There were 665 new cases on Wednesday, but tourists are still enjoying its glitzy hotels and night life. Gabriela Pourova, a tourist from the Czech Republic, said she needed only a PCR test to land in Dubai. "No matter how the risk right now is... I can just take my precautions and still enjoy Dubai," added Yvette Dbedevi, a tourist from Togo.

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