News

The Nautilus Maldives adds skydiving to its adventure experiences

As part of the free-spirited experiences offered at The Nautilus, the ultra-luxe private island of Maldives has launched its brand new adrenaline-fuelled adventure, skydiving. As part of The Nautilus’ plans to provide the ultimate Maldivian haven for guests post-pandemic, this latest addition to the already impressive repertoire of experience is for those seeking a moment of air-borne astonishment. This latest skydiving offer from The Nautilus falls at the same time as their “ultra-itineraries” package launch. Guests can rest assured that their safety remains the priority for this breath-taking venture with an extensive skydiving team to take care at each step. Just a 20 minute yacht ride from The Nautilus at Dharavandhoo domestic airport, guests will be greeted and fully briefed by the expert skydiving team. Adrenaline-seekers will then don their jumpsuit, strap on their goggles, board the aircraft and experience the most sensational moment of their life as they and their experienced instructor edge towards the door, peering down at the tourmaline Maldivian seas. After a short 20 minute plane ride, guests and their instructor will launch into the sky and freefall for one minute at speeds of 200 kmph before their parachute-canopy opens. Once the parachute opens, you can enjoy a full 360-degree view of the baa atoll like no other for a whole five minutes before safely landing on the Maldivian white-sands.

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Air Seychelles starts twice weekly operations to Mumbai

Air Seychelles has resumed Mumbai operations with twice weekly operations under the air bubble arrangement with India. Seychelles is the second foreign destination after Maldives which has opened for tourism. Air Seychelles flights departing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai will operate on Thursdays and Sundays. Return flights from Seychelles International Airport are scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Air Seychelles, currently operating from Mumbai, under the bubble agreement, plans to connect to more cities within India following several charter flights conducted over the past year to Ahmedabad, Delhi and Chennai amidst the pandemic Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Remco Althuis said: “Today’s flight from Mumbai to the Seychelles had approximately 80% load factor, proof that the demand for travel is definitely there. With Seychelles now open to visitors, to stimulate the demand on this route, Air Seychelles will continue to work with its partners in India to build awareness about the airlines’ product, services, and attractive fares on offer to destination Seychelles.” All travellers to the Seychelles, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative RT- PCR test certificate taken 72 hours and complete the mandatory Health Travel Authorization at www.seychelles.govtas.com and Air Suvidha Portal prior to arrival in Mumbai. Air Seychelles is promoting special fares from Mumbai to Seychelles starting INR 33,600 Economy Class and INR 75,000 Business Class all-inclusive fares.

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‘Chalo Chamba’ event to promote tourism

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will inaugurate ‘Chalo Chamba’ event through a video-conference from Shimla tomorrow. The district administration has started an initiative to promote tourism in Chamba district by launching the campaign. In an official communiqué issued here on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner DC Rana informed that Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju would be the chief guest at the concluding programme of ‘motor bike and motor car rally’ at the local police ground. The Deputy Commissioner also informed that in view of the Covid-19 guidelines, it had been decided that the programme would be telecast live on the television and the local cable network, so that people could enjoy the significant event at home. “Only a specified number of visitors will have to be present at the venue,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

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Odisha makes RT-PCR test report mandatory for entering the state from April 12

Amid the spike in Covid-19cases, the Odisha government has made it mandatory for people coming to the state to produce RT-PCR negative report, news agency PTI reported. This is applicable to all models of travel. People entering the state by train, bus, aeroplane, waterways or in private vehicles will have to produce RT-PCR negative report obtained within 72 hours of the entry or the final vaccination certificate. The latest guidelines by the state government will come into force from April 12. This was part of the state government's fresh guideline issued by the Chief Secretary following a spike in COVID-l9 positive cases in some districts. "The people coming without such a report shall have to undergo 7-day mandatory Home/ Institutional quarantine. This will be effective from April 12 (Monday)," Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena said quoting the order. The order said district magistrates-cum-collectors of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nawrangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Balasore are authorised to set up and operationalise temporary medical centres/ cluster temporary medical centres as per need for giving institutional quarantine facilities to those coming from other states. Expenditure for opening and running of such facilities shall be borne by Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF), the order said. The government also suspended all public transport from Odisha to Chhattisgarh and vice versa from April 10 till April 30, 2021. Transport Commissioner, Odisha shall issue appropriate orders and the department with the help of state police and under active guidance of district collectors, will set up border check points (BCPs) at strategic locations/ border entry points to manage entry of incoming persons/ vehicles. Though the coronavirus situation is not alarming in Odisha, the chief secretary said the cross border movements of people are impacting COVID situation adversely in almost all the border districts of Odisha. He pointed out that there has been spike in cases in the states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattishgarh, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh and others

