News

IndiGo commences flights between Male and Kochi under Air Bubble

In-line with its vision to strengthen international connectivity from India, IndiGo commences two weekly flights between India and Maldives under air bubble recently. The first such arrangement in South-Asia was recently decided after the agreement between officials from both the governments. IndiGo will operate flights on Kochi-Male-Kochi route twice a week, while adhering to all the precautionary measures, ensuring a safe and hassle-free travel experience on-board a lean clean flying machine. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are pleased to resume connections between India and Maldives, starting with two weekly flights between Male and Kochi under Air Bubble. Male will be connected to various domestic destinations in India from Kochi, while providing safe and hassle-free flying experience on board a lean, clean flying machine. India is one of the key markets for inbound tourism for Maldives, while it receives a huge share of its medical tourists from Maldives. These flights will promote trade tourism and mobility, giving a boost to economic recovery in both the countries.” This step comes in accordance with the safe corridor provided by the local authorities where the tourists can travel straight to their respective resorts from the airport without any hassle, in absence of quarantine restrictions. Maldives opened its International border for tourists on July 15, since the inhabited islands and resort islands of the Maldives have been largely unaffected by the current pandemic. Additionally, this arrangement would also facilitate and regularize the flow of Maldivians seeking medical treatment to India as well as a sizeable number of Indians working as nurses, teachers, and resort workers in the Maldives.

Read more

When in Coimbatore, you can book chopper rides to visit tourist hotspots

Coimbatore is offering you a new way to travel. If you have been reluctant about boarding a flight due to COVID risks, this innovative idea can provide you the relief of travelling without that fear. Reportedly, Coimbatore is offering chopper rides to take you and your family to nearby tourist hotspots. As per the latest development, the chopper services are being provided by Express Holidays that has partnered with Planet X aerospace to offer you this unique experience, and also promote tourism in this region at the same time. Thus, if sharing a flight with more than 100 people gives you chills, you can take a chopper instead when in Coimbatore. You can plan a trip with your families to scenic locations such as Coorg, Mangalore, Hampi, Puducherry, Munar, and much more. Apart from the scenic locations, one can even opt to avoid public transport and book chopper rides for medical emergencies, temple trails, and business visits as well. Further, there are other services that are offered inside the helicopter, such as film shots, wedding photography, product launches, flower shows, and celebrations, etc. Cost of the chopper rides As per the reports, cost of a ride starts from INR 75000, whereas a chopper will be able to accommodate up to five people during a single trip. Also, you can opt for an hour-long photoshoot for INR 20000. Thudiyalur is the spot where Planet X’s helipad is, and where the choppers are usually stationed. Choppers from this helipad can go around for almost 1.5 hours non-stop. The tour operators have also tied up with other helipads so that they can offer longer trips to interested travellers.

Read more

Darjeeling, Kalimpong open for tourists, Sikkim to follow suit in October

After remaining shut for almost six months due to the Covid-9 pandemic, the popular hills stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal have opened their gates for tourists. The neighbouring Himalayan state of Sikkim is expected to follow suit from October. Every year more than 10 lakh tourists visit the region. This year, however, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, the hill stations were totally shut since March. Sikkim was among the first states to ban the entry of tourists from March 16. On September 5, the West Bengal government had permitted hotels in Darjeeling and Kalimpong to resume their services following social distancing norms and maintaining hygiene. Those within containment zones, however, would have to remain shut. “Now that the hotels have opened up we are optimistic that tourists would start arriving and the tourism industry would roll back to normal in a phased manner. We are expecting tourists soon,” Sangey Tshering Bhutia, president of Darjeeling Hotel Owners’ Association. Tourism is one of the important economic activities in the hills with almost 15% of the population dependent on it for their livelihoods. Both Kalimpong and Darjeeling have low cases of Covid-19. On September 8, Kalimpong which has the second lowest number of Covid-9 cases among the districts of West Bengal after Jhargram, had only 64 active cases compared to 4,067 in Kolkata. Hoteliers said that they have drawn up plans on how to sanitise hotels and maintain hygiene when tourists start flocking in. “Once a guest checks out of the room it would be sanitized and would be kept vacant for at least three days before allotting to another guest. There would be no buffet system, body temperature of guests would be checked when they check in and all hotel staff would be wearing masks and gloves. The entire hotel would be sanitized regularly,” said Diamond Oberoi, managing director of a prominent hotel. Public transport connecting New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri with the hills stations of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and other places have already started. “As many tourists prefer to take shared jeeps and buses to the hills from Siliguri bus stand and NJP railway station the drivers would maintain social distance among the tourists while ferrying them to their destination. They would be taking only half the passengers they used to take during pre-Covid times,” S N Pradhan, president of Himalayan Transport Coordination Committee. So far around seven long distance trains are running via New Jalpaiguri railway station including Agartala-Delhi Rajdhani Express, Brahmaputra Mail and Padatik Express. Subhanan Chanda, chief public relations officer of North East Frontier Railway said that more trains are expected to ply from September 12. In Sikkim, the state tourism department has come up with a draft proposal to open the state for tourists from October. The proposal says domestic tourists with pre-booked or package tours would be allowed initially and they need to produce valid Covid-19 negative certificates at the border check posts.

