News

Mumbai: Kanhoji Angre Island to be developed into a tourist spot.

The Central Government has approved the proposal of developing Kanhoji Angre Island. As per the latest developments, the island will be developed on lines similar to that of the famous Elephanta Caves. Reportedly, visitors will be provided staying facility on this newly developed island, unlike the Elephanta Caves, where visitors are not allowed to stay back at night. To ensure visitors enjoy a great stay in the island, makeshift restaurants and resorts will also be set up there. Referring to this development, around 12 acres of the land will be developed for tourism activities, whereas the rest will be developed for port-related activity. Although no construction is allowed on the island because of costal regulation norms, temporary tents, resorts, restaurants will be set up to. The official further added that this project will give a push to Mumbai tourism, as tourism-related activities have also been proposed by the port trust authority. It has also been reported that due permission has also been granted for a marina at Princess Dock in Mumbai to park yachts. To develop this high-end structure, it would cost approximately INR 350 crore, which will be able to park around 300 yachts. Also, once it is ready, all yachts and ferries parked at the Gateway of India will be shifted here.

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30 more trains cancelled by Eurostar, train chaos continues in France.

More than 30 trains have been cancelled by Eurostar on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 11-13 December. Between London St Pancras and Paris one can find the vast majority and some services to Brussels and back are also axed.Eurostar mentioned that there will be major disruption to Metro and RER services in Paris and connecting trains to all destinations within France. According to the cross-Channel train operator said that the strike action will impact their ability to deliver the usual timetable as we expect disruption to signalling along all routes. Until December 13, as a result they will now run a reduced timetable. A full refund or re-book can be claimed by passengers whose trains are cancelled on another Eurostar service up to 60 days from the date of journey. Until Friday morning almost all Paris Metro lines will be closed. On Wednesday at least three-quarters of long-distance domestic trains in France are expected to be cancelled. The Foreign Office has warned of significant industrial action is continuing across France. This is primarily affecting transport and public services, with ongoing cancellations and severe delays to train, Metro, bus and tram services. On 5 December the strikes began in protest against planned pension reforms – even though the prime minister, Edourad Philippe will not spell out detailed proposals until Wednesday.

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UK tourists to generate an estimated USD 6.3 billion in travel to GCC.

According to a report revealed before the Arabian Travel Market the number of tourists from UK to the GCC will increase 22 % between the period 2018 to 2024. This will be due to the new and direct flight routes, competitive airfares and growth in the number of leisure travellers. An estimated USD 6.3 billion in travel and tourism revenue is expected to be generated in travel and tourism revenue by 2024.The total tourism spend in the GCC, reached USD 70.2bn last year, with the UK travellers average spend during trips to the region. This was 27% higher than the average spend of any other visitor. Danielle Curtis, exhibition director for ME at the Arabian Travel Market stated that historically, the UK and the GCC have enjoyed excellent travel and tourism links and this trend is set to continue over the next four years despite the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the bleak pound to dollar exchange rate, in which sterling has declined 18.9% since 19 June 2015. UAE is expected to continue to be the preferred GCC destination for British tourists, welcoming a projected 2.23 million visitors by 2023. Saudi Arabia will follow with 251,000 visitors, Oman is expected to receive 165,000, Bahrain 159,000 and Kuwait 5,000.

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Cruise from only £599 per person and enjoy ‘FREE Drinks & Tips’ in Fred. Olsen’s new

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering guests ‘FREE Drinks & Tips’ on over 120 cruises from April to December 2020 – on all new bookings made up to 4th February 2020 inclusive – with prices as low as £599 per person. Olsen is giving guests the chance to take advantage of its all-inclusive drinks upgrade aboard its entire ocean fleet – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch. and can enjoy selected house wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks all day and evening, without the added hassle of settling a bar bill, plus all gratuities will be paid by Fred. Olsen. Fred. Olsen is also offering ‘FREE Tips & Dining Drinks’* on a number of Brabant European river cruises in 2020, along the Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle, giving guests the same selection of all-inclusive drinks available on its ocean sailings, when served with lunch and dinner, with the added extra of all gratuities being paid by Fred. Olsen. Fred. Olsen’s ‘Cruise Sale’ is also offering a number of dedicated solo deals, with no single supplement on selected rooms and cruises in 2020.

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Taj Mahal’s vantage point increases ticket price for visitors.

According to recent reports, tourists who want a magnificent view of the Taj Mahal from its vantage point will have to pay more. The facility was inaugurated recently; however, the ticket price for entering the Taj Mahal remains unchanged. According to the Agra Development Authority, the price for Indians to use the viewpoint will now be INR 50 per person, while for foreign travellers it will be priced at INR 200 person.Entry is free for children below the age of 12. Timings for the vantage point is from 12 PM to 7 PM. The price changed during full moon nights, as under the moonlight, Indians would have to pay INR 200 per person, and foreigners will have to pay INR 500 per person. On such days, the vantage point is open from 12 PM to 12 midnight. The Taj Mahal will not be open during the full moon for five days, and you can avail this incredible new facility of the vantage point to view the structure. However, the monument will remain closed if any of those five days fall on a Friday.

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30 airports to become operational in the Northeast to boost tourism.

Bids are being invited under the UDAN scheme to build around 30 airports operational to boost tourism activities in Northeast India. Latest reports state that the Centre, under the fourth round of regional air connectivity UDAN scheme, is inviting bids from companies to provide air services to six underserved and 24 unserved airports. It is expected that this move will not only promote tourism in this region but will also help transform the economic situation around. The Ministry, under UDAN 4 scheme, is providing additional Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of around 25 per cent extra to airlines. In fact, the Centre will bear around 90 per cent of VGF and the remaining 10 per cent will be borne by state governments. Recently, the Centre invited bids for UDAN scheme with a focus on priority areas like the northeastern states, the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, and islands. Referring to this development, the MoCA stated that it is aiming to operationalise around 1000 routes and more than 100 airports in the next five years, which can be achieved by focusing on operationalising routes in priority areas.

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