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Meghalaya launches 'Travellers Nest' close to the sacred forests of the Khasis

The Travellers Nest, a prefab structure, has five cottages and a restaurant to cater to the need of tourists and is located 28km South of Shillong in Meghalaya. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday stressed the importance of community engagement in driving the state's economic model.He said this while inaugurating the "The Travellers Nest" at Kyiem village in Mawphlang in East Khasi Hills close to the famed sacred forests of the Khasis. "Our strength lies in community involvement, which we are leveraging for our economic model," he said. Highlighting the collective responsibility of various stakeholders, including the government, community, and public at large, he said, "Meghalaya's progress cannot be achieved in isolation. Every stakeholder has a role to play, and identifying these roles while keeping the ultimate goal in mind is crucial". He said the government is working to promote the strengths of Meghalaya as a shining example of sustainable economic growth driven by community strengths. "We are building an economy and livelihood based on our state's strengths. This model is one we wish to showcase to the world.", the CM said. The Travellers Nest, a prefab structure, has five cottages and a restaurant to cater to the need of visitors and is located 28km south of the state capital. "Tourism is a key sector for us. Our goal is to create close to one lakh job opportunities in the sector through various interventions by stakeholders," he added. Sangma said under the Chief Minister's Elevate programme, the government is offering substantial subsidies ranging from 30 per cent to 75 per cent for projects initiated by different entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and other entities. "The goal of the programme is to invigorate the economy through diverse initiatives, from cinema halls to health clubs and tourism projects", he added. He also informed the gathering of the significance of improved road infrastructure in the state. He said that the ongoing improvement and construction of the road from Mawphlang to Weiloi is a testimony of the government's commitment to prioritising road connectivity. He expressed confidence that Meghalaya's relentless efforts would result in a prosperous and sustainable future. "We are on a path to success, and our progress is underpinned by community participation and collaboration. Together, we are shaping a brighter tomorrow for Meghalaya," he exhorted. During the programme, the CM also flagged off eight Toyota tourist vehicles released under the Prime Tourism Vehicles scheme.

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Accor signs Grand Mercure in Agra, set to open in September

Accor has introduced its first Grand Mercure property in Agra, a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage and the iconic Taj Mahal. The new property is strategically located in Fatehabad, a mere short drive away from the famous tourist site, ensuring a remarkable and memorable stay for guests. Scheduled for a grand opening in September 2023, the Grand Mercure Agra will boast 168 meticulously designed rooms, promising a comfortable stay for every guest. The culinary offerings of the hotel are set to make a lasting impression, encompassing a multi-cuisine, all-day dining restaurant, an elegant bar for savouring fine spirits, and an alfresco terrace restaurant, which will provide a delightful blend of exquisite cuisine and stunning city vistas, creating an ideal backdrop for an unforgettable dining affair. The hotel will further offer a meeting space of 300 square meters, equipped with the latest technology, alongside amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a rejuvenating spa, and a swimming pool. The project is owned by Laxman Das Goyal, whom operates diverse business ventures in glass manufacturing, real estate, and hospitality, already operating two properties in Agra, a testament to his active involvement in the hospitality sector. Aniruddh Kumar, Vice President of Development, India and South Asia at Accor, said, “Agra is set to host the first Grand Mercure property in the city, as Accor, renowned for its exceptional hospitality, expands its presence in this iconic tourist destination. We eagerly anticipate the opening as it will underscore our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to guests while upholding the legacy of our existing properties.” Lakshman Das Goel, Chairman, Shree Sarnam Real Estate, “It is truly a privilege to partner with Accor for their first Grand Mercure property in Agra. The vibrant city of Taj Mahal is frequented by thousands of tourists each day and this venture exemplifies our shared vision to foster the growth and advancement of the hospitality sector in Agra, catering to the diverse needs of both business and leisure travellers.” Grand Mercure is tailored for contemporary travellers who seek premium comforts and cultural reconnections – an unexpected approach to the familiar, respectful reinterpretations of age-old practices. Grand Mercure invites guests to experience the uniqueness of each culture and each hotel exemplifies that locale’s way of life: the iconic dishes, the beverage ceremonies, the rituals to treasure and share. Accor currently operates 58 properties in India under the Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, and ibis brands.

