News

Hong Kong Tourism Board prepares for reopening of travel

6 hours ago The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has announced its plan to prepare for the recovery of tourism and the resumption of international travel. The strategic plan outlines the division of an HK$1.138 billion (£127 million) budget for the next financial year, which has been split into two phases. The short-term strategy will focus on encouraging back international visitors to Hong Kong as soon as possible. When borders reopen and global travel resumes, HKTB will launch ‘Open House Hong Kong,’ a campaign designed to restore visitor arrivals through tactical offers and exclusive experiences. In the medium-to-long-term, HKTB is conducting a holistic review of Hong Kong’s tourism brand and positioning. Following the resumption of travel, HKTB will launch large-scale promotions through multiple channels including digital platforms in key source markets, as well as media and tour operator co-ops to present Hong Kong’s reinvented tourism image. In addition, HKTB will develop multi-destination partnerships with cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), such as Macao and Guangzhou. These partnerships will enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as the gateway into mainland China and build on the GBA tourism brand. The two phased approach to the plan will complement the ongoing initiatives to support the travel trade, cruise and MICE industries, as well as maintain Hong Kong’s international exposure. HKTB executive director, Dane Cheng, said: “Despite the start of vaccinations against Covid-19 worldwide, the pandemic situation remains volatile and unpredictable. “We consider it unlikely Hong Kong will see a full resumption of cross-border travel in the next three to six months. “However, we do expect it to be possible for Hong Kong to welcome tourists from selected markets.” He added “In formulating our strategies for 2021/22, we focused on two major areas. “Firstly, we saw a need to offer support to the trade and boost the ambience in Hong Kong, while ensuring the city’s continued exposure on the international stage ahead of the resumption of international travel. “Secondly, we anticipate competition for tourists will be intense once the pandemic is over, with rival markets going to great lengths to bring visitors back. “The HKTB is therefore setting aside resources for large-scale promotions so that Hong Kong will stand out against competing destinations.” Hong Kong has been relatively unaffected by Covid-19, with only 202 deaths, but has seen major disruption to international travel as China closed borders to guests in early 2020. The city has also been shaken by major political protests against creeping Chinese influence in recent months, with demonstrators demanding a return to the democratic norms established under the constitution.

Read more

Tourists can now enjoy paragliding, river rafting in Himachal Pradesh

In a bid to promote adventure tourism in Himachal Pradesh, the authorities have allowed adventure activities such as paragliding and river rafting. Tourists visiting Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, and Shimla can enjoy these adventure activities like before at the new sites. The same has been stated by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Director Yunus. Himachal’s new scheme, Nai Raahein Nai Manzilein was launched to explore new possibilities for promotion of adventure sports in unexplored areas. The government has established new paragliding sites in various districts. In Kullu, its Pandhara to Gadsa and Khargan to Nangabag and in Kangra, its Tang Narwana to Khirku. In Chamba district, Darouta to Lahra (Khajjiar), Lahra to Darol and Raina to Nainikhad Jarei are the newly discovered adventure sites. In Mandi district, Prashar and Spenidhar are the paragliding sites. In Shimla, Tikkar and Junga to Chauri are the newly notified sites. Talking about the new sites for watersports activities like river rafting, the State’s Tourism and Civil Aviation Director Yunus further said that a new site on the Beas river from Nadaun to Dehra Bridge has been notified. Not only this, the Department of Tourism with Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) in Manali has decided to offer training courses to paragliding pilots for the safety of tourists. Some prime paragliding sites in Himachal Pradesh include Bir-Billing and Chohla Indru Nag in Kangra district. In Kullu, tourists can experience paragliding at Solang Nalah, Marhi, Talaiti-Talogi and Majach-Shanag.

Read more

Domestic travel in India rebounds! Over 92 per cent travel bookings not cancelled in February

