Monthly Archives: August 2023

China temporarily eases visa regulations for Indians

China has eased its visa regulations temporarily for citizens of India applying for business (M), tourism (L), short-term family visits (Q2) to Chinese citizens, transit (G), and crew (C) visas.

The Chinese Embassy in India has issued a statement highlighting these changes. According to the Embassy, eligible applicants seeking single or double-entry visas for business, tourism, short-term family visits, transit, and crew purposes will no longer have to provide biometric data (fingerprints) until December 31. These changes will remain in effect until the end of 2023.

Some exemptions were already present, including for individuals below 14 or above 70 years old, those who have recently undergone fingerprint collection by the Chinese Embassy, and those whose fingerprints are deemed “uncollectable.”

The price of a Chinese visa for Indian travellers ranges between INR 3,800 to INR 7,800. This depends on the type of visa and its validity period. Direct communication channels have also been established to help Indian nationals.

KIIT confers Doctorate on J K Mohanty for his contribution to hospitality sector in Odisha

At the 19th Annual Convocation of KIIT, Deemed to be University, the Governor of Odisha, Ganeshi Lal conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) on J K Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group & Chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards growth of tourism industry in the state.

Since last 42 years Mohanty has brought excellence in Odisha hospitality & tourism sector and generated thousands of jobs directly and indirectly by establishing Swosti Group of Hotels-Resorts-Travels-Hospitality Education.
As Chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha and Chairman Eastern Region of Indian Association of Tour Operators, he has also strived hard in close cooperation with the State / Central Government to boost the tourism sector of the State as well as the Eastern Region Not only in Odisha and India, he is the man who alone promoted Odisha in global market by conducting roadshows in many European countries since 1991.

“I feel a great sense of fulfillment and gratitude to Lord Jagannath, blessings of my parents, family members, friends and well-wishers and to Dr. Achyuta Samanta for recognizing my dedication and contribution in the field of tourism.

This recognition not only boosts my motivation but also serves as a reminder of the responsibility I have to continue working towards the betterment of the Odisha tourism and towards all my employees who are responsible for my achievement,” said Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group.

Booking.com sees uptick in bookings for alternate accommodation

Launches Hindi as it’s 46th language

Online booking platform, Booking.com has seen an uptick in demand for alternate accommodation options in India, alongside 11-12℅ growth in listing of such properties on its platform, globally.

Santosh Kumar, Country Head – Indian Sub-continent & Indonesia, Booking.com, said, “Accommodation in general is a fairly complex distribution channel, globally, including in India. While airlines are distributed via the GDS, accommodation is a big puzzle because there are millions of options available. Today we have roughly 29 million listings, and that supply has gone up, and almost 7 million bookings are coming from the alternate accommodation space, which is only growing. For an important market like India, it is key that we provide our domestic customers the breadth of choice and availability of supply in that space.”

Kumar spoke about flexibility of booking and the design personalisation of their website and app are their key selling points.

Booking.com has been in India almost for a decade, and has grown it’s presence in India with a push of regionalisation. This year, Hindi has been launched as Booking.com’s 46th launguage. “It is important we talk to our audience in their language, and the travel trade is using Hindi on the extranet for bookings. We have opened a Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and it’s workforce will go up to 500 in the coming months”

Building brand awareness is their area of focus in India, and partnership with ICC is important.

Leisure continues to be a big draw for Booking.com, and Indians continue to be confident for travel, especially for leisure as per Booking.com’s Travel Confidence Index. “There is recessionary pressure, but people are trying to book in advance to take advantage of deals.”

Kumar said that China has finally opened up for travel, however flight capacity is no where close to pre-Covid levels, and that only further shifts the perspective to India from an APAC view point. Terming India as their priority market, he said the importance of India is evident from the presence of international destinations, airlines, attractions and experiences here to tap the market.

