News

El Salvador imposes $1,000 tax on those coming from Africa and India

El Salvador has introduced a $1,000 fee for passengers coming from India or Africa. This move comes in as a measure to deter migration to the United States through Central America. As per El Salvador's port authority, individuals traveling with passports from India or more than 50 African nations, will now be required to pay this fee, and the funds collected from this will be allocated towards enhancing the country's primary international airport. Recently, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador met with Brian Nichols, the US assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, to discuss various matters, including addressing irregular migration. If reports are to go by, the United States experienced a record 3.2 million migrants, who were encountered by the US Customs and Border Patrol throughout fiscal year 2023, which concluded in September. Many migrants from Africa and other regions often pass through Central America to reach the United States. Plus, the value-added tax (VAT) will also be included, thereby taking the total cost for travellers from the affected countries to $1,130. Reports add that this new fee came into effect on October 23, which was imposed due to the increased usage of the country's primary international airport. Airlines will need to provide Salvadoran authorities with daily reports of passengers arriving from a roster of 57 African countries and India. Colombian airline Avianca, a major user of the airport, has started informing travellers that those originating from the listed countries must pay the mandatory fee before boarding El Salvador-bound flights. This new tax comes amid a global trend where many nations are considering or have already introduced additional charges or levies on travellers and tourists. Several countries, including Thailand, Barcelona, Valencia, Portugal, Belgium, Venice, Austria, Bhutan, and France, have already adopted this practice. Given various challenges such as traffic congestion, housing shortages, noise, pollution, and litter, several highly sought-after European destinations are shifting away from traditional tourism promotion strategies and instead advocating anti-tourism measures, discouraging visitors from coming to address these issues. The World Tourism Organization predicts that the number of international tourists will surpass an astonishing 2 billion by the end of this decade. This surge in mass tourism has prompted growing demands on local and national governments to address the matter, leading to the recent implementation of restrictions in some countries.

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Travelport extends partnership with Air India

This renewed agreement between Travelport and Air India ensures that Travelport subscribers continue to have simplified access to Air India’s extensive network of destinations. In conjunction with Travelport’s operator partner ITQ, the expanded relationship between Air India and Travelport will provide agencies in India and across the globe with enhanced retailing capabilities and more choice, including NDC-sourced content. The agreement further expands the collaboration between Travelport and Air India, confirming the future delivery of a complete NDC solution. which will provide Travelport’s global network of travel agencies the ability to easily search, shop and service Air India’s product offerings, shared the company. This renewed agreement between Travelport and Air India ensures that Travelport subscribers continue to have simplified access to Air India’s extensive network of destinations. “Our valued partnership with Travelport is an important part of our growth and technology strategy as we prepare to deliver a complete solution that makes it easy for agents to access and service Air India’s content and offers,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India. “Travelport+ will elevate our technology investment and the future roll out of NDC-sourced content, so that together, we can ensure agents and travelers have a seamless, modern retailing experience,” he added. “Our expanded agreement with Air India positions Travelport and our operator partner ITQ to continue driving modern travel retailing as the leading travel technology partner of choice for travel agencies in India,” said Damian Hickey, Global Head of Airline Partners at Travelport. Added Mark Meehan - GVP and Managing Director (Global Operators) at Travelport: “This has been an important step in further growing Travelport in India – additionally, it will strengthen our association and build trust in our services and technology offerings to our customers with a comprehensive and broad value proposition in the Indian market.” Travelport is a global technology company that powers bookings for travel suppliers worldwide. Buyers and sellers of travel are connected by the company’s next generation marketplace, Travelport+, which simplifies how brands connect, upgrades how travel is sold, and enables modern digital retailing

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Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar hosts snow-skiing event to promote adventure tourism, winter sports

Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir is a hidden gem with enormous potential for adventure tourism and winter sports; organises snow-skiing event.A snow-skiing event was organised at picturesque Sinthan on Sunday in an effort to promote adventure tourism and winter sports in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said. The thrilling event witnessed the active participation of more than 50 skilled skiers, including enthusiastic trainees from the Jawahar Institute of Monitoring and Winter Sports, the officials said. They said a significant portion of the participants were girls, underscoring the growing interest and participation of women in winter sports. "Kishtwar is a hidden gem with enormous potential for adventure tourism and winter sports. Today's event is a testament to the talent and enthusiasm of our youths. "We aim to make Kishtwar a renowned destination for winter sports, and we are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure and support for this purpose," Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Devansh Yadav said. The snow-skiing event was a captivating spectacle, with participants showcasing their skiing skills, gliding down the snowy slopes of Kishtwar, the officials said. They said it was heartening to see both experienced skiers and newcomers come together to celebrate their passion for winter sports.

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South Africa mulls easing visa restrictions for Indian and Chinese travellers

