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Akasa Air to start flights to Jeddah from Jul 15

Akasa Air will start flights to Jeddah from July 15, making the Saudi Arabian city the airline's second international destination. The lessthan-two-year-old airline commenced flights to Qatar's capital Doha on March 28. "Starting July 15, 2024, Akasa Air will operate daily direct flights connecting Jeddah with Mumbai and will further enhance this connectivity to operate 12 direct flights a week effective July 21, 2024. The launch of operations from Mumbai will be followed by the commencement of 2 weekly direct flights connecting Jeddah with Ahmedabad effective July 20, 2024," the airlne said in a release on Monday. The airline also has traffic rights for Kuwait, and Riyadh, and will be rapidly expanding its global resence in the coming months, the release said.

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5 airlines offering almost free stopover programs for mini vacations

5 airlines offering almost FREE stopover programs for mini vacations It’s time to maximise your travel options by transforming layovers into mini vacations with airline stopover programs. These programs, offered by select international airlines, allow passengers to add a free stop to their itinerary, typically in the airline's hub city. These programs range from 24 hours to 10 days, and are tailored to cater to travellers' schedules and interests. So, next time while booking flight tickets, look for programs offering free or discounted hotel stays, along with savings on city tours, museum admissions, and dining. TAP Air Portugal TAP Air Portugal stands out with its flexible stopover program, allowing travellers to stay in either Porto or Lisbon for up to 10 days. Booking a stopover is seamless, integrated into the standard booking process. Simply select your travel dates and destinations, then click ‘Add Stopover’ to specify your preferences. TAP also offers discounted hotel stays, with average savings of 10-20%, along with discounts for dining, museums, and tours. After your stopover, enjoy a 25% discount on airfare to a second destination in Portugal, such as the Azores. Etihad Etihad's ‘Stopover on Us’ package offers complimentary stopovers in Abu Dhabi, with options for one or two nights' stay at a three-star hotel in the city. Guests enjoy benefits like 24-hour check-in and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi at partner hotels. To avail this offer, travellers must first book a flight connecting through Abu Dhabi in any cabin class. Then, they can select their stopover package and check hotel availability on the airline's designated stopover page. It's important to note that hotel availability is contingent upon flight reservations (not guaranteed) and bookings must be made at least 72 hours prior to travel. Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines offers its ‘Stopover in Istanbul’ program to travellers flying from the US with a layover of at least 20 hours in Istanbul. The program provides complimentary hotel stays: Economy class passengers can enjoy two nights at a four-star hotel, while business class passengers receive three nights at a five-star hotel. Additional nights can be booked at discounted rates starting at $49 USD per night. Booking for the stopover is now simplified with a dedicated ‘Stopover in Istanbul’ button on the airline's booking page. Turkish Airlines has also recently launched its Stopover in Istanbul program in India, which enables passengers to discover the captivating city during layovers. Travellers flying with Turkish Airlines can now indulge in complimentary accommodation and immerse themselves in Istanbul's vibrant history, culture, and shopping scenes. The program includes complimentary stays in designated partner hotels, allowing travellers to make the most of their time in the city. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways offers a top-notch stopover program with attractive hotel bundles in Doha. Travellers can stay up to four days at discounted rates, starting at $14 USD for four-star hotels and $23 USD for five-star hotels. Booking through Qatar Airways' dedicated page is simple, and there are no extra airline fees for the stopover. IcelandAir If you're considering extending your vacation in Reykjavik, consider booking with IcelandAir, which offers free stopovers ranging from one to seven days for transatlantic passengers. Simply select the ‘Stopover in Iceland’ button when booking your flights and choose your desired duration. While there's no extra airfare, please note that IcelandAir's program does not include complimentary or discounted hotel stays, so passengers should plan for this additional expense. However, the airline's stopover page provides suggestions for various affordable sightseeing tours.

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China allows visa-free entry for overseas groups on cruise ships to boost its sluggish inbound travel market

