News

Jammu and Kashmir tourist spots to be reopened in phased manner

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the parks at tourist places, which were closed in view of security considerations after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, are being reopened in a phased manner to allow tourists to visit the destinations. “Some places were closed after April 22 (attack) in view of security considerations. The divisional commissioners and IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu have taken reports from every district, and it has been decided to reopen some destinations in a phased manner,” Sinha said. The Lieutenant Governor was speaking to reporters after visiting the Nunwan Base Camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Sinha said the destinations that have been decided to be reopened for tourists in the first phase include Beetab Valley and parks near Pahalgam market in the famous tourist destination of Pahalgam, Verinag, Kokernag, and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district. In Srinagar, Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen, and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal will also be reopened in the first phase. These eight places are being reopened and tourists can visit these, he added. The Lieutenant Governor also said that eight destinations would be reopened in the Jammu region as well. “Eight places are being reopened in the first phase. In the next phase, some other destinations will be re-opened,” he said.

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VFS Global launches UK Premium Application Centre in Bhopal

Residents of Bhopal will now be able to apply for their UK visas close to home. VFS Global opened the doors to its Premium Application Centre at Taj Lakefront, Bhopal on June 17, 2025, its 13th Premium Application Centre in a non-metro city. VFS Global operates 12 other UK Premium Application Centres in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India. The centres are located at Radisson Blu hotels in Amritsar, Guwahati, Indore, Nagpur and Noida, the Gateway hotel in Calicut, VFS Global office in Coimbatore, Ibis Thane, Hotel Vivanta Mangalore, Hotel Green Park Vishakhapatnam, The Leela Grand Hotel, Karnal, and Park Inn, Surat. Customers can also opt for one of two exclusive packages for an enhanced UK visa application experience – Comfort Plus and Convenience Plus. Comfort Plus gives customers access to the Premium Lounge, doorstep delivery of passports, SMS updates, and assistance with uploading their documents. Under the Convenience Plus Service, customers can enjoy Flexi Appointments, allowing them to book appointments at their preferred time, and the Keep My Passport service, which enables them to retain their passports while their applications are being processed. In addition, they will receive doorstep delivery of passports, SMS updates, and assistance in uploading their documents.

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Mita Vohra’s Vision for a New Bold Era at Sarova Hotels and Resorts

Mita Vohra’s journey is anything but conventional. A lawyer, filmmaker, and jewellery designer, she now leads Sarova Hotels and Resorts as Board Director, bringing grit, charm, and sharp instinct to redefine the future of the iconic Kenyan hospitality brand. Born into a family of hoteliers, hospitality was always in Mita Vohra’s DNA. She was thriving with her jewellery brand, Ortaea, when Sarova’s Managing Director Jimi Kariuki requested her support. She hesitated as she was building something successful of her own. Once she stepped back into the business, there was no looking back. Her journey across diverse markets not only broadened her perspective but also deepened her understanding of the hospitality industry. Throughout this evolution, Jimi remained a steadfast influence who played a key role in drawing her back into the Sarova fold. Rooted in Legacy For Mita, the true essence of Sarova’s success lies not just in its properties but in the enduring relationships the brand has nurtured, especially within the Indian market. There is a lot of Indian shareholding in the business, but the connection is more than just transactional; it is deeply personal. “It has been over 30 years since we have been coming to this market. The relationships that began back then still exist with us today. We love coming back here to build new relationships in new markets opening up in the untapped cities of India,” she reflects. The family’s journey intensifies the emotional significance of this bond. “It is heart-warming to go to a country and be recognised because of your legacy. Especially when our family has been through a lot in terms of losing our loved ones,” says Mita. Deep Bond With India After establishing strongholds in the US and UK, India was one of the first international markets Sarova ventured into. What began as a strategic expansion has grown into one of the brand’s most meaningful and rewarding relationships. She explains, “India is not just a market for us. It is a commitment, where legacy, culture, and community meet, that aligns beautifully with who we are.” Kenya and India share deep historical ties, with a well-established Indian diaspora forming an integral part of Kenyan life. One of the strongest links between the two countries is the pharmaceutical sector, facilitating a dynamic, two-way supply chain, bringing financial success to both nations. This shared success has naturally extended into tourism, with travel data reflecting a widening travel corridor between the two nations.

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Classic Holidays ready to empower and drive India’s inbound travel resurgence

