News

Ajman Tourism Promotes The Emirate In India With Three-City Roadshow

The Ajman Department of Tourism Development in the United Arab Emirates is conducting a mission this week to promote the emirate’s unique tourism and investment potential in India. Led by Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, the Director General of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development, a delegation is engaging with key stakeholders in the Indian tourism industry. This roadshow is taking place across Bangalore, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. The primary objective of this initiative is to build meaningful partnerships and enhance collaboration with Indian tourism authorities, travel agencies, tour operators, and hotel management professionals. The roadshow is geared towards attracting more visitors to Ajman, increasing hotel occupancy rates, and showcasing the latest developments in the emirate’s tourism sector. It also seeks to highlight enticing investment opportunities. India has become a vital market for Ajman, with Indian visitors consistently seeking outstanding experiences and services for both business and leisure. According to Ajman Tourism reports, India has been the second-largest international feeder market for the emirate over the past three years, accounting for over 12 per cent of total visitors. Impressively, Indian visitor numbers have seen a remarkable increase of 48 percent year-to-date in 2023, up from 31 percent in 2019. Furthermore, Indian guests are extending their stays by 23 percent year-over-year.

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Antara River Cruises launches short, themed itineraries on Antara Ganga Vilas for festive season

Antara River Cruises is offering special 2, 3, and 4-night cruises for their October to December 2023 sailings aboard the Antara Ganga Vilas. With 10 departures scheduled for the next three months, travellers can experience an insightful discovery of Bengal from the banks of the Ganga or just enjoy the luxury of slow travel as the itineraries offer opportunities aplenty. Rich in history and architecture, these journeys pass battlefields and erstwhile colonial palaces along the banks of the Ganga, sailing through areas where European settlers once established East Indian companies, leaving behind remnants of their settlements from the 17th-19th centuries. Or experience the big skies, the immense waters and the intricacy of life in the Sunderbans National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the world’s largest delta mangrove forest. Antara Ganga Vilas’s specially curated itineraries also leverage the power of sustainable tourism and community-driven initiatives to enhance the livelihoods of the local communities. Designed, detailed and crafted in India, the luxury boutique rivership ship, Antara Ganga Vilas, created headlines with the world’s longest river cruise that sailed 3,200 km, 27 rivers across India and Bangladesh in 51 days. Built to honour mid-20th century Modernism, the 18-suite Antara Ganga Vilas is a luxurious amalgamation of yesteryear glory and modern elegance. Each room is inspired by the painted and meditative colour experiments of Josef Albers and has been designed using only locally made fabrics, linen, furniture, and serveware. Large ceiling to floor guillotine windows bring enchanting riverviews into the ship’s expansive spaces. Encompassing conscious luxury, the ship promises to sail you into a world of comfort and style. Its highly-rated cuisine offerings – the onboard kitchen specially curates menus keeping in mind the local and regional specialities as well as popular preferences – ensure you have an exceptional and unforgettable experience.

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Visitors from India help travel rebound

The number of visitor arrivals from India reached a record high of 70,100 in the August 2023 year, according to data released by Stats NZ today. India is the fifth largest source of overseas visitors to New Zealand, behind Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. India’s ranking as a source has progressively risen from 19th in 2003, 10th in 2013, and 9th in 2019. “About 6 in 10 visitor arrivals from India came to visit friends and relatives in the August 2023 year, compared with 3 in 10 in 2003,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said. “This mirrors the growing Indian population living in New Zealand and connections with India.” 2018 Census ethnic group summaries has more information on the Indian ethnic group living in New Zealand. Overall, there were 206,800 overseas visitor arrivals in August 2023, or 82 percent of the pre-COVID-19 level in August 2019. By comparison, overseas visitor arrivals in August 2022 were 129,800, or 52 percent of the August 2019 level. About 14,000 more overseas visitors arrived from the United States in July and August 2023, compared with July-August 2019, coinciding with the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 hosted by New Zealand and Australia. Overseas visitor arrivals have increased following the progressive relaxation of travel restrictions from early 2022, allowing more people to cross the border. From 1 August 2022, the New Zealand border opened to all visitors and students. An increase in the number of international flights landing in and departing from New Zealand reflects the rebound in travel. In August 2023, 2,800 flights landed in New Zealand, compared to 1,900 in August 2022.

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Average daily domestic traffic increased by 1.65%, Oct upswing anticipated

Average daily domestic traffic increased by 1.65 per cent month-on-month (M-o-M) to 408,906 in September, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation's data reviewed by Business Standard. This small increase can be attributed to the lean travel season and the reduction of flights by Akasa Air.The peak travel season in India falls between October and December, and industry officials anticipate an upswing in both domestic and international passenger traffic in October. But overall domestic demand remained high, with four out of six major carriers reporting load factors of over 90 per cent in September. Load factor refers to an aircraft's occupancy rate. Akasa Air, which cancelled a significant number of flights in September due to an abrupt exodus of 43 pilots, recorded a load factor of 90.3 per cent. AirAsia India recorded the lowest load factor in September at 82.45 percent.In September, average daily international traffic increased by only 0.7 per cent to 178,578.

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Lahaul and Spiti receive fresh snowfall; drop in mercury boosts tourism hopes

The scenic heights of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh were shrouded in white after the district, along with neighbouring Kullu, received snowfall ahead of the approaching winter. The snowfall resulted in a significant dip in temperature and the snow-capped hills appeared to be a cast in a silver halo as the sun played on them. According to local Met officials, the higher reaches of Himachal, especially Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu districts received a fresh burst of snowfall on Tuesday. Officials said the snowfall is likely to set the tone for the onset of winter as the mercury has already seen a significant drop.The snowfall and the distinct chill in the air has led horticulturists with hope of a good season for the local flora. The welcome shift in the weather pattern has also come as a major shot in the arm for the local tourism industry and those associated with hospitality business. Tourists from across the country and overseas are thronging the state in anticipation of the approaching winter and it is believed that the fresh snowfall will further boost the tourist surge.

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Airfares from Hyderabad to other cities soar ahead of Navaratri

Flying to major Indian cities from Hyderabad during the upcoming Navaratri season might turn out to be an extremely expensive affair for travellers with airline operators jacking up the fares — by almost two to three times. Demand for air tickets seem to be at its peak on October 13 — two days ahead of the festival — to cities such as Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur and Indore, among others. For instance, while the regular fare between Hyderabad and Ahmedabad is not more than ₹6,000 to ₹ 7,000 (oneway) airlines are charging as much as ₹14,568 on October 13. And this is the cheapest fare of the day. If one is aiming for a non-stop flight, then the rates as as high as ₹17,000 to ₹ 30,000. Agents say that the festival, clubbed with the India vs Pakistan World Cup 2023 match scheduled at Ahmedabad on October 14, are reasons for this sharp rise in ticket fares. “I booked a flight from Hyderabad to Nagpur for my son by paying ₹9,750. We have never purchased a ticket at such high cost before. Earlier, we used to book the ticket for ₹4,000. Since all the trains and buses were packed, we had to book flight despite the exorbitant fares,” said Suleman R, a businessman. The demand for air tickets to Kolkata too seemed very high even though airlines are operating at least 10 nonstop flights from Hyderabad on October 13. The cost of tickets, as checked on Monday, were anywhere between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000. Usually, operators charge ₹ 5,000 to ₹6,500 on regular days between these two cities.

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