News

Tadoba National Park to soon offer world’s first-ever ropeway safari

In an exciting development for wildlife enthusiasts, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra is all set to offer a unique experience to the visitors. For the first time ever, it will likely offer a unique way to experience the jungle—via a ropeway safari. Till now you have been enjoying jeep safari, but now this ropeway safari will take your wildlife experience to the next level. If reports are to go by, French ropeway company POMA SAS has proposed what could be the world’s first ropeway system over a tiger reserve. This will allow visitors to spot tigers and other wildlife from above the ground, and get an aerial perspective. This initiative will surely enhance wildlife tourism, along with preserving Tadoba’s rich ecosystem. Benjamin Fauchier Delavigne, Public Affairs Director and Head of Sales for Asia at POMA SAS, officially presented the company’s intent to Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, during a foundation stone ceremony for Pernod Ricard’s distillery in Butibori. POMA SAS has previously completed projects including ropeways in popular Indian tourist areas like Patni Top, Kashmir, and Mussoorie. It is now interested in constructing a modern ropeway in Tadoba to provide visitors of all stripes with an immersive and environmentally sustainable forest experience. As per the project, the said ropeway will take visitors through dense forest, and will enable them to spot wildlife from various angles, and all while maintaining the peace below, and not disturbing the wildlife in any way. Delavigne elaborated the importance of the ropeway's design in ensuring minimal disturbance to the natural environment. He added that the ropeway will operate without disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the forest.

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Macao National Day Holiday Sees Record-Breaking Inbound Tourism

The tourism office of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has reported an unprecedented surge in visitor numbers during the seven-day National Day holiday, which took place from October 1 to October 7, 2024. Nearly 1 million inbound travelers visited the city, marking a 22.9% increase compared to the same period in 2023 and surpassing the average traveler volume from the pre-pandemic era in 2019. This year’s holiday set new records for both average daily and single-day visitor arrivals, making it the most successful National Day holiday for Macao since official statistics began. The peak was reached on October 3, with 174,000 inbound tourists recorded in a single day—the highest daily traveler volume ever for this holiday period. The city’s average hotel occupancy rate also soared to 94.5% during the week-long holiday, further emphasizing the strength of Macao’s tourism recovery. Macao’s Holiday Tourist Breakdown According to the Macao Government Tourism Office, the 993,117 visitor arrivals over the seven days included: 826,181 visitors from the Chinese mainland 117,009 visitors from Hong Kong 10,987 visitors from Taiwan 38,940 international visitors from other regions

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Malaysia Airlines to restart direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kolkata from Dec 2

Malaysia Airlines will restart direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kolkata from December 2 as the carrier boosts its services to India. Currently, the airline connects Kuala Lumpur directly with nine Indian cities -- New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Amritsar, Trivandrum and Ahmedabad. Five weekly flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the Kuala Lumpur-Kolkata route starting from December 2, the airline said in a release on Tuesday. Malaysia Airlines stopped direct flights to Kolkata in 2006. With the recommencement of the Kuala Lumpur-Kolkata services, the airline will offer 76 weekly flights between India and Malaysia. Currently, the carrier operates 71 weekly flights to India. The flights to Amritsar were increased from four per week to daily in August. "India is a key market for us, and by continually enhancing our network and increasing frequencies, we aim to deliver exceptional travel experiences, complemented by Malaysia Airlines’ renowned hospitality," Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi, Chief Executive Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said.

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TTG Travel Experience Kicks off Today

The highly anticipated TTG Travel Experience 2024 kicks off today at the Rimini Expo Centre, bringing together tourism professionals and stakeholders from across the globe for Italy’s leading B2B tourism event. Held from October 9-11, 2024, the TTG Travel Experience is a premier platform for showcasing the latest innovations in travel, and tourism trends, and fostering global business connections. This year’s event is set to attract thousands of attendees from all sectors of the tourism industry, including tour operators, travel agencies, destination marketing organizations, airlines, hoteliers, and other key players in the global travel landscape. The TTG Travel Experience is Italy’s top venue for tourism promotion and networking, offering a unique opportunity for businesses to connect and explore new markets. A Hub for Global Tourism Networking The TTG Travel Experience is widely regarded as one of the most influential B2B travel trade shows in Europe. Over the next three days, industry professionals from over 90 countries will gather in Rimini to engage in business meetings, attend panel discussions, and explore exhibitions that highlight both established and emerging tourism destinations. In addition to tourism promotion, the event will focus on topics such as sustainability, travel technology, innovation in hospitality, and post-pandemic travel recovery, with experts offering insights into the future of travel.

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Rare rainfall transforms Sahara Desert, creating blue lagoons amid the sand dunes

The Sahara Desert has turned into a blue lagoon! It might sound unbelievable, but after a rarest of rare deluge of rainfall, the arid landscape of the Sahara Desert has transformed, creating blue lagoons amid the palm trees and sand dunes of southeastern Morocco. Reports add that this unexpected weather phenomenon has provided much-needed relief to some of the most drought-stricken regions, and delivered more water than many communities have seen in decades. Southeastern Morocco is known for its extreme aridity and typically sees little to no rainfall at all during the late summer months. However, recent weather patterns have not only brought relief, but has also brought significant change. According to Houssine Youabeb, a meteorologist with Morocco's General Directorate of Meteorology.“It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short space of time." The extratropical storm responsible for the phenomena is thought to have the potential to change the climate of the area in the coming months and years by retaining more moisture, which would result in more frequent storms. Morocco has witnessed a severe drought for the past six years, the reason why the country has been facing enormous challenges in terms of water supply and agriculture. Due to this situation, many farmers have opted to keep their farms fallow, as they could no longer struggle to grow their crops. Not only this, people are suffering in both rural and urban areas due to the restrictions on water use, which has made matters worse for the people living there. However, a lot of recent rain is expected to have a significant role in recharging groundwater aquifers, which are vital water sources for those residing in arid areas. According to reports, the region's dammed reservoirs have been experiencing record rates of refilling since the rains began in September.

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Visa-free getaway: Singapore residents can now explore Indonesia’s Batam, Bintan and Karimun Islands hassle-free

Indonesia will give visa-free entry to foreigners holding Singapore permanent residency to visit Batam, Bintan and the Karimun Islands, aiming to boost tourism and investment in the regional economic zones. Under the new policy, visitors can stay up to four days, Director General of Immigration Silmy Karim said in a statement on Tuesday. The rules will cover several port points in the Riau region, which contain the Karimun Islands. Unlike the existing visa-free entry for ASEAN member states, which applies broadly to tourism and short stays, the new policy specifically targets Singapore permanent residency holders, offering a more streamlined visa-free option with a focus on specific regions. According to the city’s statistics department, There are roughly 545,000 permanent residents in Singapore, one of ASEAN members. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has introduced various initiatives — such as “second home” and golden visas for wealthy global citizens and foreign investors. Through the new policy, the country seeks to attract short-term visitors for leisure and business, especially to the Nongsa Digital Park and Bintan Resort, which are hubs for tourism and development of the digital economy.

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