Travel
From Jaipur to Varanasi: What are India's favourite culture, spirituality & heritage hubs
OYO has released a report on the most preferred cultural and spiritual destinations in India, coinciding with World Tourism Day. Jaipur emerged as the top cultural and heritage destination, followed by Agra, Mysore, Udaipur, and Jodhpur. Rajasthan accounted for 76% of bookings in this category. In terms of growth, Thekkady in Kerala saw a 103% increase in bookings, followed by Mysore at 42%. Varanasi topped the list of spiritual destinations, with Tirupati, Puri, Amritsar, and Haridwar following closely.
Best places to visit in Karnataka
Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, is known as the Garden City of India. It is the fifth-largest city in India and one of the best tourist destinations. It is one of India's industrial and commercial hubs that is expanding the quickest. Due to the numerous software companies that have established themselves in the city, it is frequently referred to as the Silicon Valley of India.
Travel companies seek government push to draw tourists
Tour operators and travel agents in India are skeptical about an uptick in foreign tourist arrivals due to the buzz around the G20 summit. They believe that the government needs to ramp up overseas marketing and promotions, reopen tourism promotion offices abroad, and participate in foreign fairs and marts to attract tourists. Most of the arrivals so far this year have been from Bangladesh, mainly for medical reasons. The tourism ministry is not spending money on tourism promotions overseas, and industry experts believe that reaching pre-pandemic levels of business is unlikely.
India Canada Standoff: Travel operators express concerns
The temporary halt in visa services by India has raised concerns among tour operators and travel agents, who fear a potential retaliatory measure from Canada. While the suspension of visas will have an impact on inbound tourism, industry insiders worry that a strict visa regime on both sides could lead to a slowdown in travel.
Ahoy, solo travellers! Here are 5 things you need if you're travelling solo
Solo travel can be an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its challenges. To ensure a smooth journey, it is important to have a checklist of essential items. These include a digital wallet or physical folder to store important documents, important gadgets like power banks and a camera, an anti-theft bag to prevent pick-pocketing, a forex card for foreign transactions, and reliable travel insurance to protect against untoward incidents. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance offers a Travel Prime Individual Plan that covers personal accidents, medical expenses, loss of baggage, loss of passport, hijack cover, and delay of checked baggage.
Mastercard and Invest India launch enhanced priceless.com programme in India
Mastercard has partnered with Invest India to launch an enhanced programme in India aimed at redefining experiential travel. The programme, supported by the tourism ministry, is an extension of Mastercard's global platform and offers curated experiences for Mastercard cardholders. Consumer spending on travel experiences has increased by 65% compared to March 2019, driven by pent-up demand.
Indian visitors to Bahrain rise 87 per cent during January-June
The Indian market has shown tremendous interest in Bahrain as a preferred destination for weddings, vacations and leisure, BTEA said. Proximity to India, convenient connectivity and a diverse range of offerings made Bahrain an attractive choice for Indians for leisure and business purposes, as per the statement.
Himachal government invites tourists, aims to revive tourism amid floods and rain challenges
The Rural Development Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Anirudh Singh, has urged tourists to visit the state and help revive its tourism industry, which has been severely affected by floods and landslides. He stated that the state has incurred a loss of INR 10,000 crore due to the heavy rainfall and floods, with significant damage to infrastructure. Singh assured that all roads have been restored and that the state is safe for travel.
G20 endorses 'Goa Roadmap' and 'Travel for LiFE' program to revitalize tourism sector
The 'Goa Roadmap,' a flagship initiative of India's G20 Tourism Track, serves as a groundbreaking blueprint for global sustainable tourism. Aligned with the theme of India's G20 Presidency, it underscores the role of tourism in society, the economy, and environmental stewardship, read the press release.
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Thomas Cook India, NPCI to launch RuPay prepaid forex card for Indians travelling to UAE
"This unique Made in India initiative will go live with UAE as the pilot destination, followed by a phase wise global rollout," Thomas Cook (India) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mahesh Iyer said in a statement.
G20 long weekend: Travel companies cheer, but Delhi traders on edge
The upcoming G20 summit in India is proving to be a business opportunity for travel companies as many people are choosing to leave the National Capital Region (NCR) during the event. Travel companies like SOTC and MakeMyTrip have seen a rise in business as a result. However, retailers and traders in the NCR are concerned about the closures and potential loss of sales during the summit.
Uber completes 10 yrs in India; says drivers earned over Rs 50,000 cr via platform since 2013
Uber announced that drivers in India have earned over Rs 50,000 crore since 2013, as the ride-hailing app celebrated its 10-year milestone in the country. Uber drivers have covered a distance of 3,300 crore kilometres, equivalent to travelling from Earth to the Moon about 86,000 times. Uber India and South Asia President, Prabhjeet Singh, expressed excitement about the future and the company's contribution to India's techade.
Why extended weekends are beneficial for mental health
It may take some time to relax after the stresses of the workweek. A three-day weekend gives you plenty of time to switch off from work, turn off the computer, and spend time rejuvenating your body and soul.
Six foreign tours companies under tax scanner
The department sent show cause notices to these companies between June and July. According to an official, hefty tour packages were booked in the name of people who could hardly afford it, by using fake identity. Also these operators were not deducting 5% TDS, which was required for the packages.
Rains wash out Uttarakhand travel demand
Vikramjit Singh, president of Lemon Tree Hotels, said the rains have impacted the hotel demand in Uttarakhand last week over the Independence day weekend. The chain has 8 hotels in Uttarakhand.
