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Ministry of Culture announces seven new circles of ASI

Patel said that the Ministry of Culture has taken this step in accordance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to facilitate and strengthen the process of preservation and registration of archaeological monuments. The Ministry of Culture on Wednesday announced seven new circles of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel in a video message tweeted by him. Patel said that the Ministry of Culture has taken this step in accordance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to facilitate and strengthen the process of preservation and registration of archaeological monuments along with registration of artifacts with self-declaration. The Minister informed that new circles have been created in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. He said that Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut have been announced as new circles. In Archaeology, the Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international repute hence Hampi Mini Circle has been converted into a full-fledged circle, the Minister added. Earlier there were 29 ASI circles across the country. Patel said that in a large state like Tamil Nadu which has thousands of temples and glorious memories of the Chola kings, Trichy has been made a new circle along with the circle of Chennai. Karnataka is an important state in terms of holiness. Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international importance from the point of view of archaeological heritage therefore the Hampi Sub-Circle now has been made a new full-fledged circle. In West Bengal, Raiganj has been made a new circle along with Kolkata, this will eliminate geographical inconvenience in a big state like Bengal. In Gujarat, Rajkot has been announced a new circle along with Vadodara. Patel said that Jabalpur has been announced a new circle along with Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. This will include the monuments from Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions. The Minister also informed that Jhansi in Bundelkhand and Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh has been announced two new circles along with Lucknow and Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

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India releases new SOPs for international travel

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for international travel on non-scheduled commercial flights under the Air Transport Bubble arrangement and the Vande Bharat Scheme. As per the protocol, anyone wishing to travel to India will first need to register themselves with the Indian missions in the country that they are currently stranded or residing in, along with all the required details as prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs. Reportedly, the SOP has been issued to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection, and is aimed to keep a check on the movement of international passengers in a calibrated manner. However, those coming to India on flights under air-bubble arrangements will not be required to register themselves with the Indian missions. As of now, India has managed to create bilateral ‘air bubbles’ or air travel arrangements with the following countries—the United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Maldives. Apart from these, India is also negotiating with 13 more countries for similar kind of arrangement. Reportedly, the SOP outlines that priority will be given to certain cases in distress, such as those short-term visa holders who are nearing the expiry of their vias, workers who have been laid off, pregnant women, elderly persons, those persons with medical emergency, or those required to return to India due to death of family members and students. For all inbound travellers, the External Affairs Ministry will prepare a flight/ship wise database that will include all the required details, such as name, age, gender, place of residence, mobile phone number, their final destination, and information on their RT-PCR test taken and its result. Then, the same will be shared by MEA in advance with the respective state or union territory.

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Religious places in Rajasthan to reopen from September 7

All religious places in Rajasthan will reopen for public from September 7, months after they were closed due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, an official statement said on Wednesday. The decision was taken during a review meeting on the coronavirus situation in the state chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Social distancing norms will have to be followed and all religious places will be sanitised from time to time, the statement said. District collectors and superintendents of police will carry out inspections and ensure all safety measures are taken, it said. Gehlot instructed officials to ensure that health protocols are followed properly and there is no crowding at these places, according to the statement. The chief minister also directed officials of the health department to make sure that private hospitals do not deny admission to COVID-19 patients, the statement said. Health Minister Raghu Sharma, Chief Secretary Rajeeva Swarup and other officials attended the meeting, it said.

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Short-distance travel, brief stay are new tourism trends: MP

BHOPAL: Amidst the raging coronavirus, a new trend of tourism seems to have surfaced. Tourists are preferring short-distance travelling and brief stay out during the weekends. The pattern has emerged over the last few days when many tourist spots witnessed good turnout. There is also another aspect of tourism which has been noticed during the corona times. People are preferring open spaces and spots with abundance of nature and good quality air. So, the tourist spot at Gandhi Sagar dam witnessed almost 100% occupancy during the past two weekends. Udaygiri near Vidisha also had a good number of tourists. As buses, trains and air services are restricted to contain the corona virus spread, people are travelling at a distance of 200-300 km by their own vehicles with family and or a select group of friends like people from Raipur and Bilaspur are visiting Amarkantak. Managing director of MP Tourism Development Corporation, S Viswanathan, said, “For some more months, I don’t expect overseas tourists or even domestic tourists travelling from a long distance.” Places like Udaygiri, Amarkantak, Gandhi Sagar dam, Pachmarhi, Choral and Mandu are drawing scores of tourists while in places like Khajuraho or Orchha which have archaeological monuments, the number is less. The MP Tourism Board is also trying hard to promote tourism in the buffer zones of national parks. However, the response so far is lukewarm. One reason behind this may be the heavy monsoon in jungles. For the past few years, after the closure of national parks for the monsoon, the government had decided to open the buffer zones for tourism a few years back. But the idea could never pick up. “Even before the Covid era, people avoided going to jungles during monsoon because of the obvious reasons of waterlogging and scare of insects and snakes,” said a forest department official. The hotel industry in Khajuraho, a big international tourist spot, looks “reluctant” to start operations because of the corona scare. “There is almost zero footfall of tourists in Khajuraho . We will review the situation after September and hope things would be under control during the festival times from October onwards,” said an official.

