News

North Korea welcomes visitors: Russia leads first post-pandemic tour as Pyongyang reopens

Russians enter North Korea in first historic foreign tour group since Covid-19 pandemic as Pyongyang's door opens. About 100 Russians flew to North Korea on Friday for a private tour, becoming the first foreign group to visit the reclusive state following the Covid-19 pandemic in a landmark trip summed up by the Russian embassy as "Pyongyang opens its door." North Korea shuttered its borders with some of the tightest restrictions during the pandemic, in one incident shooting dead a South Korean who floated unauthorised into its waters.An Air Koryo flight, operated by North Korea with an ageing fleet of mostly Russian-made aircraft, carried the 100 visitors to the Pyongyang international airport, the Russian embassy said in a Facebook post on Friday. The group included people in the tourism business and "travellers from literally all parts of Russia from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok" who will spend four days taking in sights in the North including a major ski resort, it said. "We will look forward to new encounters with tourists from Russia!" it said. The ski resort it mentioned was a high-profile development project spearheaded by North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un after he took power in 2011. South Korea's Yonhap news agency earlier cited Russia's Tass news agency as saying that 97 Russians, including teen ski athletes, departed from Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok on the first group tour to North Korea since the pandemic. The visit comes after Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin met north of Vladivostok in September and pledged closer economic and military cooperation amid charges by Washington that Pyongyang was helping Putin in the war in Ukraine.

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Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore Offer Chinese Visa-Free Travel

Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore are offering visa-free travel to Chinese tourists during the first Spring Festival (Chinese New Year / CNY) holiday since Beijing lifted pandemic travel restrictions. They aim to attract a significant number of Chinese visitors as thousands plan to travel abroad. Chinese travelers frequently express dissatisfaction with the lengthy visa application process and associated inconveniences. Their passport ranks 62nd on the Henley Passport Index, which evaluates passports from 199 countries based on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa. Now several Chinese travelers who would have opted for plans to Western markets or domestic destinations are seriously considering these Southeast Asian hubs. The three Southeast Asian markets are seeking to lure high spending Chinese travelers who may find travel to Western markets a hassle due to costs and time involved in meeting documentation requirements or professionals who would have otherwise explored domestic sites during the CNY break. Hotel chains and hospitality establishments have launched various lunar new year associated promotions and attractive deals, as several countries in the region mark the festivities. As such, Chinese travelers will feel more at home. The visa waivers are also timely as the Chinese economy is experiencing a slowdown and disposable incomes are getting affected, which would impact expensive outbound travel. Prior to the pandemic outbreak, Chinese tourists were known to be big spenders and a crucial source of revenue for most tourist markets around the world, including in Southeast Asia. Chinese holidayers accounted for more than a quarter of all tourists visiting Thailand in 2019. That year, Chinese tourists spent US$3 billion during their travel to Singapore. Meanwhile Singapore, positioned as an Asian air traffic hub, leads its Southeast Asian counterparts in attracting Chinese visitors. The number of direct flights from mainland China to Singapore has increased by nearly 5 percent this month compared to the same period in 2019, per the Reuters report. In comparison, direct flights between Malaysia to mainland China has reduced 33 percent from 2019 levels and between Thailand and mainland China have reduced 17 percent. Finally, starting February 9, China and Singapore are implementing a mutual visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement.

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Parliamentary panel suggests route-specific capping of airfares

The Parliamentary panel report pointed out various instances where airlines hiked prices of flight tickets exorbitantly during festivals or holidays. It suggested a mechanism whereby DGCA is given the authority to regulate air tariffs. A Parliamentary panel has proposed a route-specific capping of airfares amid concerns about rising flight ticket fares. After responses from the civil aviation ministry on airfares, the panel is also mulling setting up a separate entity to exercise control over air ticket prices. Self regulation of flight ticket prices, the committee pointed out, has not been effective so far. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture tabled this report on Thursday, spelling out the measures taken by the government on its recommendations and observations on the issue of fixing airfares. The report pointed out various instances where airlines hiked prices of flight tickets exorbitantly during festivals or holidays. It suggested a mechanism whereby DGCA is given the authority to regulate air tariffs. Airfares are not regulated by the government currently. The panel also suggested forming a separate entity with quasi-judicial powers to control airfares. The Parliamentary panel also specified that the interests of both airlines and customer must be kept in mind, and suggested a route-specific fare ceiling. The ceiling, it said, could be modified during peak/festival season with prior information. The committee pointed out that revenue management and commercial interests play a role in fixing fares and not passenger interests. "Hence, it strongly recommends that the Ministry may formulate a mechanism to ensure the compliance of Rule 13(1) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and thereby ensuring a control on surge in airfares,” it said. The policy of variation of prices of seats must be looked at as it is against the principle of equity, the panel stated. It also suggested the claim that unbundling reduces the cost for customers who only desire the basic product needs to be scrutinized. The practice, it said, may reduce costs for some but might also lead to increased costs for others.

