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Have you been to Mulshi? An up and coming getaway destination near Mumbai and Pune

Getaways have emerged as a popular trend amidst the pandemic. The safety and convenience of road trips have made them the most sought-after mode of transportation. Our recent road trip took us to Mulshi, a scenic destination in Maharashtra that makes for an ideal getaway for Mumbaikars and Punertes. A haven of landscapes, Mulshi is a 3-hour drive from Mumbai, and an hour's ride from Pune Mulshi Dam tops the list of things to do in this humble yet beautiful village of Maharashtra. A trekker's paradise and a photographer's muse. Mulshi Dam is an excellent spot for bird watching. Sahyadri’s deep forests make for an inviting trip during the monsoons and winters. The weather at this time of the year is perfect for a chat with the lush green forests and windy air. If you are drawn to witnessing structures and hilly forts then Dhangad Fort and Koraigadh Fort close to Mulshi are a must-visit. When travelling with a large group, a trek to Koraigadh Fort tops the charts of things to do when travelling to Mulshi. While you are on the road to Mulshi, we recommend travelling a little more into Lonavala to Bhushi Dam to witness this popular tourist spot and getting your hands on affordable hand-painted crockery. When you’re spending all that time in and around Mulshi, you ought to experience a stay that’s off-beat. Read on to discover a Scotland County experience in India! Bringing global experiences in the comfort of Maharashtra Experiential and slow travel are among front- runners to the new age travel approach and Maharashtra’s hilly paradise is now catering to a vacation experience that lets one enjoy a European county like experience tailored to meet domestic convenience. Song of Life County is a first of its kind villa resort in Mulshi, as the name suggests, the property is fashioned after majestic countryside townships in Scotland. If you’re wondering what this county looks like, fathom a private cobbled street leading to off white picket fenced villas, tapering brick coloured roofs on the exterior, dewy private manicured lawns, hummingbirds and lavender blooms. The most soothing sight of all, blanketed green views as far as the eyes can see! Consisting of 7 villas, Song of Life County is the ultimate destination for country-side vacations that will enable you to experience something new not too far away from Mumbai and Pune. There are 4 identical Regal Villas that open up to a hearty 5 bedroom and living room space, wooden stairway, vintage chandelier, and tall roofs, reminiscent of the European theme of this paradise tucked in the bed of Maharashtra’s Western Ghats. The many European elements like the high roofs, bedside chandeliers, wall lights, wooden framework sing of the old-world charm. The popping colourful couch in the living room adds a dash of contemporary flavour. The grandest villa is the Opulent villa which practically opens the door to the vintage era, this three storied home pays a poetic ode to Colonial architecture. The other villas at this property are the Ornate and Majestic villas. Celebrating plant-based food is Harmony, the property’s vegetarian restaurant that truly glorifies local produce with smashing multi cuisine food. Mornings here begin with strolls with the many species of birds, afternoons curled up with a book at the porch, rejuvenating the crisp fresh evening air on a bicycle ride, a quick game of badminton by the promenade. Our personal favourite way of calling it a night was by lounging on the sofa seat swings in the lawn. A healthy challenge of air hockey, chess or even the good old carrom is an ideal way of indulging with your bunch of family and friends. Once you visit Mulshi and Song of Life County, you would have truly recharged your senses from the hustle-bustle of the city.

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Saudi Arabia recognises Covishield, exempts quarantine for those travellers vaccinated with it

