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Now you can travel to Edinburgh from London in just $20! Know how

Travelling between London and Edinburgh has now become super cheap, thanks to a new low-cost electric rail service, which will be launched next month. Affordability and sustainability are the two elements that were in mind of Lumo, the new train company in the UK. People can buy tickets at £14.90 (about INR 1470) and reach Edinburgh from London in just four hours. The low-carbon trains will halt at famous places in the UK, including Newcastle, Morpeth, and Stevenage. Helen Wylde, Managing Director for Lumo, said, "Traveling in the U.K. should not cost a fortune and it certainly shouldn't be the planet that pays. Whatever your preferred mode of transport, we are likely to be more affordable and kinder to the planet." The company’s prime aim is to attract low-budget airline customers throughout the UK and Europe. With a lower carbon footprint and strategic location, these trains have all the elements to attract customers. Wylde said travellers are now thoughtful and are worried about their impact on the environment. He further mentioned, "They also expect better service and catering. Lumo is a new rail travel experience that is kinder to the planet and better value for passengers, while never compromising on service." Though the train is a low-cost one, it doesn’t compromise on luxury. The ergonomically-designed train seats are absolutely comfortable and perfect for a long journey. Complimentary Wi-Fi and seat-to-seat catering service are another prominent feature of the train. According to the local reports, the London-to-Edinburgh train service will start from October 25, 2021.

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Paragliding, desert trails, helicopter ride, zip-line and more! Adventure tourism picks up pace in Rajasthan

Desert trails & ATVs, Jungle safaris, Zip lines and Paragliding, adventure sports activities are adding thrills to tourists coming to Rajasthan, a state more popularly known for its majestic forts & palaces, its heritage and rich culture. Over the past years the state has witnessed a rise in number of adventure and eco parks and even individual sports activities in several of its districts and with an added focus in the new tourism policy, adventure activities are gathering momentum in the state. Currently, in the popular tourist destination of Jodhpur, Zip lines are adding thrills for visitors of the majestic Mehrangarh fort and natural beauty of Kaylana Lake. Those seeking another level of enthusiasm also can take up to paragliding at Agolai in the district. Similarly, the districts of Rajsamand, Udaipur and Banswara that are rich in natural wealth are also enriching the tourist experience with adventures. The 410 meter long Zip-Line runs across the length of the Kagdi Water Reservoir. Water sports at Rajsamand lake and Paragliding activities are being operated along the Rajsamand Lake and also in scenic Banswara while a full-fledged thrill park at Udaipur is enchanting visitors with adventures of sky cycling and wall climbing. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycle tracks in the deserts of Bikaner and Jaisalmer are also adding adrenaline rush for tourists. The Water Zip-Line at Kagdi Pick – up weir Banswara is the Longest water grazing Zip-line in the state. Recently a helicopter service has started in Udaipur which covers Nathdwara, Kumbhalgarh, Rajsamand giving a thrill of flying and enjoying the birds eye view of these cities. In the process of offering incentives for adventure activities in land, water and sky to the tour operators, the state tourism department has also established a facilitation cell to coordinate with departments of Civil Aviation, Water Resources, Transport, Sports, Forest and Environment for developing guidelines, identification of sites and obtaining clearances for adventure activities. Rajasthan is a state with diverse geological terrains and environment, it has deserts, forests and water bodies that attract tourists from the country and abroad. Adventure activities at these places shall add another attraction for tourists and provide a totally different experience. The crucial aspects of adventure based tourism promotion such as skill training and safety certification are also being taken up by the department to provide a safe environment to the aspirants and service providers of adventure activities.

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IndiGo aims to operate domestic flights at full capacity from December 2021

IndiGo, the country's largest private sector airline, is planning to operate at full capacity from December 2021, a report said on September 10. The carrier is also reportedly aiming to cover two-thirds of the international routes it operated in the pre-pandemic period. The airline's target to return at 100 percent capacity comes amid an increase in mobility as pandemic restrictions have been eased, Bloomberg reported following its conversation with IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta. “Things are improving slowly,” Dutta told Bloomberg Television, adding that a "bullish" target can be set as the air traffic is going up. The IndiGo CEO further said that the current cash levels were “pretty good,” but also noted that the carrier is aiming to raise funds as an insurance buffer as warnings have been issued about a possible third wave. The aviation sector had struck the ground in April-May last year, when the outbreak of coronavirus led to the total suspension of flights. After the restrictions were eased and the first phase of the pandemic receded, the sector witnessed a gradual recovery. However, it suffered another blow with the onset of second COVID-19 wave in April this year. For the quarter ending on June 30, IndiGo operator InterGlobe Aviation posted a loss of Rs 3,174.2 crore for the quarter ended June 2021, widening from Rs 2,844.3 crore in the year-ago period.

