28-Sep-2024

The Thai government is planning to reintroduce the INR750 (approx. 300 baht) tourism tax. The newly appointed tourism minister has announced his intention to boost tourism revenue to at least 3 billion baht within a year. The revenue collected by tourism tax will help develop tourist attractions as well as
install safety protocols for visitors. For people landing in the country through airways the tourism tax will be INR750 (300 baht) while those arriving by land or sea routes will have to pay INR380 (150 baht). Children under two years of age, transit passengers, diplomatic passport holders, individuals with
work permits will be exempt from this tax. Cities like Edinburgh, Venice, Barcelona etc are already imposing tourism tax. Bhutan too imposes a tax of INR8395 which will continue till 2027.

27-Sep-2024

PM Narendra Modi launched 3 new Vande Bharat trains in Maharashtra taking the total number of Vande Bharat trains running in Maharashtra to 11. The Vande Bharat trains are popular among travelers due to their high speed, safety and comfort. The three new routes are Nagpur to Secundarabad, Kolhapur to Pune and Pune to Hubballi. Maharashtra has a diverse geography with a coastline, mountains, plateaus and is an industrialized state. Hence connecting various cities in Maharashta with one another and with other cities outside of the state will provide a push to industrial growth as well as tourism. Maharashtra already had 8 Vande Bharat trains running in the state and addition of these three trains will further enhance the connectivity within the state and with cities outside as well.

26-Sep-2024

Sikkim now has India’s longest ropeway. Called the Dhapper-Bale-Dhunga Ropeway in Yangang it is located in the Namchi district. It was inaugurated on September 16 and its covers a huge distance with the journey offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. Tickets for the ropeway will cost INR950. Yangng is a charming town in Namchi district and popular places to visit include Yangang Monastery, Buddha Park and Temi Tea Garden.

25-Sep-2024

Goa will turn into an international cruise hub by March 2025. Goa’s Mormugao Port will become a new eco-friendly, state of the art cruise terminal next year which will accommodate both domestic and international cruise liners. Mumbai, Kolkata and Goa too house a few international cruise liners. The Goa international cruise terminal will have 24 immigration counters, 10 check-in counters, a waiting lounge and baggage carousels. The domestic terminal will have 12 check-in counters, a waiting lounge and baggage carousels. Duty-free shops, lounges, food court, ferry terminal, parking, landscaped gardens and an internal road network too will be developed at the cruise terminals.

24-Sep-2024

Kolkata is the only Indian city where the trams are still running. However they will soon be a thing of the past even there. After a magnificent journey of 151 years trams will be gradually phased out from the city. The trams will run on the Esplanade-Kidderpore route only as a “heritage joy-ride route”. While
tram lovers are aghast at this decision, the Government believes that with the growth in use of private cars, trams take up a lot of space and hence are no longer compatible with modern transport needs. They also slow down traffic.

23-Sep-2024

Pune’s Lohegaon airport will be renamed as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Pune International Airport. The state has approved the renaming of the airport and the proposal will soon be forwarded to the Central government for approval. The proposal for renaming the airport was put forth by Pune MP Mr. Murlidhar Mohol in August. Lohegaon is the village of Sant Tukaram’s mother had hence is a fitting name for the renaming.

21-Sep-2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox as a health emergency. Bengaluru airport authorities are thus taking proactive measures to screen all international arrivals coming from Africa for the Mpox virus. Those found positive have to undergo a 21 day quarantine and isolation similar to what
was practiced during Covid-19 pandemic. The testing is free of charge. The first Mpox case in India was reported at Delhi. Mpox virus has been detected in many African countries as well as in Pakistan, Sweden and Thailand.

20-Sep-2024

Uttar Pradesh is set to venture into water tourism. Uttar Pradesh will soon introduce catamaran boats at Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi with each city having 2 catamaran boats each. Currently both Ayodhya and Kashi have one catamaran each with a capacity of 50 passengers per boat. Uttar Pradesh is aggressively
promoting tourism in the state with special focus on rural, agri and water tourism. Other than catamarans, electric boats, motorboats and mini-cruise boats are also expected to start operating after the monsoon season

19-Sep-2024

Thailand will be introducing Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for nationals of nearly 93 countries, including India. This is being done in order to provide better security, simplify immigration and efficiently keep track of incoming tourists. Citizens of Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos will be excluded from
this scheme. An ETA will be valid for single entry with a maximum stay limit of 60 days. The ETA will come into effect from December 1, 2024. An e-visa system will also be implemented by the Thai government which will then be integrated with the ETA into one single online system by June 2025. Tourists with
ETA will be able to use the automated immigration gates on entry points, thus saving time and the hassle of dealing with the immigration officers.

18-Sep-2024

Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands will henceforth be known as Sri Vijaya Puram. The islands were once a naval base during the reign of the Cholas and later became the place where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the tricolor for the first time. It also has the cellular jail where countless
freedom fighters like VD Savarkar endured enormous hardships while struggling to free the country. Even today Andaman and Nicobar Islands are of crucial importance to the country’s defense owing to their strategic position in the Indian ocean. Keeping all this is mind the name change was decided in order to
honor the past and shed colonial baggage.

17-Sep-2024

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are all set to have their first ever seaplane services soon. This will be a private service under UDAN which will operate between Port Blair to Campbell Bay, Port Blair to Car Nicobar, Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep, Port Blair to Shaheed Dweep and Port Blair to Little Andaman. Recently Nicobar Island was in the news for a mega international transshipment project announced by the Center with fears that it might affect the Shompens, an uncontacted tribe of Nomadic hunters on Nicobar island

16-Sep-2024

Rome in Italy is considering introducing a ticket for visiting the iconic Trevi Fountain. Like many other famous tourist destinations in Europe Trevi fountain too is facing a problem of over tourism. As large number of tourists gather to toss coins into the fountain it is becoming difficult to get a clear view of the fountain. There are also increased cases of littering at the site, tourists found eating while leaning into the fountain which the locals find offensive, etc To tackle these issues tourists might soon need to pay one-euro for visiting the fountain. Entry will be free for locals.

14-Sep-2024

Uzbekistan Airways has announced direct flights from Goa to Tashkent. These flights will operate two times in a week and will start from October 27 this year. The AirbusA320 will connect Tashkent to Mopa airport in Goa and will help boost tourism between the two countries. This is a part of Goa Tourism’s initiative to promote Goa as a year round destination. Goa is best known for its beaches like Baga beach, Agonda beach, Palolem beach, Anjuna beach, Calangute beach, etc

13-Sep-2024

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam will reopen to tourists from October 1 for the 2024-25 tourist season. The park closes annually during the monsoon season to safeguard both the animals and the tourist during the heavy rains which the state receives. The UNESCO world heritage site park is a popular destination among tourists and is best known for its one-horned rhinos and rare bird sightings. This year monsoon wrecked havoc in the park killing 215 animals due to floods, of which 13 were one-horned rhinos.

12-Sep-2024

Air India has increased the check-in deadline for its international flights. Earlier the check-in counters would remain open for 60min before scheduled departure. However now they will remain open for 75min before scheduled departure. This change is already effective and has been put in place to help travelers
navigate security and immigration at ease, especially on very busy days. This will likely reduce stress on both the passengers as well as ground staff who deal with peak hour rush to complete necessary formalities.

11-Sep-2024

With the aim to make Kerala garbage-free by March 30, 2025 the state will designate 25 popular tourist spots as “Green Tourism Destinations”. Under this program the selected spots will follow strictly rules laid down for sustainable waste management, hygiene, cleanliness and conservation practices. Some
famous sites which will implement these measures are Kite Beach Park in Kasaragod, Lokanarkavu temple in Kozhikode, Iritty Eco Park and Chal Beach in Kannur, Nilambur Teak Museum in Malappuram, Adichanalloor Chira Park and Meenmutti in Kollam, etc.

10-Sep-2024

Telangana will set up a massive 1000 acre zoological park outside Hyderabad. This is being done to usher in eco-tourism while the government is also trying to boost temple tourism and health tourism. Telangana’s CM wishes to develop tourism in the state and has asked his ministers to formulate policies for the same and promised state support for development of infrastructure and accommodation and other facilities to support tourism in the state. Wildlife safaris are being planned at Kawal and Amrabad and there are plans to set up cottages at prominent tourist spots. The 1000 acre zoological plant will be built in collaboration with industrialists like the Vantara animal shelter in Jamnagar in Gujarat.

09-Sep-2024

Traveling to South Africa will soon become easier for Indian travelers. South Africa has launched a new initiative called Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to streamline the visa process which in turn is expected to boost tourism to the country. This initiative will be applicable for tourists from India and
China and will begin from 2025. Currently Indians account for only 3.9% of international visitors to South Africa and in order to increase this number the government plans to take active measures.

