News

IRCTC’s Christmas in Vietnam package is too good to resist.

Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has yet again come up with an interesting tour package to make your Christmas amazing. This time, it’s a Vietnam package for travellers looking for budget-friendly options. The flight for the same will leave from Kolkata international airport. Package name: Exotic Vietnam Tour Ex Kolkata Destinations covered: Hanoi and Halong Bay Mode of travel: Flight Date of journey: December 23, 2019 Number of seats: 25 Hotel name: Hanoi: La Suite/similar, Halong Bay: Phoenix Cruiser/similar Meal plan: AP (B+L+D) Flight details (from Kolkata to Hanoi) : Flight no. - 6E 1396 (from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, CCU) Date: December 23, 2019 Departure time: 1:30 PM (from CCU) Arrival at Hanoi: 5:45 PM Flight details (from Hanoi to Kolkata) : Flight no. - 6E 1397 (from Hanoi International Airport) Departure time: 6 PM Arrival at Kolkata: 7:25 PM Cost per person (inclusive of to and from flight tickets) : Single Occupancy: INR 63500 Double/Triple Occupancy: INR 49100 Child With Bed (2 - 11 years): INR 42600 Child Without Bed (2 - 11 years): INR 36100 Package includes: -Airfare in economy class -Accommodation in a deluxe hotel -Meals as per AP (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) -2 nights in Hanoi -1 night in Halong Bay cruise -Local tour guide in Vietnam -Transfers and sightseeing in AC vehicle -Travel Insurance up to 65 years only -Half litre 2 mineral water bottles per day

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More direct flights between Vietnam and Thailand.

Thailand is gearing up to welcome more Vietnamese visitors, with a number of airlines increasing direct flights between both countries and adding some new routes too. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the additional routes should help boost the number of first-time visitors from Vietnam. The number of flights between Thailand and Vietnam now stands at 301 a week, up from 288 last year. Thai cities being served include Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok, with Thai Vietjet expected to launch a daily service from Ho Chi Minh to Pattaya’s U-Tapao airport from December 23. Vietnam Airlines, Thai Air Asia, and Bangkok Airways are also offering new routes. Meanwhile, two of the main South Korean carriers are also introducing new routes between Vietnam and South Korea, and increasing flights to over 403 a week. The number of Vietnamese tourists choosing South Korea rose to around 500,000 during the first ten months of 2019.

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Mumbai: Kanhoji Angre Island to be developed into a tourist spot.

The Central Government has approved the proposal of developing Kanhoji Angre Island. As per the latest developments, the island will be developed on lines similar to that of the famous Elephanta Caves. Reportedly, visitors will be provided staying facility on this newly developed island, unlike the Elephanta Caves, where visitors are not allowed to stay back at night. To ensure visitors enjoy a great stay in the island, makeshift restaurants and resorts will also be set up there. Referring to this development, around 12 acres of the land will be developed for tourism activities, whereas the rest will be developed for port-related activity. Although no construction is allowed on the island because of costal regulation norms, temporary tents, resorts, restaurants will be set up to. The official further added that this project will give a push to Mumbai tourism, as tourism-related activities have also been proposed by the port trust authority. It has also been reported that due permission has also been granted for a marina at Princess Dock in Mumbai to park yachts. To develop this high-end structure, it would cost approximately INR 350 crore, which will be able to park around 300 yachts. Also, once it is ready, all yachts and ferries parked at the Gateway of India will be shifted here.

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30 more trains cancelled by Eurostar, train chaos continues in France.

More than 30 trains have been cancelled by Eurostar on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 11-13 December. Between London St Pancras and Paris one can find the vast majority and some services to Brussels and back are also axed.Eurostar mentioned that there will be major disruption to Metro and RER services in Paris and connecting trains to all destinations within France. According to the cross-Channel train operator said that the strike action will impact their ability to deliver the usual timetable as we expect disruption to signalling along all routes. Until December 13, as a result they will now run a reduced timetable. A full refund or re-book can be claimed by passengers whose trains are cancelled on another Eurostar service up to 60 days from the date of journey. Until Friday morning almost all Paris Metro lines will be closed. On Wednesday at least three-quarters of long-distance domestic trains in France are expected to be cancelled. The Foreign Office has warned of significant industrial action is continuing across France. This is primarily affecting transport and public services, with ongoing cancellations and severe delays to train, Metro, bus and tram services. On 5 December the strikes began in protest against planned pension reforms – even though the prime minister, Edourad Philippe will not spell out detailed proposals until Wednesday.

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UK tourists to generate an estimated USD 6.3 billion in travel to GCC.

According to a report revealed before the Arabian Travel Market the number of tourists from UK to the GCC will increase 22 % between the period 2018 to 2024. This will be due to the new and direct flight routes, competitive airfares and growth in the number of leisure travellers. An estimated USD 6.3 billion in travel and tourism revenue is expected to be generated in travel and tourism revenue by 2024.The total tourism spend in the GCC, reached USD 70.2bn last year, with the UK travellers average spend during trips to the region. This was 27% higher than the average spend of any other visitor. Danielle Curtis, exhibition director for ME at the Arabian Travel Market stated that historically, the UK and the GCC have enjoyed excellent travel and tourism links and this trend is set to continue over the next four years despite the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the bleak pound to dollar exchange rate, in which sterling has declined 18.9% since 19 June 2015. UAE is expected to continue to be the preferred GCC destination for British tourists, welcoming a projected 2.23 million visitors by 2023. Saudi Arabia will follow with 251,000 visitors, Oman is expected to receive 165,000, Bahrain 159,000 and Kuwait 5,000.

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Cruise from only £599 per person and enjoy ‘FREE Drinks & Tips’ in Fred. Olsen’s new

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering guests ‘FREE Drinks & Tips’ on over 120 cruises from April to December 2020 – on all new bookings made up to 4th February 2020 inclusive – with prices as low as £599 per person. Olsen is giving guests the chance to take advantage of its all-inclusive drinks upgrade aboard its entire ocean fleet – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch. and can enjoy selected house wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks all day and evening, without the added hassle of settling a bar bill, plus all gratuities will be paid by Fred. Olsen. Fred. Olsen is also offering ‘FREE Tips & Dining Drinks’* on a number of Brabant European river cruises in 2020, along the Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle, giving guests the same selection of all-inclusive drinks available on its ocean sailings, when served with lunch and dinner, with the added extra of all gratuities being paid by Fred. Olsen. Fred. Olsen’s ‘Cruise Sale’ is also offering a number of dedicated solo deals, with no single supplement on selected rooms and cruises in 2020.

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