News

New domestic flights boost foreign travel by Indians

Thanks to new direct flights from domestic carriers, Indians are increasingly making trips to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, which reported a three-digit growth of Indian visitors in the last year, according to an assessment by aviation consultancy firm CAPA India. According to the data, there was a growth of 148% and 139% in Indian travellers visiting Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, respectively, this year compared to the same period in 2023. IndiGo launched direct flights to the two nations in the middle of last year and this has resulted in Indian travellers flocking to the central Asian and eastern European destinations, CAPA said. Double-digit growth in Indian travellers has also been seen in the US, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam with IndiGo and Air India adding new or more flights to these countries. “India’s international air travel market is extremely under-penetrated. The triple-digit growth of Indian visitors to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is with IndiGo’s direct connectivity and with penetration of Indian carriers things will change,” said Kapil Kaul, South Asia CEO of CAPA India. Competition will increase further with Air India Express also looking to start operations to Thailand and Akasa Air looking to expand its service to more countries from present Qatar and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. SpiceJet on October 28 announced two flights connecting Delhi to Phuket, Thailand. It already flies to four international destinations and has additional traffic rights for 17 international destinations.

Read more

Saudi Arabia opens Sindalah Island, its first luxury Red Sea destination

Saudi Arabia's planned futuristic mega-city known as NEOM announced on Sunday the opening of its "first physical showcase": a luxury Red Sea island featuring restaurants, hotels and yachting berths. The opening of the island, known as Sindalah, comes amid persistent doubts about NEOM's viability and ahead of a major investor forum sometimes referred to as "Davos in the Desert" which will begin in Riyadh on Tuesday. "NEOM is committed to supporting the Kingdom's new era of luxury tourism, with the opening of Sindalah," chief executive Nadhmi al-Nasr said in a statement. “NEOM's inaugural destination offers visitors a 'first glimpse' of what the future holds for our extensive portfolio of destinations and developments.” Sindalah is "spread over 840,000 square metres" (200 acres) and will be set to receive "up to 2,400 guests per day by 2028", the statement said. NEOM is best known for The Line, twin mirror-encased 170-kilometre-long skyscrapers meant to extend inland from the coast. Unveiling The Line in 2022, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said its population would exceed one million by 2030 before climbing to nine million by 2045. However, Bloomberg reported earlier this year that under revised projections just 300,000 people would be living in The Line by decade's end, and only 2.4 kilometres of the project would be completed by then.

Read more

Jaipur to celebrate eco-friendly Diwali and Christmas

Diwali is just around the corner and India is already gearing up to fight all the pollution. In a bid to control sound and air pollution, Jaipur in Rajasthan has set new rules and regulations for fireworks to address pollution and ensure safety on Diwali, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. The rule is implemented by the Rajasthan government and the Department of Environment and Climate Change. It will focus on eco-friendly "green" fireworks, aiming to balance festive joy with the need to protect air quality and public health. On this note, let’s have a look at 10 key facts to know about Jaipur’s new rules for fireworks in Rajasthan: Fireworks rules: The Rajasthan government along with the Department of Environment and Climate Change, has introduced new rules for using fireworks to help reduce pollution and safeguard public health. Diwali timing: For Diwali celebrations, residents in certain districts of Rajasthan are permitted to use fireworks only between 8 PM and 10 PM. This two-hour window aims to balance festive celebrations with efforts to reduce air pollution.

Read more

Papikondalu boat services and pilgrim tours restart in Andhra Pradesh

After a four-month break, boat services to the picturesque Papikondalu region in Andhra Pradesh have resumed, inviting tourists back to explore this scenic river paradise. The boat journeys begin at the Gandi Pochamma temple boating point in Gonduru village, Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district, located 35 kilometers from Rajamahendravaram. The first trip was met with enthusiasm, symbolizing a new start for tourism along the Godavari River and providing a boost to the local economy. The boat ride to Papikondalu offers an eight-hour journey along the River Godavari, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the region’s natural beauty. The tours kick off from Rajamahendravaram at 7:30 am, with visitors reaching the boating point by 9:30 am. The Tourism Department's divisional manager, Ch. Pavan Kumar, emphasized that special arrangements have been made for safety and comfort, including practice drills conducted before the relaunch. These measures ensure that tourists can enjoy a safe and pleasant experience throughout their journey. The services were resumed after the end of the monsoon and cyclone season, with authorities taking a careful approach to reopening tourism in the area. Coordination among the Tourism, Irrigation, and Kakinada port authorities has led to the approval of 15 boats for Papikondalu trips.

Read more

Ayodhya's Ram Temple targets a record 2.5 million diyas this Diwali

As per the latest news reports, the historic city of Ayodhya is all geared up for a truly grand Deepotsav celebration this Diwali, and is aiming to create a Guinness World Record with over 2.5 million diyas (earthen lamps) illuminating the ghats of the sacred Sarayu River. For this, meticulous planning is underway, and the festival is set to be a radiant symbol of devotion, culture, and celebration, reflecting the city’s profound connection to Lord Ram. Reports add that along 'Ram Ki Paidi,' the diyas will be placed in all 55 ghats to create a picturesque riverbank setting. Volunteers are working in full swing to prepare each diya, and set up in 16x16 grids, with 256 diyas per block, which will create a stunning pattern that will run the length of the riverbanks. As such, each ghat will feature rows of diyas set up in a 16×16 grid, amounting to 256 diyas per block. This ambitious endeavour is being carried out by more than 30,000 committed volunteers from Awadh University, its associated colleges, and neighbourhood non-profit organisations. About 2.8 million diyas will have been set up and lit in just two days, with the goal of having at least 2.5 million lamps aglow to set a global record. Since it is the first Diwali with Lord Ram enshrined in the recently dedicated Ram Temple in Ayodhya, this year's Deepotsav is particularly significant. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is personally supervising the preparation, and aims to make it a spectacular sight reminding the divine welcome of Lord Ram in Treta Yuga.

Read more

Visa-free travel to Russia for Indians expected by spring 2025

Planning a trip to Russia? Well, it might be hassle free in the coming months. As per the latest news reports, Indian travellers will soon be able to enjoy visa-free travel to Russia, potentially as early as spring 2025. This development, confirmed by Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, will likely boost the number of Indian travellers visiting Moscow. Referring to this, Kozlov stated that the objective of this endeavour, which is now being discussed, is to boost tourism in the Russian capital by relaxation of travel restrictions for Indian visitors. India has already emerged as a crucial market for Russia, with more than 28,500 Indian tourists visiting Moscow in the first half of 2024. This figure demonstrates an incredible 1.5-fold increase in comparison to the same period in 2023. In addition, India was among the top non-CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries in terms of tourists visiting Moscow, with over 60,000 visitors by the end of 2023—a significant 26% increase from 2022. Records add that some of the primary highlights of Russia that lure Indian tourists are leisure, cultural discovery, and business. Meanwhile, as per the records, India has emerged as a major market for business tourism in Moscow due to the rise in popularity of travel for work and commercial purposes. Reports add that India ranked third among non-CIS countries for business visitors in the first quarter of 2024, which indicates the close economic and commercial relations between Russia and India. Kozlov noted that Moscow officials view India as an important market due to the two nations' longstanding diplomatic and cultural ties.

Read more