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Study reveals the global culinary landscape with the food city destination index

The study, commissioned by Holidu, explores both traditional and modern foodie destinations, showcasing the diverse and rich gastronomic offerings across the globe. According to the study, London, UK (100/100), New York, USA (99.3/100), and Paris, France (98.24/100) emerge as the top cities with the best food diversity and experiences globally Holidu, the prominent holiday rental portal, has unveiled its comprehensive Food City Destination Index, providing a deep dive into the culinary scenes of 75 cities worldwide. The study, commissioned by Holidu, explores both traditional and modern foodie destinations, showcasing the diverse and rich gastronomic offerings across the globe. London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Dubai, and Barcelona stand out as the leaders of the index, offering an exceptional blend of high-quality and diverse food experiences. According to the study, London, UK (100/100), New York, USA (99.3/100), and Paris, France (98.24/100) emerge as the cities with the best food diversity and experiences globallyFor those seeking cuisine diversity, London (100/100), New York (92.5/100), and Paris (91.5/100) top the list as the best destinations. Tokyo, Japan (100/100), Barcelona, Spain (99.8/100), and Dubai, UAE (99.1/100) lead in Foodie Experiences, based on Activity and Visual Experience Indexes. The study highlights Tokyo, Japan, as the city with the highest number of Michelin Star restaurants (282), followed by Paris, France (163), and Kyoto, Japan (133). Tokyo claims the top position in multiple categories, including Michelin Stars, World-class restaurants, Foodie Experiences, and East Asian cuisine.dining on machboos at a Bedouin feast in the Dubai desert, this study is the ultimate foodie bucket list.” Holidu's Food City Destination Index emphasizes the global appeal of cities vying for recognition as the best food destinations amid the burgeoning trend of food tourism

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Vietnam Airlines appoints Aeroprim Group as its India GSA

Aeroprime Group will provide support to Vietnam Airlines with sales and marketing strategies through its tech driven solutions, deliver expanded market reach and distribut across India. Vietnam Airlines currently flies a total of 14 flights weekly from Delhi, and Mumbai in India to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city in VietnamAccording to the company, the appointment of Aeroprime Group will help to further widen Vietnam Airline’s presence in India and pave the way for its expansion in the Indian market to provide a premium, customer friendly service. The collaboration aims to elevate the travel experience for Vietnam Airlines' customers. For which, Aeroprime Group will provide support to Vietnam Airlines with sales and marketing strategies through its tech driven solutions, deliver expanded market reach and distribution across India.“We are committed to work with Vietnam Airlines to develop a strong brand presence and expand the customer base in India. With our dedicated team of seasoned professionals across multiple cities and using our cutting-edge technology solutions, we look forward to effectively market the flights and provide superior customer services, offering an exclusive experience of Vietnamese hospitality,” said Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director of Aeroprime Group.“The collaboration with Aeroprime Group will help us to strengthen distribution channels and elevate customer service standards in the Indian market,” said Nguyen Trung Hieu, General Manager of Vietnam Airlines Branch in India. Leveraging on Vietnam Airline’s extensive network, this partnership will offer premium flight options for passengers and will further drive growth and strengthen trade between India and Vietnam, the company shared. Vietnam Airlines currently flies a total of 14 flights weekly from Delhi, and Mumbai in India to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam using A320Neo aircraft.

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Kerala Tourism shines at India International Trade Fair 2023

The pavilion showcased Kerala's rich landscape, backwaters, and cultural tapestry, offerin tourists a comprehensive package that includes beaches, mountains, backwaters, pilgrim sites including the Pathmanabha Swami Temple and Kodungalloor Juma Masjid, arts, festivals, waterfalls, monuments, and the renowned Ayurveda culture. The pavilion also highlighted Kerala's potential for medical tourism, showcasing the state's rich Ayurveda culture. The Kerala Tourism Pavilion has successfully turned the spotlight on the enchanting beauty and diverse offerings of "God's own country" at the India-International Trade Fair (IIFT) 2023 in New Delhi. From caravan tourism to destination weddings, Kerala stands out as an affordable and multifaceted destination for global travellers. The pavilion showcased Kerala's rich landscape, backwaters, and cultural tapestry, offering tourists a comprehensive package that includes beaches, mountains, backwaters, pilgrimage sites including the Pathmanabha Swami Temple and Kodungalloor Juma Masjid, arts, festivals, waterfalls, monuments, and the renowned Ayurveda culture.The 34 picturesque backwaters of Kerala, connected to the sea through estuaries, took center stage. Visitors were enticed with the promise of unforgettable backwater cruises on boats and houseboats, providing a unique opportunity to savor Kerala's delectable cuisine. The pavilion highlighted Kerala's potential for medical tourism, showcasing the state's rich Ayurveda culture. It also emphasised regional tourism, focusing on rural areas, agricultural activities, monsoon tourism, and caravan tourism. New York Times Magazine declared Kerala the best wedding destination of 2023, and the state's first destination wedding center near Shankhumukham Beach, Thiruvananthapuram, was unveiled, signaling Kerala's emergence as a sought-after wedding locale. The Kanthallur panchayat in Idukki district also received a gold medal in responsible tourism, further boosting the state's global appealWhile exploring the Kerala Tourism Pavilion, honeymooners Raj and Manisha from Delhi said they were impressed by the romantic charm and diverse offerings of Kerala. Raj exclaimed, "This place is a dream for newlyweds like us. The backwaters and the wedding destination options are simply breathtaking." Manisha added, "Kerala is indeed the best wedding destination of 2023, as declared by the New York Times Magazine. We're already planning our return for our anniversary!" With the largest number of five-star hotels in India, Kerala boasts 46 such establishments, reflecting the state's commitment to providing topnotch hospitality. Record increases in room bookings and a surge in domestic tourists during the first nine months of 2023 affirm Kerala's popularity. Soaring Tourism Numbers Statistics revealed a record-breaking influx of domestic tourists to Kerala, with 1.59 crore arrivals in the first nine months of 2023, signifying a remarkable increase of 25.88 lakh people compared to the previous year. Among the intrigued visitors was 30-year-old Priya Talwar, a solo traveller from Delhi. She shared her excitement, saying, "I've always heard about Kerala's beauty, and now, being here, it's even more enchanting than I imagined. The pavilion's showcase of cultural experiences and the emphasis on responsible tourism has convinced me to extend my stay and explore more. Kerala is truly a gem!"

