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US Embassy in India processes record number of visa applications in 2023

In a social media post on its official handle on X, formerly Twitter, the US Embassy expressed the accomplishment and conveyed that the Consular Team is gearing up to serve thousands of students, workers, tourists, and more in the upcoming weeks, coinciding with the busy holiday travel season. The post also extended wishes for safe travels to all applicants. The US Embassy in India has achieved a significant milestone by processing more visa applications in 2023 than in any previous year, according to an official announcement earlier this week. The surge in demand is attributed to various categories, including students, workers, and tourists. In a social media post on its official handle on X, formerly Twitter, the US Embassy expressed the accomplishment and conveyed that the Consular Team is gearing up to serve thousands of students, workers, tourists, and more in the upcoming weeks, coinciding with the busy holiday travel season. The post also extended wishes for safe travels to all applicants. This heightened demand for visas follows the US Embassy's extraordinary issuance of 90,000 student visas during the summer months of July and August. Notably, this meant that nearly one in four student visas issued globally during this period was granted to Indian applicants. The embassy has also made substantial strides in reducing wait times for first-time tourist visa interviews, achieving a reduction of over 50 per cent. In 2023, the Embassy had set a target to process at least one million visas, underscoring the increasing ties between India and the United States.To address the escalating demand, the US is taking proactive measures, including augmenting staff strength and establishing new consulates. US Ambassador Eric Garcetti confirmed this, stating that a consulate has recently opened in Hyderabad, and efforts are underway to explorepremises for new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. He mentioned that the huge volume of applications was a key factor contributing to delays in visa processing, a challenge shared by other major nations such as Brazil and Mexico.Garcetti acknowledged the recent one-third increase in the number of US visas issued in India and anticipates issuing 10-15 per cent more visas than usual in the current calendar year. The move to open additional consulates aligns with the embassy's commitment to enhance efficiency and expedite the visa issuance process for Indian applicants.

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Flying to Bangkok cheaper than flying to Northeast from Delhi!

If you thought travelling to Bangkok was costly, you must check the cost of flights from Delhi to any destination in Northeast India! The prices will give you a reality check and show that the truth here is that domestic flights are not cheaper than flying to international destinations. One look at the airfare online and you’ll find that air tickets from Delhi to Bangkok are cheaper than the tickets from Delhi and Shillong. This situation has now perturbed the tour operators as well, who are requesting the government to look into the matter. Travel companies and hotel owners have requested the government to find a solution for the issue during a meeting at the International Tourism Mart. They said that flights to places like Shillong cost about INR 14,974 while those from Delhi to Bangkok are available for INR 11,470 only. As per PTI, tour operators have said that the government ought to step in and put a cap on domestic travel prices. According to a new program, around 15 tourism places in the northeast are being developed and another prime reason people travel is for religious purposes. Meghalaya has been given two schemes, Sohra and Shillong and about INR 50 crore investment is expected. The Ministry has approved eight projects costing about INR 256.45 crore for the scheme’s integrated development of designated pilgrimage sites in the northeastern states. There are plans to open a small museum in the old assembly building in the capital city as well; in fact, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also highlighted the significance of utilising the tourism potential of heritage sites in Shillong and other regions of Meghalaya. The ministry of tourism has also approved the creation of 22 views at a cost of INR 44.44 crore for providing world-class infrastructure and related services to the visitors. As of now, 16 airports in the northeast offer access to popular tourist locations. This has shown a great growth in air connectivity in recent years. According to officials, a huge number of the projects approved under the SD 1.0 and PRASHAD schemes have already been completed.

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AirAsia launches new route from Thiruvananthapuram to Kuala Lumpur, 9th direct route from India to Malaysia

Scheduled to take off on February 21, 2024, with a frequency of four times weekly, the new route is anticipated to resonate well with diverse travellers eager to explore the captivatin charm of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's vibrant capital. The city boasts architectural marvels, delectable local cuisine, bustling markets, and more.Scheduled to take off on February 21, 2024, with a frequency of four times weekly, the new route is anticipated to resonate well with diverse travellers eager to explore the captivating charm of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's vibrant capital. The city boasts architectural marvels, delectable local cuisine, bustling markets, and more. AirAsia, the airline which is connecting India to the global map since 2008, when it initiated its Tiruchirappalli-Kuala Lumpur route, is set to expand its footprint. The Thiruvananthapuram-Kuala Lumpur route becomes the airline's ninth direct route from India to Malaysia, reinforcing its commitment to facilitating affordable and accessible. CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, expressed enthusiasm about strengthening their presence in India, particularly in the historically rich city of Thiruvananthapuram. He emphasized AirAsia's pivotal role in transforming the travel landscape, connecting millions of travellers to Malaysia and beyond affordably. Manoj Dharmani, AirAsia Head of Regional Commercial (India), highlighted the significance of this expansion, considering it a milestone for AirAsia in India. He expressed confidence that the new route would strengthen cultural ties between Malaysia and India while providing unique travel experiences.To celebrate the upcoming launch and the milestone of having flown 800 million guests since 2001, AirAsia is offering special launch fares starting from INR4,999 all-inclusive for one-way travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Kuala Lumpur. The offer includes complimentary 20kg check-in baggage, valid for travel between February 21, 2024, and March 19, 2025.

