News

PNR linking feature by IRCTC makes it easy to connect two train journeys.

Passengers using the train services offered by the Indian Railways can now use the IRCTC mobile app, which offers the feature of linking PNR numbers of two interlinked train trips. By using this facility, the passengers can easily get a refund on their train ticket in the event of a missed train. In addition, passengers can also use this feature when no direct train is available to reach from one station to another, and also, if the passenger has booked a ticket for connecting trains to arrive at the desired destination. In case the first train is late and the connecting train is running timely, it is likely for the passenger to miss the second train. Therefore, if the passenger has linked the PNR numbers of both the trains, it is possible to get a refund for the second train he or she missed. PNR linking facility is available on the IRCTC app and website. To link the tickets using PNRs, visit IRCTC's official webpage and click on the 'connecting journey booking' option under the 'Trains' tab. Now, search for the right trains on the website to reach your destination. For the verification of the connecting journey, IRCTC will give an OTP number to the registered mobile number of the passenger.

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Bhutan to charge tourists from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.

The Royal Kingdom of Bhutan has recently announced that it would be levying charges on tourists from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. Previously, entry was free for all of them. Tourism levies are not new for Buddhist Bhutan, which charges other countries a minimum of $250 per person per day to enter the country. The new fee for these three countries includes a $65 daily Sustainable Development Fee along with a $40 visa fee. These might seem expensive for tourists who are unused to them, but Bhutan sees them as necessary for maintaining its sustainability efforts. With its growing economy, the Kingdom remains concerned about reducing carbon emissions for residents and visitors from all countries. While Bhutan is expecting tourism from India to remain high, newly imposed fees are a risky move, considering that around 65% of tourists in Bhutan are from India alone. Indian tourists might decide to vacation elsewhere, Bhutan is hopeful that the new fees will recompense for potentially lost tourism. Bhutan is aiming for a sustainable tourist business as well as a sustainable, eco-friendly environment at all costs.

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Kazakh Tourism launches tour for Chinese travel bloggers.

The tour, initiated by Kazakh Tourism with the support of Capital Partners Real Estate and Air Astana, the nation’s largest carrier, was aimed at highlighting the country, particularly Almaty and the Almaty Region, as an ideal destination for Chinese travellers. The decision to invite them was not a random one. According to global data, Chinese tourists spend approximately $280 billion on travel, including winter tourism, which is actively promoted by popular bloggers. To attract Chinese tourists, the Ministry of Culture and Sport intends to extend the visa free transit stay up to 120 hours. The five-day period will allow visitors the opportunity to travel to several cities or tourist destinations. Last year, Kazakh Tourism invited four bloggers to visit Almaty, Shymkent and the East Kazakhstan Region. The travellers spent nine days in Kazakhstan, expressing their emotions online in videos and social media posts followed by 145 million viewers.

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Mumbai might very soon boast of a Bangkok-style multi-level aquarium.

Mumbai might very soon boast of a multi-level aquarium, which will be built on lines similar to that of Bangkok-based Ocean World, a famous tourist hotspot in Thailand. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently ordered the Tourism Department to draft a proposal regarding developing a high-end aquarium in Mumbai. While talking about this, the Chief Minister told the officials that Mumbai, being the city of international standards, needs to be developed further by adding new attractions to woo tourists. He stated that the government had already built a cruise terminal that matches international standards, and that building a high-level aquarium would further enhance the long list of popular tourist attractions in Mumbai.Also, as per an official press release, the CM stated that Mumbai is now attracting several foreign dignitaries and investors being a commercial capital. And therefore, tourist places in Mumbai needs to be developed, for which a separate action plan needs to be put into place. Apart from this project, the Chief Minister also discussed other tourism concepts, such as sea tourism, night safari in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and flamingo tourism. Since Mumbai is surrounded by sea, the minister is focussing more on water tourism activities, which will be implemented in phases. Moreover, existing caves, such as the Mahakali Caves, Kanheri Caves, and Elephanta Caves etc., will also be developed from a tourism point of view.

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It is safe to back to the Dominican Republic.

The country's tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia has maintained all along that the Dominican Republic is safe. In June, he noted that the number of tourist deaths in 2019 was actually lower at that point of the year than in 2011 or 2015 when 15 died. In the end, tainted alcohol – which was suspected in several cases – was ruled out, as were other forms other foul play. Autopsies and FBI toxicology reports have since determined that seven of the eight died of natural causes and the eighth is believed to have as well. Vacationers still hesitant to travel to Punta Cana shouldn’t turn their back on visiting the Dominican Republic altogether. The country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, covers 18,704 square miles and has much to offer beyond Punta Cana, including hotel and shopping bargains, authentic cultural experiences, river and mountain adventures, world-famous golf courses, and beautiful beaches.

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American Airlines just made it easier to check in for international flights.

American on Wednesday introduced passport chip scanning to the app, which will eliminate the need to have an American agent scan the passport at the airport. The carrier said it is the first airline to use near field communication (NFC) technology to securely transmit passport information. It is the same technology behind cashless payment systems like Apple Pay. Initially it will only be available for trips with one person on the reservation. It will eventually be expanded to reservations with multiple travelers, including families. Travelers checking in for an international flight on the American app will be asked to enter some basic passport information and then use their smartphone or other iOS or Android mobile device to scan the chip on the back page of the passport.The passport will still need to be shown at the airport during boarding, but it won't have to be open and scanned, saving passengers and employees time, the airline says. the new feature will especially help with cases where passports weren't scanned on the domestic leg of an international trip with a connection, say Albuquerque to Santiago, Chile, via Dallas Fort Worth.

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