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Strong spike in overnight stays by Indian travellers in Germany as visitation inches closer to pre-Covid numbers

After the return of Indian travellers to Germany in large number last year, Germany wit than 6 lakh overnight stays and a 209 per cent increase after the Covid-19 pandemic, the European destination has seen a steady 120 per cent rise in overnight stays by Indians first four months of 2023. Frankfurt has emerged as the most popular German destination Indian travellers. New data from the German National Tourist Board reveals that the number of overnight stays by Indians in Germany increased by 209 per cent in 2022 compared to the previous year. The India office of the European tourism board organised its annual press conference in association with the German Embassy in India to apprise about the latest tourism developments in the destination. Inching closer to pre-Covid numbers, visitation by Indian travellers to Germany revived 65 per cent in 2022, and in the first quarter of this year, the recovery figure stood at 89 per cent, indicating another positive quarter of strong visitation by Indians. In the first four months of 2023 (January to April), overnight stays in Germany by Indian tourists increased by 120 per cent, with 246,739 visits. Notably, India is placed 21 st in the top inbound tourism markets for Germany . The US is the number one overseas market for Germany Tourism. In 2022, Indians spent a total of 623,363 nights in Germany, which is an increase from 201,194 nights in 2021. However, the record level of 961,656 nights in 2019 has not yet been reached. According to Romit Theophilus, Director India for the German National Tourist Office, there is a huge demand among Indians for international travel, and the destination’s medium-term goal is to reach pre-Covid levels by the end of this year. He also termed Germany as an affordable European option after he cited data indicating lower room rates in German hotels than the European average and other destinations. According to the data shared by the German Tourism Board, out of the total visitation by Indian travellers to Germany, holiday trips haveoutpaced business trips defying the earlier trend. 52 per cent of Indians took a holiday trip to Germany, while 39 per cent of Indians travelled to Germany for a business trip. VFR and other trips occupied 9 per cent share. Looking at the booking pattern, 87 per cent of the holiday trips by Indians are booked online while 43 per cent of them are done through a travel advisor or tour operators. 29 per cent holiday trips are booked directly. Lesser wait time for visa On the occasion, Georg Enzweiler, the new Deputy Head of Mission for the German Embassy in India said that there is a high desire among Indian travellers to travel to Germany and they are working to bring down the wait time for visa approvals with more workforce at its visa processing unit in Mumbai. Currently, the average wait time for aGerman visa in India is 8 weeks. “Germany is the second most popular Schengen destination for Indians. Visa is an important issue for us. We are striving to get better with regard to application time. We've increased our staff substantially in Mumbai and the waiting time has also gone down to eight weeks now. We are doing our best to improve on this and hope to get better with time,” he said. Another important development with the German visa is that applicants can apply anywhere from India irrespective of their issuing region, which is the case with certain other Schengen visas. New campaigns To further increase visitor numbers, the GNTO is offering a comprehensive tourism package with three different campaign themes for 2023, including a UNESCO campaign and two campaigns with a strong ‘green focus’ that have already had a successful impact in 2022. Theophilus said that these campaigns will be played out with new travel ideas and inspirations in 2023. On ETTravelWorld’s query on spending trends by Indians in Germany, he said that visitors, on average, spend around 1800 – 2,000 Euros while on the trip. The average overnight stay by Indians in Germany is 3 to 4 nights. Theophilus said these campaigns are aimed at encouraging Indian travellers to spend more time in Germany and take the average overnight stay to 6 to 7 nights. The German National Tourism Office is also working to position Germany as an ideal sustainable destination for tourists by marketing sites as a part of product diversity in cities and rural areas with good accessibility.

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Starting in November 2023, New Routes, Flights, Increased Frequency to Impact Your Travel between USA and India