06-Sep-2024

Vistara will finally be merging into Air India. From November 12, 2024 Visatara will be a part of Air India and it has now stopped accepting booking for all flights after November 11, 2024. Passengers who have booked Vistara flights for travel dates beyond November 11 need not worry as their flights will still
operate as per schedule, but instead of Vistara they will be flying by Air India. The loyalty program of Vistara will be merged with Air India loyalty program. To avoid any inconvenience due to this merger passengers are advised to update their mobile no. and email id with the airline to ensure smooth
communication.

05-Sep-2024

Delhi to Dehradun might soon become a 2.5hr long journey by the end of this year. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is scheduled to open up in December 2024. Another route connecting to Haridwar too will open in May 2025 shortening the distance between Delhi and Haridwar to 2hrs. Currently it takes 6 hours to reach Dehradun from Delhi. The project will have a animal underpass and Asia’s longest elevated wildlife corridor (12km).

04-Sep-2024

Entry fees to New Zealand for international tourists will be tripled in the coming days. From October 1, the international visitor and conservation and tourism fees will be hiked from NZD35 to NZD100. This fee was first introduced in 2019, however since then the amount has proven insufficient to handle the impact of tourism on the country and its infrastructure. However the tourism industry is unhappy with this hike as it fears such a huge increase might put off tourists from visiting the country altogether. Before the pandemic tourism was the largest export earner for the country. Recently the visa fees too had been increased. There are also plans to increase charges at regional airports.

03-Sep-2024

Air India will soon introduce Wi-Fi on its flights. Air India A350 aircraft from Delhi to London will be the first one to offer Wi-Fi services to the passengers. The A350 has 28 private suites, 24 seats in Premium Economy and 24 seats in the Economy class. Many airlines like Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Lufthansa,
United Airlines are already offering Wi-Fi services onboard.

02-Sep-2024

The Union Ministry of Environment has awarded Surat with the “Swacch Vayu Survekshan (SVS) 2024” award. Surat in Gujarat stood first among 131 other cities in the whole country and won the top place, which speaks for its improved air quality. It was ranked 13th last year with Indore in Madhya Pradesh being placed at the first position. However in the course of a year Surat reduced its PM10 pollution levels by 12.71% bagging the first position this year.

31-Aug-2024

Your European Holiday maybe marred due to multiple strikes planned by multiple bodies across many European countries. If you are traveling to Spain and traveling through Alicante then there is a chance you might face delays at the airport as the staff will be on strike. Hence you are advised to reach the airport well in advance so that you do not miss your flight. While strikes are banned in Italy during peak season, that season is soon coming to an end and pilots and staff of Italy’s flagship carrier ITA airways and Wizz Air plan to strike from 13:00 hrs to 17:00hrs. Rail strikes will also be coming up at many places in
Italy. Staff on the Autoroutes du Sud and Vinci motorways in France too have threatened strike. A public transport strike is expected in Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam. Strikes are also planned at UK airports from Aug 31 to Sep 3 while in Scotland there might be train strikes.

30-Aug-2024

Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced that the FASTag system will soon be replaced by satellite-based toll system. This new system will pickup the kilometers traveled by a vehicle and charge it accordingly. This will help reduce the high charges vehicles pay due to multiple toll booths
despite traveling for only a short distance. The new system will be based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and it is currently being tested on the Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway (NH-275) in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar National Highway (NH-709) in Haryana. Later it will be rolled out all over India in a phase-wise manner.

29-Aug-2024

Travel time between Assam and Meghalaya is currently 1.5hrs. However it will reduce to a mere 45min soon. The Central government has been pushing infrastructure development in the North-east for the past few years and the results are now slowly visible. The new road connecting Meghalaya and Assam is 36km long and connects Damra in Assam with Bajengdoba in Meghalaya. This road will not just benefit tourists but also the residents of North Garo Hills

28-Aug-2024

By 2025 France will be the most visited country globally according to GlobalData. It is estimated that 93.7 million international visitors will travel to France by 2025. Before the COVID-19 pandemic France was the most visited country in the world. However in 2021 Spain overtook France. Other than France and
Spain, Italy too attracts a record number of travelers and contributes largely to the Western European tourism economy. France is most popular among Americans. France’s train network is robust which makes travel between different cities easy and cheap.

27-Aug-2024

The cheetahs of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh – Basil Leaf Holidays LLP will be roaming freely once again after a year. A year ago they were assigned to enclosures for health checkups the cheetahs which had been brought in from Africa will once again be free to roam around in the wild. In the first week of October, as the monsoons subside the cheetahs will be released in a phased manner. There are a total of 25 cheetahs in the Kuno National Park with 13 adults and 12 cubs. Three cheetahs recently died due to septicemia while 12 cubs out of 17 born in India have managed to survive.

26-Aug-2024

CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Radha Rani Ropeway in Barsana in Uttar Pradesh before Janmashtami celebrations. This ropeway will make it easier for devotees to reach the temple and will be of special help to the specially abled and elderly. A tiring climb will instead be easily accomplished by a pleasant journey offering scenic views. Barsana is the village of Radha and sees major festivals like Lattha maar holi and Radhashtami. The temple stands 600 feet above ground level and hence is difficult to access for many devotees. The ropeway has two towers with 12 gondolas and it covers a distance of 300m in 3mins. A new set of 275 stairs is also being built to provide another avenue of access to the temple.

24-Aug-2024

River cruises will soon be operational in Maharashtra. As part of its new tourism initiative cruise services will be developed on the Narmada, Vashishti and Godavari rivers. This will not just boost tourism but with development of ports along the Konkan coast will help in development of the region as well. The first of these cruises is planned between Nandurbar and Statue of Unity which will later be expanded to Nashik and Konkan.

23-Aug-2024

International flights will begin operating from Nashik airport from September 12 this year. Nashik’s Ozar airport has so far been used for domestic travel to various major cities in India but now its set to expand and begin operating international flights as well. Flights from Nashik to Singapore, Sydney, Dubai,
London, New York, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi via Delhi and Bangalore will be operational from next month. The number of flights and cities covered within India will also be increased with flights now planned to Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Varanasi, and Jaipur.

22-Aug-2024

The vista dome train will soon be running on the Kalka-Shimla route. The vista dome trains have 7 coaches with panoramic windows through which the passengers can feast their eyes on the breathtaking views of the hills and surrounding areas. This move will boost tourism on this route as the journey will be
an experience all by itself. Vista dome coaches were first introduced in 2018 and have grown in popularity since. The Kalka-Shimla railway line which began in 1903 is a UNESCO world heritage site

21-Aug2024

From October 1 of this year Indians will no longer need a visa when visiting Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has waived off visa requirement for 35 countries including India, UK, US and many others. This waiver will be valid for 6 months and has been introduced to boost tourism. Earlier too in Oct 2023 visa free travel
had been introduced for multiple countries including India which had been a grand success. Hence the government has decided to reintroduce this facility. 20% of international visitors to Sri Lanka in 2023 were Indians, hence this policy is of great importance for Indian travelers wishing to visit Sri Lanka.

20-Aug-2024

Global Livability Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and Numbeo’s Global Rankings for 2024 have declared Abu Dhabi in the UAE as the safest city in the world. The city has won this title for the eight consecutive year. It also is the most livable city in the Middle East and North Africa region. Abu Dhabi is known for its low crime rates, excellent healthcare facilities, excellent education standards among other things. Dubai ranks second in the UAE and fifth in the world for safety. Taipei in Taiwan at #4 is the only non-middle eastern country to feature in the top five list for safety.

19-Aug-2024

With the onset of the festival season airfares have seen a sharp hike. One way ticket fares have increased by 10-15% for Diwali season. Flights to and from Kerala have seen a spike of 20-25% in their rates for Onam dates. During Diwali dates the Mumbai – Delhi airfare has gone up by almost 25%, on Mumbai – Hyderabad route the fare is up by 21%, on Mumbai – Goa it is up by 19% and on Mumbai – Ahmedabad it has increased by 16%. Other popular routes too have seen an increase of 10-15% during Diwali days.

17-Aug-2024

India’s longest transport tunnel measuring 23.5km will now provide better rail connectivity to Ajanta caves. The Ajanta caves are a UNESCO world heritage site and are located in Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district in Maharashtra. The proposed new rail route will extend from Jalna to Jalgaon and will help improve connectivity between Marathwada and North Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, coastal Maharashtra and coastal Gujarat. It will also unlock the business potential of that area.

16-Aug-2024

Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanturai in Sri Lanka will be connected by the Sivaganga ferry from August 16. This regular ferry service will be operated by Ind Shree Ferry Services from Andaman and will have 133 ordinary class seats and 27 premium class seats. A one-way ticket in the ordinary class will cost INR5000 and in the premium class will be INR7500. Baggage allowance will be 60kg in luggage and 5kg as handbaggage. Indians need to apply for a Sri Lankan visa online before visiting the country. They can also get a visa on arrival if they first apply for an ETA online.