Classic Holidays, a well-known B2B travel consolidator in domestic tourism, is now strengthening its inbound focus with a commitment to personalised service, quality, and innovation. Shilpa Luthra, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Classic Holidays, highlights how the brand is adapting to traveller trends, leveraging technology, and curating seamless, diverse experiences for travellers across India. Established in 1997 and based in Mumbai, Classic Holidays offers personalised travel services across India. With a focus on transparent pricing, quality, and reliability, it provides diverse accommodations from resorts to villas. Now, the company is poised to expand into the inbound travel market with confidence and expertise. Adapting to Shifts in Inbound Travel Inbound tourism to India is steadily rebounding, and the past financial year proved to be a successful one for Classic Holidays. Shilpa has noticed a clear trend toward last-minute bookings across diverse traveller segments. She explained, “We are seeing international families finalising their itineraries just weeks before travel. There is also a noticeable rise in last-minute wellness trips, particularly among solo female travellers. Additionally, spiritual tourism is experiencing a surge in interest, largely driven by media influence, which has led to a spike in spontaneous inquiries and rapid booking requests.” Another key trend that Shilpa notes is India’s growing prominence in global collaborations, and at Classic Holidays, they have seen a rise in inbound corporate travel. “This is where our online platform, Tripmax, is playing a pivotal role, offering instant hotel bookings and real-time solutions for business travellers,” asserted Shilpa. Classic Holidays remains agile, with teams equipped to manage both planned and last-minute bookings. Their upgraded online tools enable quick decisions and instant confirmations. Unique Approach to Inbound Tourism Classic Holidays’ extensive pan-India network allows them to showcase the rich diversity of India through a wide array of inbound travel packages. They offer everything from luxury escapes and wildlife safaris to spiritual journeys, wellness retreats, culinary experiences, and adventure tours, ensuring there is something for every type of traveller. Shilpa further emphasised, “Our strength lies in our ability to personalise each itinerary. Our experienced inbound team specialises in curating unique, off-beat and experiential programmes that go beyond the typical tourist trail, whether they seek luxury, cultural immersion, wellness, or thrill-seeking adventures. No two travellers are the same, and we pride ourselves on crafting itineraries that reflect their individual desires.”

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GCC Unified Tourist Visa progressing toward 2025 rollout

Momentum continues to build around the implementation of a unified Gulf tourist visa, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) confirming steady progress on the initiative’s technical framework. Speaking to Khaleej Times during the UAE Hospitality Summer Camp press conference, UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri shared encouraging updates on the project. “The single (GCC) tourist visa has been approved and waiting now to be implemented, hopefully soon. Now it is with the Ministry of Interior and the relevant stakeholders and they should look into it,” the Minister stated. Earlier this month, during the 164th GCC Ministerial Council meeting held in Kuwait, senior officials discussed regional cooperation, including the visa system. Following the session, GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi noted that the goal is to finalise and activate the unified visa mechanism by the end of 2025. Chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, the meeting brought together representatives from member states to assess joint strategies in political and economic sectors. Al-Yahya called the discussions constructive, underscoring the shared commitment to regional integration. The GCC Unified Visa, also referred to as the “GCC Grand Tours Visa,” is expected to enable visitors to travel between all six member countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, under one visa. This model mirrors the European Schengen system, designed to facilitate ease of movement and enhance the region’s collective tourism appeal. While details are still being finalised, it is anticipated that the visa will allow for a stay of at least 30 days within the region. This is expected to not only promote multi-country travel but also increase tourist interest in destinations that currently attract fewer international visitors. At the same time, travelers will still be able to apply for a visa to enter a single GCC country, offering flexibility based on individual travel preferences. As the technical groundwork nears completion, the unified visa is seen as a landmark step toward stronger economic ties and tourism collaboration across the Gulf, signalling a new era of mobility and cooperation in the region.

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Tamara appoints Samir M.C. as CEO, Shruti Shibulal named Executive Vice Chai

Tamara Leisure Experiences has announced a significant leadership transition aligned with its long-term vision and continued expansion. Effective 16 June 2025, Samir M.C. has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Shruti Shibulal, who assumes the role of Executive Vice Chair of the Board. This advancement strengthens values-aligned stewardship of the company’s plans for robust expansion, focused continuity and amplified momentum. Samir M.C., a respected leader in the hospitality industry, holds three decades of distinguished experience in structuring operations, managing stakeholders and positioning high-value hospitality ventures for long-term market impact. Prior to this, Samir most notably held senior leadership roles at ITC Hotels and the InterContinental Hotels Group, where he was instrumental in driving profitability, internal performance and regional growth. “It is a privilege to take on the role of CEO at such a ground-breaking and values-driven organization. Through its intensive and innovative commitment to responsible hospitality, Tamara has carved for itself a distinctive position in the market. I look forward to building on that foundation by working closely with Shruti and the broader team to lead the company on to its next phase of growth,” said Samir. In her new role, Shruti will continue to play a pivotal role in guiding Tamara Leisure Experiences through a crucial phase of strategic acceleration. Working closely with the CEO, she will help to steer the company’s long-term vision, shape high-impact decisions, and ensure that new property developments remain congruent with the organisation’s brand perimeters, core values, and future aspirations. Over the last decade, Shruti helmed the design and evolution of a human-centric work culture and sustainability-driven innovation. As such, Shruti will focus on preserving the company’s foundational ethos by nurturing leadership talent and strengthening institutional frameworks. Shruti will also bridge the organisation’s trajectory with the Board’s forward-thinking engagement in Tamara’s evolution. Her continued leadership in this new role, will forge a keen and thoughtful map for deep, long-term impact across the hospitality industry. “This is both an essential as well as exciting new chapter for Tamara. Samir carries into this role a wealth of industry experience, strategic insight, and an entrepreneurial spirit that deeply aligns with our culture and aspirations. I look forward to supporting him as we continue to build Tamara Leisure Experiences with integrity, insight and purpose,” said Shruti.

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