Page 32 - Hospitality Recreation
Maha Sindhudurg airport to be inaugurated on Mar 5: Kesarkar
Sindhudurg airport in Parule-Chipi area of Maharashtra's Konkan region will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on March 5. Minister of State for Home (Rural) Deepak Kesarkar, who made the announcement Saturday, said the new Rs 520-crore airport will enhance tourism in Sindhudurg and connect destinations in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. "The work on Chipi airport was expedited in the last 4 years. All permissions were made available from the Centre and the airport will now be inaugurated on Tuesday," Kesarkar said. The greenfield airport, located on the Konkan coast, is just 20 kilometres from Sindhudurg Fort and Tarkarli Beach, a popular diving spot. Maharashtra is currently home to three international and 13 domestic airports. He added that Fadnavis and Prabhu, apart from inaugurating the airport, will conduct ground breaking ceremonies of various other schemes. Kesarkar said the government had plans to ..
Goa Carnival begins with float parade along Miramar beach
Thousands of people thronged the Miramar beach-front here Saturday to participate in a float parade which kicked off a four-day-long Goa Carnival festival. Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar flagged off the parade which proceeded along a road running parallel to the beach. 'King Momo', the 'king' of carnival, read out a decree, appealing people to be responsible while enjoying the festivities. William Annes, this year's King Momo, urged people not to litter public places and make Goa a better place. Ajgaonkar said King Momo's message was to "eat, drink and make merry". "We want to promote Goan culture. It will be on display on the floats," he said. More than 50 floats participated in the parade, including one by Goa Police which was about the importance of traffic discipline. The tourism department would be hosting similar float parades in all major towns over the next four days. The department has also come out with a special song, composed by musician Mukesh Ghatwal, ...
N Korea's Kim pays tribute to Ho Chi Minh on Vietnam visit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid tribute to Vietnam's late revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh on Saturday before starting his long journey home through China, after his Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump ended without a nuclear deal. Kim boarded his olive green armoured train at the Dong Dang border station in Vietnam before it rolled northward toward China en route to Pyongyang, kicking off a marathon 4,000 kilometre (2,500 mile) journey expected to take two and a half days. Earlier Kim made a highly unusual stop at the stark concrete monument where the body of Vietnam's independence hero is on display. On historic North Korean anniversaries Kim regularly pays tribute -- with the "humblest reverence", according to the official KCNA news agency -- to his predecessors, his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung, at the sprawling memorial palace on the outskirts of Pyongyang where their preserved remains lie in state. But he is not known to have previously done ...
Ingredients in UAE mostly come from India, says UAE's first female chef Khulood Atiq Saeed
Food ingredients, mostly spices, come from India, which makes the Emirati cuisine taste almost similar to the Indian cuisine, shared Khulood Atiq Saeed, the first female chef from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Attending an international food festival hosted by the Embassy of UAE in New Delhi in collaboration with multiple Embassies of other countries, including France, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Hungary and others, on Friday, Saeed told ANI, "We don't have any ingredients in our country. Most of the spices come from India. So you can see the Emirati food and Indian food is similar.""Few differences are however noted in the taste because we use less chilli in our food. But today it was a combination of both cuisines. I made the Emirati stew and used the Indian 'Rumali Roti' as the bread to go with it," Saeed added.The celebrity chef further went on stating that Indian food was one of her favourites in the list."I am excited to see more recipes and spices in the food festival. In my ...
Delhi Cabinet approves reimbursement cost of fitting hydraulic lifts in 1,000 buses
The Delhi Cabinet on Friday approved the reimbursement cost of fitting hydraulic lifts in 1,000 standard floor CNG buses, a move aimed at benefitting differently abled people. The buses are being procured by the Delhi government. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved the proposal of the transport department for reimbursing the incremental cost of fitting hydraulic lifts, including annual maintenance cost for ten years, to the concerned concessionaires, a statement by the Delhi government said. The hydraulic lifts are to be fitted with the 1,000 standard floor buses, enabling them to be used by differently abled people, as directed by the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. "The cabinet approved the reimbursement of the overall cost of fitment of lifts to 1,000 buses, at a benchmark cost of Rs 3,63,396 per bus, totalling Rs 36,33,96,000 (including GST), to the concessionaries," said the statement. The technology of fitting hydraulic lifts is new in .
