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Malaysia Airlines ramps up connectivity to India after visa-free entry announcement

In line with this significant development, the Malaysia Airlines is amplifying connectivity doubling the flight frequency on the Amritsar (ATQ) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL) route, beginni 15 January 2024. Additionally, the airline is pleased to commence direct services from Ahmedabad (AMD) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL), effective 1 December 2023. In response to this significant development, Malaysia Airlines is boosting connectivity by doubling the flight frequency on the Amritsar (ATQ) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL) route, effective 15 January 2024. Furthermore, the airline is delighted to initiate direct services from Ahmedabad (AMD) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL), starting 1 December 2023. To celebrate these milestones and encourage travel, the airline has also launched a year-end sale. Increased Connectivity on Amritsar – Kuala Lumpur Route: In acknowledgment of robust demand and strong load factor performance, Malaysia Airlines is doubling its current frequency on the Amritsar-Kuala Lumpur route from 15 January 2024. The airline will operate four times weekly, providing enhanced flexibility for travellers. Starting January 15th, 2024, the airline's schedule will be adjusted. IT will have flights from Kuala Lumpur to Amritsar on Mondays and Fridays, departing at 11:00 pm, with flight number MH206. Flights from Amritsar to Kuala Lumpur will be on Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing at 03:20 am, with flight number MH207. Commencement of Ahmedabad – Kuala Lumpur Route: Starting 1 December 2023, Malaysia Airlines will operate direct services from Ahmedabad to Kuala Lumpur, with four weekly flights. This addition elevates the count of weekly flights on Malaysia Airlines to Indian destinations to 65, providing more options for travellers. Malaysia Airlines said it is committed to providing enhanced travel experiences, and these initiatives underscore its dedication to facilitating seamless and memorable journeys for Indian travellers.

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Galdan Namchot: The festival of light in Ladakh

Come December 7, 2023, Ladakh will be all decked up for the annual Galdan Namchot Festival. This vibrant festival marks the beginning of the New Year celebrations in Ladakh and it is celebrated with pomp and show. Galdan Namchot is also called the festival of lights in Ladakh as everywhere you will see light offerings. Ladakhis celebrate this day by lighting butter lamps, which signifies the victory of light over darkness. Even in the bitter winter, this festival brings warmth and joy to people. This festival holds special significance for the people of Ladakh as it commemorates the birth and the enlightenment of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. All the houses get decorated beautifully, but the monasteries just take things up a notch. The monasteries in Ladakh observe this festival in a grand way with thousands of people coming to pray and light butter lamps. It’s a sight to behold. If you are planning to visit Ladakh this time around, make sure you attend the festival. The monasteries hold special prayers and rituals in honour of Je Tsongkhapa, and attending such ceremonies will be an unique experience in Ladakh. One great thing about festivals in Ladakh is that no festival is complete without a feast. Galdan Namchot is, for sure, no exception. It’s a great time to be in Ladakh if you want to explore the regional cuisine. Same enthusiasm can be seen in cultural performances too, if not more. Traditional Ladakhi dances and music are a common thing to see and experience during this festival. In monasteries, all these events take place in a bigger and more vibrant manner. The sound of drums, cymbals, and traditional instruments resonates through the air. Galdan Namchot is a celebration that is a beautiful blend of spirituality, culture, and communal harmony. For Ladakhis, Galdan Namchot is not just a festival; it's a reflection of their rich cultural heritage.

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Discover Siranna: Newest exclusive tourism escape unveiled in Neom, Saudi Arabia

Situated on Gulf of Aqaba coastline, Siranna in Saudi Arabia's Neom is an ultra-luxurious tourist destination, home to 65-key hotel and 35 exclusive residences The Board of Directors of NEOM has unveiled Siranna, an exclusive tourism escape, and the latest destination to be announced by the sustainable regional development evolving in northwest Saudi Arabia. Siranna is a space where elegant and innovative living meets to facilitate a lifestyle without compromise. Situated on the Gulf of Aqaba coastline, this ultra-luxurious destination will be home to a 65-key hotel, as well as 35 exclusive residences. We're now on WhatsApp. Click to join. The destination offers uninterrupted views of the Red Sea, with its tiered design offering diverse views and perspectives. Emerging from the rugged coastal terrain, the hexagonal pillars are distinctive, yet complementary to the surrounding mountains and flora. Arriving via waterborne transportation to the secluded bay, guests will journey through the natural rock formations before reaching the enchanting entrance of the property. With a focus on fostering original thinking and relaxation, Siranna will offer visitors and residents the opportunity to escape the noise and disruptions of everyday life and surround themselves with like-minded people in an effortlessly chic setting. A signature beach club, spas, and state-of-the-art wellness facilities will be on offer for visitors to unwind. Those seeking a connection with the landscape during their stay will enjoy the winding discovery trails via foot or horseback to explore where the sea, mountain, and wadi meet. Sophisticated dining and entertainment options will also satisfy a wide range of tastes and interests among guests. The guiding principle underpinning the development is to ensure minimal intervention in nature, where thoughtful and deliberate techniques will be used to preserve the surrounding landscape. The architecture will pay homage to the heritage of the local area and seamlessly blend into the adjoining mountain and wadi. Siranna is another example of NEOM's uncompromising efforts to create spaces in nature that support sustainable future living and nurture creativity, whilst offering the ultimate luxury hospitality experience. Aligned with NEOM's commitment to conservation, Siranna will complement its coastal location and be delivered sustainably. News of the development follows the recent announcements of Leyja and Epicon, which are also sustainable tourism destinations located in the Gulf of Aqaba. About NEOM NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory - a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. NEOM will include hyperconnected, cognitive cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in groundbreaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity.

