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New record: In 10 days, 1.41 lakh tourist vehicles enter Shimla

Making its biggest comeback, the tourism industry has created a record of sorts in the past 10 days bringing cheers to the hoteliers, traders and tourism stakeholders in Himachal Pradesh, a state having suffered a blow due to lockdown and pandemic. The data released by the Shimla police on Monday reveals that a record 1.41 lakh tourists vehicles arrived in the state's capital Shimla, also known as "Queen of hills". While the highest number of tourist vehicles –a total of 18,000 mainly from Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, and UP had reached on December 31–for New Year celebrations and number was no less approximately 15,000 on January 1, 2021 due to snowfall forecast. Reports said most other places especially Kullu-Manali, where Rohtang Tunnel has become a biggest attraction, Dharamshala –McLeodganj, Dalhousie, Khajjiar and some other destinations like Kasauli and Chail have also remained jam packed. Sanjay Sood, president Shimla Hotel and Restaurants Association said "last over a week has gone very well due to maximum number of tourists visiting Shimla and also rest of hill destinations. The feedback from the members is very encouraging though no New year parties were held owing to the night curfew and other Covid restrictions. Most hotels have remained packed after December 25 till now" . Broadly, the tourism officials estimate more than five lakh tourists having visited Shimla between December 25 and January 4, 2021. This has broken a 20-year-record about the tourists' arrivals. In Manali, some of the tourists who came without advance booking had to face a tough task to find a hotel and those venturing to Rohtang Tunnel without adhering to the police advisories about the snow and inclement weather had to face long ordeal of traffic jams and slippery roads. On Monday, the Rohtang Tunnel was closed for the tourists on the North portal due to heavy snow and freezing cold in the Lahaul Spiti. The police on both sides have told the tourists not to risk their journeys till clearance of Highway and the road connecting the Tunnel. Meanwhile, Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu has written a letter to SPs of Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti asking them that all personnel deployed at Rohtang Tunnel should not transgress the boundaries set by the law in dealing with those trying to create hooliganism and resorting to violation of the traffic norms inside the tunnel.

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Dubai Airports and GMR-Hyderabad establish logistics corridor for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited & GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GMR-HYD) and Dubai Airports are coming together to build an exclusive Vaccine Air Freight Corridor Product called ‘HYDXB-VAXCOR’ (‘Hyderabad to Dubai global vaccine corridor), and the MoU for the same was signed by Pradeep Panicker, CEO-GMR Hyderabad International Airport, Saurabh Kumar, CEO-GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo and Eugene Barry, EVP-Commercial, Dubai Airports Corporation in a virtual ceremony recently. As per the MoU, GMR-HYD and Dubai Airports will be according priority to the temperature sensitive vaccine shipments moving between GMR Hyderabad and Dubai Airports for further connections to various Continents as part of the “HYDXB-VAXCOR” and build this service offering as a key differentiator and value proposition for the Vaccine Customers and Logistics Stakeholders. This agreement will lead to the roll out of customised and simplified processes and infrastructural support to streamline the journey of Covid-19 Vaccine right from the manufacturing unit to the airport and hub logistics to delivery to end-customers. As part of this joint initiative, Dubai Airports has identified GMR-HYD as a key strategic air cargo partner to leverage its global distribution ecosystem, while GMR-HYD will leverage Dubai Airport as a key strategic collaborator towards facilitating the global vaccine supply chain with provision of value added services for vaccine exporters and imported from both the countries. The partnership also entails technology collaboration, under which both the entities will explore and work together on an Integrated IT Solution that will provide end-to-end visibility including shipment temperature and status tracking for the customers while cargo is in transit between HYD and DXB and during its onwards journey to various global destinations. Commenting on this development, Panicker said, “In the current global context, there is a need for meticulous planning & collaborations to ensure safe and efficient air transportation of Covid-19 vaccines. Accordingly, we have partnered with Dubai Airports to jointly offer “HYDXB-VAXCOR” for global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. We are also significantly upgrading our handling capacities for Covid-19 vaccine shipments requiring cold to ultra-cold temperature ranges and becoming India’s largest air cargo centre both for export/imports and domestic distribution of the vaccine.” GMR-HYD is expanding its facilities and streamlining processes both on landside and airside to meet the unique requirements of handling Covid-19 vaccine. It has already launched a large, custom built Cool Dolly, a Mobile Refrigerated Unit for airside transportation till Aircraft maintaining the Cold-Chain, this year, which is scalable. “A major surge in demand for the efficient, safe and reliable global distribution of high volumes of Covid-19 vaccines is expected in the coming months and as the world’s preeminent hub of choice, we wanted to be ready to respond to and accommodate that demand. Our partnership with GMR-Hyderabad is timed perfectly just as the global race to develop the vaccines enters the final stage. This corridor is the result of our proactive strategy to be ready with innovative, collaborative and agile shipping solutions for the industry,” said Griffiths.

