Pemako, a Bhutanese luxury hotel brand, has partnered with BRANDit to strengthen its presence in the Indian market by introducing its unique and transformative experiences to discerning Indian travellers through tailored sales and PR strategies. Pemako’s two properties in Bhutan the flagship Punakha property and one in Thimphu—offer profound experiences where individuality, space, and time converge in retreats that promise renewal, rejuvenation, and awe. BRANDit, in partnership with Pemako, will help cultivate existing relationships with the travel trade and media to showcase the rich experiences of Pemako to the Indian market. This partnership will broaden Pemako’s presence in the Indian…
Author: Disha Ghosh
The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has reported an increase in tourism statistics for the first five months of 2024, demonstrating a 9.1 per cent boost in both Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and 22.52 per cent growth in Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs). In May 2024, FTAs reached 6.00 lakh, a slight increase from 5.98 lakh in May 2023, reflecting a growth of 0.3 per cent. More impressively, the cumulative FTAs for the period from January to May 2024 were 40.72 lakh, up from 37.32 lakh in the same period of 2023. The Foreign Exchange Earnings during May 2024 amounted to INR…
Indian Railways on Monday suspended all train operations to Bangladesh amid the unrest in the neighbouring country. Sheikh Hasina has resigned as the Bangladesh Prime Minister and fled the country amid escalating student-led protests. The affected trains include the Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express (13109/13110), Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express (13107/13108), Kolkata-Khulna-Kolkata Bandhan Express, and Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka Mitali Express, which has been suspended since June 21. In an address to the nation on Monday, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Sheikh Hasina has resigned as the Prime Minister and that an interim government will be formed soon. The student-led non-cooperation movement put immense…
Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, has made a significant move for the Indian traveller by becoming the first foreign airline to launch a Hindi-language website. This initiative underscores Etihad’s dedication to enhancing the travel experience for its Indian guests. The new Hindi website, available at link, offers a comprehensive range of services including flight bookings, check-in procedures, and customer support, all in Hindi. This development is set to simplify travel planning for Hindi-speaking passengers and further bolster Etihad’s presence in the Indian market. The goal is to provide a seamless, user-friendly experience, allowing travellers to plan, book,…
Air India and IndiGo have cancelled their scheduled flights to and from Bangladesh capital Dhaka with immediate effect, citing the emerging situation following Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation amid unprecedented anti-government protests. A Vistara official mentioned that the airline operated its flight from Mumbai on Monday and is closely monitoring the situation for Tuesday’s operations to Dhaka, news agency PTI reported. Air India operates two daily flights from Delhi to Dhaka, while Vistara runs daily flights from Mumbai and three weekly services from Delhi to the Bangladesh capital. IndiGo also operates flights to Dhaka from the national capital, Mumbai,…
Travstarz Global Group, a Trip.com-invested company concluded its multi-city roadshow with its last show in Indore last month. The show started with Travstarz Egypt DMC Showcase in Delhi which was presented by Ali ElSamman, Director – Operations, Travstarz Egypt DMC who was in India. It was followed up by Travstarz networking events in Amritsar, Pune, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ludhiana and finally concluding at Indore over the last few months of 2024. The well attended events saw over 40 to 50 agents in each city even for Lunch Events on working days. Pankaj Nagpal, Managing Director, Travstarz Global Group added “We restarted…
Red Dot Representations has entered into a strategic partnership with Indochina Charm Tours, a premier Vietnamese tour operator. This collaboration aims to significantly bolster tourism between India and Vietnam, heralding a new era of growth and cultural exchange. The strategic onboarding of Indochina Charm Tours by Red Dot Representations aims to bring economic growth and a deeper cultural exchange between India and Vietnam. The piqued interest of Indian tourists in Vietnam is evident, with over 2,20,000 Indian visitors recorded in the first half of 2023, marking a nearly fourfold increase from the 2022. This surge in numbers, reported by the…
Thailand is pressing ahead with plans to legalise casinos as it seeks to burnish the country’s appeal as a tourism hotspot and draw billions of dollars in foreign investment and taxes. Draft rules to allow casinos with an initial license for 30 years were published for public feedback until Aug. 18 by the Council of State, the government’s legal agency. The casinos will have the option of renewing the permit for another 10 years and be housed in large entertainment complexes along with hotels, convention centers and amusement parks, among others. Thailand joins the United Arab Emirates and Japan in…
India’s foreign exchange reserves registered a decline of USD 3.471 billion, reaching USD 667.386 billion during the week ended July 26, according to the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Foreign currency assets saw a reduction of USD 1.171 billion, bringing the total to USD 586.877 billion. Gold reserves fell by USD 2.297 billion to USD 57.695 billion during the week. Special drawing rights (SDRs) decreased by USD 5 million to USD 18.202 billion. India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) saw a modest increase of $2 million, reaching USD 4.612 billion in the reporting…
India on Sunday night strongly advised all its nationals presently residing in Bangladesh to exercise “extreme caution” and restrict their movements in the wake of fresh waves of violence in the neighbouring country. In its latest advisory, India also asked its citizens not to travel to Bangladesh till further notice. At least 90 people, including 14 policemen, were killed on Sunday in fierce clashes between security forces personnel and anti-government protesters in different parts of Bangladesh, according to reports from Dhaka. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “In view of ongoing developments, Indian nationals are…