'In India, it's essential to match the intensity of the food with the wine' (Lead, correcting para 2)
Traditional concepts of pairing white meat with white wine and red meat with red wine might still work in western countries but in India, it becomes essential to match the intensity of the food with the wine, says one of the country's youngest sommeliers.
'In India, it's essential to match the intensity of the food with the wine'
Traditional concepts of pairing white meat with white wine and red meat with red wine might still work in western countries but in India, it becomes essential to match the intensity of the food with the wine, says one of the country's youngest sommeliers.
Niraamaya Announces New Retreat; Niraamaya Retreats Backwaters and Beyond in Kumarakom
/ -- Niraamaya Retreats has added another property to its portfolio of awe-inspiring destinations marking its third retreat in Kerala. Nestled on the banks of the famed Lake Vembanad in the Kerala Backwaters in Kumarakom, Niraamaya Retreats Backwaters & Beyond, is now open for bookings. The newest Niraamaya will provide its guests glimpses of an authentic insights into the local Keralean life while instilling a sense of peace and wellness through its natural landsacpe and a range of wellness offerings. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/810926/Niraamaya_Wellness_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/828493/NRBB_Collage.jpg ) Set amidst eight acres of lush tropical gardens, the retreat houses 27 luxurious villas designed to maximize the glorious views of the lake. Meandering pathways lead to tasteful living spaces that are in complete harmony with nature amidst breezy coconut palms and tropical foliage. The retreat also features a large 25m pool and a ...
Maha mulls allowing desi liquor shops to sell foreign liquor
The Maharashtra government is mulling to draft a policy,wherein 'desi' (country-made) liquor shops will be given an option to convert their licence for enabling them to sell foreign liquor to customers. State Excise Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said once the desi liquor shops are converted into foreign liquor shops, they will have to sell packed liquor bottles to customers for consumption at home. This will not only bring down the accidents caused by drunk driving, but also reduce law and order problems, he claimed. "People buying desi liquor generally consume it near the shops, causing nuisance to other people. Besides that, there are safety issues involved as such people have to drive back to their places after consuming liquor," Bawankule said while interacting with select media persons here. "But if the desi liquor shop owner goes for a change of licence, it will be mandatory for such establishments to sell packed bottles. Thus, those intending to consume liquor
IHG opens two Holiday Inn Express hotels in Hyderabad
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, on Wednesday announced the opening of two Holiday Inn Express hotels in Hyderabad.
Kerala CM launches restoration project for heritage hotel
: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Wednesday inaugurated a Rs 25-crore project for the restoration of the heritage Mascot Hotel here, coinciding with the celebrations of 100 years of the hospitality pioneer. The project, drawn up by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), was undertaken close on the heels of the the hotel bagging the five-star status. Also, Vijayan unveiled a plaque to mark the historic occasion and opened a month-long exhibition that depicts the 100 years of service in the hospitality sector of the state. In his presidential address, Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said Mascot has got the distinction of being the first five-star hotel in the public sector. Recalling the history of the hotel, he noted that the hotel map published by the Bombay-based Indian Hotel Company in 1937 reveals Mascot as one among the four hotels listed from South India. In 1965, it came under the KTDC. The Minister underscored the need for quality service ...
Pulwama fallout: Travel agents, tour operators rue cancellation of bookings to Kashmir
Uncertainty clouds trips to the picturesque Kashmir Valley with tour operators witnessing cancellations of advance bookings while new bookings have dried up following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF troopers in Jammu & Kashmir.