South Africa's Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lilli is pushing for relaxation or elimination of visa requirements for Chinese and Indian citizens to boost the number of visitors coming to the country from these highly populous nations. She added that visas do pose a challenge, and that she views her responsibilities as addressing issues related to regulations, visa requirements, regulations pertaining to tour operator licences, and improving air access by attracting more flights to South Africa. As per the reports, the government has recognized the significance of developing the tourism industry as a means to combat a 33% unemployment rate. However, it’s also a fact that the country has been consistently facing criticism for imposing rules and making it a challenge for travellers to enter the country.Reports add that the visa system is under the jurisdiction of Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who acknowledged its shortcomings, and expressed frustration over his limited resources in addressing them. An online visa system, accessible in approximately 34 countries, faces operational issues, and despite certain relaxed qualification requirements, such as the elimination of the need for bank statements, security screening procedures still lead to delays. De Lille was given the responsibility of luring in a minimum of 10 million visitors during the year leading up to March, which means matching the pre-pandemic level. Reportedly, now the aim is to achieve 15 million by 2030. This adjustment reflects a reduction from the earlier objective of 21 million, driven by shifts in global travel trends. De Lille assured prospective visitors about safety, and pointed out that 99% of tourists who travel to South Africa safely return home. While she acknowledged the challenges in the country due to criminal activities, she stressed the significance of alerting individuals and asking them to be cautious of risky areas, to ensure they are well-informed regarding potential risks. De Lille added that she plans to hold a meeting with Motsoaledi before her upcoming visit to Beijing next month. During this meeting, she will likely explore the possibility of exempting Chinese and Indian travellers from visa requirements for short stays, a privilege that is already granted to visitors from the United States, Russia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom, United States, and Germany account for the largest number of non-African visitors to South Africa, whereas arrivals from India and China are surging which might further increase if visa rules are eased, the minister added. "It's work in progress, but you have to consider the mandate" of other government departments and ministries in dealing with the visa issue, she said.

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Singapore witnesses a surge in Indian tourist arrivals

Singapore expects 5-6 million locals and tourists during 6-week festivities at fashionable Orchard Road, a hub for international hotels and global brand outlets.India is one of the fastest growing markets for tourist arrivals in Singapore post-pandemic, says Mark Shaw, Chairman of Orchard Road Business Association. “In fact, we saw a huge surge of Indian tourists to the Republic this year,” Shaw told PTI.“Indian travellers come to Singapore to enjoy the country's many new attractions but we think they also find affinity in our Indian culture and heritage and feel at home here." Government data shows Indian visitor arrivals up 15.5 per cent to 792,935 for the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year. Shaw said according to an industry survey Indian travellers are among the highest spenders globally. “We are confident that members of Orchard Road Business Association will be able to delight them with a wide range of interesting and innovative product and service offerings,” said Shaw, citing the upcoming festival season in the city-state, with Deepavali on November 12 and then from November 16 the Christmas light-up along Orchard Road to the New Year. ORBA last week unveiled a programme for its annual Christmas on 'A Great Street Light Up' along Singapore's most popular tourist and hotel belt. The annual Orchard Road light up, now in its 40th year, has set a tradition of celebrating festivals with colourful decorations and light ups of other precincts in Singapore. “The success of the first Orchard light-up sparked interest, following which similar light-ups took place in Chinatown, Geylang and Little India,” Shaw pointed out. Supported by businesses in the precinct and as a way of celebrating a festival, the Little India light up for this year is on from September 30 till December 3, along the main thoroughfares of Serangoon Road and a section of Race Course Road, to attract tourists as well as local visitors.Coaches of the metro running through the Little India Precincts have been decorated with paintings of rangoli and peacocks as well as greetings from the Land Transport Authority, metro operator SMRT Trains and the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association while it is supported by the Indian Heritage Centre. Similarly, the light-up celebrations will continue during the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) which is held January-February in Chinatown as well as Hari Raya Puasa (Eid) celebration light up in Geylang, a traditional Malay settlement which is still a popular shopping precinct mostly for the Muslim community. Last year, more than 4 million people joined the merry-making events at hotels and malls and this year, the organiser is expecting 5-6 million locals and tourists during the six-week festivities along the fashionable Orchard Road, now a hub for international hotels and retail outlets of global brands.

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Diwali Vacation 2023: Here’s How To Get Your Visa Application Process Right

The travel industry is seeing an exceptional rise in demand for both domestic and foreign locations as the Diwali festival season approaches, despite hefty hikes in airfares and accommodation costs. Furthermore, with leisure travel on the rise, it’s time to reconsider an often-overlooked part of foreign trip planning: the visa application process. So, if you are planning an overseas trip for the approaching Diwali holiday and need vital information to guarantee a smooth and stress-free visa application process, you have come to the correct page. Below are a few things to keep in mind when applying for a visa: Get an Early Start on Your Visa Application: Just as you’d reserve the best seats for a blockbuster movie, being proactive about your visa application is a smart move. Many countries accept visa applications up to 180 days before your intended travel date. Begin the process well in advance, considering the specific requirements of your chosen destination and the appropriate visa category. By giving priority to your visa application, you lay the groundwork for a hassle-free and stress-free journey. Budget for Visa Processing Timelines: The time it takes to process a visa can vary significantly from one country to another. You can often find this information on the official websites of the countries you plan to visit. Being well-informed about these timelines gives you an advantage, especially if you start the process well in advance. It’s essential to remember that visa processing times might get longer during peak seasons. Therefore, applying early is a wise choice to avoid last-minute surprises that could disrupt your travel plans. Understand the Role of External Service Providers: Companies like VFS Global, which specialise in visa outsourcing, do not influence visa decisions or the issuance/validity of visas. These service providers follow the guidelines provided by the respective governments, which include collecting visa applications, and fees, and enrolling biometrics as required by the government. Consider all Expenditures, Including Visa Fees: When planning a trip abroad, it’s crucial to factor in all expenses, including the cost of applying for visas. Informed travellers who follow the guidelines provided by the government of their intended destination should budget for two primary expenses: the visa fee (paid to the destination country’s government) and the service fee paid to specialists like VFS Global. Clarity on Documents Required: If you are unsure about which documents to submit, you can typically find a checklist of the necessary paperwork for visa applications on each country’s official website. Make sure to include all the required documents, including a printed copy of the checklist when you submit your completed application. Also, check your passport’s expiration date, as many countries require it to be valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Keep in mind that dealing with visas is a legal matter, so it’s better to be well-prepared than caught off guard.

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