News

Drop in US visa wait times paves way for belated travel recovery

America’s travel industry has gone through a sluggish recovery since the Covid-19 pandemic—reaching just 84% of its pre-pandemic international arrivals by the close of 2023. That’s in stark contrast to global competitors such as France and Spain, which blew past 2019 visitation levels that same year. One the major culprits: significant visa processing delays at US embassies around the world. Now there’s hope for a major turnaround for the US travel and tourism sector. At a press conference on Oct. 29, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said they expect a faster rebound in inbound visitation to the US, citing a long-awaited reduction in wait times for visa appointments and processing, which will help the US take advantage of major sporting events taking place there in the next 10 years. In the 12 months up to Sept. 30, the US State Department issued a record 11.5 million visas, 8.5 million of which were visitor visas, said Blinken. The median wait time for first-time visitors to receive an appointment for a visa interview at a US consulate has dropped to 60 days from more than 400 days. Blinken added that the State Department plans to increase the number of visa appointments by 1 million (8.7%) in 2025. These shorter wait times are helping boost travel to the US, which is now expected to reach its pre-pandemic level of 79.4 million visitors next year, according to the Commerce Department. By 2026, the country will be on track to receive 90 million visitors—a benchmark the government did not anticipate reaching until 2027.

Read more

Car park for electric vehicles gets green light in Swindon, Wiltshire

Plans for a three-story car park on the site of a former park and ride have been given the go-ahead. The site in Swindon will be purpose built to store vans and electric vehicles. It will include charging points for vehicles and solar panels to regenerate energy used in recharging vehicles parked there. It is hoped the plans will help delivery companies transition to electric vehicles and have "social and environmental" benefits for the area. The facility will be built by Infinium Logistics, who say the site will provide firms with convenience and the chance to reduce their impact on the environment. They say it will allow businesses "to transition to zero carbon by the use of electric vehicles but also offer car and van charging facilities to the public.” The firm also believes will benefit local residents by "reducing the number of ‘white vans’ parked on streets overnight." The brownfield site, on the former Groundwell industrial estate, is set to be transformed following approval from Swindon Borough Council. Plans also include welfare facilities for staff and users, and permission to build a single-storey commercial building, most likely to be used as a café.

Read more

Indian Railway enhances security measures for passengers

Amid the festive rush, Indian Railways is making every effort to ensure safe travel for the passengers and avoid any untoward incidents, the Railway Ministry said on Wednesday. "Transporting people across India during Diwali and Chhath is a challenging task, but after successfully managing similar operations during Navratri and Durga Puja, Indian Railways is now fully prepared to help the commuters reach their native places for the ongoing Diwali and the upcoming Chhath celebrations," the ministry said in a press statement. It also urged the passengers that if they come across any suspicious substances on railway premises, they should inform it to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) using the designated helpline 139 and the RailMadad portal. "As Diwali approaches, bringing light, joy and a surge in travel across the country, the RPF has implemented strengthened safety measures to ensure secure and seamless train journeys for millions of passengers," the statement said. "To ensure safe travel during this festive season, RPF has launched an all-encompassing safety drive to curb fire hazards and prevent accidents on the railway network," it added.

Read more

Revised timings announced for 25 trains, including the Netravati Express

The Railways has decided to revise the timings of 25 trains, including Netravati and Mangala Express trains, running on the Konkan route from today. Moreover, trains via Konkan will now operate at an average speed of 110km/hr after the speed of these express trains was cut down to 40 to 75km/hr during the monsoon season. The Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (12617) will depart at 1.25 pm instead of 10.30 am. The train will reach Shornur at 4.15 pm and Kannur at 6.39 pm. The Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express (12618) will reach the destination one hour early per the revised schedule. The train will reach Shornur at 4.15 am and Ernakulam at 7.30 am. The Thiruvananthapuram-Lokmanya Tilak Netravati Express (16346) will start its journey at 9.15 am and reach Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur at 1.50 pm, 6.05 pm and 7.35 pm respectively.

Read more

Thailand rolls out biometric system at 6 major airports

Planning a trip to Thailand? This new update will help you plan a smooth journey. As per the latest news reports, Thailand is streamlining the travel experience with new biometric verification and facial recognition technology at six key airports. As per the reports, starting December 1, international tourists will experience faster and more efficient immigration processing, whereas domestic travellers will have early access to this facility from November 1. By allowing visitors to use their physical identification only once while travelling, this new procedure will expedite security and immigration clearances and eliminate the need for repeated identity checks. It is likely that this new process in place will enhance passenger convenience, and help boost Thailand's appeal as a travel destination for both domestic and foreign travellers. The introduction of biometric verification in Thailand's six airports promises a smooth travel experience. The new procedure will operate as follows: Consent and enrolment: Whether using self-check-in kiosks or check-in counters, travellers will need to give their consent to sharing personal identity information. Following enrolment, biometric information and travel information are collected and recorded by the Airport Authority of Thailand (AoT) for a single trip. This will make the entire experience hassle free for travellers as they will be able to go from luggage drop to boarding without having to show their passport or boarding card again. Do note that they will have to repeat the process during their next trip.

Read more

Taiwan extends digital nomad visa plans to one year

Taiwan is revising the launch details of its digital nomad visa, which was originally planned to permit six month stays. The areas of Hualien, Taitung, Tainan, and Pingtung are all keen to welcome digital nomads, National Development Council (NDC) Minister Paul Liu said. He highlighted that the Taiwanese government will be offering its new digital nomad residents help with support innovation and creativity. Taiwan is just one of many East Asian countries offering digital nomad visas in a bid to attract professional talent from overseas. For now, EU visitors who wish to visit Taiwan can enter on a visa-free entry or on a tourist visa that allows stays of up to three months, however no one is permitted to work. Part of the country's new plans will be to make it easier for skilled and high-earning foreign workers to gain permanent residence in Taiwan.

Read more