14-Aug-2024

Non-stop rains have wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand. And Dorothy’s seat also known as Tiffin Top, a famous tourist spot has suffered due to this. The famous tourist attraction was hit by a landslide and has collapsed due to the same. There were no casualties but the place has turned into rubble. Other parts of
Uttarakhand too have suffered badly due to incessant heavy rains. Tehri is suffering due to flooding while many pilgrims are trapped at Gaurikund.

13-Aug-2024

The new section of T1 terminal at Delhi airport will soon be open to public from August 17. Travelers & airport staff have faced numerous issues after the T1 terminal was closed due to a partial collapse on June 28. This led to added pressure on staff at T2 and T3 terminals due to ever-increasing queues and congestion. However that all is set to end once the T1 reopens. SpiceJet will be the first to move to the new terminal followed by Indigo from September 2.

12-Aug-2024

India has suspended all train services between India and Bangladesh indefinitely. Earlier Maitri Express and Bandhan Express were cancelled till August 6, however due to the prevailing situation in Bangladesh all train services have now been suspended for an indefinite period. Mitali Express too has been cancelled.
Mitali Express runs between New Jalpaiguri & Dhaka, Maitri Express connect Kolkata to Dhaka while Bandhan Express operates between Kolkata and Khulna.

10-Aug-2024

The Port Blair seaport is now a recognized Integrated Check Post (ICP) for foreigners with e-visa. This development will lead to a massive boost in tourism in the area. Andaman & Nicobar islands are known for their beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and a diverse marine life and hence are popular
among adventure enthusiasts as well as nature lovers. Yachting is also a popular activity from October to May when the weather is perfect and the sea is calm. Other than Port Blair, international tourists can enter through the ports at Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai and New Mangalore.

09-Aug-2024

After a group of people poured water inside the Taj Mahal the ASI has now put a ban of carrying water bottles inside the mausoleum. Visitors will no longer be allowed to bring in water bottles from Taj’s Chameli Pharsh area up to the main dome. Many people have criticized this decision saying that it will be
difficult for the tourists to manage without water while exploring the Taj Mahal due to the intense heat. Many people opined that more vigilance needs to be maintained at the Taj Mahal than banning water bottles.

08-Aug-2024

After PM Sheikh Haseena of Bangladesh resigned from her post and had to flee from the country many airlines had suspended services to Bangladesh. However now a few airlines have restarted their services to the country which is still facing large scale unrest. All major Indian airlines like Air India, Vistara
and Indigo have restarted operations and offering all sort of support for passengers affected by cancellations & rescheduling of their flight. Air India will be providing a one-time waiver on cancellation and rescheduling charges.

07-Aug-2024

Casinos might soon be legalized in Thailand. The country, in an attempt to boost tourism, has brought in a draft bill with plans to integrate casinos into large entertainment complexes thereby legalizing them. The government is also seeking feedback from the citizens till August 18 on this issue. The new bill
will allow large entertainment areas to include casinos with no more than 5% of the total area dedicated to them while the rest of it will be for hotels and their assorted facilities. These resorts will be located close to the international airport and will be developed in cities popular among tourists like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya.

06-Aug-2024

A wall of the 868 year old Sonar Qila or Jaisalmer Fort suffered a little damage due to heavy rains. A part of the wall of the fort on the Shiv road collapsed. No one was injured during this accident but the structure has been damaged. The Jaisalmer Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and over the years has seen crumbling walls due to lack of maintenance. Earlier too the walls of the fort have crumbled and were repaired by the ASI. The fort was built by Rawal Jaisal in 1156AD and is one of the few “living forts” in the world with people still living within its walls.

05-Aug-2024

Due to the global unrest India has issued travel advisories against traveling to 6 countries. These advisories mainly aim to reduce risks and ensure safety of Indians abroad or those planning to visit these countries. The MEA has issued an advisory against Libya & United Kingdom where there have been many incidents of civil disturbances recently. The government has also issued a travel warning for Israel where there is an ongoing war with Palestine and has advised Indians to follow all the local safety protocols. Iran, Lebanon and our neighbour Bangladesh too are on the list.

03-Aug-2024

Taj has debuted in Patna. Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced that Taj City Center will be established in Patna in Bihar. With 124 luxurious rooms and suites the hotel will offer beautiful views of the city. Shamiana – the all day dining restaurant and the House of Ming restaurant will cater to the
guest’s foodie demands while the J Wellness Circle will offer traditional Indian therapies to visitors. The hotel will also have space for wedding and corporate events. In the Eastern region Taj recently opened hotes in West Bengal and Sikkim.

02-Aug-2024

The “Via dell’Amore” trail along the Cinque Terre coast has now been reopened to the public after restoration. For the first few days it will be open only to locals. From August 9, the iconic trail will be open to tourists through advance booking only with 400 people allowed every hour. The entry ticket will
cost 5 Euros and will include a guided tour and entry to Castle Riomaggiore. This “Path of Love” trail connects Riomaggiore and Manarola villages. After a landslide in 2012 it was closed down for safety reasons.

01-Aug-2024

Tourists visiting Kutch and Diu will soon be able to enjoy a wildlife safari. A lion-leopard safari park has been approved by CZAI and the state government in this area which will not just help boost tourism but also aid wildlife conservation efforts. Twin safari parks will be set up at Narayan Sarovar in Kutch and
Naliya-Mandvi in Gir Somnath. A breeding center for Cheetahs will also be developed in Banni in Kutch, the first facility in India of its kind.

31-Jul-2024

Vistara has become the first premiere airline in India to offer free in-flight WiFi. Passengers on Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A321neo will be offered 20min on free WiFi inflight across all cabins. In case a passenger needs more hours of WiFi he will have to buy it using Indian credit/debit cards. Vistara offers three plans for WiFi users with one plan being free for Club Vistara members. Non-members will have to pay INR372.74 + taxes for this plan, while for the second and third plan the charges are INR1557.54 and INR2707.04 which offers unlimited data. The first plan provides unlimited chat access to various apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, the second plan allows audio-video streaming while the third plan offers unlimited data. Business Class and Platinum Club Vistara members will also receive 50MB complimentary WiFi.

30-Jul-2024

Increasing temperatures have been interrupting flights to and from Leh. Many airlines have had to cancel several mid-day flights owing to the rising temperature. The temperature which rose to 36 degree Celsius in the high altitude area made the air unfit for flying. Leh which is situated at an high altitude is not
used to such temperatures. Approximately 16 flights land and depart from Leh airport daily but several of these had to be cancelled which led to great inconvenience for the passengers. Other than commercial flights even the Air Force aircrafts are facing many difficulties while operating at Leh.

29-Jul-2024

India’s first sunken museum was opened to public on July 29. This museum is situated at the Humayun’s Tomb complex in New Delhi with more than 500 artifacts on display for the public for the first time. Inspired by the Baolis or water tanks the museum provides a glimpse into Humayun’s life and the history and heritage of the Nizamuddin area. It is developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture alongside the ASI and has on display Mughal miniatures, manuscripts, coins, textiles, etc. The museum will be open to visitors from July 30

27-Jul-2024

The Uttarakhand Government has mandated that all vehicles entering the state must have a garbage bin or bag in their vehicle. Many popular tourist destinations in the state are suffering from tourists throwing garbage out in the open leading to piles being accumulated along the roadside. The state transport department will conduct inspections at entry points to ensure compliance. Those who are found violating this law will be fined and they might also be denied trip cards which are mandatory for traveling within the state.

26-Jul-2024

A Forbes Advisor study has rewarded Singapore with the title of the safest city in the world for tourists. The study focused on crime, healthcare quality, infrastructure, risks related to natural disasters and digital security while analyzing nearly 60 tourist destinations across the world. Singapore managed to get a perfect score in this evaluation making it the safest city in the world for tourists. Tokyo and Toronto came second and third in this study followed by Sydney, Zurich, Copenhagen, Seoul, Osaka, Melbourne and Amsterdam. Caracas, Venezuela on the other hand was found to be the riskiest city in the world
for tourists.

25-Jul-2024

The annual Kanwar-Yatra is set to begin in the North. The Delhi – Meerut Expressway (DME) will be closed for vehicular traffic during this time. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on the DME from 22nd July while all vehicles will be banned from 29th July till 20:00hrs on 5th August. In the Kanwar Yatra young devotees collect water from the Ganga river at Haridwar and offer it to Dudheshwar Nath temple in Ghaziabad. Alternative routes have been opened up by the police to avoid inconvenience to commuters.

24-Jul-2024

Cruise passengers staying in Barcelona for less than 12hrs will now have to pay a Tourist Tax. Mass tourism has affected the day to day life of locals in the city. Owing to this the mayor has proposed a tourist tax to avoid overcrowding by tourists. He has also ended apartment rentals to tourists which will come into effect from 2028 and has already revoked more than 10,000 short term tourist rentals.

23-Jul-2024

Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram will be connected by a rail-route with the rest of the country by next year. The Bhairabi – Sairang New Line Railway Project which aims at connecting the North East region to the rest of the country is close to completion. It is being developed in order to connect all the capitals
with railway network. Guwahati, Agartala and Naharlagun in Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh are aleady linked to the network.