At the outset of 2023, International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasted air passenger traffic to reach 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and surpass the previous numbers in 2024. International airlines’ response to rapidly increasing demand for air travel with a network overhaul is riding the recovery of the aviation industry post pandemic. As part of their global expansion plans, many international airlines including Etihad, Air India, United Airlines, Air France, Turkish Airways, and Lufthansa are charting new routes to India besides increasing service frequency on their existing routes. This means the launch of new routes and flights, both nonstop and connecting, between the US and India. Etihad Airways’ new destinations in USA and India To compete with rival airlines, Etihad Airways is expanding its network both in the US and India. After having declared Boston as its fourth destination in the United States, Etihad is all set to launch flights to two new destinations in Kerala as part of its winter schedule. Starting in January 2024, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram will see Etihad flights from USA to India via Abu Dhabi. Cheap Etihad Airways deals for flights to Kozhikode from USA are available on IndianEagle.com. After Qatar Airways, Etihad will be the second airline to be operating to Calicut International Airport, Kozhikode. Etihad Airways’ entry into competition with Emirates and Qatar Airways is good for economy travelers seeking cheap flight tickets to Thiruvananthapuram from USA via AUH. Etihad Airways’ Boston to India service will take off on March 31, 2024. Turkish Airlines’ new routes from USA to India Of the few major events to impact travel between USA and India this year (2023) end is Turkish Airlines’ new service from Detroit with connection to India via Istanbul. Detroit to India flights by Turkish Airlines will take off on 15 November 2023, and the thrice-a-week service will be increased to four times a week in 2024. Interestingly, Turkish Airlines is the first Middle East carrier to be catering to Detroit in the Midwest. Other than cheap Turkish Airlines tickets to India from USA, the new service has a few advantages over Lufthansa, British Airways, American Airlines and Air France connecting Detroit to India. Read more about Detroit to India service: Turkish Airlines vs European airlines. Reportedly, Denver in Colorado, and Orlando in Florida are Turkish Airlines’ potential destinations in the United States. Air France’s new destinations in USA Good news for North Carolina Indians! Starting 3o October 2023, Air France will open up a new route from Raleigh and connect it further to India via Paris. Currently, most flights from Raleigh to India are operated by American Airlines and United Airlines (along with its interline partner, Air India). Both these airlines allow international travelers to check in only one bag for free. Air France’s weekly thrice service from Raleigh-Durham International Airport would be a good alternative to two-stop itineraries originating in Charlotte. However, the growing Indian-origin community in the Research Triangle Park, NC is seeking nonstop connectivity from Raleigh to India. Minneapolis is another upcoming destination of Air France in its US network. Air France flights from Minneapolis are scheduled to take off in May 2024; a definite date of the launch is yet to be announced. The airline will also increase its thrice weekly service to/from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to five times a week. Air India’s new routes from USA to India Air India is reportedly planning to expand its nonstop India-USA flights service to Boston and Los Angeles where a sizable Indian community lives. Boston Logan Airport, the largest and busiest airport in New England, is a gateway to the six-state region. Apart from holiday and business travelers, a large number of Indian students will be the beneficiaries of direct flight service from Boston to India. On the other hand, Los Angeles is most likely to be the origin of Air India’s another new service between USA and India. Indian immigrants in Southern California have been anticipating nonstop connectivity from Los Angeles to India for the past few years. These two routes are likely to be introduced in November or December 2023. We also see the likelihood of having Dallas and Atlanta in Air India’s US network in 2024. Kuwait Airways’ new route from USA to India Kuwait Airways flights from USA to India will also take off from Washington Dulles (IAD) on 15 December 2023. After New York JFK, Washington Dulles is the second US gateway to the airline. The airline will operate the new service from Washington DC three times a week and seamless connect it to Delhi and Mumbai via its hub, Kuwait City. Kuwait Airways’ best deals for USA to Indian flights are available through IndianEagle.com, a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in America. Like other Middle East carriers, Kuwait Airways allows two bags to be checked in per international traveler (on adult fare) for free. United Airlines to reinstate suspended routes to India To compete in the US-India nonstop travel market, United Airlines is reinstating its nonstop service on the routes to India that the airline had suspended due to its restricted access to the Russian airspace. Its Chicago to Delhi nonstop service will resume from 20 March 2024 while the exact dates of the resumption of United flights from Newark to Mumbai and from San Francisco to Delhi are yet to be announced. To cater to the growing demand for travel between the northeast US and India without international transit, United Airlines is ramping up the frequency of its Newark to New Delhi flights nonstop. Starting 29 October, United Airlines will run double daily flights between Newark EWR and Delhi IGI Airport. Lufthansa’s new destination in India Lufthansa is on an expansion spree in India. Hyderabad is the newest and fifth destination of Lufthansa flights to India from USA via Frankfurt. Starting from 16 January 2024, Lufthansa will touch down at HYD RGI Airport on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This will facilitate one-stop travel to Hyderabad for Indians residing in Charlette, Detroit, Denver and Orlando, since Lufthansa is one of the few non-American airlines flying from those US cities. It marks Lufthansa’s comeback to the City of Pearls after the service was suspended in 2011.

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Independence Day 2023: Hotel bookings jump 2.5 times as long I-Day weekend boosts travels