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Good news for pilgrims! Indian Railways to start 2 special trains for pilgrimage spots in Mathura, Uttarakhand

In a bid to cater to the travel needs of pilgrims heading to pilgrimage spots in Mathura and religious places in the state of Uttarakhand, soon Indian Railways will start two special trains till the end of June. Rajendra Singh, PRO, North Eastern Railways’ Izzatnagar Division, was quoted in a PTI report saying in both the trains, all the coaches would be under the reserved category. For every passenger, it is mandatory to adhere to COVID-19 norms, the official said. According to Singh, both the special trains would run up to 30 June 2021. On 11 April 2021, Train Number 05056 Ram Nagar-Agra Fort Tri-Weekly Express would start from Ram Nagar in Uttarakhand. As per the special train’s schedule, Train Number 05056 would start from Ram Nagar every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 7.50 PM and would terminate in Agra Fort station the following day at 6.55 AM. For the return train journey, Train Number 05055 will leave Agra Fort on April 12 at 8.40 PM. It will run every Wednesday, Saturday, Monday and will terminate at Ram Nagar railway station the following day at 7.20 AM. The 16-coach special train consists of six sleeper class coaches as well as one AC 3 tier and AC 2 tier class coach. The train will halt at major railway stations such as Soron, Pantnagar, Budaun, Bareilly Junction, Kasganj and Mathura Junction. According to officials, the North Eastern Railway zone has also decided to operate the Howrah-Lalkuan Weekly Special train service, traversing important pilgrim centres. Every Friday, the train would start from Howrah and would run between 16 April 2021 to 25 June 2021. While the return train will start from Lalkuan in the state of Uttarakhand every Saturday and will be operated till 26 June 2021. The Howrah-Lalkuan Weekly Special train will have 19 coaches, including nine sleeper coaches, four AC 3 tier as well as two AC 2 tier class coaches.

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MoCA directs airlines to refund passengers for cancellation during lockdown

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over airline companies defaulting on refunds to passengers over flight tickets that were booked for travel during the lockdown last year but got cancelled. MoCA Secretary on Wednesday chaired a meeting with representatives of airlines in connection with refund of credit shells of passengers. A credit shell is a credit note created against a cancelled PNR and can be used by the passenger for a future booking, reports ANI. "MoCA Secretary has chaired the meeting today with all the airline companies regarding credit shells refund and expressed dissatisfaction towards airline companies who did not refund the money. GoAir and IndiGo have submitted their undertaking to the ministry that they have refund all the credit shells to the passengers", an official told ANI. The Supreme Court of India had ordered MoCA to clear all the credit shells and refund the passengers after the deadline of March 31. India's low-cost airline SpiceJet wasn't able to refund credit shells to the passengers, "Refunds are governed by the order of the Supreme Court and we are adhering to those directions. SpiceJet had written to all its travel partners and agents in March 2021 to share details of pending credit shell PNRs so that the airline can immediately reverse the credit shell amount back to the agency ID," a spokesperson for SpiceJet said. National carrier Air India is also yet to refund total credit shells to the passengers. As per sources said Air India has to clear credit shells to around five lakh twenty-five thousand passengers which amount to around INR 2,000 crore. "Air India is committed to processing its pending refunds claims expeditiously. Dissemination of information regarding refunds is already initiated. Air India has cleared close to ?1000 Crore from 1st April 2020 till date in India. We are also addressing queries related to refunds from passengers through our social media platforms." Air India Spokesperson said. Air Asia and Vistara is also yet clear the credit shell to the passengers. "We are thorough with all our refunds except in a very few cases where we are trying to reach out to the passengers to revert with their bank account details in which the money is to be credited." An Air Asia India official told ANI. MoCA has to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding the refund of credit shells. MoCA Secretary has shown dissatisfaction in the meeting over the airline companies' response in the meeting over refund on cancelled tickets. The Supreme Court in October accepting a recommendation of the civil aviation ministry and directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) ordered airlines to refund passengers the cost of the tickets of flights cancelled between March 25 and May 24 last year, also approved a credit shell scheme which was valid till March 31, this year.

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