News

Donald Trump announces ‘Gold Card’ US Visa

United States President Donald Trump recently introduced the “Gold Card” residency permit, a new pathway to American citizenship for wealthy immigrants. If reports are to go by, this initiative is set to replace the existing EB-5 investor visa program, which has been a popular route for foreign investors seeking US permanent residency. The Gold Card program is expected to significantly alter the US immigration landscape, particularly impacting Indian applicants who previously relied on the EB-5 visa. The Gold Card visa offers a direct route to US citizenship for individuals willing to invest $5 million in the country. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, emphasised that this visa would grant the same benefits as a Green Card, but with an expedited path to citizenship for those who can afford it. “We’re going to be selling a Gold Card. You have a Green Card; this is a Gold Card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million,” Trump told reporters.

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IndiGo Secures Three Additional Boeing 787s From Norse Atlantic To Fuel International Growth

IndiGo strengthens its global expansion by leasing three more Boeing 787s from Norse Atlantic, boosting its long-haul capabilities and international reach. IndiGo (6E), India’s largest airline by fleet size and passenger volume, is aggressively advancing its international expansion strategy. In a landmark move, the airline has secured three additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft from Norse Atlantic (N0) ASA under a wet lease agreement. This latest acquisition builds on a previous lease agreement with Norse, bringing IndiGo’s total number of leased Boeing 787s to four. The aircraft are expected to commence operations in the second half of 2025, supporting IndiGo’s ambitious foray into long-haul services. The lease agreement initially spans six months, with an option to extend up to 18 months, subject to regulatory clearances.

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Philippines Rises As A Halal Tourism Powerhouse With Unstoppable Growth Driven By Strategic Investments And Recognition In Global Muslim Travel

Philippines Rises As A Halal Tourism Powerhouse With Unstoppable Growth Driven By Strategic Investments And Recognition In Global Muslim Travel Philippines Expands Halal Economy as Part of National Development Plan 2023-2028 The Philippines is making significant strides in establishing a holistic halal economy, a priority initiative under the National Development Plan 2023-2028 spearheaded by the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Administration. Recognized for its growing appeal to Muslim travelers, the country was named “Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year” in both 2023 and 2024 by the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index. The Department of Tourism (DoT) also reported a 9.8% rise in tourist arrivals from Islamic and Muslim-majority countries, accounting for over 10% of the total 5,949,350 tourists in 2024, with Emiratis ranking 12th in visitor numbers.

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Turkish Airlines Expands Passenger Services Through Strategic Alliance with HBX Group and PerfectStay, Introducing Bespoke Turkish Airlines Holidays

HBX Group (HBX.SM), a premier independent B2B travel technology marketplace, along with PerfectStay, a specialist in travel packaging technology, have announced a strategic partnership with Turkish Airlines, leading to the creation of Turkish Airlines Holidays. This new venture is set to transform the travel landscape by enhancing the passenger experience through tailored travel offerings. Leveraging HBX Group’s extensive global inventory of hotels, experiences, and transfers, coupled with PerfectStay’s innovative dynamic packaging technology, Turkish Airlines Holidays offers travelers the unique ability to customize their travel packages. This service not only ensures the most competitive prices but also includes exclusive benefits in holiday packages that span over 60 countries and 200 destinations, featuring custom-designed holiday and tour programs. Turkish Airlines, renowned for having the largest global network of international flights, sees this partnership as a strategic enhancement to its service offerings. This collaboration represents a significant portion of HBX Group’s business focus, with the airline and loyalty program sectors accounting for 13% of the Total Transaction Value (TTV) of its Accommodation segment in 2024.

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Abu Dhabi Unleashes An Unstoppable Sports Revolution With A Monumental Euroleague Basketball Partnership Boosting Global Recognition And Investment

Abu Dhabi partners with Euroleague Basketball in a groundbreaking deal, boosting global sports tourism, expanding fan engagement, and elevating elite competition. Euroleague Basketball Announces Landmark Global Partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism Euroleague Basketball, the governing body of Europe’s premier EuroLeague and EuroCup club competitions, has unveiled a major global partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). As part of this strategic alliance, ‘Experience Abu Dhabi’ has been designated as the official tourism and travel destination for the EuroLeague and EuroCup through the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

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Iceland Joins Greece, Mexico, Bahamas, Barbados, and Scotland in Making Cruise Taxes the New Norm for Travel

Iceland has officially joined Mexico, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Scotland in making cruise travel taxes the new norm. With its newly introduced passenger tax, Iceland is following a growing global trend of regulating cruise tourism, funding local infrastructure, and managing overtourism. As more destinations adopt similar measures, the days of tax-free cruising are rapidly fading, reshaping the industry for travelers and cruise lines alike. If you’re planning to set sail, it’s time to factor in these extra costs—because cruise taxes are fast becoming the new norm. Iceland’s Cruise Tax Shakes Up the Industry As of January 1, 2024, Iceland has implemented a 2,500 ISK (£14.35 or $18) per person, per 24-hour tax on cruise passengers—regardless of when the trip was booked. While the government insists the revenue will help maintain ports and infrastructure, the cruise industry isn’t happy. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has called the tax a “cause for concern,” arguing that it unfairly burdens travelers. And they might have a point—some ports are already feeling the impact. Destinations like Grundarfjörður, Vestmannaeyjar, Akureyri, and Faxaflói are seeing cancellations, and bookings in certain locations have dropped by 17%.

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