Category Archives: Domestic

Meghalaya to relax Covid-19 protocols for tourism sector from Sep 1

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced reopening of the state’s tourism sector from September 1 with relaxations of Covid protocols for travellers. Tourists, who have been fully inoculated, will be allowed to visit Meghalaya, while negative Covid test reports, conducted 72 hours before arrival in the state, will be mandatory for those who received the first dose of vaccines, he said.

Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said, “Meghalaya will restart its tourism (sector) from 1st September 2021 with the following protocols: Fully vaccinated tourists will be allowed to visit the state for tourism-related purposes from 1st September, 2021.” He also said, “Tourists who are vaccinated with a single dose will have to produce negative RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT report valid only if they have tested within 72 hrs prior to their arrival at the entry point.”

Residents of Meghalaya will also be allowed to visit any tourist destination in the state, he said.

The government had imposed lockdown across the state on May 5 amid the second wave of Covid-19 and has been relaxing the restrictions with an improvement in the pandemic situation. (Source The HT)

Surge in airline fuel demand in India indicates tourism on recovery path

People across India are taking to the skies after months stuck in their homes during a deadly Covid-19 wave, driving a spike in demand for jet fuel, the oil product hit hardest by the ongoing pandemic.

Indians have flocked to tourist spots across the country from the beaches of Goa on the west coast to the mountainous north on planes and in cars after the easing of restrictions. Air travel has climbed sharply, said Subhash Goyal, the chairman of STIC Travel — one of India’s biggest travel agents — estimating that domestic flights this month are around 75% of pre-virus levels.

That’s translated into the biggest month-on-month increase in jet fuel sales in more than a year, according to preliminary data for the first half of August, although sales are still 45% below the same period in 2019.

India is proving to be a bright spot for jet fuel demand after the fast-spreading delta variant of the virus interrupted a recovery in air travel from the U.S. to China. However, the revival might be fleeting with the government warning of a surge in infections as early as October if vaccination rates don’t accelerate.

Airlines started to see an increase in demand last month. More than 5 million passengers took domestic flights in July, a 61% jump from June, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. STIC Chairman Goyal is predicting August will be an even better month for air travel across India.

Jet fuel sales during Aug. 1-15 rose 25% from a month earlier to about 165,600 tons, and was 48% higher from the same period in 2020, according to figures earlier this month from officials familiar with the data. At least one refiner is taking a cautious approach to the outlook for jet fuel, however.

“We need to watch how things pan out for a month or two before any estimate on demand,” said Mukesh Kumar Surana, the chairman of state-run Hindustan Petroleum Corp. “Unless there is a very severe third wave, there shouldn’t be anything to worry.” (source HT)

Kerala to focus on river-based tourism in a big way to attract more tourists

The government will look into creating an adventure tourism circuit linking Kerala’s rivers to tap the great potential of river-based tourism in the southern state, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas has said.

The minister said this after experiencing rafting and kayaking on the placid waters of the Anjarakandi river in Kannur district to showcase the immense potential of river-based tourism in north Kerala ahead of the Onam festival. “Water tourism has great potential for Kerala. It is also a safe getaway for families during the pandemic. Rafting and kayaking through our rivers will be an unforgettable experience,” Riyas said after an hour-long rafting.

The minister noted that no serious effort had so far been made to develop river tourism in Kerala, but the government has now chalked up plans to tap this sector in a big way as it would help increase the footfalls of both foreign and domestic tourists in substantial numbers.

“The government will look into creating an adventure tourism circuit linking the rivers of Kerala. Necessary infrastructure would be developed in key points of the circuit. The completion of the waterway project will impart an added momentum to aqua tourism in the state,” Riyas said.

The waterway project, traversing through 11 districts, will provide tourists with the opportunity to cruise through the ancient water highways. Around 50 tourism spots are to be created along the banks of the 633-km West Coast Canal (WCC) from Kovalam in the south to Kasaragod in the north, the tourism department said. (Source The FE)

Demand for resumption of chartered flights to Goa to be taken up with Centre: Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said his government will put forth before the Centre the demand of industry bodies to resume international chartered flights to the coastal state from October this year.

The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) submitted a memorandum to the CM on August 17 seeking the resumption of chartered flights to provide a boost to the tourism sector, which is reeling under the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent curbs.