22-Jul-2024

Kota in Rajasthan will soon have a brand new airport. The opening of this airport will provide a boost to not just tourism but also business and education in the region. The land for the airport has been given by the state government for free and the development of the airport will now be carried out by the AAI. The airport will enhance connectivity in the region of Hadoti. The CM has also expressed the need to enhance the facilities at Jaipur and Udaipur airport which will further contribute to tourism & development in the state.

20-Jul-2024

The room behind the famous Buckingham Palace‘s iconic balcony is now open to public. This balcony which is a part of the Palace’s East wing was used by the Royal Family to greet the public on important occasions like coronations, festivals, etc. Six thousand tickets to the East wing have already been sold. Visitors will see the 73m corridor of the East wing including the yellow drawing room and center room. Though visitors will not be allowed to step on to the balcony they will be able to see the Mall as well as Jonathan Yeo’s new portrait of King Charles.

19-Jul-2024

Indians traveling to Qatar will soon be able to make payments using UPI in the country. NPCI has partnered with Qatar National Bank (QNB) to enable UPI payments in Qatar. Owing to this soon Indians will be able to make payments at shops, duty-free outlets, hotels, restaurants, while shopping, etc. using UPI apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, etc while traveling to Qatar. Indians form the largest group of foreigners visiting Qatar. This move not just benefits the traveler but also businesses in Qatar which will now be able to offer smoother and faster checkouts & other services.

18-Jul-2024

Qutub Minar has become the second most visited place by foreign tourists. While Taj Mahal still remains the number one place visited by foreigners, Qutub Mahal has overtaken the Agra Fort and become the second most popular place amongst foreigners. The 13th century Qutub Minar saw an almost 90% year-on-year increase in foreign visitors with 220,017 foreigners visiting the place in 2023-24. Recently there has been an overhaul in the maintenance and visitor amenities along with introduction of a laser show and these changes are being said to be the reason for the increase in tourist flow. On the other hand Agra
Fort saw closure of Sheesh Mahal and also as there were no modern amenities like cafes and gift shops it led to a decrease in visitors.

17-Jul-2024

In 2024 almost 2,00,000 Indians have visited Sri Lanka in the first half of the year. Sri Lanka Tourism has been targetting Indian tourists and have been putting in great efforts to attract Indians to visit their country. These efforts seem to have paid off. Sri Lanka Tourism has held numerous roadshows,
networking events across the length and breadth of India meeting with various hotel & travel business leaders & DMCs. Sri Lanka is known for its beaches, historical monuments, spirituality and culture.

16-Jul-2024

Asia’s largest dinosaur-theme park is now open in Malaysia! Dino Desert is spread across 11 acres of land and promises a memorable experience for dinosaur lovers across the globe. It houses almost 144 animatronic dinosaur species which includes the epic T-Rex. The animatronic dinosaurs mimic the original
dinosaurs in their vocalization and movements. At night one can enjoy Aurora Night in the park where visitors can stroll through the park under the aurora-like atmosphere.

15-Jul-2024

Palitana in Gujarat has become the world’s first city to ban sale & consumption of meat. Non-vegetarian food is now illegal in this city. This city has a great influence of Jainism and following the principles of Jainism, non-veg food has now been banned in the city. Nearly 250 butcher shops were closed down
in the city after continuous protests by Jain monks. Palitana is one of Jainims’s holiest town and is often referred to as “Jain Temple Town” with over 800 Jain temples. Other cities in Gujarat like Rajkot, Vadodara, Junagadh and Ahmedabad too have followed suit and have banned public displays of meat.

13-Jul-2024

The core zones in tiger reserves at Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri in Madhya Pradesh have been closed down for visitors. They are scheduled to reopen on October 1. Safaris are still operative in the buffer zones. Monsoon is the tiger’s mating season and during this season they prefer solitude and sometimes also become aggressive. Hence to ensure safety of visitors and provide some peace to the tigers the national parks are closed during the monsoon months. Heavy rains can also cause the trails to turn into muddy slippery paths which can also lead to accidents. Overflowing rivers, chances of landslides and unpredictable weather too are the reasons why it becomes necessary to close down national parks during the monsoon.

12-Jul-2024

Air Kerala, an air service based out of Kerala is set to begin operations soon. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved the project to start domestic services connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with Tier 1 cities in South India. There are also plans to fly to international destinations in the future. Their brand name will be airkerala.com.

11-Jul-2024

After tragedy struck at Bhushi Dam in Lonavala near Pune which resulted in death of five individuals, the Pune district administration has put in prohibitionary orders at many picnic spots like the Bhushi Dam and Pavana Dam in Mawal. These prohibitionary orders will be applicable from July 2 to July 31 to ensure
safety of visitors. People are also prohibited from entering water bodies and activities like shooting videos and selfies is also banned. Famous tourist spots like Rajmachi Point, Tiger Point, Lion’s Point and many more are also included under these orders.

10-Jul-2024

Saudi has introduced a variety of visa options for Indians. Stopover visa, e-Visa and visa-on-arrival are some of the options available for Indian tourists who wish to explore Riyadh, Jeddah, the Red Sea and AlUla. There are 10 visa centers in India in most of the major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Calicut and Ahmedabad. The Saudi Vision 2030 too aims at tapping the Indian market and attracting more and more Indians to visit the country. Indians can avail a stopover visa for a 96hr long stay while Indians holding tourist or business visa from UK, USA and Schengen countries are eligible for visa on arrival. These passengers can also opt for a visa-on-arrival at the international airport in Saudi too. Those who do not fall in any of these categories can apply through Tasheer centers across India.

09-Jul-2024

The CharDham Yatra has been suspended due to warnings of heavy rainfall by the IMD. On Saturday evening the pilgrims were advised to stay put and not move any further until further notice. This is being done as a precautionary measure to prevent any mishap. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts of Uttarakhand like Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri, etc. Hence visitors were advised to halt at Haridwar which is at the start of the CharDham Yatra and not to proceed any further. The Baldouda bridge and the Rudraprayag Gaurikund National Highway – 107 too have been blocked due to torrential rains.

08-Jul-2024

Seven local train stations in Mumbai are set to be renamed. The Maharashtra Council has approved the renaming of seven stations on the western, central & harbour routes and the proposal has been sent to the Central Government for approval. The stations which will be renamed along with their new names are as follows: Currey Road Station will be Lalbaugh, Sandhurst Road will be Dongri, Marine Lines will be Mumbadevi, Charni Road will be Girgaon, Cotton Green will be Kalachowki, Dockyard Road will be Mazgaon & King’s Circle will be Tirthankar Parshwanath. The Sandhurst Road renaming will be effective on both Central and Harbour routes.

06-Jul-2024

The Mumbai – Ahmedabad bullet train is expected to start operations in Gujarat by the end of 2027. The train operations will later be extended to Maharashtra. The trial runs will start between Bilimora and Surat in 2026. There will be twelve stations on the bullet train route. Eight stations viz. Sabarmati, Ahmedabad,
Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora and Vapi and four in Maharashtra viz. Boisar, Virar, Thane & Mumbai. It is estimated that the project will be completed by 2028 and the travel time between the two cities will be reduced to just three hours. Currently Vande Bharat Express on this route takes 5.5hrs
while a flight takes 1.5hrs.

05-Jul-2024

Devotees wishing to see Mount Kailash will be able to do so from September 15. The historic Pithorgarh Pass will reopen to pilgrims in September. It was earlier closed off due to COVID-19 related restrictions and many devotees wishing to see Mount Kailash have been eagerly waiting for the pass to reopen for
many years. The path is still closed from China but pilgrims can travel to Lipulekh from Dharchula by vehicle. A short 800m trek on foot later they will be able to see Mount Kailash. The pilgrims will get a chance to see not only Mount Kailash from this vantage point but also Om Parvat.

04-Jul-2024

The Disney cruise line which started in 1998 will finally be coming to Asia in 2025. The Disney Adventure Cruise will dock in Singapore next year and will be operative for at least five years in Asia. The cruise will have 3 night & 4 night packages with Mickey Mouse being the Captain of the ship in the first year.
There will be multiple areas on the ship offering a variety of experiences for those onboard. The Disney Imagination Garden will be at the heart of the ship where guests will get to experience adventures and stories of Disney’s legendary characters in open-air performances. Shopping and dining options from
global cuisines will be available at the Disney Discovery Reef which draws inspiration from aquatic creatures in the Disney enterprise. San Frasokyo Street, Wayfinder Bay, Marvel Landing and Toy Story Place are other prominent areas on the ship. The Disney Adventure will travel to over 40 UNESCO world heritage sites across SE Asia.

03-Jul-2024

After the roof collapse at New Delhi airport’s domestic terminal, the terminal is likely to remain closed for at least a few weeks. Following heavy rains a portion of the roof, canopy and a few beams collapsed last week. One person was killed and many were injured. This also led to diversion of flights of SpiceJet
and Indigo which mainly operated out of this terminal. The terminal was recently expanded and could handle 40 million passengers annually. Flight operations from T1 are currently limited to 15% of its usual capacity putting additional strain on the other terminals.

