News

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.

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Indian tourism industry leaders spotlight UP as safe travel destination

Travelling across India is safer and easier for tourists, Indian tourism industry leaders have said, promoting the country, especially Uttar Pradesh, as a premier tourist destination for Singaporeans. Their remarks came as they participated in the ITB Asia, a travel trade show held in Singapore From October 23 to October 25. We need to educate global travellers about the attractions in Uttar Pradesh and make UP known more and above the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, said Rahul Wadhwa who leads CAL India Tours and Travel. He estimated a growth of 10 per cent across the UP travel agency business. Further, Wadhwa said his Agra-based travel business was seeking collaborations globally to tie up travel arrangements and promote the state as well as India as a tourist destination. There are a growing number of five-star hotels and continuing investments in highways that make travelling across India, including UP, as seamless as the tourists expect, said the travel industry veteran of 33 years.

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The Gypsy Travel Festival Returns to Mumbai

Mumbai, 24th October 2024: As the world embraces new ways of exploring, The Gypsy Travel Festival steps in to redefine the travel experience. On 11th and 12th January, 2025, Mumbai will once again play host to the Third Edition of India’s premier curated travel showcase at Jio World Drive, offering travellers a gateway to the world’s most enchanting adventures. The vibrant two-day celebration, curated by the Gypsy Travel Network, blends together travel, culture and global cuisine in a single setting, allowing you to seamlessly plan, customise and book your dream vacation all in one go. The festival serves as a unique platform, fostering meaningful connections between key players in the travel industry and eager explorers, offering personalised guidance for those seeking adventures beyond the ordinary. Attendees can immerse themselves in virtual reality tours to dream destinations, participate in interactive workshops like perfume-making and origami, enjoy live performances and bespoke experiences artistically recreated to bring alive the richness of global traditions. With exclusive festival-only offers that simplify the booking process, expert insights from industry leaders and over 300 travel products exhibited across the 7 continents, attendees will leave with personalised inspiration for their next vacation, at unbeatable prices. Speaking about the upcoming edition, Sumit Lulla, Festival Director, stated, “Travel has evolved beyond simply ticking off destinations; it is now about discovering new places, meeting remarkable people, connecting with diverse cultures and crafting unforgettable stories along the way. Our goal is to build a thriving community of aspiring travellers through both online and offline mediums, making us India’s most trusted source of information to elevate your next trip.”

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Snowfall in Sikkim; Odd-Even rule to implement in Gangtok

Sikkim is currently experiencing its first snowfall of the season because of which the state is seeing huge tourist arrival. With the onset of the snowfall, Gangtok, Sikkim, has seen an increased number of tourists. Thinking of future arrivals, the Sikkim government has launched an "Odd-Even" rule to manage vehicle traffic in the city. This rule, effective from November 5, 2024, aims to reduce congestion in Gangtok’s bustling streets. Implemented under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, it will remain in place for an unspecified duration. The odd-even system applies to both private and government vehicles, based on the last digit of their registration numbers. Vehicles with registration numbers ending in odd digits (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) can operate on odd-numbered dates, while those ending in even digits (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) can drive on even-numbered dates. The regulation covers areas within Gangtok’s municipal limits, specifically along the National Highway from Mayfair Fatak to GICI, Zero Point. The aim is to ease movement for residents and tourists alike.

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ICF unveils Vande Bharat sleeper coaches

Integral Coach Factory Chennai on Wednesday unveiled the fully airconditioned sleeper coaches, with improved safety features and best-in-class interiors, of its flagship Vande Bharat train. ICF has been making the swanky Vande Bharat Express trains since 2018 and so far, 77 such trains are in operation across the country, albeit with only a chair car facility. The ICF unveiled its first Vande Bharat train rake with all AC sleeper coaches for long distances involving night travel. An official release here said the new sleeper coach trains, though similar to chair car trains, have improved safety features. “The coaches have been fitted with best-in-class interiors with GFRP (Glass fiber reinforced polymer) panels, aluminum extrusions berth frame with polyurethane foam cushion, bio-vacuum toilets with touch-free amenities, etc., to make travel not only comfortable but also more pleasant,” the release said.

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Queretaro’s Joya-La Barreta park in Mexico is a starry-eyed escape for stargazers

As night descended, a rumble of frogs filled the air in this park outside the central Mexican city of Queretaro. In the sky, tiny stars appeared one by one, aligning into constellations. Juan Carlos Hernández used his weight to adjust a large telescope. “Aim for me, Rich!” he yelled to his friend. Ricardo Soriano focused a green laser on a small patch of clouds, targeting where the Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet will soon be visible. Hernández and other amateur astronomers worked to certify Joya-La Barreta Ecological Park last year as the first urban night sky space in Latin America by DarkSky International, an organization working to educate the public about the harm of indiscriminate lighting. The park sitting at about 8,520 feet (2,600 meters) above sea level on the outskirts of Queretaro gives unobstructed access to the night sky. While over 200 dark sky places exist globally, Joya-La Barreta park is only one of 11 in areas that are considered urban. Its dark sky status is under constant threat, however, from increasing light pollution and urbanization. Hernández, who just turned 40, has advocated relentlessly for the night sky for more than 20 years. The president of Queretaro’s Astronomical Society and one of the founders of the stargazing tourism agency Astronite, the aerospace engineer by day has been chasing dark areas to observe the stars since he can remember. “In 2014 you could see Omega (Centauri) sitting in the sky just above the city,” he said of a constellation over 17,000 light years away. “Today it’s unimaginable.”

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