News

Air India Cancels Flights To Tel Aviv Till October 14

Air India has cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv till October 14. Israel came under attack by Hamas group on Saturday and since then, both sides are engaged in fighting in which scores of people have died. “Our flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended till 14th October, 2023, for the safety of our passengers and crew,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement. The airline will extend all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period, the spokesperson added. The full service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv from the national capital. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday also, the carrier cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas militants launched an attack on the country. PM Modi condemned it as “terrorist attacks” in Israel as its leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war.

Read more

Akasa Air offers up to 10% special festive discount on domestic routes

Indian carrier Akasa Air announced an exclusive network-wide sale on October 10, offering customers a chance to book their air travel at attractive fares during the upcoming festive season. Travellers can enjoy up to 10 percent discount on ‘saver’ fares across all 16 domestic destinations on the airline’s network using the promo code ‘TRAVEL10’ upon booking through Akasa Air’s website (www.akasaair.com) or mobile app. The sale is valid for bookings made between October 7, 2023, and October 15, 2023, for travel between October 14, 2023, and April 11, 2024. The offer is valid for bookings made at least seven days prior to the date of departure (during the offer period) and can be availed on both one-way and round-trip tickets. Flyers making their bookings through cleartrip.com can also avail of up to 10 percent discount on ‘saver’ fares and an additional flat 50 percent off on regular “seat fee”, and 20 percent off when booking the A+ or A++ seats, on all domestic bookings. This limited-period offer reflects the airline’s “consistent commitment towards making air travel accessible and affordable for all,” Akasa Air said in a release. Launched in August 2022, Akasa Air has successfully completed one year of commercial operations, having flown over five million revenue passengers connecting 16 cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata.

Read more

Tel Aviv flights: Air India offers waiver of ticket cancellation charges

Air India on Tuesday announced a one-time waiver of charges for rescheduling or cancellation of confirmed tickets on flights to and from Tel Aviv for a certain period. The airline has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv till October 14 amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, the carrier said it is offering a one-time waiver on charges for rescheduling or cancellation of confirmed tickets on flights to and from Tel Aviv. "The offer is valid on tickets issued before 9th October for travel until 31st October 2023," it said. Normally, the full-service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv from the national capital. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Read more

San Francisco counts on Indian visitors for tourism growth recovery

San Francisco is looking to Indian visitors for tourism recovery after the slow reopening of Asian markets affected the travel growth in the Golden Gate city. In 2022, India ranked among San Francisco's top five visitor markets with 150,000 visitors. Visitor volume from India is expected to grow by 34 percent in 2023. "In 2023, we are expecting the visitor volume out of India to match up with 2019 levels and India will be the first overseas market (excluding Canada and Mexico) to go back to 2019 levels," Hubertus Funke, Executive Vice-President & Chief Tourism Officer, San Francisco Travel Association (SFTA), told Moneycontrol. In 2019, the Golden Gate city recorded 2.10 lakh visitors from India, which is expected to reach 2.11 lakh by the end of 2023. However, spending by travellers is yet to see a full recovery. "Indian travellers spent $497 million in 2019 and we are expecting that number to be $436 million by the end of this year. So, in terms of spending we are not quite there yet," he said.

Read more

Famous waterfalls of Jharkhand brimming with visitors ahead of festive season

The famous waterfalls of Jharkhand - Hundru, Jonha, Lodh, Dassam, Sita, Panchghag and Hirni - are brimming with visitors ahead of the festive season. The waterfalls famous for their scenic natural beauty and rolling down of water from high altitude have turned major attraction for tourists, who are coming from different parts of the state as well as other parts of the country, mostly West Bengal, a tourism official said. A Kolkata-based tourist Tarak Nath Sahu, who visited Jonha falls on Saturday, told PTI, "I have never seen such a beautiful place in my life. The scenic beauty, hills and huge quantity of water falling from a height of about 150 feet is magical. If there was a staying facility here, it would have one of the best places in the world." Located around 40 km from the capital Ranchi, Jonha has been a place of tourist attraction owing to its natural beauty. Visitors enjoy the mesmerizing waterfall by stepping down around 700 stairs.Not only Jonha, but other falls in and around Ranchi are also witnessing a huge influx of visitors. On an average 10,000 tourists from different parts of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar are visiting seven falls — Hundru, Jonha, Lodh, Dassam, Sita, Panchghag and Hirni — per day, Jharkhand Pryatan Suraksha Samiti (JPSS) president Rajkishore Prasad told PTI. JPSS, a wing of the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC), manages and maintains the major waterfalls of Jharkhand. As many as 110 'Prayatak Mitra' (Tourist’s Friend) are working for JPSS in the water bodies. The inflow of visitors would continue till February next year, he said. Sanjay Kumar, an associate professor (electronics) of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, told PTI, "Jharkhand has immense potential in the tourism sector. The government can earn huge revenue from tourism and generate employment if the tourism sites were promoted properly." Kumar, who visited Jonha falls with his wife Babita Agarwal on Saturday, said, "I have visited many European countries such as Spain and Denmark. They don't have such big things. The natural beauty which Jharkhand has I have rarely seen in any other country. Here, government needs to work with a plan and vision and promote its places."