02-Jul-2024

After a four day closure during the Ambubachi Mela, the doors of the revered Kamakhya temple in Assam have reopened for devotees. Thousands of devotees were present at the time of reopening of the temple to pray and seek blessings of Maa Kamakhya. To manage the crowd of devotees safety and security arrangements had been put in place at the temple by the authorities with the help of the police & volunteers.

01-Jul-2024

The Notre Dame cathedral in Paris which was destroyed in a fire in 2019 is all set to reopen. On December 8 the iconic Notre Dame cathedral will once again reopen to public following renovation efforts over the past five years. The Cathedral has got a modern makeover with the introduction of designer priestly vestments, stylish bronze furniture, a new baptismal font, altar and tabernacle and nearly 2000 light oak chairs for the devotees. The stained glass windows, paintings and tapestries have all been restored to their former glory and a few new pieces have been added as well.

29-Jun-2024

An international airport is in the works in Hosur in Karnataka. This airport is expected to be of great help to those in Bengaluru’s IT corridor and its surrounding areas near Tamil Nadu border. Electronics City is almost 60km away from the current Bangalore airport and reaching it becomes difficult during peak hours due to congestion. The new airport at Hosur is likely to help divert some traffic from KIA. This new airport will stimulate growth in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu near the border areas

28-Jun-2024

Akasa Air will now have direct flights between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi from July 11. This will be the fourth international destination covered by Akasa Air which was launched just two years ago in 2022. Its first international destination was Doha where its first flight landed in March this year while it has
also announced flights to Jeddah and Riyadh. It has also acquired traffic rights for Kuwait and Medina.

27-Jun-2024

The roof of Delhi airport’s Terminal 1 collapsed on June 28 early morning after heavy rains hit the city. Taxis and a few vehicles were damaged and buried due to the roof collapse. Because of the roof collapse all departures from Terminal 1 were suspended temporarily and check-in counters too have been closed
as a precautionary measure.

26-Jun-2024

The Noida International Airport in Uttar Pradesh which was expected to begin operations from the end of this year will now be operational by the end of April 2025. No exact reason was given by the authorities for the delay but global uncertainties and trouble in getting raw materials might be few reasons for the same. Despite the delays though work on the runway, passenger terminal and air traffic control tower is going on at full speed. This airport is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Pvt. Ltd. which is a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG. This airport will be the second airport in the Delhi NCR region and will have two terminals & two runways. The airport also aims to achieve net – zero emissions, a first in India.

25-Jun-2024

Recently there was an oil spill near the Sentosa islands in Singapore. Sentosa island is a famous tourist spot. This oil spill has caused a major headache to tourists and tour operators as Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso beaches were closed down to public so that cleaning operations can proceed without any delays. Visitors are also being advised to not venture into the waters. Sentosa island is home to Universal Studios theme park and many casinos. The maritime traffic is not affected in the area despite the spill.

24-Jun-2024

The Ambubachi Mela will be held from June 22 to June 26 this year. This festival is one of the most important festival celebrated in Assam at the Kamakhya temple. The festival is a celebration of womanhood & fertility of the Goddess Kamakhya. The temple will remain closed for visitors from June 22 to June 25 and will reopen on June 25 at 21:08hrs. Many devotees from far and wide visit the temple during the Ambubachi Mela. No VIP passes will be issued this year and admission to the temple will be free. Roads leading to Kamakhya temple & Pandu Ghat will be closed at night and ferry services from Kamakhya Ghat will be suspended. Camp facilities are available near the temple and Pandu Ghat with food & water being strictly regulated.

22-Jun-2024

Gujarat’s Smritivan Museum which is dedicated to the resilience of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake victims & is a symbol of their survival against all odds has been nominated for UNESCO’s Prix Versailles Award 2024. These awards showcase modern architectural marvels from around the world and were instituted in 2015. The museum is divided in 7 sections – Rebirth, Rediscover, Restore, Rebuild, Rethink, Relive, and Renew – which are a symbol of growing through all the struggles. The winners will be announced in November

21-Jun-2024

The Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh will soon be converted into an eco-tourism destination. The Government has already begun upgrading the facilities at the reserve as well as has plans to improve the infrastructure around the tiger reserve. It is just 150km away from Madhya Pradesh’s
famed Panna Tiger Reserve and other than tigers; leopards, bears, chinkaras, deer are also found in this region. Tented accommodations are being developed in and around the tiger reserve to allow the tourists to immerse themselves in a forest experience.

20-Jun-2024

Indians might soon be able to avail visa-on-arrival in Taiwan. A large number of Indians travel to Taiwan annually. Also nearly 3000 Indian students are studying in Taiwan currently. Hence the Government of Taiwan is mulling offering visa-on-arrival for Indians which will make it easier for them to travel
there for business, tourism & education. Earlier Thailand & Malaysia too have offered visa free travel for Indians.

19-Jun-2024

In order to reduce time taken for check-in at Delhi airport a new service has been introduced wherein passengers will be able to drop their bags, get luggage tags and print their boarding pass – all in just 30 seconds. Delhi is the first airport and India and the second in the world to introduce this technology.
This self-service bag drop facility will be available at Delhi airport for passengers of Air India, Air India Express and Indigo. 50 self service drop units have been set up at Terminal 1 & 3 at the Delhi airport.

18-Jun-2024

Online booking for the helicopter services at Amarnath Yatra has commenced! Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has introduced the online booking facility for both Baltal and Pahalgam routes. The 52 day long Yatra will start from June 29 this year and end on August 19 on the day of Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Poornima. Online booking must be done through the official website of www.jksasb.nic.in and no offline tickets or priority booking will be available for the Yatra. Bookings will be on first come first served basis. One way fare from Pahalgam to Panjtarni will be INR4900 and a round trip will cost INR9800. On the Neelgrath to Panjtarni route the one way fare INR3250 and rount trip will be INR6500. Available slots will be 5-6 hours apart to prevent overcrowding. Charter flights can be booked only between Srinagar and Neelgrath.

17-Jun-2024

An intra-state air taxi service has been launched in Madhya Pradesh linking the two major cities of Bhopal and Indore. Named as ‘PM Shri Payatan Vayu Seva’ these air taxis will reduce the distance between the two cities to a mere 55min. If one travels by road the it takes 4 hours to travel between the two cities. Passengers are also being offered a 50% discount on the tickets. The government hopes that this has a positive impact on not just tourism in the state but also business expansion. The first flight of this service was launched by the Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav where he personally inaugurated an offline counter and traveled from Bhopal to Jabalpur. At present the aircraft can carry six passengers but as the demand increases 11 and 20 seater planes too will be introduced.

15-Jun-2024

From June 11 those applying for Schengen visas will have to pay more. The Schengen visa fees have been hiked by 12.5% from €80 to €90 for short stay visas. Applications for children between the ages of 6 and 12 will be €45. The fee hike is being done to compensate for the increased salaries of staff members
and to fight inflation. The Schengen visa fees are reviewed periodically every 3 years. Recently Indians have been given a choice to apply for a 5 year visa. Travelers who have used 2 visas in three years can apply for a long term visa with multiple-entry facility. Schengen visa grants one entry to 29 countries

14-Jun-2024

The number of e-gates at both the terminals of the Mumbai airport have been doubled. Earlier there used to be 24 entry points to the airport which have now been increased to 68. While T1 of the Mumbai airport has 6 gates each of digi-yatra and ordinary entry, at T2 the number is 28 each. Curbside waiting period too has been decreased to less than a minute. Digibuddies are available at the airport to help passengers use the digi-yatra facility.

13-Jun-2024

The IMD has announced increased rainfall from June 8 in the coastal areas of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Goa, Karnataka, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Sikkim will experience heavy rains till June 10 while an orange alert has been declared in many parts of Kerala. Delhi on the other hand will have cloudy skies with dust storms and thunderstorms. Heatwave will continue in the North as well as in Jharkhand & Bihar. Tourists visiting these areas are requested to keep track of the latest weather bulletins before planning a trip.

12-Jun-2024

Binibeca Vell in Spain also called the “Spanish Mykonos” draws thousands of tourists annually owing to its similarity to the Greek island. However this tiny village of 200 residents finds the crowds overwhelming. The locals wish for more calm and peace in their village and also find the behaviour of some tourists
objectionable with some of them going into houses uninvited or climbing walls, etc. To limit the number of tourists visiting and the inconvenience caused the locals allow visitors only between 11:00 AM to 08:00 PM. On 15th August they will vote on whether to put a complete ban on tourists

11-Jun-2024

Just when parts of India are welcoming the monsoon showers Greece is experiencing a heat wave. The government has cautioned that temperatures will reach or even exceed 40 degree Celsius this week. This can also lead to increased risk of wildfires. This year Greece experienced its warmest winter when temperatures rose high in April and there were also some incidents of forest fires in March. In 2023 forest fires had destroyed 1,75,000 hectares of forests and farmland.

