Page 3 - Tourists

5-year Cruise Bharat Mission launched: Govt eyes 1 mn sea cruise passengers

The mission includes setting up of a dedicated fund, easing of cabotage regulations and financial incentives

World Tourism Day 2024: Five best off-beat sites to explore in India

On this World Tourism Day 2024, explore these five off-beat destinations offering serene views in India that will be quenching the thirst of all fellow travellers and adventurous

Bali's hotel ban: A long overdue step to address overcrowding, environment

Authorities need to come up with a solution to mange the rampant overdevelopment that's become Bali's hallmark

Indians taking 2 or more international trips annually up 32%: MakeMyTrip

The number of Indians travelling abroad in a year twice or more has gone up 32 per cent, according to a report released on Tuesday. Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi lead the charts for international travel searches, as per the 'How India Travels Abroad' Report by travel booking platform MakeMyTrip. The report covered the period between June 2023 and May 2024. Popular destinations such as the UAE, Thailand, and the US, top the chart of the destinations that Indians love to travelling to, with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Bhutan leading the emerging destinations chart. A key finding from the report suggests that international travel search volumes remain relatively steady across all seasons, with December being the most active month for international travel searches. Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, "With rising disposable incomes, greater exposure to global cultures, and the increasing ease of travel, more Indians are exploring both domestic and internationa

Edinburgh to join growing list of cities introducing tourist tax: Know more

"Tourist tax" refers to a fee levied by local governments on visitors staying in paid accommodations such as hotels, hostels, and holiday rentals

Pilot shortage in Japan threatens its goal for 60 million tourists by 2030

Japan currently has about 7,100 pilots and the government projects another 1,000 will be needed by 2030 to help meet its target of attracting some 60 million tourists that same year.

Taxi operators' strike at Mopa airport to continue; meeting with CM fails

A proposed meeting between protesting tourist taxi operators attached to the new international airport at Mopa in Goa and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant did not materialise on Friday afternoon, with the latter terming their agitation politically motivated. The taxi operators from Manohar International Airport at Mopa have been protesting since Thursday, pressing for their various demands, including complete stoppage of illegal transport at this greenfield airport, operated by GMR Goa International Airport Limited. The agitation was expected to be resolved on Friday afternoon after CM Sawant invited a delegation of the taxi operators to meet him at his official residence at Altinho in Panaji. Around 25 agitators went to meet the CM but were denied permission. Officials asked them to come with 8-10 members, said Chetan Kamat, a leader of the taxi operators. The protesters demanded that the entire delegation be allowed to meet the CM, or else the meeting should be cancelled, he said. K

Indian tourists flocking to Oman, arrivals up 70% at 600k: Al Busaidi

Oman has emerged as a favourite destination for Indian tourists, with their number rising to more than 6 lakh last year, an increase of 70 per cent over the previous year, according to Azzan Qassim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. We hope to surpass the number this year, Al Busaidi told PTI in Mumbai on Thursday. The closeness and proximity between Oman and India makes one feel almost at home, he added. This momentum shows no signs of slowing, with the first five months of 2024 already seeing a 15 per cent increase in arrivals, he said. India is Oman's largest tourism market beyond the Gulf Co-operation Council countries, he said. Of the 40 lakh tourists who visited Oman last year, 6.25 lakh were from India, Al Busaidi said. Adventure tourism is a growing segment for tourists in Oman, he said. Tourism is one of the five focus areas for Oman as a part of its Vision 2040 plan, he added. We are now seeing more diversity in segments of ...

Sri Lanka to offer visa-free entry to Indians, 34 other nations from Oct 1

Citizens from various countries, including India, the UK, China, the US, and Germany, will enjoy this visa-free travel to Sri Lanka

Nuclear tourism: China opens atomic power plants to public, seeks support

Members of the public in China can now book visits to the country's power plants in nice cities, as the country moves to shore up public support to expand its clean energy generation capacity

Travel tales: Airlines line up flights as Saudi woos Indian tourists

India has added 443,000 seats in CY2024, according to OAG, an aviation research agency

Japan attracts record 3.14 mn visitors in June as weak yen draws tourists

The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure was 3.14 million last month, exceeding the previous monthly record of 3.08 million set in March

