Page 34 - Hospitality Recreation
North Korean leader's train arrives in China: Reports
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's armoured train arrived in China late Saturday ahead of his summit with US President Donald Trump in Vietnam, according to media reports. The train arrived in the border city of Dandong after 9 pm local time (1300 GMT), according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency and the specialist outlet NK News, though it was not known whether Kim was on the train. The train's crossing into China follows days of speculation over Kim's travel plans, which remain shrouded in secrecy, as his team gathered in Hanoi ahead of the talks expected next Wednesday and Thursday. Security was tight before the train's arrival, with police cordoning off the riverfront some 100 metres (yards) from the bridge with tape and metal barriers, and leading an AFP journalist out of the area. Guests at a hotel facing the rail bridge from North Korea were suddenly asked to leave on Friday and told it was closed Saturday for impromptu renovations. "The train is long and crossed the bridge ...
Maha grape festival in Pune gets encouraging response: MTDC
Over 800 tourists from Gujarat and Rajasthan as well as cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Alibaug and Aurangabad in Maharashtra attended the Grape Festival organised recently in Pune district, an official said Saturday. Abhimanyu Kale, managing director of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), in a statement, called the well-attended festival in Golegaon (Lenyadri) in Junnar as an encouraging development for rural and agricultural tourism among youth and students. The grape festival was organised between February 16-19 in association with resorts in Malshej Ghat and grape cultivators from Junnar taluka. The festival allowed tourists, especially those from urban areas, to visit grape gardens and see the process of wine-making, all for a nominal fee, Kale said. "We are also planning to organise a pomegranate festival in Junnar. Similarly, a Mulberry festival is also on the cards," the MTDC MD said. He said festivals centring around bananas in Jalgaon, ...
N. Korea's Kim to make official visit to Vietnam in 'coming days'
North Korea's Kim Jong Un will soon make an official visit to Vietnam, Hanoi said Saturday as it beefed up security on the Chinese border where Kim is expected to cross by train ahead of his summit with US President Donald Trump next week. Vietnam is hastily preparing for a second summit between Trump and Kim on February 27-28 in Hanoi, and sources have said the North Korean leader is likely to arrive ahead of the meeting for an official visit and to tour industrial zones. "Kim Jong Un will pay an official visit to Vietnam in the coming days," Vietnam's foreign ministry said Saturday in a post on its Facebook page, without providing dates. Pyongyang has not yet publicly confirmed the summit with Trump, and routinely keeps Kim's travel plans shrouded in secrecy. Several sources told AFP Kim is expected to arrive in Vietnam by train ahead of the summit, stopping at the Dong Dang train station near the China border and driving 170 kilometres to Hanoi by car. Vietnam on Friday announced ..
Railways to run special train to Statue of Unity
The Indian Railways is all set to launch a special train for tourist visiting the Statue of Unity in Gujarat from March 4.The development comes five months after the world's tallest statue was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The tourist train being run under the "Bharat Darshan Tour Scheme" will offer 7 nights and 8 days tour package and will commence its journey from Chandigarh covering pilgrimages like Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga near Indore, and Shirdi Sai Baba Darshan, Trimbakeshwar in Nashik and Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Aurangabad.The tour will be conducted by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) and is priced at Rs. 7560 per person. The tour package has multiple boarding and de-boarding stations viz Chandigarh, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Delhi Cantt., Rewari, Alwar and Jaipur for the facilitation of the tourists."The package has been designed to pay tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar ...
Vietnam readying for Kim train arrival next week: sources
Vietnamese authorities are preparing for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to arrive by train next week ahead of his summit with US president Donald Trump, several sources told AFP Friday. The leaders are slated to meet in Hanoi on February 27-28 to follow up on their first meeting last June in Singapore that ended with vaguely worded commitments on dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear programme. In the northeastern Chinese city of Dandong, which borders on North Korea, there were signs that Kim's train could be crossing over into China imminently en route to Vietnam. Guests at a hotel facing the bridge that Kim's train uses to enter China were told by staff to check out on Friday morning. The Zhonglian Hotel, which is along the Yalu river that separates the two countries, will also be closed on Saturday, staff said. Sources told AFP that Kim was expected to arrive in Vietnam by train ahead of his planned meeting with Trump and would visit two provinces to take notes on the country's ...