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Vietnam plans to reopen resort island to tourists to boost economy

Vietnam plans to reopen the beach-fringed island of Phu Quoc to foreign tourists from next month, authorities said, as the country looks at ways to revive an economy suffering from extended lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Vietnam, which is currently shut to all visitors apart from returning citizens and investors, had managed to contain the virus for much of the pandemic but in the past three months has faced a surge in infections driven by the Delta variant. "The prolonged pandemic has seriously hurt the tourism industry," Vietnam's tourism and culture minister Nguyen Van Hung said. Fully vaccinated tourists with a negative coronavirus test will be eligible to visit Phu Quoc, the statement said, adding they could fly to the island on chartered or commercial flights. Foreign arrivals to Vietnam slumped from 18 million in 2019, when tourism revenue was $31 billion, or nearly 12% of its gross domestic product, to 3.8 million last year. At the same time, lockdowns in recent months have prompted companies to suspend operations. August industrial output fell 7.4% from a year earlier, while exports were down 5.4% and retail sales plunged by 33.7%. Vietnam will fully vaccinate all residents on Phu Quoc before opening, the tourism ministry said, adding that the island had not reported any community infections and had sufficient COVID-19 quarantine and treatment facilities. Neighbouring Thailand has already partially reopened to foreign tourists, including on the resort island of Phuket. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conceded this month that Vietnam was facing a lengthy battle against the coronavirus, which has infected over 570,000 people and killed 14,400, so could not just rely on lockdowns and quarantine. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry said on Thursday Ho Chi Minh City, the epicentre of the latest outbreak, has allowed restaurants to offer takeaway meals and shippers to operate more widely in a slight relaxation of a tough lockdown.

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Puri Jagannath Temple to remain open for darshan on Saturdays

In a recent update, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has announced a set of fresh Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) for the temple opening. As per new SOP, the famous Jagannath Temple in Odisha will now remain open on Saturdays too for the devotees. The temple will only remain closed on Sundays and on public holidays for the sanitisation purpose. The SOP will come into effect on September 13. Not only this, the darshan timing is also extended by two hours so now devotees will be allowed in the temple for darshan from 7 AM to 9 PM on all days. The administration has said that they’ll not allow the temple to open on major festivals. The decision was taken to avoid any further increase in the number of Coronavirus cases, given the huge gatherings that occur during festivals. Meanwhile, all the other rules, regulations and restrictions will continue to be in effect. Apparently, to enter the Jagannath Temple, devotees must be fully vaccinated and must carry their COVID-19 vaccination certificate. If a devotee is not fully vaccinated, he.she needs to get a negative RT-PCR certificate. The report must not be older than 96 hours. Wearing a face mask and following social distancing are other major COVID protocols that every devotee needs to follow, whether inside or outside the temple. The Jagannath temple was reopened on August 16 for devotees. However, the temple was off limits during the weekends because of the weekend curfew. But now that the state is removing the weekend lockdown in Odisha, the administration decided to open the temple on Saturdays also.

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RTSOI to join hands with Tourism Ministry to launch major campaigns on World Tourism Day

The ensuing World Tourism Day celebrations at the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, the Government of India will see the launch of a couple of initiatives to spread the message of Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in the country. According to industry sources, among the slew of initiatives in the pipeline is the signing of a three-way MoU among the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the RTSOI to promote Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in the country. Besides the tripartite MoU, World Tourism Day will mark the formal launch of ‘Responsible Traveller Guideline’, a framework which has been designed by RTSOI to sensitize the travellers on their responsibilities as a traveller and inculcate the ethos of responsible travelling in them. The Tourism Secretary, Arvind Singh in a recent trade conference had indicated formalising a responsible and sustainable tourism framework for the country in association with Responsible Tourism Society. While the Tourism Ministry has MoUs with the RTSOI for Sustainable Tourism Criteria of India (STCI), the joining of UNEP into the framework is expected to give more strength and new direction to the sustainability aspect in tourism in the country, believes the industry watchers. This is especially in the context of the global programme the UN agency is driving on ‘regeneration of ecosystem’ which have been damaged due to centuries of exploitation through human activities. According to RTSOI sources, a number of activities - lectures, workshops, etc. will be organised as part of the year-long ‘Responsible Traveller’ campaign. RTSOI has already created a number of celebrity videos where they talk about the need to be a Responsible Traveller to reduce the negative impacts at destinations and the environment. The Ministry of Tourism will transmit many of these through various channels to create awareness.

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