Page 193 - Hospitality Recreation
Vizag airport gets MHA permission for e-visa system
In a step that could boost foreign tourist arrivals, the Union Home Ministry has given permission for e-Visa system at Visakhapatnam airport. State Tourism Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena informed here today that foreign tourists desirous of visiting Visakhapatnam could apply online for a visa and obtain authorization by email. The email could be used for visa stamping upon arrival in Visakhapatnam, he said. "Tourists and businessmen coming to Visakhapatnam so far had to get their e-Visas either in Hyderabad, Bengaluru or Chennai. The e-Visa facility will now make it easier for them to land in Visakhapatnam directly. Already visa-on-arrival facility is available for visitors from certain countries," Meena said. Visitors on e-Visa could stay here for two months and could utilize medical tourism facilities, he added. Visakhapatnam airport will be the first in the state to have such a facility.
Villagers, right-wing outfits oppose Sunburn Festival
Villagers from Lavale and some right- wing organisations have opposed the upcoming Sunburn Festival, which is scheduled to be held at the Oxford Golf Resort here. The 11th edition of India's annual electronic music festival begins December 27 and ends January 1. Some right-wing outfits have claimed that Sunburn promotes the use of liquor and drugs, and it is against the Indian culture. On the other hand, local villagers from Bavdhan Budruk are opposing the event citing that the infrastructure in the area is inadequate to accommodate the influx of lakhs of people. Usha Kiran Dagade, the sarpanch of Bavdhan Budruk said, "We have come to know that lakhs of people will be attending the festival and if you see the size of the roads and the area of the venue, it is highly difficult to accommodate all these people." Besides infrastructural restraints, she said, it is common knowledge that liquor is served at such festivals. "We have written a letter to the district authorities .