Read more

PATA and India collaborate to expand "Travel for LiFE" initiative across Asia Pacific

In a landmark move for sustainable tourism, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has joined hands with India to extend the reach of the "Travel for LiFE" initiative across the Asia Pacific region. This development comes on the heels of India's successful hosting of the 46th edition of the PATA Travel Mart 2023, held from October 4 to October 6 at the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The PATA Travel Mart (PTM), a prominent international trade exhibition in the tourism sector, witnessed the participation of approximately 1000 delegates. It served as a pivotal platform for fostering trade interactions between global buyers and sellers in the tourism industry. Apart from facilitating these crucial trade interactions, PTM 2023 also featured enlightening knowledge sessions at the PATA Forum and engaged the youth through the PATA Youth Symposium. A standout highlight of the event was the showcase of the "Travel for LiFE" initiative by the Ministry of Tourism, garnering immense interest from the international travel trade community. Following the Travel Mart, a pivotal PATA Board meeting took place, during which the Ministry of Tourism unveiled the "Travel for LiFE" initiative to the Board members. The initiative received resounding appreciation from the PATA Board, leading to a commitment from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to collaborate with PATA in expanding the program across the Asia Pacific region. This partnership gains significance in light of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration 2023, made during the G20 summit under India's Presidency, which recognized the launch of "Travel for LiFE" and expressed support for the development of responsible and sustainable smart destinations. "Travel for LiFE," initiated by the Ministry of Tourism, aligns seamlessly with the philosophy of the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which was formally launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister on October 19, 2022. Mission LiFE, a global mass movement led by India, urges individuals and communities worldwide to take action for environmental protection against the impacts of climate change. To enhance engagement with PATA on "Travel for LiFE" and other tourism-related areas of cooperation, the Ministry of Tourism will establish a dedicated PATA desk. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as the first major international partnership for the "Travel for LiFE" program, following its global launch on September 27, 2023, World Tourism Day. The Ministry of Tourism is already collaborating with UNEP and UNWTO to strengthen the Travel for LiFE program. "Travel for LiFE" embodies the ethos of "Pro Planet People" and operates on the fundamental principles of living "Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet, and by the planet." It aspires to instigate substantial behavioral changes among tourists and tourism businesses, contributing significantly to environmental protection while ensuring socio-cultural sustainability. The program has outlined a comprehensive list of actions aligned with the eight core themes of "Travel for LiFE," encompassing energy conservation, water preservation, reducing single-use plastic, waste reduction, empowering local businesses and communities, respecting local culture and heritage, consuming local foods, and preserving nature. Going beyond awareness, the "Travel for LiFE" program aims to inspire tourism businesses to deepen their sustainability practices by adhering to the Travel for LiFE-Signed up badge. Subsequently, these businesses can seek certification at bronze, silver, and gold levels within the "Travel for LiFE" program. The Ministry of Tourism is collaborating with all stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem, including state governments, industry players, destinations, and tourists themselves, to transform "Travel for LiFE" into a mass movement. This initiative positions India as a leader in promoting sustainable and responsible tourism, leveraging tourism as a powerful vehicle to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In a significant step forward for sustainable tourism, PATA and India's collaboration on the "Travel for LiFE" initiative holds the promise of fostering a more responsible and environmentally conscious approach to travel throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Read more