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Tourism a key sector for revenue generation; state govt enhancing the infrastructure: Himachal CM

The state government has set a deadline of December 15, 2023, for completing Detailed Project Reports for heliports in Rakkar, Palampur, and Sultanpur. Besides setting up a modern heliport near Shimla, promotion of tea tourism is also on the cards. CM Sukhvind Singh Sukhu also directed to accord sanctions to the projects related to green industry o priority and said 90 applications have been received for e-taxi. Tourism is the key sector for revenue generation and the State Government is enhancing the tourism infrastructure in the State so as to attract more tourists, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He set a deadline of December 15, 2023, for completing Detailed Project Reports for heliports in Rakkar, Palampur, and Sultanpur. Additionally, a modern heliport near Shimla is in the plans, he revealed. Additionally, the state government is also mulling to promote tea tourism. He also directed to accord sanctions to the projects related to green industry on priority and reviewed the progress in this direction and took feedback on the green initiatives, as announced in his maiden budget speech. He said that as of now, 90 applications have been received for etaxi. Charging infrastructure was being developed in a phased manner and necessary instructions were issued to expedite the construction of proposed e-charging stations, according to the minister. operations. He said that INR 100 crore for Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojna and INR 20 crore for road repairs post a recent disaster have been allocated by the government. Under the INR 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna, local youth will receive subsidies, fostering self-reliance and self-employment. An integrated agriculture and fisheries project is set to launch under Startup Yojna, providing substantial self-employment opportunities in the state, stated Sukhu.on January 14 till the consecration of Ramlala on January 22, 2024. The state culture department is making the necessary preparations for this, he said. For this, programmes will be presented by local artists through the Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Culture Council established in every district, Singh added.The expenditure of this event will be borne by the Tourism and Culture Department, he said. The minister said that in every district, through the District Tourism and Culture Council, local artists will continuously recite Ramcharitmanas and Hanuman Chalisa from Makar Sankranti on January 14 till the consecration of Ramlala on January 22, 2024.

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IndiGo Granted Special VFR Operations at the Deoghar Airport

IndiGo to operate at Deoghar Airport in visibility as low as 3600 meters for Airbus fleet and 3200 meters for ATR fleet. The special implementation was made due to repeated flight cancellations, as the VFR operations were limited to daylight hours with a visibility requirement of 5000 meters. IndiGo has been granted approval for Special Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations to/from Deoghar Airport (VEDO) by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). With this approval, IndiGo has become the first Indian carrier that will be operating at Deoghar Airport in visibility as low as 3600 meters for Airbus fleet and 3200 meters for ATR fleet. The VFR operations at Deoghar Airport were limited to daylight hours with a visibility requirement of 5000 meters. This limitation was challenging during winter season when the visibility often falls below 5000 meters leading to a significant number of flight cancellations. To overcome this limitation, IndiGo sought and obtained permission to undertake Special VFR operations at Deoghar Airport. IndiGo conducted a successful flight validation for Special VFR operations on November 10, 2023, paving the way for actual flight operations on scheduled flights. This is a crucial step to mitigate disruptions caused by adverse weather conditions, especially during the winter season. Captain Ashim Mittra, Senior Vice President, Flight Operations, IndiGo said, “The successful implementation of Special VFR operations is a testament to the continuous efforts and collaboration between regulatory authorities, airlines and the airport operators to strengthen Indian Aviation. This marks a significant milestone for Deoghar Airport, enhancing its operational capabilities and ensuring smoother air travel for the region. IndiGo is proud to set one more milestone in the field of Indian aviation.” IndiGo expects that the implementation of Special VFR operations at Deoghar Airport will benefit all airlines operating at the airport, providing a more reliable and efficient service to passengers.

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Sri Lanka offers free tourist visas to nationals from India, six other countries

Travelers from India and these 6 countries to be given dual entry status on arrival in Sri Lanka and the visa validity would be limited to 30 days’ stay Aimed at boosting the tourism sector, Indian tourists – the largest inbound group – to Sri Lanka, would receive free tourist visas with immediate effect, the Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced here. The facility follows a Cabinet decision from October to issue free tourist visas to travellers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand amidst efforts to rebuild the debt-trapped island nation's tourism sector that had slumped since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The pilot project to offer free visas for the first 30 days would be in force till March 31, 2024, the announcement said. The travellers would be given dual entry status on arrival and the visa validity would be limited to 30 days’ stay in the island nation. India is traditionally Sri Lanka’s top inbound tourism market. In October 2023, arrival figures for India topped with over 28,000 arrivals or 26 per cent with Russian tourists trailing at over 10,000 arrivals as the second largest group. The British tourists were placed third with over 8,000 arrivals. Tourist arrivals to the island nation had slumped since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that left 270 persons, including 11 Indians, dead and over 500 injured. Sri Lanka has been grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil, which has prompted an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and other fuel, toilet paper, and even matches. In March, the International Monetary Fund agreed on a USD 3 billion bailout to Sri Lanka to revive its ailing economy.

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