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Akasa Air to start daily flights between Bengaluru and Port Blair via Chennai

Akasa Air will start daily flights to Port Blair from December 15, making it the airline's 17th domestic destination. The carrier, which commenced operations in August last year, currently connects 16 cities, including Delhi and Kochi. In a release on Thursday, Akasa Air said it will operate daily through flights between Bengaluru and Port Blair via Chennai, with no change of aircraft required at Chennai. An official said the flights to Port Blair will start from December 15. "The start of operations in the Andamans is yet another step towards our continuous efforts in network expansion. Port Blair offers breathtaking natural beauty and is an attractive tourist destination with strong air travel demand," Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Akasa Air, said.

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Meghalaya plans small museum at old Assembly building for heritage tourism

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has stressed leveraging the tourism potential of heritage sites in Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya while asserting that there is a plan to open a small museum in a portion of the historic old Assembly building in the capital city.Sangma was responding to a query from PTI on the sidelines of the 11th International Tourism Mart that kicked off on Tuesday evening in Shillong.Shillong, which was the capital of undivided Assam, is nicknamed the 'Scotland of the East' and is known for its historical importance and pristine natural beauty The three-day Mart seeks to focus on the tourism potential of the northeast, particularly Meghalaya which is the host state. "I think a generic policy to ensure that these kinds of heritage sites are promoted from a tourist aspect, is definitely part of the overall strategy," he said."What is important is that we are bringing in different stakeholders together and really trying to discuss and connect different dots together out here. So, that is the purpose of today's programme," he said."The Legislative Assembly building site (in Shillong)... you are aware that the Assembly (building) got burnt almost about 20 years back. And therefore not much left of it. But we have not touched it, and left it as it is because we had to do some of the assembly work there," he said during a press interaction. "But as soon as we shift to the new assembly site whose construction is going on... By September 2024, we expect to inaugurate it," he said. Sangma said the old building, a British-era structure, was used in undivided Assam and has a lot of history, he added. "Definitely we have a plan along with the Speaker to have a small museum or some kind of a site there where we could have some section of the area – maybe not the whole area," Sangma said.Raj Bhavan building and Rabindranath Tagore’s house also have heritage value, the chief minister said, adding that there are many such sites. Asked about the state's strategy to balance tourism-related development and environment protection, he said the state has been focussing on sustainable tourism and ecotourism. The government is also ensuring that it creates policies that do not put enormous pressure on certain tourist sites, Sangma said.

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Qatar Airways Extends FIFA Soccer Partnership Through 2030

Qatar Airways and FIFA have extended their partnership, with the airline continuing to be the soccer governing body’s partner since 2017. The deal was renewed on November 22, 2023, one year and two days after the FIFA World Cup opening game in Qatar in 2022.The carrier outlined that the renewed deal will see Qatar Airways as the FIFA Global Airline Partner for the next seven years, covering several significant international soccer events. This includes two FIFA World Cups, one in the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026 and another in Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, and Uruguay in 2030, as well as all youth men’s and women’s tournaments. The first youth tournament within the partnership was the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, which started on November 10, 2023. The signing of the agreement was attended by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Badr Mohammed Al-Meer and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) “against the backdrop of the airline’s Boeing 787-8, as well as the Airbus A350-900.” Notably, Qatar Airways has a Boeing 777-200LR, registered as A7-BBI, with a special FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 sticker. Another soccer-related livery is found on a Boeing 777-300ER, registered as A7-BEK, with the airline highlighting its partnership with Paris Saint German (PSG).According to Al-Meer, the airline is excited “to extend our partnership with FIFA as the Global Airline Partner.” Qatar Airways is committed to connecting the world, with the partnership enabling the carrier to reach millions of fans, noted the recently hired CEO of the airline, who replaced Akbar al-Baker, the long-standing CEO of Qatar Airways Group.With the partnership between FIFA and Qatar Airways extended for seven years, this will open the doors for other airlines to become the organization’s officially designated carrier by 2030. On October 31, 2023, FIFA announced that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation was the only bidder to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, potentially opening the door for one of the Saudi Arabia-based airlines to become the governing body’s Global Airline Partner.Out of the two major airlines in the country, the recently launched Riyadh Air seems like the perfect candidate. The carrier has already dabbled into sports sponsorship agreements with its deal with Atletico Madrid, which was announced on August 10, 2023. At the time, Tony Douglas, the CEO of Riyadh Air, said that the carrier was looking forward “to working closely with our friends at Atlético de Madrid to deliver innovative and exciting experiences for football fans and travellers.” The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Riyadh Air, is also a leading investor in the group that owns Newcastle United, the English Premier League (EPL) club. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview that he would continue “sportswashing” if it increases the country’s General Domestic Product (GDP) in September 2023. Bin Salman also added that if a country wants to diversify its economy, part of that has to be tourism, which includes its sports sector.

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