Indian travellers have preferred a 4-5 day break for the extended August 15 holiday. For international short trips, preferred places include short haul destinations like Dubai, Singapore, Maldives and Bali whereas on the domestic front many Indians are opting for spiritual destinations. Independence Day is boosting travel demand in 2023. The extended weekend with the Independence Day holiday falling on a Tuesday has led to a 2.5-times increase in travel bookings."Independence Day is making the weekend longer this year and that has led to a boost in the travel industry," said Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip. "We have seen a rise of 70 percent in searches on our platform." Compared to long weekends last seen in May, Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head for Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook, noted that there has been a three-fold increase in the long August weekend. Spiritual destinations  "Travellers are opting for a 4-5-day break," said Aloke Bajpai,Group CEO and Co-founder of Ixigo, an online travel aggregator. "Short-haul destinations like Dubai, Singapore, Maldives and Bali are some popular international picks this year." On the domestic front, many people have chosen spiritual destinations for the extended August 15 holiday. Varanasi saw a 102 percent increase in flight searches, despite a 7 percent rise in flight prices over last year, according to data by travel app Kayak. Madurai recorded a 97 percent increase in flight searches with a 22 percent price increase from the last year. Varanasi and Madurai emerged as the top trending destinations for the extended August 15 weekend. Other places  that saw the largest increase in flight searches as compared to the previous year include Bhubaneswar, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. Demand surge There has been a 30 percent uptick in individuals booking flights within seven days of the scheduled departure for the Independence Day extended weekend this year as compared to the same weekend in 2022, noted Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip. Ixigo's Bajpai said that due to high travel demand, spot fares for flights from Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi to Goa, Jaipur and Kochi have gone up. "Fares booked 48 hours in advance for travel have gone up by 15-20 percent. A Mumbai-Jaipur one-way flight is costing around Rs 7,400 for August 11 and 12. Same flight when booked a week or two in advance will cost a traveller Rs 5,490. Spot fares for Bengaluru-Mumbai for the same dates have gone up by more than 100 percent." Train travel has also seen a surge this year for the extended long weekend. Online train discovery and booking platform ConfirmTkt recorded a 10 percent increase in bookings in August for Independence Day and Raksha Bandan holiday period compared to last year. The platform has received maximum traction from Mumbai to Pune, Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Bangalore to Chennai, Chennai to Coimbatore, Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam routes. Hotels sold out Hotel bookings are also 2.6 times higher than last year during the Independence Day period, said Prahlad Krishnamurthi, Chief Business Officer at Cleartrip. "Our occupancy levels for the period from August 12 to 15 is very high. This year's booking surge for the Independence Day long weekend has soared by 50 percent over the same period last year," said Vishal Gupta, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach. "Despite a 50 percent increase in inventory from last year, we are sold out," said Devendra Parulekar , Founder at SaffronStays, a network of private villas. "The average rates are 10 percent higher this year than they were last year." For premium hotels, the average surge in room rates across destinations is around 20-30 percent, said Indiver Rastogi, President and Group Head for Global Business Travel at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel. Rooms that typically go for Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 have been sold for Rs 20,000 for the long weekend. Rastogi said that occupancy levels are estimated to be at 80-100 percent for the Independence Day extended weekend. Magow pointed out that there has been a 22 percent increase in bookings for premium and luxury properties for the duration compared to the same period last year. Booking inquiries have recorded a double-digit surge, said Zubin Saxena, Managing Director and Area Senior Vice President for South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group. "As the luxury travel trend is shaping the industry, there is a significant inclination of consumers who are opting for luxury and upscale accommodations during this period. With travellers keen on making the most out of this extended weekend break, we are anticipating last-minute bookings for drivable destinations from metros. We have recorded strong demand trends for key locations in Western and Southern India like Lonavala, Mamallapuram, Chennai, Goa, among others for the long August 15 weekend,” he said.

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New passport rules: Passport verification via DigiLocker

The Indian Government has made it mandatory for passport applicants to create a DigiLocker account while submitting their applications, especially if they use Aadhaar for verification purposes. This comes as a major change with regard to the passport application process for international travel. If reports are to go by, applicants will now have to use the government platform DigiLocker to apply for a new passport. One will also have to upload all documents using DigiLocker, after which applicants can apply online through the official website passport india.gov.in. As such, the new ruling mandates that applicants will now have to upload the mandated documents on DigiLocker before online submission of passport applications. No need to carry a hard copy of essential documents To make the process easier, the Ministry of External Affairs added that if the applicants use DigiLocker to upload their documents, they will no longer be required to carry hard copies of any documents during the application process. This will help in reducing the overall processing time, which is expected to increase the quality of the passport application process. Why implement this rule? As per the reports, the DigiLocker has been introduced in the passport application process to not only speed up the application process, but also to make it efficient. Simultaneously, Passport Seva Kendras and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) have been implemented in various regions to reduce the need for physical document verification. What is DigiLocker? It’s a digital wallet service that has been launched by the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information. With this, users will be able to collect and keep all their essential documents, issued by the government, in a safe and secured manner. Users will also get to access it whenever and wherever required, like the driver's license, marksheets, vehicle registration certificate, and other necessary documents. How to use DigiLocker? To open a DigiLocker account, users will be required to register with their mobile number, which should have already been linked to Aadhaar. They will then be sent a one-time passcode (OTP) on their linked mobile number, which they will require to log in to the DigiLocker account. Further, one should bear in mind that if you want to make any changes in DigiLocker, you will have to make changes in Aadhaar. What are the documents that it can store? You can use this system to store any type of document. The Ministry has now also allowed the use of Aadhaar documents via DigiLocker for online application submission. Any type of certificate, Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, and voter ID card can be kept safely on DigiLocker. Why use DigiLocker? Well, this virtual locker has been introduced by the government to facilitate your application process as well as to keep your document safe. Since it can store any kind of document, you will get the freedom of not taking your important documents in hard copies.

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