10-Jun-2024

In order to encourage tourism the Thailand government has decided to grant visa-free access to Indians for a stay of up to 2 months in the country. Employees, students, retired individuals will be able to stay for an extended period of time in the country due to this facility. Other than India, 92 other countries
too are included in this special policy. This decision is in line with Thailand’s policy of boosting tourism in the country after the fall in tourist footfall post the pandemic. This policy will be effective from next month.

08-Jun-2024

Mobiles phones are now completely banned within the premises of the Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya. Citing security concerns, this decision was taking jointly by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra and the Ayodhya administration. Cloakrooms are available near the temple for convenience of the pilgrims where they can store their valueables and mobile phones.There are also plans to develop a 14 foot wide wall around the temple for security purposes.

07-Jun-2024

Uttar Pradesh plans to convert its historic forts and palaces into heritage hotels. Leading hotel groups like Leela hotels, Indian hotels company, Neemrana group, Mahindra Hotels and Resorts, Oberoi Hotels, Hyatt Regency and Lalit Hotels have shown an interest in developing these forts and palaces into five star
accommodations for tourists. These redeveloped forts and palaces will be an attractive option for those who prefer luxury while traveling and will be in alignment with the public-private partnership policy for tourism of the state. Chunar Fort in Mirzapur, Barua Sagar Fort in Jhansi, Jal Mahal in Barsana, Chattar Manzil and Kothi Roshan-ud-Daula, and Shukla Talab Haveli in Kanpur are currently being considered for redevelopment. In the next phase Mastani Mahal and Lake Palace in Mahoba, Tehroli in Jhansi, TalBehat Fort in Lalitpur will be considered for redevelopment among others.

06-Jun-2024

Kashmir has recorded a massive tourist footfall this year. More than 1.25 million tourists have already visited Kashmir this year. All hotels, homestays in popular destinations like Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Srinagar & Pahalgam are booked till June. Same has been observed with houseboats on Dal & Nagin lakes. An
increasing number of foreign tourists too are flocking to Kashmir. As the whole of India heats up due to extreme summers Kashmir remains a favourite destination to cool off. Most of the tourists in Kashmir are from Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

05-Jun-2024

Offline registration for Chardham Yatra have begun. Offline registrations can be done in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Earlier offline registrations had been cancelled as there was a fear of uncontrolled traffic and overcrowding at the pilgrimage sites causing problems to pilgrims. However the administration has
taken corrective measures and offline registration is now once again operative in the two cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh. A backlog of 25,000 registrations has been cleared and there are discussions of increasing the offline registration quotas at both the centers. Medical centers have been set up to conduct proper medical examination of pilgrims before allowing them to start the Chardham Yatra.

04-Jun-2024

Sale, possession and consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products is now banned in Katra. The Jammu administration has decided to ban tobacco products in the sacred town of Katra where Devi Vaishnodevi resides. This will help maintain the cleanliness and sanctity of the holy town. This ban will be applicable from Numai and Panthal checkposts to the Bhawan via the Tara Court area. Meat and alcohol were already banned in this area. The new regulation will come into effect immediately.

03-Jun-2024

Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular & iconic landmark not just in Paris but also of Europe. However from June 17, a visit to this European landmark is going to get costly. A massive 20% increase hike in the ticket prices has been approved by the city administration in view of the spiraling costs and
renovation expenses. The new ticket price for adults will be 35.30 euros ($38.31) which will include an elevator ride to the top. For children aged 12-14 the new ticket price will be 17.70 euros ($19.21) and for children between 11 to 4 years it will be 8.90 euros ($9.66). This price hike is to combat the rising cost of renovations as well as to makeup the losses due to pandemic.

01-Jun-2024

For the first time ever a Royal Bengal tiger was seen roaming through the jungles of the high altitude Yali forest about 25km from Gangtok, Sikkim. The tiger was observed through trap cameras which are set up under the tiger conservation project which aims to increase & conserve tiger populations. Sikkim is a
crucial area for tigers in the East and this conservation project spans across several protected areas.

31-May-2024

More than 650 pilgrims have been turned away from Badrinath Dham this year as they had not completed the necessary registration formalities. Registering for Chardham Yatra on the government’s official portal has been made mandatory for all Chardham pilgrims this year. This is being done to ensure the Yatra takes place smoothly and there is no overcrowding. Nearly 20,000 pilgrims visit Badrinath every day. VIP darshan too has been closed until May 31, 2024.

30-May-2024

The Valley of Flowers trek in Uttarakhand is set open from June 1, 2024. The 17km long trek is usually covered in three days and starts from Govindghat or Pulna village. This route remains open till October/ November and offers stunning views of over 300 indigenous flower species blooming in full glory. While
one marvels at the variety of flowers set against the stunning Himalayas one must also keep an eye on the variety of rare wildlife species. The nearest railway station is at Haridwar while the nearest airport is at Dehradun. The Valley of Flowers is spread over 87sq.km. and is one of the two main zones of the
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

29-May-2024

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates has started a new visa initiative called the “GCC Grand Tours”. Similar to the Schengen visa, this visa allows travelers to visit all the six countries of the GCC and also extend their stay
beyond 30 days. This will provide a significant boost to tourism in the area and also prove beneficial to travelers. The visa plan was approved by the GCC in 2023 and if everything proceeds as per plan then travelers will be able to apply for this visa from this year end or early next year.

28-May-2024

India’s leading domestic airlines Indigo is offering fares as low as ₹1199. The sale will run from 29th to 31st May for booking tickets for travel dates from July to September. The airline is also offering 20% off on seat selection. This sale will help attract more travelers during peak travel dates. Indigo has recently begun flying on international routes and is a fast growing airline. By this sale it hopes to attract new customers as well as retain old ones who stand to benefit from these discounts. It operates 2000 flights daily flying to 85 domestic and 30 international destinations.

27-May-2024

With the ongoing summer holidays and school vacations everyone has plans to unwind and relax at popular tourist destinations. To benefit such individuals Air India Express has introduced a new offer under which it is offering tickets at as low as ₹1177. This offer is valid for bookings done from 29th May
to 03rd June for travel dates up to September 30, 2024. This offer is for those passengers who will be traveling with cabin baggage only. 3KG check-in baggage can be added for free while discounts are available for adding more extra baggage as well for domestic as well as international flights. Members
will get 25% off on “Gourmair” hot meals and preferred seating.

25-May-2024

The John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport in New York is set to be renovated this summer. Carrying out renovations while operating a full fledged airport is no easy task and hence the airport authorities are warning travelers about expected delays and other inconveniences which they might face while traveling to and from JFK. The airport will increase the number of its ground staff, police officers, traffic managers and customer service representatives. Travelers are also advised to use public transport when heading to JFK or drop off at Lefferts Bouvlevard AirTrain station which will then take passengers to their terminals for free. Various airlines like JetBlue are also advising passengers to use the AirTrain. Once the renovation is complete JFK will have a brand new Terminal 1 & Terminal 6 (connected to Terminal 5), a bigger Terminal 4 and a renovated Terminal 8.

24-May-2024

The Adi Kailash Yatra has begun with 49 pilgrims arriving at Dharchula base camp. These pilgrims will be traveling to Jolingkong from where the sacred Adi Kailash mountain peak can be seen. Nearly 200 pilgrims were present when the temple opened this year. PM Modi had visited the Shiv-Parvati temple near the lake and had darshan of Adi Kailash peak after which many more people started visiting the peak. The Adi Kailash pilgrimage takes 7 days to complete and is conducted between May-June and then from September to October. The yatra is closed during the monsoon period of July and August. Uttarakhand Tourism Board has also launched a helicopter yatra for this route.

23-May-2024

India is experiencing an intense heat wave this summer with temperatures reaching over 40 degree Celsius in many cities across India. The IMD has issued a red alert across North India for the next five days. Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and northwest Madhya Pradesh are expected to be the worst affected. Even popular summer destinations like Shimla in Himachal Pradesh too are also experiencing rising temperatures. The IMD has advised everyone to remain indoors as far as possible and to stay hydrated. While the North is dealing with the intense heatwave, many places in the South are experiencing sudden rains. Various places in Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka experienced rains which has led to considerable cooling at these places.

22-May-2024

Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand has just begun with the temples being opened after almost six months on the auspicious day of Akshay Trittiya. The Yatra is very popular and attracts large number of devotees, In order to maintain the sanctity of the temples the Uttarakhand Government has put in a ban on mobile phone usage within 200m radius of the four temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri & Yamunotri. Photography and videography too has been prohibited within the 200m radius. In order to manage the huge influx of tourists only registered vehicles will be allowed on Chardham routes. This year has seen a tremendous spike in the number of visitors leading to issues in crowd management. The government has also mandated that every visitor must register on Uttarakhand tourism website before coming to visit. Devotees who fail to register will not be allowed to pass through the check-points.