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Govt aims to make Lakshadweep model for responsible, inclusive development

The overall strategy for the development of Lakshadweep islands is based on achieving sustainable growth, preserving the unique cultural and environmental characteristics, and enhancing the quality of life for the islanders, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. Union Tourism Minister G Reddy said this in a written response in Rajya Sabha to a query on whether the government intends to develop Lakshadweep as a major tourist destination in a big way. He was also asked whether at present the infrastructure and unique nature of the place allows the Islands to sustain huge inflows of tourists, and its strategy to exploit the tourism potential of the island keeping in view the eco-sensitivity of the region. "The overall strategy for the development of Lakshadweep Islands is based on achieving sustainable growth, preserving the unique cultural and environmental characteristics, and enhancing the quality of life for the islanders," he said. It aspires to "position Lakshadweep as a model" for responsible and inclusive development, balancing economic progress with environmental conservation, the minister said. The strategy includes leveraging the islands' natural beauty to promote tourism, creating a robust and resilient economy, and fostering a sense of pride and well-being among the local communities, he added. "The holistic development, through strategic planning and community engagement, envisions a future where Lakshadweep Islands thrive in harmony with nature and sustainable economic practices. The projects for development of Lakshadweep Islands are structured taking into consideration requirements under various applicable kaws including environment, forest and CRZ clearances, etc," the minister said. The Ministry of Tourism has revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination and tourism-centric approach and has notified 57 destinations in the country including Lakshadweep for development under SD 2.0, Reddy said in his response. In line with the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism formulated by the Ministry of Tourism, 'Travel for LiFE' initiative has been launched with the aim to promote sustainable tourism in the country, through mindful and deliberate actions mobilized toward tourists and tourism businesses in the consumption of tourism resources, he said.

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Travelling to Uttarakhand this weekend? Know about the ongoing Haldwani crisis

Haldwani, a pretty town in Uttarakhand, is going through a bad time after the demolition of an allegedly illegal madrasa and a mosque nearby on Thursday evening. As per news reports, four people have been killed and nearly 250 are reported injured after the widespread violence. Apparently, the violence broke on Thursday evening following the demolition of a madrasa and mosque which forced the district administration to impose a city-wide curfew in Haldwani. Police have also orders for shoot-at-sight against rioters. Internet services are also shut down in the region. Court orders to remove an illegal Madrasa in Haldwani, Uttarakhand were being followed when the Muslim mob turned violent and took to stone-pelting. A police station has been set on fire. 20 police personnel have sustained serious injuries; one narrowly escaped being burnt alive. Considering the current situation, it’s advisable not to travel to Haldwani because of the curfew and ongoing-violence. Schools in Uttarakhand are shut.

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Love Is 35,000 Feet In The Air! Akasa Air Has A Special Gourmet Valentine Meal

Are you travelling with your partner on Valentine’s Day or sometime in February on an Akasa Air flight? Well, here’s your chance to make your loved one feel extra special in the air. Café Akasa of the airline has launched a Valentine’s Day special, an all-new gourmet menu to celebrate the month of love. This menu is set specially to make you and your SO feel special and you can pre-book and surprise them while flying throughout February. Akasa Air has an onboard meal service called Café Akasa. For Valentine’s Day, Café Akasa has brought back their V-Day special meal with an all-new gourmet menu. This Valentine’s Day special meal features truffle-drizzled cheesy mushroom calzone that is served with a red velvet pastry, and a choice of beverage. To add to the Valentine’s vibe, the red velvet pastry is served in a heart shape! This menu is available throughout February across the Akasa Air network. Café Akasa always tries to introduce special meals on special occasions, just like this one. These small steps reflect the airline’s constant endeavour to offer a unique and unmatched flying experience. So, you can book this Valentine’s meal for yourself to show some self-love or to surprise your partner while flying! Café Akasa is a buy-on-board meal service by Akasa Air that offers a selection of gourmet meals on the flight. These meals also include wellness-focused options, snacks, and beverages created for every taste and culinary preference. The menu also includes ready-to-eat options comprising light meals and regional favourites. You can also pre-book cakes to celebrate special occasions while flying. All in all, you expect an expansive choice of over 50 meal options that cater to a wide array of diets and palettes.

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