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Reinduction of Max fleet will usher in new era in commitment to sustainability in SpiceJet: Ajay Singh

Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet Airlines has said that the reinduction of all the 13 grounded 737 Max flights will be completed over the next 15 days. Singh said that reinduction of two of them have already been done and scheduled operations will start soon. Calling the recertified Max carriers as most safest and comfortable carriers in the world, the SpiceJet CEO said that the reinduction of the Max carriers will usher in a new spirit and commitment towards building SpiceJet a sustainable airline of the region . Max carriers consumes 20 per cent less fuel and 40 per cent less sound compared to conventional engine, he said. The cabin offers larger legroom and will have 5 rows of premium economy seats. With reinduction of Max carriers, SpiceJet will be able to fly direct to mid to long haul destinations like Moscow, Istanbul, etc. This, Singh said, was not feasible on NG engines. SpiceJet conducted a media fam on the re-inducted Max carrier from Delhi to Gwalior and back to showcase the safety and comfort of the flight.

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Greenfield airport in Puri, two more airports in Odisha soon: Civil Aviation Minister

Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia during the Udan Utsav celebrations at the Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda, Odisha said that a Greenfield Airport will soon come up at Puri, the coastal city popular for the famous Puri Jagannatha Temple, following responses from the Odiha state government. He also said that two more small airports are expected to come up in the state along with the Phase II expansion of the Jhassuguda airport. During the event, the Minister also flagged off the new air route between Shilong and Dimapur under the UDAN- RCS Scheme apart from witnessing the exchange of partnership agreement with MakeMyTrip to promote UDAN routes and flights. Scindia also interacted with the airport directors, officials and beneficiary flyers of UDAN who joined from from different parts of the country including Belgaum and Kishangarh through video conferencing. He then unveiled, Socio-economic Impact Study Report of UDAN Scheme, conducted by the Indian School of Business. A special air joy Ride is being planned for elderly and children during the UDAN Utsav celebrations which will also commemorate the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Minister further informed. Talking about the expansion of airports in India, he said, the number of airports now stood at 136 due to the success of UDAN scheme over the years. “We have set a target to increase this number by 220 in the next five years which will include helipads and water aerodromes. The number of airlines, routes have also increased significantly over the years due to the advent of UDAN scheme,” he commented. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is also expecting a report from the Odisha government to resolve the issues of permission and licensing for Jeypore and Utkela airports in the state, Scindia said.

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International Superyacht Summit headed to Dubai next month

The International Superyacht Summit is set to take place on December 8-9. One of the most anticipated events in the yachting tourism sector, the event will take place under the patronage of P&O Marinas, a subsidiary of DP World. The show is initiated and co-organised by Fabulous Yachts, and will take place at the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2, anchored at Mina Rashid Marina in Dubai. Held in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism and Dubai Maritime City Authority. Since its launch in 2018, the International Superyacht Summit has garnered global attention and gained the confidence of the national and international yachting community. Constituting an integral part of P&O Marinas’ strategy, the summit will lead the way in establishing Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as preferred yachting destinations in the Middle East. Featuring world-class ports and superyacht berths with state-of-the-art facilities, the UAE has an ideal setup for a thriving yachting tourism industry. Dubai especially has attractive and competitive advantages including suitable berth spaces, dedicated support facilities and its strategic location along a beautiful coastline. Hamza Mustafa, chief operating officer, P&O Marinas, said: “The UAE has a diversified economy with tourism as one of its core pillars. “Capitalising on this, the country has established itself as an exclusive, luxury yachting destination. “At P&O Marinas, through our collection of sought-after yachting and coastal destinations, our sole purpose is to develop and promote Dubai as a comprehensive maritime hub and a global destination for marine tourism. “Our assemblage of marinas is one of the most comprehensive in the Middle East, with a total capacity of 1,200 wet berths, 600 dry berths, and an ability to accommodate 60 superyachts ranging between 25-160 metres. “In addition to this, we are continually working to ensure that the Emirate remains the epicentre for yacht and superyacht owners.” The 2021 edition of the International Superyacht Summit will introduce two new themes. The first highlights superyacht marina developments and their role in empowering lifestyle and tourism and the elite yachting industry. The second theme focuses on emerging trends in superyacht ownership and how builders can cater to the needs of young yacht owners and charterers. Central to this is the increasing environmental awareness and the deployment of sustainable practices. Tony Crabbe, chief executive of Fabulous Yachts, said: “The superyacht sector has seen much progress, especially since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Through the summit, we hope to highlight the success of the sector. “The event will also act as a platform to create awareness and synergy between a multitude of decision-makers and superyacht aficionados.” The event being held during EXPO 2020 Dubai will further amplify its reach due to a large number of incoming tourists.