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Dusit International expands its operations to India

Thailand-based Dusit International announces its expansion into India with a plan to open at least two Dusit-branded hotels per year from 2021 onwards in Tier I and Tier II cities – such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore – as well as key leisure destinations throughout the country. Alongside the signing of Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata, under a franchise agreement with the Jain Group, a Real Estate, Hospitality and Finance organisation based in Kolkata. Dusit is already in talks with other potential owners and is on course to conclude at least four more signings within the next 12 months. Following a strategy to focus on quality hotel products that help owners maximise the value of their assets, Dusit’s planned expansion includes exquisite palace conversions where the company aims to uniquely combine its distinctive brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality with local customs and traditions to create luxury hotel experiences that deliver sustainable value for the wider community. India is one of the top source markets for Dusit Hotels and Resorts worldwide, with Indian travellers second only to Chinese in terms of room nights generated in 2019. Domestic travellers also fondly remember the luxury Dusit Devarana in New Delhi, which operated from 2014 – 2017. As an Asian brand with more than 70 years of experience managing hotels and resorts throughout the region, and with a comprehensive guest loyalty programme that enriches every visit, Dusit’s service offering is well suited to the needs of discerning Indian travellers. India and Thailand share many similarities in terms of culture and traditions, and Dusit believes this not only makes its brands a popular choice for Indian guests and customers, but also an attractive proposition for Indian hotel owners seeking to work with a company that truly understands their needs while linking them with a large pool of engaged customers. With India’s fast-growing middle class expected to reach 583 million people – or 41 per cent of India’s projected population – by 2025, Dusit also sees huge potential for its high-end offerings in this burgeoning market. Alongside Dusit Princess and Dusit Devarana, this includes the upper-upscale Dusit Thani and upscale dusitD2 brands. Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International said, “While COVID-19 has brought immense challenges for tourism and hospitality worldwide, we remain confident that our resilient industry can and will bounce back, and we expect India to be a key player in international and domestic tourism in the brighter days ahead. We are delighted and honoured that the Jain Group has selected our Dusit Princess brand for their property in Kolkata, and we now look forward to bringing more quality products to the market to generate long-term value for all our stakeholders.” Slated to open in Q2 2022 as part of Jain Group’s high-end residential development project, Dream One, Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata will occupy a prime location near the green expanse of Eco Park, only five minutes by car from both the city centre and the airport, and just one minute from Kalakshetra Metro Station. Comprising 42 three-bedroom units, the new property will provide an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers seeking extended stays. A swimming pool, an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, and a fitness and wellness centre will be among the recreational facilities. Banqueting and meeting facilities will also be available for small and midscale events. Shrayans Jain, Vice President, Jain Group commented, “In the new normal following COVID-19, Indian travellers will be increasingly seeking brands they can trust to deliver the high levels of safety, comfort and convenience they deserve. Dusit has more than seven decades of experience delivering exceptional guest and customer experiences in key destinations worldwide, and the company already has a strong reputation in India for the quality of its offerings. Our companies’ shared values to deliver quality in all aspects will ensure Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata is perfectly placed to exceed guest and customer expectations, and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with Dusit.” Dusit International’s property portfolio now comprises more than 300 properties operating under six brands across 13 countries. The company also has a strong background in hospitality education, operating internationally-accredited hospitality colleges in Thailand and the Philippines, as well as Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with the renowned Paris-based institute.

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India may offer Covid testing for people flying out of the country too

NEW DELHI: People flying out of India will soon get the option of taking a Covid test so that those who are found free from the virus can have a hassle free experience on arrival as per the rules of the destination country. Work is on to have testing facilities for persons flying into India through its main hubs like Delhi and Mumbai. “The test is likely to be made available for those flying out of the country also for a seamless experience as per norms for those coming with a Covid negative test report in different countries,” said a senior aviation ministry official. The move comes after Hong Kong barred Air India flights till August-end after a number of passengers who flew in on a flight from Delhi earlier this month tested positive on arrival. Some countries like the UAE already require a Covid negative certificate from a recent test as a pre-condition for allowing passengers to fly in. And others like Germany test passengers coming from “high risk” (meaning higher incidence of corona) countries like India and the US for the flu. Having a negative report could increasingly mean less hassles for international flyers as countries seek to resume travel amid a pandemic that is likely to be around for about a couple of years. From September 1, Lufthansa Group passengers with a negative Covid-19 report from a test done within 48 hours of undertaking the journey can seek exemption from the mandatory rule of wearing masks on flights. Frankfurt is among the global hubs that has Covid testing facilities for both passengers flying in and out of Germany. “For several weeks, the company CENTOGENE has been offering convenient tests at Frankfurt Airport in cooperation with Lufthansa and Fraport. With this voluntary test taken at the airport right before your departure, you can avoid restrictions after landing at your destination. Private quarantine, for example, is required in many countries,” the Lufthansa website says. Collinson and Swissport have set up COVID-19 testing facility at London Heathrow Airport’s terminal 2 that enables arriving passengers to be tested upon landing. “It is hoped that with approval from the (UK) Government, people testing negative during the process will be allowed to exit quarantine early,” Collinson said in a statement. Collinson says airport-based COVID-19 testing is “embraced by more than 30 countries around the world, helping to get the travel industry back up and running while safeguarding public health. PCR Testing at the border has been extensively trialled internationally, in locations with very strong scientific oversight such as Germany, and found to be safe, and now rolled out in France, Iceland and Austria and at more than half the world’s busiest airports including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Tokyo Haneda and Dubai International.”

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