Manohar International Airport in Goa now authorised immigration check post for e-visa holders

The Manohar International Airport (MIA) in Goa is now an authorised immigration check post for the entry of individuals holding e-visas, a spokesperson of the airport said. The international flights commenced at the MIA on July 21, with the arrival of a flight from London-Gatwick airport, he said. The MIA, located in North Goa, is developed and operated by GMR Goa International Airport Ltd (GGIAL), a subsidiary of the GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd. The MIA is now an authorised immigration check post (ICP) for those holding e-visas, the spokesperson said in a media statement. “In an effort to ensure a seamless and hassle-free experience for international travellers, the MIA has achieved the esteemed status of an authorised ICP for the entry of individuals possessing e-visas. The e-visas are granted to foreigners with intentions such as leisure, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment and business purposes within India,” he said. The individuals holding e-visas are granted entry into India exclusively through designated international airports and seaports, the spokesperson said. With the e-visa facility now operational at the MIA, international guests can expect an effortless entry process. “The airport eagerly anticipates the gradual addition of more international carriers to its repertoire,” he said.

The airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister NarendraModi on December 11, 2022. “It commenced domestic operations on January 5, 2023, and within just three months secured a position among the top 20 airports in India, based on domestic traffic data from March 2023,” the spokesperson said. Within seven months of its launch, the MIA has embarked on its international operations journey, he said. R V Sheshan, CEO of GGIAL, in the statement said, “The introduction of the e-visa facility marks another remarkable milestone for the MIA. Our airport is now equipped with world-class infrastructure, including the essential e-visa, immigration and customs services, to facilitate international travel.” The demand for enhanced air connectivity from Goa to new international destinations is paramount, he said. “Establishing connections with additional international destinations will not only boost tourism in Goa but also catalyse socio-economic development in the region,” he added.

10 Million People Choose Bus Travel for 77th Independence Day : AbhiBus data

AbhiBus, India’s leading online bus-ticketing platform, witnessed an astonishing surge in bus travel during this extended Independence Day weekend with nearly 10 million people opting for buses to reach their destinations. The surge in bus travel can be largely attributed to a combination of factors, including high flight travel costs and limited availability of train tickets during this peak travel season. For instance, round-trip train tickets from Hyderabad to Goa around the 15th of August were priced at approximately INR. 10,000, while bus passengers could reach the same destination for around INR 2,000, making bus travel a more economical choice.

The surge in bus travel was most notable on popular routes, including those connecting major cities such as Hyderabad and Bangalore, Hyderabad and Goa, Bangalore and Chennai, and Chennai and Coimbatore. Lucknow – Delhi, Delhi – Dehradun. Additionally, there was a substantial 30% growth observed in other routes throughout the extended weekend.

“We are thrilled to have facilitated such a massive number of journeys during this Independence Day weekend. The convenience, affordability, and accessibility of bus travel have played a pivotal role in making this possible,” stated Rohit Sharma, COO, Abhibus. “We anticipate witnessing similar trends during upcoming festive events in the months of October and November.”

The 77th Independence Day weekend has showcased the enduring appeal of bus travel for millions of Indians, providing a cost-effective and efficient mode of transportation. As the travel landscape continues to evolve, Abhibus remains committed to offering seamless travel experiences, empowering passengers to explore new destinations with ease.

BLS International partners with the Embassy of Hungary in Bangladesh for Visa Outsourcing

BLS International has entered into a significant visa outsourcing agreement with the Embassy of Hungary in Bangladesh. This transformative partnership is set to revolutionise the visa application process and enhance the overall experience for Bangladeshi individuals seeking long-term visas to Hungary.

Focusing primarily on long-term visas, the Embassy of Hungary has exclusively entrusted BLS International to oversee and elevate their visa processing operations. This exclusive agreement further solidifies BLS International’s leadership in providing customized and effective solutions to global diplomatic missions and governments.

Commenting on this, Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, BLS International, said, “We are delighted to partner with the Embassy of Hungary in Bangladesh to bring innovation and efficiency to the visa application process. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to offering world-class services that simplify and expedite essential procedures for our clients. We are already with Azerbaijan and this is a second consecutive time”

Demonstrating its steadfast commitment to operational excellence, BLS International is poised to deliver a smooth visa application experience. Leveraging advanced technologies and extensive expertise, the company aims to provide Bangladeshi applicants with a secure and effortless process when applying for long-term visas to Hungary.

This collaboration introduces a new era of convenience for applicants, featuring accessible application centers, flexible appointment scheduling, and real-time tracking of application status.