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Ramayana heritage fosters India, Sri Lankan relations through 'spiritual tourism'

Indo-Sri Lankan cultural relations will get a re-boost with the "spiritual tourism" efforts as a part of the Ramayana heritage tourism. The cultural tourism initiative got a major boost under the Narendra Modi government as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to promote Ramayana in 2016, said an article in Colombo Gazette. The MoU said that the two countries would work jointly to promote mutual tourism interests. Earlier both India and Sri Lanka had agreed in 2008 to work on enhancing shared cultural and religious values based on Ramayana heritage. The Colombo Gazette article said Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) helps create the "Ramayana Trail in Lanka" to promote its "spiritual tourism". In October 2021, new measures to boost bilateral travel between Sri Lanka and India came under review at the third meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) dedicated to tourism. Jeewana Fernando, who is in charge of the Ramayana Trail at the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), said that they are gearing up to promote the Ramayana Trail post-pandemic and have already earmarked promoting many of the 52 sites that are located in the country. "The SLTDA annually allocates around INR 20 million for promoting the Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka and they have coordinated with many Hindu religious missions in India to bring devotees to Sri Lanka on the Ramayana heritage," he said. "The SLTDA has identified and promoted only 32 sites that are located in the fabulous natural beauty of the county and is hoping to promote the rest of the attractions in the coming years," he added. The JWG follows the mandate of the Indo-Sri Lankan inter-governmental bilateral MoU signed in January 2004 which has developed bilateral tourism and has drawn a large number of Indian visitors to Sri Lanka in recent times. The "Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka" and the spiritual tourism had cricketers Arjuna Ranatunga and Arvinda Desilva as brand ambassadors. Despite being a Buddhist country, Sri Lankan audience is fascinated by the Ramayana movies and television episodes aired from India which helps them to be culturally connected. Sri Lanka understands the importance of the cultural connection between New Delhi and Colombo through the Ramayana epic along with the other being the Mahabharat. The fillip to the initiate has assumed more significance post-pandemic with the Sri Lanka government has earmarked the initiative to promote the Ramayana Trail as a part of its expanding tourism industry. The Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority along with the Indian government has been the brain behind "Spiritual Tourism". According to SLTDA, at least 250,000 Indian tourists annually visit one of the 52 sites of the Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka which will increase following the easing

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Railways to launch about 190 theme-based Bharat Gaurav trains showcasing India's heritage, culture

After freight and passenger segments, the railways is set to begin a third segment dedicated to the tourism sector and launch a set of around 190 theme-based trains called Bharat Gaurav trains, minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference, the railways minister said these trains could be run both by the private sector as well as the IRCTC. "These are not regular trains that will be run on timetables. We have identified 3,033 coaches or 190 trains for these theme-based trains. After passenger and goods segments, we will start the tourism segment to run Bharat Gaurav trains. These trains will showcase India's culture and heritage. We have invited applications for them from today," he said. The minister further said that the idea originated from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who suggested theme-based trains so that people in the country can understand, appreciate and take forward India's heritage. He also said the fare of these trains would be practically decided by tour operators but the railways will ensure that there is no abnormality in the prices. The minister said that state governments like Odisha, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have shown interest in these trains.

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Pride Group Signs Hotel In Vadodara

Pride Group of Hotels signs up for Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland, Vadodara. Located at the Aatapi Wonderland, a theme park in the outskirts of Vadodara at Ajwa, Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland will have the best amenities and services spread across over approx 70 acres. Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland will have authentic cuisine options like Kathiyawadi & Punjabi. The resort will have two lawns that can accommodate 500 guests in the banquets at a time. Atul Upadhyay, Vice President, Pride Group of Hotels, said, “In the last few months, things have accelerated positively for the Hospitality market in Gujarat. We are excited to announce the signing up for Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland. It is one of the unexplored adventures in Gujarat and we are confident that we will be able to promote Gujarat tourism with Pride Resorts further. The location is perfect for large gatherings, MICE events, and celebrations. We look forward to welcoming our guests soon.” Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland is easily accessible from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and other Gujarat cities, the location is also great for weekend family trips and quick drives. It has more than 40 rides & attractions like Spectacular Water Laser Show, mesmerizing Jugnoo World, which is also India's 1st Glow Garden, Vrundavan Garden with dancing fountains, India's 1st Tubby Jump, and many more thrilling rides to attract toddlers and grown-ups both. The amusement park has six restaurants serving a variety of fun foods already. With its presence around 36 great locations across India, Pride Group of Hotels boasts of 3213+ Rooms, 70+ Restaurants, 92 Banquets, and Conference Halls, reinforcing itself as a one-stop destination for MICE.

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