News

No more physical passports required at Singapore's Changi Airport

As per the latest developments, passengers arriving at Singapore’s Changi Airport will be able to enjoy a seamless travel, thanks to the new ‘token-less clearance’ program. As per this program, those eligible will be able to enter the country without passports, and instead use the eye and facial biometric process. Designed for Singapore residents, this system will allow travellers to clear immigration using advanced biometric processing—eye and facial recognition, which means there will be no need for them to carry physical passports. During the trial period, those arriving in Terminal 3, the lanes of which have been designated for this innovative process, will be able to enter the country without physical passports. The program is set to expand to all terminals, including Seletar Airport and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre by December 2024. Those eligible for the program will include citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders. Interestingly, while foreigners can use biometric clearance when departing Singapore, they must enrol their iris, facial, and fingerprint biometrics at manual immigration counters first. Notably, children under six years old are excluded from using biometric clearance altogether.

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Goa Tourism introduces 5 exciting new activities for adventure seekers

Good news for adventure lovers! Goa is all about adventure, sun and sea. Goa Tourism has introduced some exciting activities for adventure seekers. These thrilling activities are designed to cater to adrenaline junkies visiting Goa. These new offerings aim to make a trip to Goa even more exciting, allowing visitors to enjoy unique, high-energy activities in the coastal region. The 5 newly launched adventure options include: Bungee jumping Paramotoring Shooting ranges White-water rafting Scuba diving With the trend of seeking out fearless, exhilarating experiences on the rise, Goa’s latest additions are attracting more people waiting to try something new and unforgettable. Adventure enthusiasts can now look forward to heart-pounding moments and unforgettable memories, right in the heart of Goa. The decision to expand the array of adventure activities comes in response to the growing demand for such experiences across India. Goa has always been a prime destination for tourists, with a steady stream of visitors throughout the year, particularly during peak holiday seasons.

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Dunedin Airport in New Zealand introduces a 3-minute goodbye rule

In a bid to reduce traffic, Dunedin Airport in New Zealand has introduced a unique policy, which has a three-minute time limit for farewell hugs in its passenger drop-off zone. Sounds interesting, right? The policy aims to keep the flow of traffic smooth. The airport might be small but it serves over 135,000 residents on New Zealand’s South Island. The interesting details were shared by Dan De Bono, the airport’s CEO. He said that the decision was taken to avoid traffic that is because of prolonged farewells. The drop-off region now has a sign reading Max hug time three minutes. It also advises those who wish to spend more time saying goodbye to move their farewells to the parking zone. De Bono also said that the three-minute limit was seen as a more lighthearted alternative to stricter measures. In some airports in the United Kingdom, for instance, drivers must pay a fee even for brief drop-offs. Other airports have wheel clamping or issue fines for overstaying in drop-off zones. De Bono also said that three minutes is more than sufficient for most passengers to bid farewell to their loved ones.

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International travel from Jewar Airport to begin soon

The work on the Jewar International Airport near Greater Noida, close to Delhi, has progressed significantly, with flight services expected to commence soon. The first phase of flight calibration at the airport has been successfully completed. From October 15 to October 18, testing was conducted, including the calibration flight’s landing, during which the runway and landing systems were thoroughly inspected. The results of this testing were successful, and a report has been submitted to the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation). Following the successful completion of the first phase, the second phase of testing will begin on November 15 and continue until December 15, during which regular flight trials will take place to ensure the systems are fully operational. Commercial operations at the Jewar International Airport are set to begin on April 17 next year. Initially, around 30 flights are expected to take off from the airport, with 25 domestic flights and 3 international flights planned. Additionally, 2 flights will be dedicated solely to cargo movement. The international flights are likely to connect to Singapore, Dubai, and Zurich. Meanwhile, domestic flights will operate to major cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Dehradun, Hubli, and Hyderabad. Discussions regarding the exact routes are still ongoing, but the airport is expected to become a significant hub for both domestic and international travel soon. The calibration process for Jewar International Airport was conducted successfully between October 15 and 18, 2023. This process involved testing the runway and landing systems by conducting continuous calibration flights over four to five days. These tests were deemed successful, and the complete data has been submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

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Discover Gonda's stunning bird sanctuary and forest retreat

Efforts are underway to attract domestic and international pilgrims visiting Ayodhya to bordering Gonda district by developing the Tikri forest and the Parvati Arga bird sanctuary as eco tourism destinations. Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, and local Lok Sabha MP, said developing this area could serve as an additional attraction for pilgrims visiting Ayodhya. "The Parvati Arga bird sanctuary, covering an area of 1,084 hectares, is part of the Ramsar project. This sanctuary provides refuge to Siberian birds and is bustling with over three dozen local species, along with migratory birds from Tibet, China, Europe, and Siberia during the winter season," he noted. Singh said foreign birds begin arriving in the second half of October and stay for nearly four months before returning home. Some of these birds travel over 5,000 km. Notable migratory species include Eurasian coots, mallards, greylag geese, northern pintails, northern shovelers, cotton teals, red-crested pochards, and gadwalls, he said.

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Kerala all set to get 10 new Namo Bharat Trains

In a bid to boost tourism, Kerala is all set to add to its transportation network with 10 new Namo Bharat rapid rail trains. These trains are noted for their speed and comfort and will improve connectivity within the state. These trains will make it easier for visitors to explore Kerala’s natural beauty and unexplored destinations. 10 important things to know about new Namo Bharat trains: Introduction of 10 new trains: Kerala will soon get 10 new Namo Bharat rapid rail which are also known as Vande Bharat Metro trains. These are known for changing short-distance travel in India. Electric trains: These electric trains are expected to add to the speed transportation within the state, offering more efficient travel options. Tourism boost: The introduction of these trains will significantly boost tourism in Kerala. By providing better connectivity to various destinations, the new services will attract tourists to explore lesser-known locations across the state, enriching their travel experience. Kollam-Starting Point: According to Onmanorama, two of the new trains will start from Kollam. One will run towards Tirunelveli, while the other will head north to Thrissur, with potential plans to extend this service further to the pilgrimage town of Guruvayur.

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