IndiGo has announced Bikaner as its 90th domestic and 127th overall destination within the 6E network. Beginning February 7, 2025, IndiGo will enhance regional connectivity with new daily direct flights between Bikaner and Delhi. This marks the airline’s fifth destination in Rajasthan. With over 250 daily departures, IndiGo connects to 88 destinations from Delhi, including 69 domestic and 19 international locations. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, stated, “We are pleased to announce the culturally rich and vibrant city of Bikaner as the 90th domestic destination in our 6E network and the 5th in Rajasthan. IndiGo will now operate…
Author: Disha Ghosh
The Government of Odisha launched a luxury cruise service on the Chilika Lake at Barkul in Khurda district. Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha Pravati Parida inaugurated the cruise service in the company of Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan. “Tourists can relish the scenic beauty of Kalijai Island and Nalabana Bird Sanctuary while travelling on the luxury cruises at Chilika, which will undoubtedly boost tourism in the state,” the Deputy CM stated while emphasising the importance of the cruise service. Commissioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism, the cruise service initially began with two luxury vessels, named…
In a recent development, the IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) Executive Committee has appointed Gurinder Singh as the Chairman of Punjab Chapter with effect from January , 2025. He is the Managing Director, Discover Punjab Tours & Travels. Singh is in tourism industry since 2004 and with his vast experience of 21 years, he will contribute to IATO. With his close contacts with Punjab Tourism Government officials, IATO will closely work with the Punjab Government.
Thailand saw foreign tourist arrivals jump 26% last year after the government eased entry rules and waived visas for Chinese, the largest group of visitors to the country. An estimated 35.5 million tourists visited Thailand last year, up from 28.2 million in 2023, according to provisional data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. They spent about THB 1.67 trillion, up 34% from a year ago, local media reported. While the tally missed the ministry’s target of welcoming 36.7 million tourists, it was close to the Bank of Thailand’s prediction of 36 million. The country had set a record for…
The Cathay Group has achieved a significant milestone by carrying more than 100,000 passengers, the most on a single day since the start of its rebuild. On December 15, 2024, Cathay Pacific and HK Express, the Group’s two passenger airlines, carried a combined total of 100,856 passengers, surpassing the 100,000-passenger mark on a single day. Since the milestone was first reached, the Group exceeded the 100,000-passenger mark on a total of eight days during the year-end travel peak ending December 31, 2024. Ronald Lam, CEO, Cathay Pacific Group, said, “We are thrilled to have concluded the year 2024 on a…
SKAL International India, the global organisation for travel and tourism professionals, is set to host the SKAL India National Congress 2025, scheduled to take place in Mumbai from September 12 to 14. This event will bring together key stakeholders from the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries to foster collaboration, exchange innovative ideas, and celebrate the spirit of camaraderie that defines SKAL. The Theme: “Future Forward: Tourism in an Evolving World” Under the thought-provoking theme “Future Forward: Tourism in an Evolving World,” the Congress will explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the global travel and tourism landscape.” With sustainability, technology, and…
The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and Athletics Kenya (AK) has launched a series of mountain and trail running events aimed at positioning Kenya as a sports and adventure destination. The series dubbed the “Magical Kenya Mountain & Trail Series” will kick off with the Barngetuny mountain run hosted in Nandi County set for January 18, 2025. Speaking during the launch event in Nairobi, PS for Tourism John Ololtua said that Kenya known as the home of running and world beaters has the potential to attract additional tourists by tapping in the mountain and trail series which also gives opportunity for…
Amid persistent labour market shortages, New Zealand has introduced significant updates to its visa and employment requirements to streamline immigration procedures. The changes are aimed at simplifying immigration pathways for both employees and employers with adjustments to work experience criteria, wage adjustment and visa durations. To overcome the storage of labour, the New Zealand government has lowered the criterion for work experience for migrants from three to two years. The move will allow competent workers to find employment more easily in New Zealand while still meeting the requirements for their positions. The new rules are expected to help Indian migrants…
India has launched two special category visa for international students intending to pursue higher education in academic institutions in the country. The ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x’ visa have been introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs and all applicants will have to use the ‘Study in India’ (SII) portal launched by the government, officials said. The e-student visa facility can be availed by eligible foreign students registered on the SII portal while e-student-x visa is offered to the dependents of those holding e-student visas, they said. The SII portal facilitates the admission process of international students who wish to pursue…
In response to a Punjab and Haryana High Court question on why there are just two international flights from the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali, the Centre has said that it does not interfere in commercial operations of airlines and that the airlines are free to choose markets and destinations within the ambit of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) between India and another country, reports The Hindustan Times. “Commercial operations of airlines are deregulated, and the Government does not regulate or interfere with the operational plans of the airlines. Accordingly, the airlines are free to select whatever markets…