News

Maharashtra hotels record a surge in bookings

A surge in hotel bookings has been recorded in many tourist destinations across Maharashtra, seen as a silver lining to a bleak year for hospitality. Maharashtra has been one of the worst-hit states by COVID-19 with Mumbai recording a massive high number of COVID positive cases ever since the pandemic spread. The hospitality industry in the city as well the whole state has been badly-hit, and the current surge is seen as a respite to the flailing industry. The numbers are backed by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), with its officials stating that hotel bookings are picking pace at all its popular resorts. Some of the main destinations that are seeing a surge are Ganpatipule, Mahabaleshwar, Karla, Matheran and around. It has been reported that MTDC-run properties at these destinations are all booked for the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. MDTC General Manager Dinesh Kamble told TOI that, “Our resorts at most locations in the state are fully booked for Christmas and New Year. Bookings began picking up from November and currently online slots are full for many MTDC hotels during the long Christmas weekend. Even resorts are cent per cent booked over the weekends." Another fact that has come to the fore is that hotels in cities are yet to see a surge; the current trend signals that tourists are choosing to vacation in offbeat locations, including rural areas, since a number of cities have been hotspots for the COVID virus previously.

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Kerala: Tourist spots gradually returning to normal after a hiatus

Tourism is gradually returning back to normal in Kerala. It also witnessed a lull in the tourism after it remained closed for tourists for a few months in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, followed by travel restrictions across the country. Not only in Kerala, situation across the country is also improving slightly as people are people are longing travel and step out of their houses. Likewise, tour operators are of the view that the worst is, hopefully, almost over. Looking at the trends, it has been witnessed that hotels and resorts announcing big discounts and special packages to lure domestic tourists, as since foreigners are passé now. Also, all hopes are pinned on the vaccine which would likely improve the situation further. In Kerala, famous beach destination like Kovalam, which is situated around 16 km away from the capital, fishermen have started to clear the beaches by removing their catamarans to make way for tourists to sunbath. And as backwaters, beaches, and hill stations are open now for visitors, it is expected that the region will see a growth in the number of visitors in the coming months. As per the Tourism Ministry, Kerala witnessed a footfall of 1.96 crore tourists last year, and the revenue generated was INR 45010 crore. This year, the state was looking for 8 to 10 per cent hike in tourist footfall, when the COVID pandemic struck, and the rest is history. As per the reports, tourism accounts for roughly 40 per cent of the state’s revenue, which suffered a big jolt this year due to the virus. Hospitality is a robust sector, and once travellers start their trips again in full confidence, bouncing back will be faster and quicker. As of now, it has been witnessed that tourism in this region is gradually making moves, and it need to be seen, in what pace it grows once all travel restrictions across the country are lifted.

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Atlantis, The Palm gets accreditation for post-pandemic hotel safety standards

Atlantis, The Palm has been announced as one of only 30 hotels across the globe to earn the Sharecare VERIFIED® health security certification by meeting more than 360 global health security standards. Described as the “Michelin Guide equivalent for post-pandemic hotel safety standards,” Sharecare and the Forbes Travel Guide partnered on the Sharecare Health Security to evaluate and confirm individual hotel’s cleaning regimen. With travellers today looking for health and safety standards that go beyond the realms of “hygiene theatre,” full transparency and an ongoing commitment to their wellbeing are key. Atlantis, The Palm is one of the first worldwide to achieve this status by sharing an extensive and consistent approach to health and safety. Representing the iconic destination’s ongoing dedication to restore confidence with guests and travel planners in the age of Covid-19 and beyond, Atlantis, The Palm has signed up to health security software that requires leaders to verify their property’s health protocols on a regular basis in more than 360 standards. The software includes an artificial intelligence chatbot which walks leaders through a verification process that includes cleaning standards, procedures and products, social distancing measures, ventilation and air-handling equipment, and health safety communication with employees and guests. The facility assessment also covers health and hygiene protocols, physical distancing, and compliance and accountability to give guests the peace of mind that the resort is adhering to global best practices for their safety and comfort. “In the new normal, wellbeing is going to be at the forefront,” said Sharecare CEO Jeff Arnold. “The next layer is this new expectation that’s being shaped: Where I stay, work, and play – is it safe?” “In light of the pandemic – and with the wellbeing of our guests and colleagues always our number one priority – it has been Atlantis, The Palm’s prerogative to re-define and elevate safety and hygiene protocols. Being the first hotel in the Middle East, and one of the first worldwide to receive the Sharecare verification seal of approval, is testament to our commitment to making each and every one of our guests feel safe and secure, and we will continue to evolve to meet revised health and safety challenges and expectations,” said Marius Van Deventer, Director, Health & Safety, Atlantis Dubai.

