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Born In 2005? You’re Eligible For Free Europe Travel Passes!

Europe is extending an exciting opportunity to 36,000 youngsters born in 2005. They can now apply for a free travel pass to explore the continent. This offer is part of the DiscoverEU Programme, open to youngsters who are residents of a European Union country or a third country associated with the Erasmus+ Programme (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Türkiye). Eligible candidates must have been born between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005. Free Europe travel: Here’s how to apply and what the pass offers Applications opened on October 4 and will be accepted for two weeks, until October 18. Eligible persons can visit the European Youth Portal, where they will be required to answer five quiz questions and a tie-breaker. Successful applicants will win passes for travel across the continent, valid for a maximum 30 days between March 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025. They will explore various countries by train, including the New European Bauhaus route launched in January 2023, as per Schengen Visa Info. Additionally, selected participants will become DiscoverEU Ambassadors, and will be invited to share their travel experiences on social media using the hashtag #DiscoverEU. The participants will also benefit from initiatives launched during the European Year of Youth in 2022, Schengen Visa Info adds. Participants will even receive a discount card in addition to the free travel passes for Europe. This card will allow them “over 40,000 discount possibilities on public transport, accommodation, culture, sports, food, and other services available in eligible countries”. Special arrangements will also be made for the youth visiting remote areas and islands, and those with health ailments or physical challenges will receive assistance, according to the European Youth Portal.

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Rajasthan’s exclusive Valley Queen Heritage Train starts operation

Rajasthan has welcomed its exclusive Valley Queen Heritage Train service, which started its operation from Marwar Junction to Khamlighat recently. This heritage train, resembling a 150-year-old steam engine, will offer passengers a nostalgic journey. With a 60-seat Vistadome AC coach, the train will run four days a week, with tickets priced at INR 2,000 per person. NWR officials shared the train's schedule, stating that departing from Marwar Junction at 8.30 AM, it will reach Khamlighat at 11 AM via Phulad and Goram Ghat railway stations. The train will make brief stops of 10 to 15 minutes at each station. After a 3.5-hour halt at Kamli Ghat, it will depart at 3 PM and return to Marwar Junction at 5.40 PM on the same day, the officials added. The Valley Queen Heritage Train is the sixth of its kind in India, offering a scenic route. According to Shashi Kiran, Chief Public Relations Officer of NWR, the existing track was used, but a new heritage train has been created with one chair car coach, and a diesel engine has been transformed to resemble a steam engine. This journey will take passengers through lush green valleys, hills, rare flora, and fauna. The route features two, nearly century-old tunnels, and 172 bridges over water streams. Notably, the existing meter gauge train from Marwar to Mavli will continue operating on this route, ensuring convenient connections for passengers. Highlighting the historical significance of the rail lines, the officials further explained that the Marwar Junction-Mavli Junction railway line was established before Independence with contributions from two different royal families. The railway line from Mavli Junction to Phulad was constructed by the Maharana of Mewar (Udaipur), while the railway line from Marwar Junction to Phulad was constructed by the Maharaja of Marwar (Jodhpur).

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Sikkim Flash Flood: State Government Urges Tourists To Postpone Travel Plans

As a flash flood left a trail of destruction in Sikkim, the government on Thursday urged people who are planning to visit the Himalayan state soon to postpone their programs till the situation normalises. The state administration also requested those stranded in the flood-hit Mangan district not to panic, as the authorities concerned would start an evacuation process on Friday. According to estimates, over 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, are stuck in various parts of Sikkim. "In view of the unprecedented situation created by flooding in the Teesta River, all the tourists planning to visit Sikkim are advised to postpone their travel to a later date till the situation normalises," the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department said in an advisory. The department also assured those stranded in Mangan district that the state government would extend all possible help and support in the "evacuation process starting on October 6, subject to weather conditions", it said. Sikkim Flash Flood: State Government Urges Tourists To Postpone Travel Plans Over 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, are stuck in various parts of Sikkim. Gangtok/Kolkata: As a flash flood left a trail of destruction in Sikkim, the government on Thursday urged people who are planning to visit the Himalayan state soon to postpone their programs till the situation normalises. The state administration also requested those stranded in the flood-hit Mangan district not to panic, as the authorities concerned would start an evacuation process on Friday. According to estimates, over 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, are stuck in various parts of Sikkim. "In view of the unprecedented situation created by flooding in the Teesta River, all the tourists planning to visit Sikkim are advised to postpone their travel to a later date till the situation normalises," the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department said in an advisory. The department also assured those stranded in Mangan district that the state government would extend all possible help and support in the "evacuation process starting on October 6, subject to weather conditions", it said. Powered By VDO.AI The advisory comes hours after Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang asked officials to stop issuing permits to tourists in popular destinations like Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, and Nathula on Friday. The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department also said that all the tourists stranded in the Lachung and Lachen areas are safe, and nothing adverse has so far been reported about them. Speaking on the state government's advisory, the Indian Association of Tour Operators' immediate past president, Pronab Sarkar, said it would not have any negative impact on the travel industry as this was a "short-term measure". "There will be no negative impact on the travel sector during the upcoming holiday season. The situation will improve gradually and will normalize soon. So far, there is no report of cancellation of tours to Sikkim," Sarkar told PTI. Kolkata-based tour operator Kudu Special's proprietor, Soumitra Kundu, said the postponement of tours would be tough in the peak season as the availability of train tickets and hotel rooms for a deferred travel plan is difficult. In another advisory, the Sikkim government appealed to all the hoteliers, travel agents, tourist taxi drivers, and other stakeholders of the tourism sector to come forward to extend all possible support and assistance to the stranded travellers in view of the flood situation in the Teesta river basin. The department requested "all tourist taxi drivers and stakeholders to stand united in extending necessary help to the tourists by keeping normal or reasonable fares and rates of taxis, accommodation units, etc. at this hour of distress". Earlier in the day, the Indian Army arranged satellite phones and made them available for the stranded tourists to speak to their near and dear ones from inaccessible locations in north Sikkim, which has been affected by the flash flood in the Teesta River.