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Maldives records over 10,000 tourist arrivals in first three days of 2021

The Maldives received over 10,000 tourists in the first three days of 2021, local media citing data from the Ministry of Tourism reported Tuesday. The official data showed that 2,500 tourists arrived on Jan. 1, 4,160 arrived on Jan. 2, and 4,195 arrived on Jan. 3. The tourists were mostly from Russia, Ukraine, India, Kazakhstan, and Britain. Tourists from any country may acquire a 30-day visa on arrival as long as they present a negative result of COVID-19 tests taken 96 hours before departure.

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Gujarat: Sabarmati Ashram reopens for visitors after 9 months

The historic Sabarmati Ashram here has reopened its doors for visitors, after remaining closed for over nine months due to the coronavirus outbreak, an ashram official said on Tuesday. With social distancing and other Covid-19 protocols in place, the premises has been opened for the public from Monday, the ashram’s director, Atul Pandya, told. Before the outbreak of Covid-19, the ashram, a former home of Mahatma Gandhi and a historic centre linked to India’s Independence movement, used to receive a large number of visitors every day. It is managed by the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust. “The ashram was shut for visitors since March 20 last year following the coronavirus outbreak. From Monday, we have once again opened the premises for visitors,” Pandya said. “People can visit the ashram between 10 am and 5 pm. We have deployed our staff to guide them to maintain social distancing,” he said. Sanitiser dispensers have been placed at 18 different places in the premises for the visitors, the official said. Currently, the museum and ‘Hriday Kunj’, the house inside the ashram where Mahatma Gandhi and his wife had once lived, have been opened for the public, while the book shop, Khadi shop and charkha gallery in the premises will remain closed, he said. “People will touch things at these shops and the charkha gallery, which is not advisable in the present situation. Thus, we have restricted the entry of visitors at these places. We are putting in place all possible measures to stop the spread of the virus,” Pandya said. The ashram, where the Father of the Nation resided between 1917 and 1930, was a major tourist attraction, both with domestic and foreign travellers, before the outbreak of Covid-19. On an average, around 2,000 people used to visit this historical place every day, Pandya said, adding that the footfalls are now going to be much less in the wake of the pandemic.

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Palace on Wheels to roll out discounted fares for domestic travellers

As Indian travellers are getting more used to living and travelling with the pandemic in our lives, Palace on Wheels brings a special offer. The incredibly luxury train experience is a big attraction for international travellers. However, international travellers are unable to come to India right now due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The train could not restart its run this September like it usually does each year. Now according to an official at the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), there is a plan to run the train starting from February for domestic travellers. The train will run for a total of three months. Even better, with a special discount for domestic travellers. According to the Chairman and Managing Director of RTDC, Alok Gupta, Palace on Wheels now has two itineraries for domestic tourists. Both itineraries come with a 30 percent discount when compared to previous rates. The train will be ready to start the journey with a minimum booking of 27 guests. There is a three-day, and a four-day itinerary available for Palace on Wheels. While the three-day itinerary will take you to Delhi, Jaipur, Swai Madopur, Agra, and back to Delhi. The four-day trip will also include Udaipur after Jaipur. So after a 30 percent discount, you can book the super deluxe cabin for INR 94248 per couple; INR 52360 per person in a single occupancy seat; and INR 34034 per person for a double occupancy seat per person. In April, when it is off-season, you pay INR 70686 after a 30 percent discount per couple; INR 42840 per person for a single occupancy seat, and INR 26180 per person for a double occupancy seat.

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Madhya Pradesh is hosting Jal Mahotsav, India’s biggest water carnival

Madhya Pradesh is hosting India’s biggest water carnival, Jal Mahotsav This event will continue till January 15, 2021. If you are in for a watercation, travel to Hanumantiya Island in Madhya Pradesh and be a part of this event. The month-long water fest was recently inaugurated by Forest Minister Vijay Shah, the event was virtually attended by MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Shah stated that all possible efforts are being made to encourage tourism in the region, along with following all the necessary COVID protocols. As per the reports, various cultural programmes have been lined up to cater to the interest of art lovers, adventure seekers, foodies, and especially for those, who want to get away from their mundane lifestyle. Reportedly, a temporary luxury city has also been set up to ensure tourists find accommodation without any hassle. As many as 60 luxury tents have been set up for this purpose. Reports state that all sorts of adventure sports, involving land, water, and sky have been organised here as well. Apart from these, island trekking and cultural evening programmes will be the highlight of this event. Some of the water-based activities in which you can take part are water skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides, jet skiing, and water zorbing. Air-based activities will offer you options like parasailing, hot air ballooning, and paramotoring, whereas land-based activities will offer you activities, such as tug of war, kite flying, bullock cart race, volleyball, and cycle tour. Other activities will include treasure hunts, trekking, bird watching, campfire, and camping. Further, a food and craft market has also been organised for visitors here.

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