Don't take drugs, drink feni instead: Goa minister to tourists
Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar Wednesday urged tourists not to consume drugs in the state, but instead drink 'feni', a popular liquor made locally from cashew fruit. The minister made the statement while addressing a press conference here. "We have taken precautions that drugs is not introduced in the electronic dance music (EDM) festivals," the minister said in response to a query on the rampant sale of drugs at the EDM events. He said he had instructed the police that there should not be any chaotic situation during these festivals. "Enjoy the music, drink cashew feni, but do not indulge in drugs," Ajgaonkar said. The minister said the tourism department treats the tourists with dignity, but if they violate the law of the land, they would be dealt with strictly. Ajgaonkar said his department has rolled up its sleeves to implement the recently-amended Goa Tourist Place Protection and Maintenance Act, which bans drinking in places like beaches. He said if anyone .
PM launches Khelo India Mobile App
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the Khelo India Mobile App here at the Vigyan Bhawan during the Youth Parliament Festival.Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and other dignitaries were present at the launch.The Khelo India App is a first-of-its-kind sports application, developed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) that brings under one umbrella three significant features that together can help to create more awareness about sports and fitness among the masses in general and youngsters in particular.Developed as part of the Khelo India Scheme, which is the largest sporting talent identification and nurturing platform in the country, the application aims to further the Prime Minister's vision to develop the sporting ecosystem in India and turn it into a global sporting superpower in the years to come.The application has three unique features that will make it convenient for youngsters to take up sport and also help to identify potential .
'Everyone is welcome': Srinagar hotel opens its doors for stranded tourists
A hotel here threw open its doors for tourists stranded in Kashmir in the wake of tensions between India and Pakistan, which led to closure Srinagar airport for civilian flights on Wednesday. "We are offering free accomodation and food for all those tourists who have got stranded in Kashmir due to the prevailing situation," Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, chairman of The Kaisar Hotel, told PTI. Ahmad said his hotel, located at Jawahar Nagar in the heart of the city, has 30 rooms. "Everyone is welcome and they can stay with us till the situation improves so that they can go home," he added. While the number of tourists in Kashmir was not known immediately, they got stranded due to closure of the airport and the highway. Operations at the Srinagar airport have resumed "as of now", Aviation watchdog DGCA said. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway is closed in view of the damage caused to the road by the landslides over the past few days.
Drink cashew feni, don't indulge in drugs: Goa Minister to tourists
Tourists visiting Goa should drink the local alcoholic brew, cashew feni, rather than indulge in drugs, Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said on Wednesday.
India tops international overnight visitors to Dubai in 2018
Over 2 million Indians visited Dubai in 2018, emerging as the highest number of international overnight visitors in the emirate last year, according to a latest official data. Dubai welcomed 15.92 million international overnight visitors in 2018, marking a new high, the data released by Dubai's Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) said. Throughout 2018, we developed and deployed a custom-market specific approach to our global outreach programs to deeper penetrate our target markets and widen the sphere of influence and engagement with the Dubai proposition, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Tourism, said. Exposing our industry to new potential in order to convert a higher share of the dynamically evolving global outbound travel market has helped steady Dubai's base tourism volumes throughout last year, he said. The high number of Indians in Dubai was fuelled by strong business partnerships with key industry leaders and tailored ...
Karol Bagh fire: HC seeks response of Delhi government, police
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance on the fire tragedy in Hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh here which killed 17 people and asked the Delhi government and police to respond to charges of illegality.
JK Tyre Himalayan Drive to begin on Wednesday
Over 50 competitors from across India will vie for top honours at the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7, the country's only multi-nation TSD (time, speed and distance) drive that gets underway here on Wednesday. The 800-km JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7 will see the competitors drive their mean machines for four days through majestic locations in north Bengal, scenic hills in Darjeeling and various picturesque routes in Bhutan. The TSD drive will cover a wide variety of terrain, ranging from tarmac, river beds, dirt tracks, forest paths to mountainous roads. While the entire route will pose a great challenge to the competitors, it will test them to the hilt in Paro in Bhutan where the drivers might have to drive in extreme tricky conditions due to the impending snowfall prediction. "We are really excited. It is India's only international TSD drive that provides a great opportunity to our top rallyists to stretch themselves to the limit, besides giving a huge boost to motorsports in the region," ...
Kerala hopes to increase tourists to state by 2020
The Kerala Tourism Department is hoping to increase arrival of both domestic and foreign tourists to the state by 2020 under its new policy, a senior official said on Tuesday.