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India voted as the second most-visited country in the world!

Good news for India and the Indians! As per research conducted by the agency Bounce, Maldives is the most popular destination among tourists. And the next in line is none other than India. The data shared was collected over the course of one year. While the Maldives ranks number one with 2,457,000 Google searches, while India is on number two with 1,478,300 total searches. The third most popular destination is Singapore, with 1,224,500 Google searches. So what makes these three countries so popular? Well, the stunning landscapes and the amazing views they offer. When it comes to Maldives, it’s a prominent honeymoon destination famous for its exotic beaches. India on the other hand, is known for being home to gorgeous attractions such as the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Gateway of India, and India Gate, among others. Singapore is a magnificent country noted for its futuristic attractions and luxury hotels. Here are 10 most popular countries to visit: Maldives (2,457,000 searches) India (1,478,300 searches) Singapore (1,224,500 searches) Costa Rica (1,067,300 searches) Mexico (1,059,000 searches) Japan (1,051,200 searches) Jamaica (1,021,900 searches) Greece (998,100 searches) Bahamas (957,000 searches) Australia (867,000 searches)

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Diwali travel frenzy: Bookings surge despite spike in airfares, hotel tariffs

As the Diwali festival season approaches, the travel industry is experiencing an extraordinary surge in demand for both domestic and international destinations, despite significant increases in airfares and hotel tariffs. Data from EaseMyTrip shows a remarkable increase in airfares, with some routes experiencing spikes of up to 72 per cent. However, this hasn’t deterred travellers. According to Indiver Rastogi, President and Group Head of Global Business Travel at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, there has been a 90 per cent uptick in bookings year-on-year. While the festive season, especially Diwali, is a period of massive travel, both for leisure and homebound trips, the surge in airfares also owes to a supply crunch, primarily in the international segment, and rising ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices in the domestic segment, says Prahlad Krishnamurthi, CBO of Cleartrip. In domestic travel, fares for popular destinations like Srinagar, Chandigarh, Bagdogra, Jaipur, Kochi, and Goa have risen approximately by 10 per cent. Port Blair fares from major hubs have surged by 20-25 per cent. Interestingly, however, airfares ahead of Diwali are about 10 per cent cheaper compared to the summer months of May and June. Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head of Holidays, MICE, Visa at Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “We are seeing a strong travel demand of over 100 per cent during Diwali for domestic and international destinations from families, young professionals, and couples segments.” Also read Easy Trip Planners Ltd.’s shares were up by 0.4 per cent after the company’s EaseMyTrip, an online travel tech platform, and the Government of Uttarakhand joined forces to enhance the state’s global tourism appeal through a deal valued at over ₹250 crore. Photo: Easy Trip Planners website Easy Trip Planners and Uttarakhand government partner to enrich tourism Graphs diagram and charts istock photo for BL ICC World Cup 2023: How stocks stand to benefit from the cricket extravaganza Narendra Modi Stadium ahead of the opening ceremony and first match of ICC Cricket World Cup Sports tourism growing in double digits, says Booking.com’s India head VIA REUTERS Air India offers discounts on US flights Luxury destinations Domestically, popular destinations include Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Leh Ladakh, Kerala, Goa, and Andamans. International travellers are setting their sights on Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and more. Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder and Group CEO of ixigo, emphasises the increasing demand for short-haul international travel, which is proving to be more economical given the higher domestic fares. For instance, Bengaluru-Jaipur one-way fare during Diwali costs around Rs 13,500, whereas Bengaluru-Colombo one-way flight will cost only Rs 8,000 on the same dates.

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Air India announces non-stop flights between Kolkata and Bangkok from 23 October

Air India will introduce a non-stop service between Kolkata and Bangkok starting October 23, 2023. Launched during the festive season in Kolkata, this new flight will cater to the need for a convenient direct connection between the two cities. AI322 will depart Kolkata at 2200 hrs to reach Bangkok at 0205 hrs the next morning. The return flight AI321 will take off from Bangkok at 0305 hrs to land in Kolkata at 0410 hrs (All Local Time). The flight, operated with a narrowbody Airbus family aircraft, will have a two-class configuration of Economy and Business Class and operate six days a week from Monday to Saturday. Besides lending a boost to tourism and trade in the two cities, the direct service to Bangkok will offer a unique opportunity to Air India passengers to take convenient connections via Bangkok to and from 10 popular destinations in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia on the network of Bangkok Airways, with whom Air India enjoys an interline partnership with seamless connections beyond Bangkok. Air India currently operates a total of 14 flights to Bangkok per week with daily non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai connecting the destination. Building a more robust network is a key element of Air India’s transformation journey and the new launch is in line with the airline’s commitment to expand connectivity and enhance frequency on its domestic and international sectors as it keeps augmenting the fleet with new aircraft. Air India also operates over 13 daily flights between Delhi/Mumbai and Bangkok.

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