News

RT-PCR test facility set up at Mangaluru International Airport

A rapid RT-PCR testing facility has been set up at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) to enable passengers bound for Gulf countries to get their testing done on time before boarding flights. The UAE government, while lifting restrictions on travellers from India, had made UAE residency visa, two doses of vaccination and RT-PCR negative certificate taken within 48 hours before travel mandatory for them to enter the country. Following this, the district administration decided to make arrangements for rapid RT-PCR test at the airport premises for the benefit of passengers. A total of 30 tests can be done at a time at the new facility. Till now, passengers were boarding flights from Bengaluru, Mumbai and other airports for travelling to UAE to meet the requirements in the country. With the introduction of RT-PCR test facility, they can directly travel to UAE from here. Sample tests have been done and the facility will be open from Tuesday when flights to UAE from Mangaluru are expected to resume services, Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner K V Rajendra said.

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Tamil Nadu to streamline forest treks, camps to boost eco-tourism

The state forest and tourism departments are to work hand-in-hand to promote eco-tourism. While the Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experiences Corporation, functioning under the forest department, has already identified five eco-tourism spots, the tourism department is likely to look at streamlining activities such as treks and camping in forest areas. Though eco-tourism began in the state a decade ago, its potential remained untapped. Treks and camps are being organised on a small scale informally in hill stations. The tourism department is looking at cashing in on demand by streamlining things. A tourism department official said the idea is to generate revenue for the forest and tourism departments by promoting eco-tourism. Forest land cannot be leased to private operators under environment protection laws. TN is trying to follow the examples of Karnataka and Kerala, where camping, guided tours, jungle safaris and trekking are offered as part of eco-tourism packages. Stakeholders in the tourism sector said despite demand, there aren’t enough facilities for eco-tourism in the state. They point out that eco-tourism will not only attract domestic tourists, but also big-spending international travellers who will fly down if the infrastructure is good. N Ravi, former manager with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, said TTDC was operating packages that involved eco-tourism aspects to Anamalai, Kolli Hills and Yercaud from Chennai 10 years back. “We even conducted trekking at Tirusulam hillock in the city along with the forest department. Interestingly, the traction was high among youngsters and senior citizens,” he said. Moreover, when eco-tourism packages are offered by government departments in forest area, travellers safety and security is assured, he added.

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Madhya Pradesh: Night safari launched in Indore's Ralamandal Sanctuary

The Madhya Pradesh forest department has started a night safari facility in the reserve area of Ralamandal Sanctuary in Indore in order to turn it into a major spot for wildlife tourism. Speaking after launching the night safari on Sunday, state water resources minister Tulsiram Silawat said the facility would prove to be a major attraction among tourists. "Ralamandal is being developed as a major wildlife tourist destination and night safari will prove be a big attraction," he said. Ralamandal is home to leopards, fox, hyena, blue-bull, black buck and spotted deer etc, officials said.

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Mauritius on track for full tourism reopening in October

Mauritius is looking forward to the full reopening of its borders on October 1st, when vaccinated international travellers will be welcomed in without restrictions. Visitors who present a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours before their departure will be able to explore the island freely from the moment they arrive. At this time of year, visitors will find the perfect climate for enjoying the various outdoor activities Mauritius has to offer, such as hiking, kite surfing, water sports, as well as of course relaxing on the world-renowned beaches. Mauritius opened for international travel in the middle of July. Currently, vaccinated guests spend 14 days in a special ‘resort bubble’ hotel before going on to discover more of the Indian Ocean paradise. The successful acceleration of the country’s vaccination programme has allowed Mauritius to progress with the full reopening and welcome visitors into a safe and secure environment. At this moment 1,322,232 vaccine doses have been administered in total to citizens and residents, with around half of the population fully immunised. The Mauritian government took the decision in January to prioritise tourism workers and hotel staff in the vaccine rollout to ensure visitors will be welcomed into a safe and secure environment in Mauritius. Arvind Bundhun, director of MTPA, said: “Mauritius is delighted to see the world opening up again for travel. “We have been welcoming international visitors to our island since the middle of July and the ‘resort bubbles’ have proven a great success. “We are looking forward to the next stage of our reopening on October 1st, when vaccinated visitors will be able to explore the island without restriction from the moment of their arrival. “The safety and security of Mauritian residents, citizens and guests remains paramount.” Airline capacity from Europe and the Middle East is currently provided by Air Mauritius, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Kenya Airways and British Airways.

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‘Make in India’ boost in Indian Railways! 75 Vande Bharat trains to connect every corner of India in 75 weeks

Manufactured under the Modi government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Vande Bharat Express is India’s first semi high speed train, that boasts several world class passenger amenities. The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat train set has various ultra modern features and facilities such as quick acceleration, automatic sliding doors, on board infotainment, passenger information system based on Global Positioning System (GPS), vacuum bio toilets with zero discharge, retractable footsteps, etc. The Vande Bharat train can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph. The coaches of this semi high speed train set set have a regenerative braking system, which can save electrical energy of up to 30 per cent. According to Prime Minister Modi, the nation has also taken a step towards Electric Mobility and also the Railway Ministry’s work on 100 per cent electrification of the Indian Railways network is progressing at a fast pace. By the year 2030, the Railway Ministry has set a target of becoming a Net Zero Carbon Emitter. In his Independence day speech, PM Modi has also mentioned linking all the state capitals of the country’s Northeast region with the Indian Railways network. The development work of connecting all the capitals of Northeast states with railway service is going to be completed very soon, the PM stated.

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COVID update: Sikkim relaxes restrictions to woo tourists

In a bid to boost tourism and attract tourists to the state, the Sikkim government has announced relaxation in COVID restrictions. State tourism officials said that tourists who have received one shot of vaccination. However, those vaccinated with single shots will have to produce a negative RT-PCR test report that should not be older than 72 hours before arrival. Tourists who have taken both the vaccine shots are free to enter the state without any restrictions. But, people below 18 years of age, will have to carry their COVID negative RT-PCR test that should have been conducted within 72 hours of travel. Not only this, the state government also said that shops and commercial hubs will remain open till 8 PM, instead of 5 PM. Also, tourist vehicles and two-wheelers are exempted from the odd-even rationing scheme. Meanwhile, private vehicles and taxis, transporting locals, will have to follow the odd-even regulation. The Sikkim government has also allowed casinos in hotels to reopen for in-house customers as of now. Meanwhile, on Friday, Sikkim‘s COVID number rose to 28425 after 150 residents tested positive. As per a health bulletin, South Sikkim reported the highest number of new cases at 81, West Sikkim reported 36 new cases and East Sikkim reported 33 fresh cases of the infection. Currently, there are 2345 active cases in Sikkim, while 360 people lost their lives to the infection.

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