21-May-2024

With the holiday season just round the corner Schengen visa applications are on the rise. Owing to this Indian tourists planning to visit Europe are facing difficulties getting a visa appointment. A visa appointment for Germany or Italy is now available only in July 2024. There has been a 44% increase in Schengen visa applications overall with most Schengen applications being first from China and then from India. In April 2024 the European Commission also introduced multiple entry visas for Indians which is very convenient for frequent travelers.

20-May-2024

Schengen visa fees are about to be hiked in June 2024. The EU has decided to revise its Schengen visa fees from June 11, 2024. A 12% hike is being planned for adults which will make the visa fees rise from €80 to €90. This increase in fees will be applicable for Type C Schengen visa for short stays. The fees
for children aged 6 to 12 years will be €45.Visa fees were last increased in 2020. Recently under a new regime Indians can obtain multiple entry visa valid for 2 years during which they can enter and exit multiple Schengen countries without applying for separate visas.

18-May-2024

Climate change which is manifesting in the form of ever-increasing temperatures is resulting in severe water shortage in many places. One such affected destination is Koh Phi Phi islands in Thailand. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches & sparkling blue waters. But as the temperatures rise and due to less rainfall the private company which supplies fresh water to the island has stopped its supply resulting in scarcity of water. If the problem continues they may need to ship water from the mainland. Koh Samui, another popular island destination too is facing the problem of a dry, hot spell but at present the island authorities are able to manage the situation.

17-May-2024

Very soon direct flights will be available between Cambodia and India. Cambodia’s Angkor Air will start operating direct flights between the two countries from June 16. These flights will be between New Delhi and Phnom Penh and will operative for four days in a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday. Cambodia is known for its beautiful Hindu and Buddhist temples. These direct flights will not only boost religious tourism but will also make medical tourism easy for those coming to India for medical treatment.

16-May-2024

Mount Fuji in Japan has been facing overcrowding worries for the past many months. In order to deal with this the Japanese government has introduced online booking system for the first time in history. Earlier a maximum limit of 4000 hikers per day was set. Online booking in advance will ensure that only those with tickets begin their journey to Mount Fuji and are not turned away on reaching the spot once the daily limit is met. The online booking platform will go live from May 20 and visitors will be able to book their tickets for July – September hiking season. 1000 spots will also be reserved for spontaneous climbers.

15-May-2024

Thailand has extended its visa exemption program for Indians. Tourists from Indian and Taiwan will be allowed to visit Thailand without a visa up to November 11. Under this scheme tourists will be able to stay in Thailand for 30 days now which was earlier only 15 days. Thailand’s economy heavily relies on tourism
has been facing issues since Covid-19 pandemic. Hence in a bid to attract tourists it has been introducing various measures to benefit tourist & welcome them. A major chunk of its tourists come from India, Taiwan, China, South Korea and Russia.

14-May-2024

Sri Lanka has extended visa-free entry for Indians up to May 31, 2024. Along with India citizens of China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand & Indonesia too will be allowed to visit Sri Lanka without a visa for 30 days. This visa waiver was first started in October last year in order to boost tourism. Indians are only required to have a valid passport, proof of accommodation & return ticket, vaccine certificates if applicable and must complete an online visa application form after paying the necessary fees when traveling to Sri Lanka.

13-May-2024

Dubai will be introducing air taxi service by the end of 2025. The RTA air taxi service will safely and efficiently connect major cities in the Emirate. The cost per person for the air taxi will be 350 dirhams. Not only will these air taxis provide excellent aerial views of Dubai to the passengers but will also reduce traffic congestion on roads. The time taken to reach from one destination to another will also be reduced by almost 70%. A 45min journey from Dubai airport to Palm Jumeirah will be reduced to mere 12min by air taxi. Every taxi will be able to accommodate 4 passengers and 1 driver and will also have sufficient place for luggage.

11-May-2024

Astrotourism is slowly becoming popular and to tap into this opportunity the Uttarakhand government has partnered with Starscapes, an astrotourism company to Nakshatra Sabha. Under Nakshatra Sabha star gazing and astronomy enthusiasts will be encouraged to participate in various activities like stargazing,
special solar observations, astrophotography and camping under the star covered skies. This initiative will kickstart from June this year at George Everest in Mussoorie and will continue till the middle of next year. Seminars will also be held by providing information about the stellar world. It will also provide professional training and skill training to locals interested in astronomy and tourism.

10-May-2024

A new ferry service has been introduced between Lakshadweep and Mangaluru. Named ‘Parali’ this high speed ferry service has cut travel time between the two by 5 hours. Earlier it used to take 13 hours to reach from Mangaluru to Lakshdweep but with this ferry you can reach there in just 8 hours. On May 3, the ferry had its inaugural run with 160 passengers onboard traveling from Lakshadweep to Mangaluru. After PM Modi’s visit Lakshadweep is slowly being developed as a tourist destination and is seen many new developments to facilitate tourist inflow.

09-May-2024

There is some good news for Tiger lovers! The Kota Tourist Zone inside the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is now open to tourists. This zone was official opened up to tourists on March 22nd this year and is within the Ramnagar forest division. Since its opening over 6000 tourists have visited the zone and it is gaining popularity. This zone is close to Sitabani zone and can be accessed through Bhandarpani Gate.

08-May-2024

Ooty flower festival, a popular festival in India, is held every year at the Botanical Gardens in Ooty in Tamil Nadu. It was first held in 1896 and has gone to become a popular festival which is attended by visitors from all over India. Over 150 varieties of flowers are on display and a delight for the eyes. This
year the festival is being held from May 17th to May 22nd. Tickets are available online or at the ticket counter and are just ₹50 for adults. Other than flower show the festival also has fruit show, spice show, rose show and vegetable show and should be on the wish list of every nature lover.

07-May-2024

The Madras High Court has mandated that tourists visiting Ooty and Kodaikanal will now have to get an e-Pass before visiting. This is being done to tackle over-tourism and conserve the sensitive Nilgiris’ ecosystem. This will be in effect from May 7, 2024 to June 30, 2024. There is no maximum limit to the number of tourists visiting daily. These passes will help collect data of the number of tourists visiting daily and also help deal with traffic congestions and overcrowding at popular tourist spots.

06-May-2024

Sanglaphu Lake in Sikkim is now open to visitors for the first time ever! At an altitude of 16,670 feet this lake is 5km from Zero Point near Lachung. This place holds great religious importance for the locals. And hence it will be important that tourists who visit this place respect religious sentiments of the locals. Tourists will not be allowed to carry single use plastic items and tetra packs and spitting is strictly prohibited. Only 4 wheelers will be allowed at the moment. The journey to this lake is adventurous and once you reach the lake the views from the top are breathtaking.

04-May-2024

The Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve will be closed to tourists from May 15, 2024. All the jeep and elephant safaris will be closed for this year till further notice. Earlier the famous Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve had declared closure of elephant safaris from May 1, 2024. Jeep safaris were
suspended by the park from May 16. Keeping in mind the seasons and migration patterns of animals tourist season begins in October in Assam and ends in May. Last year Kaziranga saw record breaking arrival of tourists.

03-May-2024

In just the first three months of 2024 Sikkim saw record breaking tourist arrival. Known for its natural beauty the state is perfect for family vacations as well as solo adventures. Nearly 2,90,401 tourists visited Sikkim till March 31 this year. A main reason for growth in tourism here is that it can be visited
year round. In summers one can visit it to escape the heat while in winters it becomes a winter paradise. Gangtok which is the capital is a modern city bustling with activity while the Himalayas are just round the corner in case one is in search of some peace and calm.

02-May-2024

IRCTC will soon be providing Economy Meals costing just ₹20 at select train stations across India. This will help travelers find good and healthy food options on their journey without having to spend a lot of money. Almost 150 meal counters have been set up across 100 platforms which will be expanded further. There is also a second option of Snack Meals costing ₹50 which will provide a quick bite for those travelers who prefer to eat light during travel. At present these counters have been set up at Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Renigunta, Guntakal, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Vikarabad, Pakala, Dhone, Nandyal, Purna, and Aurangabad stations.

01-May-2024

Venice has been struggling with over tourism for quite some time now. In order to tackle this menace the city has now introduced a fee for day-trippers. Visitors will have to purchase a five euro ticket for visiting the city and nearly 10,000 tickets have already been sold since its announcement. This fee has been
introduced for the busy tourism period from May to July on 29 busy days. Tickets are available online for purchase. One can also buy it offline at the new ticket counter at Santa Lucia train station which serves as the main entry point into the city. Anyone without a ticket can be fined up to 300 euros.

30-Apr-2024

Uttarakhand’s forests have been ravaged by a forest fire which has almost reached the High Court Colony in Nainital. The forest department as well as the army is putting in every effort to contain the fire and minimize the damage. Traffic has been badly affected due to the fire and smoke and there is cause for worry that the fire may extend to other sensitive areas like military establishments, etc. Boating at the Naini Lake too has been banned for the time being. Forest fires in Uttarakhand are a recurring event every summer.

