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Iran, Thailand allow visa-free entry to Indian passport holders; list of places to travel without visa in holiday season

The upcoming year is a great opportunity for Indian passport holders. Why, you ask? Well, many countries have recently waived visa requirements for Indian tourists. You can take full advantage of this new rule to travel to your heart's content without the added headache of figuring out visa rules and getting a visa approved for visiting a new nation. While Iran was the most recent country to announce visa-free travel for Indian passport holders, other nations in this list are Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Kenya. Therefore, Indians during the holiday season can now travel to several destinations with extended visa-free privileges. Countries Indians can travel to without visa in holiday season Earlier last month, the Thailand government delighted Indian tourists by announcing that Indian passport holders will not require a tourist visa to enter Thailand from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024. The Thai authorities made the temporary visa exemption for a 30-day stay for tourism purposes. Sri Lanka also announced the same provision for Indian travellers till March 31, 2024, for a 30-day stay. This week, Iran waived visa requirements for 33 countries, including India. Last month, Malaysia allowed Indians a 30-day visa-free arrival from December 1, 2023. Lastly, Kenya will also permit tourists from any corner of the globe to enter without a visa. Apart from the recent additions of Thailand, Malaysia, Kenya, Iran and Sri Lanka to the list of countries that allow Indian tourists to enter without a visa, over 20 more nations do not require a visa to enter for Indian passport holders. They are - Cook Islands Fiji Micronesia Niue Vanuatu Oman Qatar Barbados British Virgin Islands Dominica Grenada Haiti Jamaica Montserrat St Kitts and Nevis St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Bhutan Kazakhstan Hong Kong Nepal El Salvador Mauritius Senegal Tunisia Macao (SAR China) Gabon Madagascar Rwanda Meanwhile, a few other countries offer visa-on-arrival options for Indian passport holders. They are Seychelles, Maldives, Indonesia, Samoa, Tanzania, Marshall Islands, Palau Islands, Tuvalu, Iran, Jordan, St. Lucia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Bolivia, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, and Zimbabwe.

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Bali’s tourism boom: Responsibility to respect and be a good guest

The travel relationship between India and Indonesia has also been growing steadily over years, and both countries have implemented visa policies to facilitate tourism and business travel. Many Indonesians visit India for various reasons including tourism, business, education and cultural exchange, with Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, and Jaipur being popular destinations. Bajaj feels that direct flight connections between major cities in boom countries further facilitate the travel relationship. India and Indonesia share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on enhancing connectivity and trade between the two countries. This has led to the development of various corridors and initiatives to facilitate economic cooperation. The travel relationship between India and Indonesia has also been growing steadily over the years, and both countries have implemented visa policies to facilitate tourism and business travel. Many Indonesians visit India for various reasons including tourism, business, education, and cultural exchange, with Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, and Jaipur being popular destinations. The travel relationship is further facilitated by direct flight connections between major cities in both countries On the other hand, Indonesia is a popular destination for Indian tourists, known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and vibrant markets. Bali, in particular, is a favorite among Indian travelers. Recent Airbnb data has revealed an almost 2X increase in searches for stays in Bali among Indian travellers , highlighting the island’s growing appeal. This surge reflects the growing interest among Indian travellers to delve into unique international destinations with rich cultural offerings. With its pristine beaches, verdant landscapes, and a culture deeply rooted in spirituality, it often finds itself at the apex of global travel destinations. However, with this acclaim comes the responsibility of preserving its essence for the generations to come. And the responsibility doesn’t just lie with the residents of Bali, but with every traveller who visits this beautiful island. Bali isn't just a destination, it’s an experience, a vibe, an emotion. As its stunning landscapes beckon visitors from around the world, the imperative for sustainable, respectful tourism is now more crucial than ever. Here’s how travellers can travel responsibly and experience Bali like never before: ● Support the local economy - Local businesses are the backbone of Bali’s economy. From artisanal crafts to local eateries, each purchase you make can make a significant difference to a local entrepreneur. ● Be environmentally conscious - Bali’s natural beauty is the most significant asset. Avoid single use plastics, be mindful of water usage and ensure that you leave the places as you found them. ● Adhere to the local guidelines - Engage with licenced tour guides, authorised money changers and abide by all local regulations. ● Safe transits - Whether on a bike or in a car, adhere to the local traffic rules. ● Dive into the local language - While Bahasa Indonesia is spoken nationwide, familiarising oneself with basic local dialects can enhance interaction and experiences. Bali’s lingual tapestry is rich, with English often woven in seamlessly

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Haryana to bring an Act to check unscrupulous travel agents: Anil Vij

Responding to a poser, Vij said the state government wants that people's hard-earned money should not fall into the hands of any fraudulent agent and added this Bill is, therefore, be brought. The minister said that a total of 383 fraud cases were registered by the previous Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed over three years ago and 153 accused were arrested. Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said the state government will bring an Act with provision of punishment and hefty fines to check unscrupulous travel agents, who "cheat innocent people" wanting to move abroad. The Act is likely to be introduced in the Haryana Assembly's Winter Session, which begins on Friday, he told reporters here. Vij said there will be various provisions in the Act titled 'The Haryana Registration and Regulation of the Travel Agencies Bill, 2023', to curb illegal immigration. He added that necessary steps have already been taken for registration of the travel agents in Haryana. Responding to a poser, Vij said the state government wants that people's hard-earned money should not fall into the hands of any fraudulent agent and added this Bill is, therefore, being brought. The minister said that a total of 383 fraud cases were registered by the previous Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed over three years ago and 153 accused were arrested. Vij said that a total of 625 fraud cases have been registered after April 17 till December 12 this year and 509 accused have been held. He said that the recovery of over INR 2.94 crore was made during this period, adding INR 4.75 crore has been recovered in all. The minister said that the SIT, headed by IPS officer Sibas Kaviraj and also comprising senior police officers Jashandeep Singh Randhwa.