Statue of Unity to get three million footfall in 2019: Tour Min
Number of tourists visiting the Statue of Unity in Gujarat is likely to touch three million in 2019 and facilities like night safari and amusement parks will be added in an around the site to increase the footfall over the next few years, the tourism ministry said Friday. The National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC) and other stakeholders met Thursday at Tent City, Statue of Unity in Gujarat, to chalk out a strategy for bringing five million tourists to the statue. "The council came to the conclusion that the number of tourists visiting the statue would touch three million in 2019, taking into consideration the footfall during the last two months. To reach a goal of five million tourists, a detailed proposal was made by the state government," the statement said. The plans include additional facilities like night safari, a ropeway between the dam and safari, a amusement park of global standards, a tribal museum showcasing the best of Gujarat, building of state bhawans, a multi-cuisine .
Noida's first evening 'Raahgiri' on Saturday
Noida's first evening Raahgiri, which was scheduled last week but then deferred in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, will be held on Saturday, officials said. Noida Authority has since February 3 held two Raahgiri Day, but then decided to change the timing amid demand for it from people, officials said. "The 'SunsetRaahgiri' will be held on a stretch between the DLF Mall Of India and the multi-level parking in Sector 18 from 5 pm to 8 pm tomorrow," Noida Authority General Manager Rajeev Tyagi said. He said 'Raahgiri' would encourage people to reclaim streets during evening hours, beginning healthy habits, promoting sustainable transport, creating awareness about road safety and making city spaces inclusive for all. The event would have similar activities as witnessed during the mornings like Zumba, Bhangra, space for walking and cycling, cultural activities like singing and games like ludo on street, stapoo, he said. The street selected is adjoining the Sector 18 market area and .
National Tourism Advisory Council to meet on 21st - 22nd February 2019
Brainstorm to achieve a target of 5 million visitors to the Statue of Unity by next year
Hafele designed the fairytale land - A modern day rendition at ID Exhibition
Häfele, the interiors fittings specialist brand, has always differentiated itself in the Indian market as a complete solution provider that offers innovative, technologically advanced and superior quality products which are ably backed by the highest standards in Customer Service. Over the years, the ability of the company to bring in novelty and innovation through its solutions, services and break-through functionality has always kept Häfele at the forefront of industry trends and practices. Taking this approach forward, Häfele now erected a never-seen-before concept at the India Design Exhibition, where the imagination of fairytale magic is brought to life through tangible interior space concepts and designs that will surprise you with their charm, exuberance and innovation. This India Design, Häfele had handpicked some of the most popular fairy tales by German Fairytale Authors - Brothers Grimm, Jakob and Wilhelm and woven them into a modern-day rendition with unique designs ably ..
Indian-origin man upset after being served beef pizza in UK
A strictly vegetarian Indian-origin man has spoken of his shock and anger after he ended up taking a bite out of a beef pizza in a restaurant mix-up in the Midlands region of England. Abhishek Bhartiya was at a Pizza Hut in Nottingham with wife Prerna Goel when they opted for the buffet option, which included vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The staff assured them that all pizzas with a green spatula were vegetarian, which turned out not to be the case. "I had never eaten meat in my life until this moment and it has left me very upset. It is shocking that this could have happened," Bhartiya, a software engineer, told the local 'Nottingham Post' newspaper on Wednesday. "I am very troubled by the fact I ate beef. It is the very sentiment of my religion not to eat beef as we worship cows," said the devout Hindu. The couple told a member of staff straight away and felt so upset by the incident that they decided they could not eat there any more and had to leave, despite paying for ..
HC dismisses plea against MGR arch construction
The Madras High Court Thursday dismissed a petition challenging the construction of an arch in memory of former Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran across Beach Road near the PWD headquarters here. A division bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad dismissed the PIL by advocate D Dinesh Kumar. When the matter came up last month, another bench headed by Justice M Sathyanarayanan had permitted the government to go ahead with the construction and declare it open without any fanfare. Accordingly, the arch was declared open at a simple function. The petitioner has contended that the arch was constructed at a cost of Rs 2.52 crore, encroaching on the Kamarajar Salai (Beach road) on the Marina beach, in contravention of the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001. Since the State had already built a memorial for MGR on the Marina, allegedly against coastal regulation rules, no public interest would be served in constructing the arch, he ...
Vadra takes dig at ED officials' fitness
Under the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lens in connection with a money laundering case, Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday took a dig at the fitness of the officials and shared health and style tips.
Restaurant in record book for most servings of biriyanis
:A city-based chain of restaurants has entered into the 'Limca Book of Records 2019' for the most number of servings of biryani in a calendar year. Paradise Food Court had dished out over 70 lakh servings in 2017, a press release from the restaurant said Thursday. "Limca Book has recorded that Paradise Food Court has sold 70,44,289 biryani servings between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017....The achievement is recorded in the 2019 edition of the Limca Book of Records," the releasesaid. Chief executive officer of Paradise Food Court Gautam Gupta said, "Entering the Limca Book of Records and being rated as the Restaurant Serving Best Biryani by the Asia Food Congress give us twin joy, and a testament to the love our loyal customers shower on us." For over six decades, Paradise has been an integral part of Hyderabad culture, its culinary uniqueness and has been the destination for every occasion and celebration irrespective of the season, it added.