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Thailand plans more visa waivers, cultural festivities to draw tourists

Tourism-reliant Thailand is lining up hundreds of cultural and sporting events, and may waive visa requirements for travellers from more European countries, as it works to induce holidaymakers to stay longer and spend more.The Southeast Asian nation — popular for its vibrant nightlife, beaches and national parks — is discussing a plan to let tourists of some European nationalities stay as long as 90 days, Prommin Lertsuridej, a top aide to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, said in an interview Thursday. There will also be about 3,000 events like music concerts, marathons and other cultural festivities organised through to next year to draw tourists, he said.Srettha, who became prime minister in August, has identified tourism as a “quick win” to accelerate Thailand’s economic growth. His administration has temporarily waived visa requirements for travellers from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, India and Taiwan, and ordered airlines to add more routes while streamlining airport operations to cut waiting time for visitors. It also plans to allow nightlife entertainment venues in some areas of Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chonburi to operate until 4 a.m. starting next month.While Thailand has rolled back most pandemic-era curbs on visitors, average spending per traveler has lagged pre-Covid levels and missed official estimates. In 2019, the country saw record foreign arrivals — almost 40 million — which generated 1.91 trillion baht in revenue. That year, each tourist spent an average of 47,895 baht per trip which lasted nine days on average, according to official data. As of Nov. 12 this year, Thailand has welcomed 23.2 million foreign tourists and received 981.7 billion baht in foreign tourist receipts. That means it’s currently tracking about 12% below the 2019 per-trip spending benchmark. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has set a goal to raise foreign tourism revenue back to pre-Covid levels, targeting at least 2 trillion baht ($57 billion) in 2024. Srettha last week announced the “Winter Festival” celebrations that will include the Loi Krathong festival, Bangkok Marathon and New Year. The event is designed to showcase Thailand’s unique culture and attract tourists during the high season between November and January. “We will design more attractions and promotions to incentivize tourists to stay longer,” Prommin, who is secretary-general to the premier, said. “Longer stay, more events to attract them, more fun on the nightlife scene. This is how we’re planning for tourists to spend more.”

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Railways to run special trains to Pandharpur

The Central Railway has decided to run special trains from Miraj and Kolhapur to Pandha for Kartiki Ekadashi, scheduled to take place on November 23. Train number 01444 Pandharpur- Miraj-Pandharpur special train will ply on November 20, 21, 25 and 27. The tra will depart from Miraj at 1.10pm and reach Pandharpur at 5.05pmThe Central Railway has decided to run special trains from Miraj and Kolhapur to Pandharpur for Kartiki Ekadashi, scheduled to take place on November 23. Train number 01444 Pandharpur- Miraj-Pandharpur special train will ply on November 20, 21, 25 and 27. The train will depart from Miraj at 1.10pm and reach Pandharpur at 5.05pm. On its return journey, the train will depart from Pandharpur at 9.20am and reach Miraj at 12.05pm. Another train 01445 Miraj-Pandharpur will ply from November 21 to 24 and depart from Miraj at 8am and reach Pandharpur at 10.25am, while it will depart from Pandharpur at 11am and reach Miraj at 2pm. 01447 Miraj-Kurduwadi -Miraj train will ply between Miraj-Kurduwadi from November 21 to 24The train will depart from Miraj at 4pm and reach Kurduwadi at 8.25pm.It will depart from Kurduwadi at 9.25pm and reach Miraj at 1am the next day.

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IndiGo surpasses milestone of 2000 daily scheduled flights

India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo on Friday achieved a landmark by surpassing the milestone of over 2000 planned flights a day. This makes IndiGo, the first airline in the country and marks a significant leap in operational capacity, said the airline. According to the latest OAG Data for October’23, IndiGo is among the top 10 airlines globally in both frequency and by seat capacityIndiGo now has 2000+ scheduled daily flights which include cargo operations, as well as CAPF & Army charters. The airline has achieved this figure in 17years since starting operations back in 2006. “As we celebrate this remarkable milestone of surpassing 2000 scheduled daily flights, we reflect on IndiGo's journey of reshaping the Indian aviation landscape. This milestone is more than a numerical feat; it's a strategic leap positioning us for enhanced connectivity and a redefined passenger experience,” said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo. He said, “Our commitment to giving wings to the nation is palpable in our mission to connect people and aspirations across India. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued customers and partners for their continuous support, as we look forward to soaring to new heights together.”

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