News

Air India Doubles Down on Phuket Routes Starting June 2024

Air India elevates travel to Phuket, Thailand with a second daily flight starting June 1, 2024, enhancing connectivity for global travelers. Starting June 1, 2024, Air India will bolster its routes to Phuket, Thailand, as it introduces a second daily flight to the increasingly popular tropical destination, with the exception of Wednesdays. This new service addition enhances the existing daily connections between Delhi and Phuket. The company’s latest press release indicates that the timing of the new flight is intentionally set for a late morning departure from Delhi. This schedule is particularly convenient for travelers from Europe who are connecting through Delhi, providing them with a seamless travel experience to the scenic beaches of Phuket. Air India’s expansion of services is a clear response to growing traveler demand. Originally launched in December 2023 with four weekly flights, the airline quickly escalated to daily flights by January 2024. Now, the addition of this second daily service will effectively nearly double the frequency of flights to Phuket. Overall, Air India’s weekly flights to Thailand will total 34 from both Delhi and Mumbai, providing ample opportunities for passengers to secure their travel plans via the Air India website, mobile app, or through travel agents. Detailed flight schedule effective from June 1, 2024: New Flight Information: Flight AI376 will operate every day except Wednesday, flying from Delhi to Phuket, departing at 11:00 AM and arriving at 5:15 PM. Flight AI377 will also run on the same days, flying back from Phuket to Delhi, with a departure time of 6:15 PM and an arrival time of 9:20 PM. Current Flight Schedule: Flight AI378 operates daily, departing from Delhi at 2:05 AM and arriving in Phuket at 8:10 AM. Flight AI379, also a daily flight, leaves Phuket at 9:15 AM and reaches Delhi at 12:20 PM. With the increased flight schedule, Air India continues to enhance its service offerings and improve connectivity for passengers traveling to and from Phuket.

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Uttarakhand partners with Starscapes to promote Astro Tourism

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) has joined hands with Starscapes, an astro-tourism company, to introduce Nakshatra Sabha, a new initiative to provide a comprehensive Astro Tourism experience to people. The campaign will offer a range of activities, including stargasing, special solar observations, astrophotography contests, camping under the stars, and more. The initiative aims to bring together astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and travellers to marvel at the wonders of the cosmos, as reported by ET Travel. The Secretary of Tourism for the Government of Uttarakhand expressed excitement about the project, highlighting the state’s potential to become a prime destination for astronomy-focused travel. With its abundant forest cover, nature-based tourism, convenient access to major cities, and well-established hospitality sector, including homestays, Uttarakhand is well-positioned to attract Astro Tourists worldwide. Scheduled to kick off in early June at George Everest in Mussoorie, Nakshatra Sabha will continue until mid-2025, featuring a series of immersive events at various locations across Uttarakhand. These events will explore potential night sky sites in districts such as Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Chamoli, along with seminars and webinars led by experts in the field. In addition to offering local residents professional training and skill development opportunities, the campaign seeks to boost local economies and advocate for preserving night skies. By fostering a community of ambassadors dedicated to dark sky conservation efforts throughout Uttarakhand, Nakshatra Sabha will work towards implementing a region-wide dark sky preservation policy over the coming year. Starscapes will collaborate closely with local communities, travel and tourism partners, and homestay communities to provide training and ongoing support for these initiatives.

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Dubai's Global Village extends opening hours for last 3 days

Dubai's Global Village has extended its opening hours as it prepares to close its gates soon. For its last three days, the popular festival park will be open from 4pm to 2am, it announced on Thursday. The destination was supposed to end its 28th season on April 28 but its run was extended for another week until May 5. Bringing your kids to the park? Take note that children younger than 12 years old can enter for free as part of a new campaign. The park has two types of tickets: ‘Value’, which is valid from Sunday to Thursday; and ‘Any Day’ tickets that give visitors the flexibility to use them on any day of the week, including weekends and public holidays. Entry tickets are priced at Dh22.50 for Value; and Dh27 for Any Day if booked online or via the app.