While domestic tourists can visit Goa with COVID-19 negative report or fully vaccinated certificate, international travellers are not being allowed in the state since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 when a nationwide lockdown was imposed and flights from overseas were suspended.
“The issue of resumption of chartered flights is not within the purview of the state government. It is the decision which needs to be taken by the Centre,” Sawant told.

The state government will place the demand of the tourism industry before the central government, he said.

Sawant said the industry bodies want that the central government make an announcement now, as two months are required to market the destination Goa and other preparations for tour operators.The GCCI and TTAG demanded that chartered flights from ”safe destinations”, which have allowed Indians to travel to their countries on tourist visas and from where international flights are operating, be allowed to arrive in Goa.

The industry bodies said chartered flights carrying tourists from countries like Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan can be allowed to land in Goa from October when the tourism season starts in the state. (Source MoneyControl.com)

Maharashtra launches several initiatives to boost tourism

Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister, Maharashtra on August 17 launched several initiatives of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to push tourism in the state. The projects include a new boating club, facilities for skydiving and adventure sports, tie-up with leading online travel companies to boost MTDC properties on the portals, among others.

Thackeray, during the launch held at Varsha bungalow, said the state has a wide variety of tourist destinations to attract domestic and international tourists, which will boost the state’s economy and provide employment.

The tourism department, in presence of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat, tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, minister of state for tourism Aditi Tatkare, launched a new boat club in Ratnagiri district’s Ganpatipule, signed MoUs with M/s SkyHigh India to start skydiving and adventure sport activities in Sindhudurg district. The MTDC also launched a new website, which goes live from today morning.

Thackeray said, “The state too has several destinations that can go on world map. Like Amsterdam’s Tulip Garden, we can also develop tourism around flowers on Kaas Pathar in Satara district.”

The MTDC also signed the MoU with online travel companies Make My Trip and Goibibo to promote MTDC properties on the portal, and an agreement was inked with Maharashtra State Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pune, to train MTDC staff in hospitality and service. Thackeray also inaugurated a refurbished at MTDC Sinhagad Resort, giving the visitors a chance to explore the glory of Sinhagad Fort.

Aaditya Thackeray said, “Tourists worldwide are in for a pleasant surprise as we continue to enhance MTDC’s user experience… Following the enthusiastic reception of Nashik Boat Club, Ganpatipule Boat Club is set to welcome tourists with thrilling aquatic sports and charming beach shacks.” (Source HT)

MADC completes extension of Shirdi airport, work for night-landing facility

Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has recently completed the extension of the Shirdi airport, from 2,500 metres to 3,200 metres. Work for the night-landing facility has also been completed. The project cost INR 41.85 crore.

Shirdi, where the resting place of 19th-century spiritual figure Sai Baba is located, sees lakhs of devotees every year at the Sai Baba temple. The Shirdi airport started commissioning on October 2, 2017. It had 13 arrivals and same number of departures each day until the lockdown was imposed last year.

Deepak Kapoor, Managing Director,MADC, said, “We decided to make use of the time we had and completed the extension of the runway and the night-landing facility. The labour force in Shirdi comes from Karnataka and most of them went away when the lockdown was imposed. We got labourers from local areas, extended the runway by 700 metres and constructed two additional taxiways. There was a demand from airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India for a longer runway so that they could bring bigger aircraft.”

Kapoor added that a lot of devotees arrive at Shirdi from Hyderabad, Vijaywada and Chennai and the airport witnesses the traffic of four to five flights from these sectors along with two to three flights from Bengaluru and one each from Bhopal, Delhi and Indore. Besides, there are regular flights from Mumbai. Shirdi is the fourth busiest airport after Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. In terms of passenger load, it’s third airport after Mumbai and Pune.

Kapoor added that a lot of devotees arrive at Shirdi from Hyderabad, Vijaywada and Chennai and the airport witnesses the traffic of four to five flights from these sectors along with two to three flights from Bengaluru and one each from Bhopal, Delhi and Indore. Besides, there are regular flights from Mumbai. Shirdi is the fourth busiest airport after Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. In terms of passenger load, it’s third airport after Mumbai and Pune.

Kapoor said now with the night-landing facility about to start, flights can arrive at Shirdi at night and devotees can reach the temple for Kakad Aarti (morning prayers at 4.30 am) and leave the same day. (Source Indian Express)