29-Arp-2024

Hamad International Airport in Doha has displaced Changi airport to become the best airport in the world. According to Skytrax Changi now has dropped to second position after being displaced by Hamad. The third spot was bagged by Incheon airport in South Korea. Singapore’s Changi airport continued to boast of the best immigration services in Asia while the Crowne Plaza hotel at Changi airport won the best airport hotel award for ninth time. These awards were given by Skytrax following feedback from travellers regarding various experiences at the airports worldwide.

20-Apr-2024

Dubai has received an unprecedented amount of rainfall. Owing to this the Dubai International Airport (DXB) has issued an advisory and requested travelers to not come to the airport unless absolutely necessary. Passengers are being asked to check flight status before leaving for the airport as many flights
are being delayed, cancelled or diverted. The Indian consulate too has issued helpline numbers for Indians staying in Dubai. Owing to this situation schools have been shut down in Dubai and people are being asked to work from home.

19-Apr-2024

Badrinath, Kedarnath & Gangotri are set to open for pilgrims soon. The first to open will be Kedarnath Dham on 10th May from 7 AM. Badrinath Dham will be open for darshan from 12th May early morning at 6o’clock. Gangotri Dham will be open from Akshay Trittiya which falls on 10th May this year. The Chardham Yatra which occurs between May – October/ November is a pilgrimage undertaken by devout Hindus who visit the temples at Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath. These temples remain closed during the winter months when this area receives heavy snowfall. Registration for Badrinath & Kedarnath has begun while the registration for Yamunotri & Gangotri will commence from Akshay Trittiya. Registration is mandatory for everyone who wishes to do the Chardham Yatra

18-Apr-2024

Digi Yatra will now be expanded to 14 more airports. Digi Yatra helps contactless travel at airports removing the need for a physical boarding pass. It is expected that Digi Yatra at these airports will become operational by the end of this month. A total of 38 airports will be covered all over India. The
airports where this is likely to be soon introduced are Bhubaneshwar, Bagdogra, Chennai, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Dabolim, Indore, Mangalore, Raipur, Patna, Ranchi, Srinagar, Trivandrum and Vishakhapatnam. There are also reports that this facility will be extended to international travelers as well.

16-Apr-2024

Owing to the worsening situation between Israel & Iran, India has issued a statement asking its citizens to not travel to Israel or Iran for the next few days. The travel advisory was issued on Friday last week. Indians who are already in the two countries were also requested to get in touch with the Indian
embassy and register themselves. At present nearly 18,000 Indians live in Israel while 4000 Indians are living in Iran. France and USA too have issued similar advisories for their nationals. Many airlines too have cancelled their flights to the countries till things calm down.

15-Apr-2024

Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has announced that this year the Amarnath Yatra will take place from June 29th to August 19th with registrations already open. This is the time of the year when the Amarnath cave is accessible. Hundreds of pilgrims gather for Shravani Mela during this time and visit the cave to seek blessings of Baba Amarnath. An Amarnath Yatra app is also available on play store which provides all the latest information about the Yatra as well as the latest weather updates and links to various services available there.

13-Apr-2024

After Maldives lost out on a sizeable chunk of Indian tourism it will now be organizing roadshows in various Indian cities to attract tourists. Earlier many Maldivian officials had called for boycott against Indian PM Narendra Modi which had caused a strain in the relationship between the two countries
resulting in tourists cancelling bookings to the island nation. This led to severe losses for Maldives which relies heavily on tourism and where Indians were the major bulk of tourists. In order to correct their mistake the major tourism body MATATO of Maldives plans to hold road shows in India to boost
tourism activities. Influencers and media will be taken on familiarization trips to Maldives to boost tourism.

12-Apr-2024

Kaziranga, home to the Bengal tiger & one horned rhinos saw a huge spike in number of tourists visiting the famous park. This rise is tourists is the highest since its establishment in 1974. Nearly 1,80,000 tourists visit this park every year. Kaziranga which is spread across 430 sq.km. is a UNESCO world heritage
site and has a very unique biodiversity. Visitors can see a variety of animals in their natural environment by traveling through the forests in safari. Elephant safaris and jeep safaris are available at the park.

11-Apr-2024

Tokyo at present is brimming with tourists flocking there to witness the beauty of cherry blossoms. The city has turned pink owing to these beautiful blossoms which are popular with locals and tourists alike. This year the flowers have bloomed a bit late owing to the prolonged cold season. The sakura flowers not
just look beautiful but also symbolize the start of a promising new year for the locals. The sakura flowers blossomed at the beginning of the old Japanese fiscal year symbolizing a frest start as well as the ever-changing nature of life.

10-Apr-2024

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has signed an MOU with PhonePe to promote UPI and make it easier for Indian tourists visiting Singapore to make payments. Tourists will be able to make direct payments from their Indian bank accounts. PhonePe users will just have to scan the QR code to make payment while visiting Singapore. In January this year NPCI had announced UPI-PayNow linkage which will help Indians receive remittance directly into their bank account from & to Singapore.

08-Apr-2024

The Prime Minister of Thailand is planning to introduce a joint-visa program with neighboring countries which are popular tourist destinations. This move aims to build Thailand as an aviation & logistics hub. Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar & Vietnam are in close discussion with Thailand to develop a Schengen-visa type system. Just like Schengen visa this too will facilitate smooth travels between these neighboring countries making life easy for the tourists. This is one of the most ambitious & long term project of the Prime Minister for the tourism industry which contributes to nearly 20% of the employment. He has also initiated visa free travel for citizens of India, Taiwan & Kazakhstan and also a reciprocal visa waiver agreement with China.

06-Apr-2024

On your next visit to the UK you might be lucky to see places in the Buckingham Palace which were as yet not open to public. The palace’s East Wing where stands the famous balcony will be open for guided tours in July & August. Unseen rooms from the Principal Floor too will be made accessible to the public where art from the Royal Collections will be on display. Other than the Buckingham Palace, the Royal Family’s Scottish Estate – Balmoral Castle too will be open for guided tours for the first time since 1855. From July to September the Palace will be open seven days a week after which it will go back to its original schedule of being open five days a week. Tickets are priced between £100 to £150 with only 40 tickets available per day.

05-Apr-2024

The first five star hotel in Arunachal Pradesh, Vivanta, has opened up in Tawang. Sitting at a height of 10,000 feet it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. It has 80 rooms & suites and is a luxury hotel providing modern amenities like heated wooden floors, temperature controlled swimming pool, a spa, the largest ballroom in the state & wide lawns. With a focus on showcasing emerging tourists destinations IHCL had earlier opened its hotels in Shillong & Gangtok too. Their Tawang hotel is a short drive away from the famous Tawang monastery.

04-Apr-2024

Devlok Manali, a new theme park in Manali is now open to visitors. The park is designed beautifully intertwining tradition as well as modernity. In the park one can explore traditional Himalayan art, music, dance, cuisine, history but in a modern setting. Set in the Himalayas near the Beas river Devlok Manali
offers a tranquil environment to rest and unwind. Ezzenza Swarg by the Beas within Devlok is a luxury boutique resort offering luxurious accommodations, spa treatments and calming views of the hills surrounding the property. There is a Handicraft Zone selling local shawls and textiles and wood carvings. There is also an open air theater which showcases Himachali music, dance, martial arts, acrobatics, etc.

03-Apr-2024

Zoji La, the lifeline for Ladakh via Srinagar has been reopened by the BRO. This route was snowed under for nearly 35 days. While last year it took 68 days to get rid of the piled up snow, this year the work was done in nearly half the time. Earlier Zoji La used to remain closed for nearly 6 months every year but
due to the Government’s focus on increasing connectivity in border areas and also because of the advance machinery provided now the roads clear up much faster. A thermal tunnel under the Zoji La is also under construction which will be completed soon and help improve quality of life for the locals as well as boost
tourism.

02-Apr-2024

A helicopter service has been launched from Naini Saini airport in Uttarakhand to Om Parvat and Adi Parvat. This service will be operating under the state government’s Heli Darshan scheme with an Mi-19 helicopter transporting pilgrims to Om Parvat and Adi Parvat. This will help older pilgrims as well as those
with health issues reach the pilgrimage sites easily and in shorter duration. Earlier Om Parvat could only be seen after a difficult trek of 11km. The first batch of ten pilgrims were part of the inaugural run and soon regular helicopter services will run five days a week starting from May.

01-Apr-2024

The T1 terminal of Mumbai airport is set to be demolished next year. Once the new airport at Navi Mumbai becomes fully operation T1 will be demolished and revamped over a course of three years. There have been various structural & safety concerns regarding T1 and hence finally a decision has been made to demolish the same and build a new terminal in its place. This will significantly increase the load on T2. There are also plans to connect T2 with the Navi Mumbai airport through an underground tunnel to
help passengers move easily between the two airports.