As per the latest development, Saudi Arabia has also recognised Serum Institute of India’s Covishield as an approved Covid vaccine for entry into the country. As such, with this move, Saudi Arabia has facilitated the entry of fully vaccinated Indian travellers to the country without the need to undergo institutional quarantine. With this step, Covishield has now joined the list of eight other vaccines approved by the country, such as Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca, Comirnaty, SK Bioscience, Moderna, Vaxzevria, Spikevax and Johnson & Johnson. The Saudi Tourism Authority also issued a statement stating that the Indian travellers who are fully vaccinated with Saudi-approved vaccines, will now be able to enter the country without institutional quarantine. As per the reports, although entry into Saudi Arabia is still temporarily suspended for those passing or coming through India in the 14 days prior to their arrival into Saudi, the said step of approving Covishield as a recognised vaccine is a positive development, as the country gears up to reopen its borders to Indian tourists. Reportedly, Indian travellers who have spent 14 days in a country that is not on the list of countries where entry is temporarily suspended, they will be permitted entry into Saudi Arabia as long as they are fully immunized, whereas negative PCR test report conducted no more than 72 hours before departure is a mandatory requirement in all cases.

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Fortune Hotels Opens ‘Fortune Resort Benaulim Goa’

Fortune Hotels, a member of ITC’s hotel group announced the opening of its upscale resort in Benaulim, South Goa. Branded Fortune Resort Benaulim Goa, this 96-key sprawling retreat is the group’s first resort in South Goa. This is also Fortune Hotels’ third alliance in the state. Speaking on the occasion, Samir M C, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels Limited, said: “We bring our brand to the coveted locales of South Goa and are pleased to add another property to our growing leisure portfolio. We thank the hotel ownership for recognizing the Fortune Advantage and vesting their trust in us. Goa has always been ‘the’ holiday destination of India and unfurling another Fortune here enriches our stay offerings thereby giving our guests another great option, now in the South of Goa, to choose from and experience with us.” Fortune Resort Benaulim Goa is surrounded by vast paddy fields, and rows of coconut palm trees. The resort is a perfect getaway for family holidays, solo trips, honeymooners and adventure seekers.

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Airlines operating in India need to implement Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act provisions: Ruling

New Delhi, All airlines, including foreign companies, operating in the country are responsible for implementing the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Court of Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities said. The court's ruling came after it took suo motu cognisance of a post on 'X' by Smrithy Rajesh alleging that her son, who has Autism, was ill-treated at the Bangalore airport by SriLankan Airlines employees. The court's findings revealed a lack of awareness and sensitivity towards the needs of individuals with disabilities on the part of the airline's employees and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it said. The court also highlighted that the SriLankan Airlines' policy, if it necessitates medical clearance for select categories of persons with disabilities before boarding a flight, is inconsistent with the global civil aviation requirements "All airlines, whether Indian or foreign, operating in the country are responsible for implementing the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, specifically outlined in sections 40 and 41, along with relevant rules and instructions," the court said. "This underscores the importance of adhering to both the letter and spirit of the law to ensure the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities are protected," it said. The court concluded that the DGCA cannot be absolved of its responsibility of ensuring that the provisions of the RPwD Act are implemented. The court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, part of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, oversees various responsibilities, including identifying legal inconsistencies, investigating rights deprivation, reviewing safeguards, studying international instruments, promoting research, raising awareness, and monitoring the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.

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Travel industry experts expect a ‘full recovery’ to pre-pandemic levels by 2023