Tourists from South India to Switzerland on the rise: official
: The number of tourists from South India visiting Switzerland witnessed a substantial increase in 2018, a top official of Switzerland Tourism India said Thursday. Switzerland has become an ideal travel destination because of the diversity in options it offers. It is a 365-day destination that is ready for visitors any time of the year, a statement quoted deputy director of Switzerland Tourism India Ritu Sharma as saying. Reeling out statistics, she said the number of overnight stays by Indian tourists in Switzerland had gone up by 24.7 per cent in 2018. "We are also up by 10 per cent in hotel overnights in the period January-October in 2018 as compared to the same period the previous year," she said in the statement here. She said the objectives for the Switzerland Tourism was to make it an all-round destination, to promote winter and autumn as seasons as well as introduce newer destinations like St Moritz, Lake Geneva region. The increase in the number of Indian ...
Scientists discover recipe for perfect cheese fondue
Scientists have discovered how to make the perfect cheese fondue, by optimally balancing ingredients of the iconic Swiss dish for the best flavour and texture. Cheese fondue is an icon of Swiss cuisine and a dinner party staple. While it may seem like a simple dish, getting the texture right can be a challenge for optimal mouthfeel, dipping and flavour release. This requires the perfect balance of cheese, wine and starch, according to researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland. Their study, published in the journal ACS Omega, shows how to use these key ingredients to produce deliciously melted fondue. Once a fad of the 1970s, fondue has made a resurgence in recent years, researchers said. Traditional versions also include wine and seasonings, as well as starch for cohesion. Chemically speaking, fondue is a multiphase system of colloids that require just the right inputs to achieve cheesy perfection. One wrong move could leave the preparer with an unappetizing bowl of separated cheese .
Saudi Royal Commission says talks underway with India to develop Al-Ula as heritage site
Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for Al-Ula is in discussions with India on ways to develop Al-Ula as a global heritage site, an official said Wednesday. Representatives of the commission are part of the high-level delegation, led by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, which is on a visit to India. Al-Ula, a city which lies in the north west of Saudi Arabia, is also the Gulf nation's first world heritage site declared by UNESCO. "We are holding talks with Indian ministries of culture, tourism and archaeology for engaging in bilateral cooperation for developing Al-Ula as a global heritage of the world," Iman AlMutairi, chief marketing officer of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, told PTI. India, she said, is a culturally rich country and Saudi Arabia is keen to partner with the South Asian country and learn from its experience that would help Al-Ula become a place to "travel through time". Saudi Arabia is expecting over 2.5 lakh tourists by 2020-21 and over 20 lakh tourists .
Taj Mahotsava fails to draw foreign tourists
Has the annual Taj Mahotsava helped promote tourism in Agra? Tourism industry leaders and hoteliers say the ten-day cultural extravaganza has been reduced to a local "Mela-Tamasha."
Goa govt gives nod to Sunburn festival
The Goa government has given its approval for holding the Sunburn Klassique electronic dance and music (EDM) festival in the state, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said on Wednesday. The festival, which is quite popular among tourists, will be held at Vagator beach in North Goa district on February 23 and 24, after a gap of three years. "Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has given the final approval for Sunburn Klassique festival. Earlier, the event had been given an in-principle nod," Ajgaonkar told reporters here. The state-level committee of the tourism department has also given approval for the event in view of its popularity among tourists, he said. The tourism department had last month given an "in principle" nod for hosting the EDM festival, saying that a final approval will be given only when its promoter fulfils the criteria laid down by the state government. Sunburn, which celebrated its decade-long stint in the coastal state, was being held outside Goa for ...
McDonald's launches its first restaurant in Tirupati
HRPL currently operates 292 McDonald's outlets in West and South India. This is McDonald's 5th restaurant in Andhra Pradesh after Vijayawada, Nellore, Kakinada and Vishakhapatnam and 112th store in South India.
Leopard spotted inside basement of Thane hotel
A leopard was spotted on in the basement of a hotel here on Wednesday.In order to avoid any chaos, the Indian Forest Department's rescue team arrived at the spot and rescued the leopard."A leopard has been located at the basement of Hotel Satkar Residency, attempts to capture it are underway. Forest rescue team has arrived on the spot," Pradeep Giridhar, Senior Police Inspector told ANI.Further details are awaited.