China will allow visa-free entry for foreign tour groups that come to the country via cruise ships in a further bid to attract international visitors and boost its sluggish inbound travel market. Overseas tour groups on cruise boats will be able to enter and stay in China without a visa for up to 15 days, according to the National Immigration Administration. The new policy will be effective from May 15. Tour groups can enter China from 13 ports including Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian and Haikou, Mao Xu, a senior official with the immigration administration, said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Qualifying tour groups need to be received and handled by domestic travel agencies and will be allowed to travel to coastal provinces as well as the capital, Beijing, while they are in China, Mao said. “The visa-free entry policy for foreign tour groups on cruise ships will provide policy support for the development of the cruise industry,” Mao said. “It will also help attract more foreign tourists to China and provide more convenient channels for people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.” China has some 21 international cruise ships that ply the country’s ports en route to other destinations like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, Zhu Zhenyu, a senior official with Ministry of Transport, said at the same briefing. A total of 107,000 passenger trips were made via cruise ships in China in 2023, according to Zhu. The push comes on the heels of a slew of policy measures that China has adopted since late last year to try and attract more international visitors. They include visa-free entry for travellers from some European and Asian countries, including Singapore. The country’s first domestically made cruise ship also debuted in January, offering local tourists more options to travel abroad in a still-familiar environment. But China could find it difficult to lure overseas visitors to its shores amid a weakening economy and muted demand for travel in Asia’s biggest economy. Australian airline Qantas Airways Ltd. recently suspended flights between Sydney and Shanghai, instead adding more services to Singapore and Bengaluru in India. The carrier cited low demand for travel between Australia and China as the reason, and noted interest hasn’t recovered as strongly as expected since Covid.

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Mount Fuji Implements Online Booking System To Deal With Overcrowding

Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, faces the challenge of balancing its accessibility with the need for responsible tourism and environmental protection. Hence, the online booking system aims to regularise the process for climbers and help with safety and overcrowding concerns. Mount Fuji, Japan's iconic peak, has long been a magnet for climbers. But with growing popularity comes growing challenges. Overcrowding on the trails has raised concerns about safety and environmental impact. To tackle this, Japanese authorities have introduced a novel solution: an online booking system for the Yoshida Trail, the most popular ascent route All You Need To Know About Mount Fuji Booking System Starting from May 20th onwards, hikers planning to conquer Mount Fuji via the Yoshida Trail during the July-September climbing season will need to secure their spot online. This ensures a guaranteed entry through a dedicated gate and allows you to plan your climb in advance. Don't worry if online slots seem full! To cater to spontaneous climbers, authorities are reserving at least 1,000 spots daily for on-the-spot entry. This system aims to reduce congestion on the trail, and enhance safety for everyone attempting the climb. Additionally, in order to manage the number of climbers, the Yamanashi region, home to a significant portion of Mount Fuji's trails, is implementing a daily cap of 4,000 entries along the Yoshida Trail. You Will Now Have To Pay To Climb The Yoshida Trail Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, faces the challenge of balancing its accessibility with the need for responsible tourism and environmental protection. To strike a balance, hikers will be charged ¥2,000 (approximately INR 1100) to access the Yoshida Trail above the Fifth Station, which is roughly halfway to the summit. In addition to the entry fee, a daily cap of 4,000 hikers will be imposed on the Yoshida Trail. Currently, climbers are asked only to make a voluntary donation of ¥1,000 to pay towards the mountain’s upkeep. In the last climbing season, Mount Fuji saw more than 220,000 visitors pass the eighth stage of Fuji’s 10 stages. Post pandemic, Japan has been dealing with an influx of tourists to the country, and has since struggled to limit the number of visitors to its popular destinations. Hatsukaichi town in Hiroshima prefecture, home to the popular floating shrine torii gate, part of a historic Shinto complex dating back 1,400 years, had also imposed a nominal tourist tax of 100 yen (INR 55) per visitor to the shrine in October 2023 to help preserve the site and deal with overtourism. Osaka Prefecture is also considering charging international travellers a fixed fee in the future to deal with the surge of tourists in the 2025 before the World Expo.

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Rajasthan travel industry seeks infra push to boost wedding tourism

Rajasthan’s travel industry wants infrastructure and connectivity in the state to be improved to support the government’s plan to promote wedding tourism. Industry experts say if destination weddings are to be promoted in the state, the government will have to provide good infrastructure at places with heritage properties. “At present, except for Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ajmer, infrastructure has not been fully developed in the state,” said Gaurav Khandelwal, who owns a travel agency. He points out that due to a lack of infrastructure, destination weddings have not become popular in Shekhawati, Kota-Bundi, and Pali-Sirohi regions of the state. “In such a situation, the entire load during the wedding season falls on these four or five major cities,” he said. Tour operator Sanjay Kaushik says if Indians living abroad want to organise back home in Shekhawati, they will struggle finding a suitable heritage property. “But getting a heritage destination is not the only thing. Arrangements to accommodate 100-200 guests become a problem.” Kaushik said Shekhawati, Kota-Bundi and Pali-Sirohi do not have big hotels and the government should give sops. Air connectivity is a problem in these regions too. Kaushik said Shekhawati is world famous for its painted frescoes and heritage havelis. These “unique havelis” can become venues for destination weddings. Ranvijay Singh, senior vice-president at Hotel Federation of Rajasthan, said if the government promotes infrastructure in the state, it will be of double benefit. “On the one hand, new tourist destinations will be created in the state and tourism will get a boost, while destination weddings will also increase,” Singh says. “There have been talks with the state government regarding the new tourism unit policy and we feel that the government will work to improve the tourism infrastructure in the state in the new policy,” he said. Bhavani Shankar Mali, general secretary of All Wedding Industries Federation, Rajasthan, said 1.5-2 million weddings take place every year in Rajasthan. “In such a situation, if efforts are made by the state government to improve infrastructure facilities, it may increase destination weddings by 5-10 percent,” said Mali. The Great Indian Travel Bazaar, which was organized in Jaipur earlier in May, highlighted the state as a place for destination weddings through the Wed in India Expo.