Indian travellers continued to travel and book hotels even with rising cases, a recent RateGain study has found. The month of February witnessed higher check-ins compared to last year. Also, 90 per cent of the travel bookings were received in a short window of 15 days. Sharing its latest insights related to the travel and hospitality segment in the 3rd edition of PULSE, RateGain indicates that Indian cities remain a favourite with travellers, with Udaipur witnessing the highest amount of engagement on Facebook, though a little behind Mumbai which ranks higher consistently due to its share of celebrities and influencers that drive engagement for hotels. Notably, Pune and Jaipur were ranked third and fourth on Instagram though they lagged behind New Delhi on Facebook. Last minute travel has been attributed as a probable reason for the same especially for the age group of 25-40. Domestic travel: Increase in February check-ins Across states, RateGain indicates a significant increase in February check-ins everywhere despite COVID-19 cases increase in states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The bookings for March seem lower. However, this may be due to the fact that the average booking window has shrunk considerably since the pandemic, and trends indicate that Indian travelers book domestic trips only one to two weeks before. Also, the cancellation rate stayed at 8% for the month of February, which also means that most bookings were made for the month in a short booking window. Over 92 per cent travel bookings were thus not cancelled. Domestic travel dips in March A key reason for the slight dip in March can be attributed to the reopening of schools across states and exams being held as well. It is expected that with mass and rapid vaccination underway, the travel pattern is set to pick up towards the end of March as Holi and Good Friday come in the same week and most families look to enjoy a quick getaway before summer sets in. RateGain, which supports over 250,000 hotel properties across the globe and powering more than 30 million bookings, has the distinction of being the only travel tech company to be featured four times on Deloitte Technology Fast 50 List and had been recently recognized by none other than the UNWTO for its services.

Read more

Air India announces flights to Italy, Japan, and Toronto

Air India announces additional flights to Italy, Japan, and Toronto. Air India is set to operate additional flights between India and Italy from March 31, 2021, to May 27, 2021. The carrier will fly on the Delhi-Amritsar-Rome sector every Wednesday and Rome-Amritsar-Delhi every Thursday during this period. Air India has also announced flights between India and Japan from March 30, 2021, to October 29, 2021. Flights on the Delhi-Narita route will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and that on Narita-Delhi sector will operate on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. All passengers travelling to Japan have to follow the new guidelines issued by the governments. Additionally, the carrier has announced flights between New Delhi and Toronto from March 29 to October 27, 2021, on Monday and Wednesday; and flights between New Delhi and San Francisco from April 1, 2021 to October 28, 2021. Bookings are open on the Air India website.

Read more

E-pass compulsory in Tamil Nadu, as per new travel guidelines

A new set of travel guidelines has been issued by the health department in Tamil Nadu (TN), even as the state added an additional 526 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday (March 6), taking its total tally to 8,54,554. TN is one of the eight states in the country, which is showing an upward trajectory in daily new cases. According to the latest guidelines released by the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department in the wake of the increasing number of cases in the state, business travellers on a short 72-hour trip or less than three days to TN, are now exempted from home quarantine, reported News Minute. However, the state now requires an “e-pass”, a compulsory document for all international passengers and domestic travellers, with an exception of residents of the neighbouring states of Puducherry, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, have to carry with them when they enter the state. Under the new guidelines, stiffer rules have been imposed for all international passengers, particularly from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, ying into TN as the nal destination. They are now required to submit their samples for testing at the TN airports, even if they have tested negative for coronavirus in other Indian airports on arrival in the country. Meanwhile, all the passengers from Europe and the Middle East (other than UK, Brazil and South Africa) should upload a COVID-19 Self-Declaration Form (SDF) on the Air Suvidha portal before they travel to India. It is also mandatory that they should also declare their travel history, 14 days before their arrival. Seventy-two hours before departure, they should have conducted an RT-PCR test and carry the COVID-19 test negative report with them. This has to be uploaded on the www.newdelhiairport.in portal, said News Minute. In an earlier order on travel guidelines on February 24, the TN government had made it mandatory for all domestic and international passengers travelling to the state from other states and Union territories (except Kerala and Maharashtra) to just monitor their health for 14 days from the date of arrival. However, Kerala and Maharashtra residents visiting TN had to mandatorily undergo home quarantine for seven days and monitor their health based on symptoms. And, the symptomatic passengers had to test for COVID-19. In August last year, Tamil Nadu had issued an order exempting all business passengers entering the state for a short stay of 72 hours from quarantine norms to help boost business in the state following months of total lockdown.

Read more

Thailand to cut quarantine for vaccinated foreigners to 7 days from next month

Thailand will reduce mandatory quarantine from 14 to seven days starting April for foreigners arriving in the country who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirankul said on Monday. Vaccinations must be administered within three months of the travel period and travellers will be required to show negative COVID-19 test results, he said, adding that those who have not been inoculated but have COVID-19 free certificates would be quarantined for 10 days.

Read more