Read more

Kanpur is offering a drive-in restaurant spot for those who miss eating out

Given the current situation, social distancing, sanitisers and face masks have become an essential part of our lives, which needs to be followed even while going out meeting friends. Also, eating at restaurants now seem like things from the past. However, humans have the habit of not giving up, thereby embracing outdoors like never before. On the same sentiments, a hospitality group in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur has come up with a drive-in picnic concept wherein interested people can enjoy restaurant experience while maintaining social distancing. More about the drive-in restaurant A hospitality group in Kanpur has transformed two of its banquet lawns into a drive-in restaurant. Here, people can park their cars, order food and enjoy dining where diners can order food and enjoy it in their car or choose to sit outside on picnic tables and chairs laid by the organisers. The initiative Drive & Dine is the brainchild of Yash Malhotra and Insha Malhotra. The duo run several restaurants and hotels in the city. Insha said, “We noticed the one thing people weren’t afraid of was going for drives. Being in their own space made people comfortable. And this is how the idea sparked.” Drive & Dine is set in a lovely lawn in the city’s Cantonment region. As you’ll enter, a kiosk will welcome and check your temperature. It will also sanitise the bonnet of the cars and then a token number will be provided to you with the details of parking. And each car will be provided with a slot. If anyone wants to enjoy a picnic outside, organisers will have benches placed right next to the car, else one can just sit back in their comfy car seats and enjoy the green landscape. The ordered food will arrive in a golf cart to maintain a proper social distancing. The menu is pretty interesting too. One can order from a list of Italian delicacies, such as pasta to pizzas, or choose Indian street food like kathi rolls, among others. To keep the place virus safe, the area will be sanitised with electrostatic guns, and guests will be provided with a special case to place their face masks when it is not being used. Not only this, the crockery and cutlery will also be sterilised in a UV sterilisation chamber.

Read more

Mumbai: International passengers to go through COVID-19 test at the airport

Mumbai Airport will soon start testing international passengers for COVID-19 on arrival, in case they have not tested COVID negative within 96 hours of travelling. Reportedly, international passengers taking connecting flights from Mumbai, will undergo Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for COVI-19 on arrival at the airport. This is as per the new guidelines issued by the state government recently. As per the guidelines, those passengers can get tested and will be further allowed to take the connecting flights on having a negative test report. However, those found positive might not be allowed to take the connecting flight and sent for institutional quarantine in Mumbai, the guidelines state. The Ministry of Civil Aviation recently issued a notification to all states and directed them to subject international passengers to COVID-19 tests at the entry airport. While passengers can choose between RT-PCR test, which takes more than eight hours to deliver results; or GeneXpert, which produces results within 30 min, the cost of the tests will be borne by passengers. As such the state government has advised passengers to book connecting flights accordingly, i.e., with a time gap of at least 8-12 hours, as RT-PCR test takes 7 to 8 hours to generate a report. Referring to this, an officer from the Airport Health Authority (AHO) said that any international passenger who arrives at the Mumbai airport without RT-PCR negative report, but needs to take a connecting flight, will from now on have to undertake the test. He added that such passengers will be given the option of booking their test online. If in case the passenger is found to be COVID negative, the airport will stamp the passenger’s hand and he will have to self-quarantine till the given date, whereas in case passenger tests positive, he will be institutionally quarantined in the city.

Read more

Now Tourists can Rent Camper-van in Maharashtra too after MP

Amid the ongoing pandemic, travel almost seems out of bounds, unless you are required to take that risk for any reason. Naturally, you must be missing the outdoors. In such a scenario, Maharashtra brings to you a little surprise to get set for traveling again. Reportedly, you can now go on an adventurous vacation or visit tourist hotspots by renting a customised caravan vehicle, when in Maharashtra. Recently, the state-run Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Mothom jointly launched campervans to encourage people to go on road trips again. This kind of travel is especially attractive in today’s scenario, i.e., in the times of global pandemic. This type of travel enables you to skip that airport or, as a matter of fact, buses and train stations. In fact, renting a campervan allows you to get rid of the anxiety of getting infected, explore places at your own pace. All you have to do is pick a scenic spot of your choice, pull up your van, and make it your bedroom. The Minister of Tourism Aaditya Thackeray and the Minister of State for Tourism Aditi Tatkare recently today flagged off the venture. Motohom currently owns two vehicles, i.e., a minivan that will be perfect for a road trip for one or two, while the other one, i.e., a traditional motorhome will be perfect for small families. The minivan comes equipped with a rear passenger seat area, which you can convert into a flatbed, and also has a repurposed trunk. It also comes enhanced with a detachable living space that can provide you extra room on the roof. However, the larger campervan comes with a kitchen, a small bedroom, a living room, a ‘terrace’ space on the roof, and a bathroom. Further, both the vans have a waste disposal system. Apart from these, the vehicles also have been enhanced with front- and rear-mounted close circuit cameras for security, and GPS tracking to help travellers in case of a breakdown. There is a security siren on board, which you can hit to ward off any potential danger; then there is this SOS button to help you out. Booking details: You can book these vehicles by directly going to Motohom’s website. While the smaller van is available currently for INR 4,000/day, the larger one comes with a driver, whereas an attendant can also be rented for INR 21,000/day.

Read more