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Year Ender 2023: Travel trends that dominated 2023; how people travelled

2023 was an eventful year. As we gear up to say goodbye to it and welcome 2024, many trends dominated this past year. Some were unique travel trends which proved that the travel and tourism industry is constantly evolving. From sustainable travelling options to price-conscious tourism, we have listed a few trends that defined the 2023 travel space. Scroll through to check them out. Travellers became conscious of their environmental impact and increasingly found ways to reduce their carbon footprint, keeping their surroundings clean, respecting the local culture, and more. Additionally, people opted for eco-friendly accommodations, supporting local communities, and opted for ethical experiences. Emerging Destinations Exploring offbeat destinations is a travel trend that has enamoured tourists for many years, and it also continued in 2023. As a result places like Vietnam, Seychelles, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Laos, Belarus, Colombia, Bulgaria, and Zanzibar, to name a few, became emerging travel destinations. Travellers searched for unique experiences, and emerging destinations offered just that. Wellness Travel Wellness travel has been growing in popularity for several years and continued to rise in 2023. Travellers planned trips that offered them physical and mental well-being. For instance, tourists chose destinations that offered yoga retreats, spa treatments, and healthy eating experiences. Price-conscious tourism Instead of luxury travel, tourists invested in price-conscious travel options. Amid this, booking cheap hostels to interact with strangers and building friendships or Airbnb's with big friend groups took the forefront in travel trends. In 2023, people also preferred buying from local vendors, cooking their meals, and visiting non-touristy destinations. Digital nomad Many offices allowed their workers to work from home in 2023. It allowed many working professionals to become digital nomads by travelling globally (also locally) while working their daily 9 to 5. Additionally, this trend is expected to continue in 2024 as more and more people embrace the remote work lifestyle.

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Seamless air travel: Digi Yatra's facial recognition tech to reach 25 more airports by 2024

Digi Yatra provides for contactless, seamless movement of passengers at various check points at airports based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT). Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said Digi Yatra facility will be available at 25 more airports in 2024. Currently, the facility is available at 13 airports for domestic passengers. Digi Yatra provides for contactless, seamless movement of passengers at various check points at airports based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT). At a briefing in the national capital, Scindia said Digi Yatra will be introduced at 14 airports in the first phase and another 11 airports in the second phase next year. By the end of 2024, Digi Yatra will be available at 25 more airports and the total number of airports that will have the facility will increase to 38, he said. Currently, Digi Yatra facility is available at 13 airports that handle around 85 per cent of the country's domestic air passenger traffic. Next year, the facility will be available at a total of 38 airports that handle around 95 per cent of the traffic. The data shared by a passenger for Digi Yatra is stored in an encrypted format. For availing the service, a passenger has to register his or her details on DigiYatra app using Aadhaar-based validation and a self image capture. In the next step, the boarding pass has to be scanned and the credentials are shared with the airport. At the airport e-gate, the passenger has to first scan the bar-coded boarding pass and the facial recognition system installed at the e-gate will validate the passenger's identity and travel document. Once this process is done, the passenger can enter the airport through the e-gate. The passenger will have to follow the normal procedure to clear the security and board the aircraft. Digi Yatra Foundation, a not-for-profit company, is the nodal body for Digi Yatra. The foundation's shareholders are Airport Authority of India (AAI), Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL) and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL).

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Karnataka: This area to soon have jungle hotels to host visitors

As per the latest development, the Karnataka tourism department is gearing up to set up jungle hotels in the forested regions of Kappatagudda. This move comes in the wake of transforming the location into a prominent tourist destination in the state, and lure more tourists from far and near. Every year, this area turns into a lush greenery post-heavy rains. And if reports are to go by, Kappatagudda attracts visitors from across the country, which has prompted the state government to initiate development schemes in this region. In line with this, there is also this plan of constructing additional lodging facilities. Referring to this, Minister HK Patil who recently attended a groundbreaking ceremony, marked the commencement of the project. And if all goes according to plan, Kappatagudda will likely have its jungle hotels to host tourists by June 2024. Minister HK Patil further added that Kappatagudda has immense tourist potential akin to renowned forest areas like Bandipur, Nagarahole, or Dandeli. Referring to this, the Kappatagudda Range Forest Officer, Veerendra Maribasannavar, revealed that as per the ongoing efforts by the state tourism department, they are building five to six hotels with two-bedroom accommodations and kitchens in the Mahalingpur area. Reports further add that recently, trekking facilities were also introduced in the area that garnered overwhelming response. Elaborating more on this, Maribasannavar informed that the trekking activities in the Kappatagudda forest interiors have been resumed, after it was temporarily halted due to adverse weather conditions. And in response to the surge in weekend tourists, paid parking has also been instituted to fund security personnel and other civic amenities. Spread across 22,400 ha across hills from Binkadakatti to Singatalur, and covering around 64 km distance, there are also plans to include establishing a viewing point at Galigundbasanna and reinstating jungle safaris as a year-round attraction. Additionally, proposals for a wildlife photography gallery showcasing Kappatagudda's beauty have been submitted to the state government, which have received positive feedback so far, and there is hope for financial support to implement the development plans.

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