News

Kolkata Airport Welcoms Biggest Airbus Beluga Aircraft With Water Salute

Kolkata: Kolkata Airport has for the first time welcomed the biggest Airbus Beluga series aircraft - Beluga XL, an official said on Wednesday. Beluga XL is the upgraded and bigger version of Beluga ST. The overall length of the Beluga XL aircraft is 207 ft, its height is 62 ft and its wing span is 197 ft and 10 inches, according to the Airbus website. "The BelugaXL performed its maiden flight in 2018, and received the type certification in November 2019 from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) airworthiness authority. This paved the way for the first BelugaXL's service entry in January 2020", the website said. Earlier the NSCBI airport in Kolkata had accommodated its ST series aircraft but it was for the first time on Tuesday night that Kolkata airport accommodated the XL series aircraft, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson in Kolkata said in a statement on Wednesday. The aircraft landed here on Tuesday at 10.43 pm. It arrived at the Kolkata airport from Bahrain International Airport. It was received with a water salute, the spokesperson said.

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Maldives Showcases Its Allure at Italy’s Premier Travel Exhibition

The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) is showcasing the Maldives as a top travel destination at the TTG Travel Experience 2024, held from October 9th to 11th in Rimini, Italy. Partnering with 64 representatives from 25 companies, MMPRC is actively promoting the destination to the Italian market during this prestigious event. TTG Travel Experience is Italy’s leading travel trade show, bringing together global tourism operators, including tourism boards, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, and accommodation providers. Italy remains one of the Maldives’ most vital source markets, and MMPRC’s participation in the event ensures that the Maldives remains a favored destination for Italian travelers. At the Maldives stand, MMPRC is engaging with key industry stakeholders—tour operators, travel agents, and media representatives—to raise awareness of the destination. This event also provides a platform for industry partners to highlight the latest updates on their properties and services. Italy has consistently ranked as one of the top source markets for the Maldives, contributing 106,946 tourist arrivals as of October 1st, 2024. MMPRC’s promotional strategies include influencer and media familiarization trips, along with digital campaigns to enhance the Maldives’ visibility in Italy. Future plans include the “Discover Maldives Webinar Series: Italy Edition” and additional promotional activities.

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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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