According to a fresh industry data from CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Collinson, global travel industry exports have expressed optimism on full travel recovery in 2023 while cautioning that the industry still faces significant challenges in 2022. Key concerns of travellers include fears around fraudulent travel, testing documents and the impact of travel on mental and physical wellbeing. Senior aviation and travel experts according to the study remain more cautious than their global counterparts as optimism is subdued in the Asia Pacific region. The newly launched report has shown an increase in expectation of travel resumption to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, versus expectations from five months ago. An increasing number of experts now expect border re-opening arrangements by governments to ease or substantially ease in 2022 (43 per cent), whilst a third of global respondents (32 per cent) still expect border reopening arrangements by governments to evolve at different rates in 2022. This is a significant reduction from the April 2021 survey of 56 per cent, where uncertainty dominated. The survey, with responses from more than 400 C-Suite and senior managerial level travel industry experts from leading global travel brand also showcases latest travel industry recovery predictions- including traveller expectations for the coming years and beyond. The study revealed that while 37 per cent of respondents are now expecting a ‘full recovery’ to 2019 prepandemic levels in 2023 – compared to 35 per cent in the April 2021 survey – optimism that herd immunity would be reached in the US, UK and a few other developed countries has slipped from 33 per cent to 24 per cent. Additionally, concerns around quarantine and fraudulent Covid-19 test results remain a worry for respondents. Testing to remain, with quarantine phased out Signalling confidence in testing protocols enabling a safer return to travel, over half respondents expect robust Covid-19 testing to remain key to reopening borders until the end of 2022, with a further 26 per cent expecting this until the end of 2023. This mindset can be seen by the recent border reopenings in markets such as Singapore, Australia and the United States – all of which cite Covid-19 tests as core components for reduced quarantine or even quarantine-free travel. 42 per cent believe quarantine measures will be phased out by the close of 2021, in line with vaccinations and testing measures becoming more widely available. However, the sentiment has evidently decreased when compared to 58 per cent who were of the same belief back in April 2021. Commenting on the research, Derek Sadubin, Managing Director, CAPA - Centre for Aviation, said, “It has been a privilege to yet again work with Collinson, a global leader in traveller experiences, to further evaluate how our audience of senior experts see the future travel landscape taking shape. The findings are both insightful, and in some cases surprising. Overall, we must come together as an industry and use these insights to help identify where attention is required to progress the return of global travel.”

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No pre or post-arrival Covid testing for kids, say revised guidelines for international arrivals

Children below five years are exempted from both pre- and post-arrival testing for Covid-19 in India, according to the revised guidelines for international arrivals released on 11 November. However, if found symptomatic for coronavirus infections on arrival or during home quarantine period, they shall undergo testing and be treated according to laid down protocol, the guidelines said. Highlighting that the global trajectory of Covid-19 pandemic continues to decline with certain regional variations, the document stated the need to monitor the continuously changing nature of virus and evolution of SARSCoV-2 variants of concern must still remain in focus. The existing guidelines (issued on February 17 with subsequent addendums) for international arrivals in India have been formulated taking a risk-based approach. In view increasing vaccination coverage across the globe and the changing nature of the pandemic, the existing guidelines for international "Children under 5 years of age are exempted from both pre- and post-arrival testing. However, if found symptomatic for Covid-19 on arrival or during home quarantine period, they shall undergo testing and treated as per laid down protocol," it said. This standard operating procedure shall be valid from November 12 (00.00 Hrs IST) till further orders, the ministry stated. Also, 15 days must have elapsed since completion of Covid-19 vaccination schedule. According to the existing guidelines, if travellers are fully vaccinated and coming from a country with which India has reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO approved Covid-19 vaccines, they shall be allowed to leave the airport and need not undergo home quarantine. They shall self monitor their health for 14 days' post arrival. If partially or not vaccinated, the travellers need to undertake measures which includes submission of sample for post-arrival Covid-19 test at the point of arrival after which they will be allowed to leave the airport, home quarantine for seven days, re-test on the eighth day of arrival in India and if negative, further self monitor of their health for next seven days. "15 days must have elapsed since completion of Covid-19 vaccination schedule," the guidelines said. Travellers under home quarantine or self-health monitoring, if develop signs and symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 or test positive for Covid-19 on retesting, they will immediately self isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call national helpline number (1075)/ state helpline number. On arrival deboarding should be done ensuring physical distancing and thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the airport. The self-declaration form filled online shall be shown to the airport health staff. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility according to health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be identified and managed according to laid down protocol. Contacts of the suspect case are the co-passengers seated in the same row, three rows in front and three rows behind along with identified cabin crew. Also, all the community contacts of those travellers who have tested positive (during home quarantine period) would be subjected to quarantine for 14 days and tested as per ICMR protocol , the guidelines stated.

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