News

Tourism in Assam hit by stir against Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The tourism industry in Assam has been hit by the recent protests in the state against the new citizenship law, with many prospective visitors cancelling their bookings.However, the state government and stakeholders concerned are trying to allay the fears of the visitors and instil confidence in them in visiting the northeastern state. “Many tourists were stranded during the protests and the subsequent curfew imposed in some districts. But, we made sure that they do not face any difficulty during their stay. The TOAA president said the initiatives taken by the tourism department to ensure the safety of visitors during the stir have sent positive vibes to prospective travellers. Chairman of the Northeast chapter Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) Arijit Purkayastha said transport and hospitality sectors of the industry have been affected, particularly due to suspension of internet services. Several tourists were stranded in Kaziranga, Cherrapunjee and Majuli but it was made sure that they were escorted to hotels, airports and railway stations, Cruise services for tourists on River Brahmaputra has been also affected due to the stir. She assured visitors not to be scared and vowed to take utmost care of them. The stakeholders in the industry said the losses incurred due to the violent protests can only be ascertained after the end of the tourist season.

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Beach shacks make interesting debut in Odisha.

Odisha’s Marine Drive Eco Retreat is set to get beach shacks for the first time, thereby providing visitors a perfect opportunity to enjoy the beach and its ambience. Set up by the Odisha Government, these beach shacks have been built in a bid to promote tourism in this part of the country. Envisioned by the Odisha Tourism Department, the beach shacks boast of a refreshing ambience coupled with great music, delicious food, chilled alcohol; all of these with the backdrop of sand and sound of gushing waves. As of now, there are four shacks, which will remain open from 8 AM to 11 PM. These shacks are open to all who visit the Marine Drive Eco Retreat from December 18, 2019, to January 31, 2020. Every day at 6 PM there will be an amazing cultural event and a light and sound show. The primary motive behind setting up these shacks to give all the visitors, other than the in-house guests, a chance to visit and soak in the ambience of the sea and Marine Drive Eco Retreat. He also added that with Christmas and New Year just around the corner, it is expected that this spot will start attracting more visitors in the coming days.

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The incredibly popular Scottish Highlands could now levy a tourism tax on visitors.

The Scottish Highlands could become the first place in the UK where a tourism tax is going to be introduced. So far, a tourism tax of 1 Pound has been approved by the Highland Council. The charge is being called a Transient Visitor Levy, or TVL. The reason for such a charge, or tourism tax, is to keep the villages and towns of the region in good condition. It has been estimated that the annual TVL amount could reach somewhere upto 10 million Pounds a year, and this money can then be used for the betterment of the towns and villages in the region. The tourism tax could begin from 2021. The Scottish Highland is heavily dependent on tourism, as it is evident from the numbers. Last year alone, some 6.5 million people visited the region; this could now change due to the tourism tax that is going to be implemented from 2021.

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Tourist Advice : Elephant rides considered ‘Unacceptable’.

UK’s largest association has now labelled direct contact between tourists and elephants which also includes riding and bathing them as ‘unaccpetable’. The Animal Welfare Guidelines has been update by Abta which remains applicable to all member tour operators and travel agents, Apart from outlawing elephant interaction without a barrier between animals and tourists, the association further categorized feeding great apes, bears, crocodiles, alligators, orca, and sloths as “unacceptable”. Along with this feeding, contact and walking with wild cats was also outlawed. In order to strengthen the guidelines for animals the association has since consulted with organization which includes World Animal Protection, Humane Society International, Born Free Foundation, World Cetacean Alliance, Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Julie Middelkoop, global campaigns lead at World Animal Protection said that the clear advice that it is unacceptable to use elephants for shows,rides, bathing or any other form of tourist contact without a barrier is a real breakthrough. Clare Jenkinson, Abta’s senior destinations and sustainability manager went on saying that Abta Members have led the way on animal welfare by implementing Abta’s guidelines for a number of years, and others in the industry from around the world use Abta’s guidelines as the basis for their animal welfare policies. There is an increased awareness of the damaging impact the tourism industry can have on animal welfare. Earlier, Trip Advisor had announced that it would stop selling tickets to attractions that use captive whales or dolphins.

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Europe contributes 30% to global Travel & Tourism GDP says WTTC.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, released its comprehensive Cities Report for 2019 , which reveals Europe directly contributes $830BN (30%) to the global Travel & Tourism GDP. The three fastest growing cities of those analysed are all located in Europe: Antalya’s direct Travel & Tourism GDP grew 15.7% and Istanbul’s close behind at 15.5%.Furthermore, following the Turkish cities, Moscow was third, growing 13.7% last year, on the back of the FIFA World Cup last year. International spending showed especially strong growth in Moscow, growing 20.5%. The Cities Report shows these 73 cities account for $691 billion in direct Travel & Tourism GDP, which represents 25% of the sector’s direct global GDP and accounts for over 17 million jobs. Revenues from international visitors will in some cases pay for city infrastructure projects, the provision of public workers and services that improve the quality of life for residents. European cities are more reliant on international tourism than cities from the other regions analysed within the report. Seven out of the top 10 cities ranked for the reliance on international visitor spend were located within Europe, with Dublin and Dubrovnik both showing over 95% of Travel & Tourism spending relying on international visitors. WTTC President & CEO, Gloria Guevara said: “European cities have been and will continue to be of critical importance to the Travel & Tourism sector. This wide-reaching report has shown the ongoing growth and contribution of European cities, and the importance the Travel & Tourism sector has on communities and offers further examples in areas such as best practices for sustainable growth, resilience and destination stewardship.”

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Canada Could Be JetBlue’s Next International Destination.

JetBlue Airways could be expanding into the Great North.In a filing last week, the airline said it was “considering” adding service to Canada, according to The Points Guy, after Canadian airline WestJet has proposed a partnership with Delta Air Lines. While Delta claimed the deal would decrease competition at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, airlines including JetBlue, Southwest and Alaska Airlines filed with the Department of Transportation (DOT), pushing the organizer to place conditions on the partnership. The airlines are petitioning for the DOT to rule against an exclusive WestJet/Delta partnership. However, Delta and WestJet say that the partnership could open up six new routes, including Chicago to Toronto, FlightGlobal reported. The DOT has given airlines until December 23 to reply to JetBlue’s filing. After that time, they will make a decision about the proposed partnership at LaGuardia, which could affect JetBlue’s (potential) expansion into Canada. Earlier this year, the airline announced its transatlantic service to London (from the east coast) would begin in 2021. And this month, JetBlue announced its longest flight: a 6.5-hour trip from New York City to Guayaquil, Ecuador, known as the “gateway to the Galapagos.”

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