Mexico on 'red alert' as Category 3 Hurricane Beryl nears landfall

US National Hurricane Centre said Beryl, which was the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, now had winds of 115 mph (185 kph ) after weakening earlier

Gujarat tourist footfall up 17% as visitors flock famous spots this summer

Over 1.35 crore tourists flocked to famous destinations in Gujarat during this summer vacation, marking a 17 per cent increase compared to the previous year, the state government said on Wednesday. From April 1 to June 10 this year, more than 1.35 crore tourists visited 12 prominent attractions and pilgrimage sites in the state. This is a notable rise from the 1.14 crore tourists who visited during the same period in 2023, a government release stated. Key tourist spots included the Statue of Unity, Atal Bridge, Riverfront-Flower Park, Kankaria Lake, Somnath Temple, Ambaji Temple, Pavagadh Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple, Science City in Ahmedabad, Vadnagar, Gir and Devalia Safari Parks, and Ahmedabad Metro Railway. Ahmedabad district and Ahmedabad city, which has been declared India's first UNESCO World Heritage City, emerged as top tourist destinations in the financial year 2023-24. Ahmedabad district welcomed 4.26 crore visitors, while the city itself attracted 2.25 crore tourists, th

After waterfall tragedy, Pune admin releases safety measures for tourists

The Pune administration has outlined a series of safety measures for hazardous tourist locations in the district which includes identification and demarcation of dangerous areas, the presence of lifeguards and rescue teams, and the installation of warning boards. The move comes after the incident on Sunday when a woman and four children were swept away at a waterfall near the Bhushi Dam, a well-known picnic spot in the picturesque Lonavala hill station of Maharashtra's Pune district. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety protocols at popular tourist destinations. Furthermore, the tranquil setting of the Pavana Dam in Lonavala has also been marred by a series of tragic drownings, underscoring the critical importance of implementing enhanced safety measures in the region. During the monsoon season, a large number of tourists visit the Bhushi and Pavana dams, Lonavala, Sinhgad, Malshej and Tamhini and other places, ...

Budget-friendly International Trips From India 2024; check the list below

If travelling is your thing and you want to explore the world without stretching your budget, then are the top destinations to cover under your budget

China's panda breeding centre bans 12 tourists for life. Here's why

A total of 12 individuals spanning ages 26 to 61 have been slapped with lifetime bans in China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

7.4 mn tourists visit HP till May, hike by 3.5%; Solan surpasses Shimla

With over 74 lakh tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh till May this year, the tourist footfall has increased marginally by 3.5 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year. A total of 74,64,184 tourists including 32,415 foreign tourists visited the state till May end as compared to 72,02,956 tourists including 23,174 foreign tourists in the same period last year, an increase of 3.5 per cent, said Tourism and Civil Aviation Director Manasi Sahay Thakur. "Efforts are afoot to improve inter and intra state connectivity through construction of heliports. Major focus is on infrastructure development like creating wayside amenities besides opening wellness centres, construction of ice skating rinks, promoting eco and adventure tourism with the funding of Asian development Bank (ADB)," she told the PTI. Private players are also engaged in advance to ensure sustainability of tourism projects and the results will be visible in the next three years, she added. Surprisingly, ...

Sikkim landslide: Evacuation of stranded tourists begins from Lachun

The much-delayed evacuation of stranded tourists began by road from Toong in Sikkim's Mangan district on Monday noon, officials said. So far, a total of nine tourists have been evacuated, they said. The evacuation process is being led by the Mangan District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri and officials from Tourism and Civil Aviation and Forest Departments, besides the Travel Agent Association of Sikkim (TAAS). Despite incessant rains and multiple slides to cross over, the team is handling the evacuation with safety, care and caution, in batches, they said. Around 1200 tourists, including some foreigners, are stranded in Lachung town for the past one week as the road and communication networks have been crippled by torrential rains and landslides in several areas of Mangan district disrupting connectivity with the rest of the country. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is carrying out the restoration of the road network to facilitate vehicular traffic to and from Mangan district at

Chinese tourists expected to spend nearly $1 trillion on holidays at home

Spending by domestic holidaymakers is expected to be 11 per cent higher than 2019 - before the Covid pandemic stopped most travel, according to a report