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Low visa fee can boost international tourists’ arrival to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has announced that it will retain the $50 fee for a 30-day visa for international visitors, following significant feedback from the tourism sector. This decision comes amid complaints that the previous increase to $75 made Sri Lanka’s visa the most expensive in Asia, potentially deterring tourists from choosing the island nation as their travel destination. This article delves into the details of the visa fee decision, the new e-visa system, and the country’s recent surge in tourist arrivals. High Visa Fees Spark Tourism Concerns In April 2024, Sri Lankan authorities increased the standard visa fees to $75 for citizens of countries not part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). This move was met with considerable backlash from the tourism industry, which argued that the high costs could drive tourists to other, more affordable destinations in the region. Tourism representatives highlighted that the $75 fee was the highest in Asia and called for the government to reconsider the decision to maintain Sri Lanka’s competitive edge in the tourism market. Reversal of the Visa Fee Increase Responding to these concerns, the Sri Lankan government decided to revert the visa fee to the previous amount of $50. The President’s Office confirmed that the original fee structure would remain in place, ensuring that the country remains an attractive destination for international travelers. This decision was welcomed by the tourism industry, which views it as a necessary step to sustain the growth of tourist arrivals and maintain Sri Lanka’s appeal as a cost-effective travel destination. Introduction of the New e-Visa System Alongside the retention of the $50 visa fee, Sri Lanka has introduced a new e-visa system. This system replaces the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) previously in use, with the aim of enhancing efficiency and convenience for travelers. According to Sri Lankan authorities, the e-visa system is designed to streamline the visa application process, making it easier for tourists to obtain the necessary documentation for entry. Visa-Free Entry for Selected Countries Extended To further boost tourism, Sri Lanka has extended visa-free entry for citizens of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan until the end of May 2024. This initiative, which allows nationals from these seven countries to enter Sri Lanka without a visa, has been a key factor in attracting more tourists. The government emphasized that the Department of Immigration and Emigration will handle the issuance of relevant visas upon entry for these visitors. Surge in Tourist Arrivals in Early 2024 Sri Lanka continues to be a top destination for tourists worldwide. According to data from the Tourism Development Authority, the country welcomed 784,651 visitors during the first four months of 2024. This represents a significant 43 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, when the number of visitors was 343,474. This surge in tourist arrivals underscores the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s strategies to attract international travelers. Top Contributing Countries India, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and China have emerged as the top five countries contributing the most visitors to Sri Lanka. These markets are crucial for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, and the continued influx of tourists from these countries highlights the island’s global appeal. The retention of the $50 visa fee and the introduction of the e-visa system are expected to further enhance these numbers. Positive Impacts on the Tourism Industry The surge in tourist arrivals has had a positive impact on Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which is a vital component of the country’s economy. Increased visitor numbers have led to higher occupancy rates in hotels, greater demand for local services and products, and boosted revenue for businesses across the tourism sector. The government’s decision to revert the visa fee and introduce a more efficient visa system is seen as a strategic move to sustain this growth. Challenges and Future Prospects Despite the positive trends, Sri Lanka faces several challenges in maintaining its momentum in the tourism sector. Competition from other destinations, geopolitical uncertainties, and economic fluctuations can all impact tourist numbers. However, the government’s proactive measures, such as retaining the visa fee and implementing a user-friendly e-visa system, demonstrate a commitment to overcoming these challenges. Sustainable Tourism Initiatives Sri Lanka is also focusing on promoting sustainable tourism practices to ensure the long-term health of its tourism industry. Efforts include the development of eco-friendly accommodations, promotion of local culture and heritage, and initiatives to protect natural resources. These sustainable practices are intended to attract environmentally conscious travelers and position Sri Lanka as a leader in responsible tourism. Sri Lanka’s decision to retain the $50 visa fee for international tourists and the introduction of a new e-visa system are pivotal steps in bolstering the country’s tourism sector. These measures, combined with the extension of visa-free entry for select countries, have contributed to a significant increase in tourist arrivals in early 2024. As the country navigates challenges and focuses on sustainable tourism, it is poised to remain a top destination for travelers worldwide.

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