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Everything you need to know about getting a Malaysia visa for Indians

Malaysia is an alluring destination for many travellers, But before you book a flight, be aware that Indians may need a visa to visit Malaysia. Whether you want to see the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur, the street art of George Town, the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands or the mix of cultures in Melaka, it’s a country you can go to time and time again. Read on to find out everything you need to know about applying for a Malaysia visa. Applying for a Malaysia visa from India Traditionally, holders of an Indian passport need to apply for a visa to visit. However, from 1 December 2023 to 31 December 2024, this need for a visa has been waived. There are still requirements you need to fulfill, however, but they’re all regular requests for international travel. Requirements for a visa waiver for Malaysia There are five things that Indian passport holders need to make sure of before you travel to Malaysia: 1. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of return. 2. You must have booked return or onward flights out of Malaysia. 3. You must have a confirmed hotel booking. 4. You must have evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself while in Malaysia — the equivalent of US$50 per day in Malaysia. 5. You must complete the online Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) three days before your arrival date. This can be completed here. You may be asked to show evidence of all of the above at the security and immigration checks when you arrive in Malaysia. It’s recommend that you have paper copies of everything you need. The visa waiver scheme allows visitors into Malaysia for up to 30 days and is currently stated to end on 31 December 2024.

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Kaziranga National Park and Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve closing dates announced

As per the latest latest development, the Divisional Forest Officer of Mangaldai Wildlife Division has issued a notice regarding the closure of tourist activities in Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve of Assam. As per the release, effective May 15, 2024, the jeep safari and elephant safari will be suspended for the 2024-25 tourist season until further notice. This decision aligns with the conclusion of the tourist season, as customary for wildlife reserves in Assam. Furthermore, the authorities of Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve added that the temporary closure of both jeep safari and elephant safari starting May 15, stressing the importance of visitor safety and environmental conservation. Prior to this announcement, the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve had already declared the closure of elephant safari starting May 1, followed by the suspension of jeep safari from May 16. It's a recurring pattern in Assam that the tourist season for all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries typically commences in October and concludes in mid-May of the subsequent year, aligning with seasonal changes and wildlife migration patterns. Reports add that during the 2023-24 season, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) saw record-breaking influx of tourists, marking the highest number of visitors since its establishment. The recorded data for this period totaled 327,493, comprising 313,574 Indian tourists and 13,919 international visitors. Renowned for its iconic one-horned Rhinoceros, the park has become a favoured destination for families and wildlife enthusiasts alike. In the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, there was a notable surge in both Indian and international tourist arrivals throughout 2023-24. Similarly, the Nagaon Wildlife Division and the Bishwanath Wildlife Division also witnessed significant increases in tourism and revenue during the same period. The main attractions during the tourism season included jungle safaris and elephant rides, which commenced post-monsoon in October 2023. Additionally, tourists had the opportunity to engage in activities such as cycling in the Karbi-Anglong area, observing dolphins through boat safaris, and trekking in the Panbari forest range and Chirang. The heightened tourist footfall also brought attention to many local restaurants and food joints, promoting eco-tourism in the region.

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Dubai hit by heavy rainfall again; flights cancelled and advisories issued

As per the latest news reports, following severe flooding in April, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms struck Abu Dhabi and Dubai early on Thursday, which resulted in many flight cancellations and the suspension of bus services in Dubai. As per the reports, five inbound flights to Dubai were diverted overnight, with nine arrivals and four outbound flights cancelled. Emirates also cancelled several flights. Residents in Dubai awoke to strong winds, thunder, and lightning around 3 AM on Thursday. Approximately an hour later, the country's weather department issued an amber alert, indicating that rain-bearing clouds had covered most parts of the country. If reports are to go by, adverse weather conditions are expected until May 3, and residents have been advised to follow safety measures during rainy conditions. aterlogging was reported on streets in some areas of Abu Dhabi, while strong winds affected Jebel Ali, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai Industrial City, Dubai Investments Park, and Jumeirah Village Triangle. On Wednesday, Dubai Airports and two local airlines issued advisories for passengers, warning of possible delays at Dubai International Airport. Report also stated that the UAE had issued alerts for medium to heavy rains for two days, encouraging work-from-home arrangements for office workers and distance learning for schools in Sharjah and Dubai. The April storm in Dubai resulted in at least three fatalities and significant disruptions to daily life, including flight suspensions and transit halts. The desert city's infrastructure struggled to cope with the record storm, leading to flooded taxiways at Dubai International Airport and subsequent flight diversions, delays, and cancellations. While operations at Terminals 2 and 3 of Dubai International Airport returned to normal by Saturday, roads between Dubai and Abu Dhabi remained partially underwater. Some supermarkets and restaurants in Abu Dhabi faced product shortages due to delivery disruptions from Dubai. Extreme weather events like Tuesday's storm are increasingly linked to climate change, with researchers anticipating higher temperatures, increased humidity, and heightened flooding risks in the Gulf region. The lack of drainage infrastructure in countries like the UAE further adds to the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.

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