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Flights on Leh-Jammu route resume operations

Flight operations between Leh and Jammu, capital cities of union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, have resumed after remaining suspended for months due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Friday. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had suspended domestic passenger flights across the country in March this year to restrict travel and check the spread of the virus. Paying heed to a request by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), MoCA resumed Air India flight operations between Leh and Jammu sectors from Thursday, the officials said. The flights will operate every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, they said. The resumption of flights between Leh and Jammu will also be beneficial for a number of students and patients, they added. During winter months, Leh-Srinagar and Leh-Manali roads are closed due to heavy snowfall and people of Ladakh rely solely on flights to travel to other parts of the country.

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Rajasthan Tourism and UNESCO come together to develop cultural tourism hubs

In a bid to develop cultural tourism hubs, UNESCO and Rajasthan Tourism have decided to work together. The aim is to develop 10 cultural tourism hubs in various Rajasthan districts, including Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Barmer. These hubs will be adopting the ‘Art of Life’ methodology and will help 884 Rajasthani performing artists and 594 handicraft artists. The project will also safeguard the traditional artforms of the state. The development plan The plan is to help develop heritage education and cultural enterprises by building and facilitating direct marketing for the Rajasthani artists. The art of puppetry, pottery, handloom, jooti making, kalbelia dance and music, langas songs and applique work, along with several other artforms are now limited to some families in Rajasthan. These art forms are extremely charming and unique too, and capture the attention of foreign tourists always. So UNESCO and Rajasthan Tourism have decided to come together and work to promote these arts on an international platform. The two units will make sure that the artists connect properly with the admirers of their work. The selected hubs are strategically chosen nearby some tourist hotspot so that they could easily be seen. These artist clusters are being developed closed to tourist circuits so that visitors can get some unique experience. This will also ensure due recognition to the artists and help them in establishing their unique identity. It will help durrie weavers of Jodhpur, jutti and Kasidakari artists of Barmer, potters of Pokhran in Jaisalmer and others.

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India-Nepal air bubble on, flights expected to start from Dec 17

India has now entered into an air bubble agreement with Nepal, making it the 23rd country with whom the government has arrived into such a travel arrangement. The flights are expected to begin from December 17, 2020, Air India and Nepal Airlines will be flying one flight daily between Delhi and Kathmandu. The air bubble arrangement is expected to be valid until March 27, 2021. Following the announcement, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu tweeted, “Happy to inform you that the 2 Governments have approved resumption of regular scheduled flights between Delhi & Kathmandu under the Air Transport Bubble mechanism. @airindiain and Nepal Airlines shall be operating these daily flights. For schedules & ticketing, pls check their websites.” A circular from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation reads, Indian nationals and nationals of Nepal would be able to board these flights from India to Nepal. Third country nationals (including diplomats) holding valid visa/entry permits for Nepal, if required, would also be allowed to board flights bound for Nepal from India. The circular further states, “Only such passengers who are destined for Nepal are allowed to travel on flights from India to Nepal. Similarly, only passengers originating in Nepal are allowed to travel on flights from Nepal to India.” According to media reports in Nepal, having received the protocols to be followed by passengers arriving in Delhi from Nepal, Nepal Airlines, through their country’s Civil Aviation Authority, has requested Indian authorities to waive quarantine requirements for Nepali passengers and has also requested that users should be permitted to reuse their negative test reports for the return flight if they are flying back within 72 hours.

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