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Thailand visa is now free till October 31, 2019
Bangkok (TAN): The Thailand government has given its nod to extending the ongoing waiver on visa-on-arrival fees for 21 countries, including India, till October 31.
The ongoing visa-fee waiver was scheduled to end on April 30.
Government figures reveal foreign tourist arrivals between November 15, 2018 and March 31, 2019 – during which time the visa fee waiver has been in place – had seen an 83 per cent spike as compared to the previous year. Continue reading Thailand visa is now free till October 31, 2019 →
Travel strategy: Why you should apply for a US visa ASAP
As a person with an Indian passport, visa is something that more often than not becomes the most important part of the travel-planning process for me. However awesome an itinerary you plan, unless you get the visa, there is no point.
Of course, there are countries that allow visa-free entry to Indians and also those that provide visa on arrival. But these are the exceptions (also, this factor drives huge tourist flow from India to these countries. Think Indonesia and Thailand).
Considering this scenario, does it make sense to make the effort to get one or more stamps on your passport that will make your future travels smoother? Yes, if you ask me. Let me explain. Continue reading Travel strategy: Why you should apply for a US visa ASAP →
350K Game of Thrones fans visited Northern Ireland in 2018
Belfast (TAN): As many as 350,000 tourists came to Northern Ireland from across the world to see hit HBO series Game of Thrones shooting locations and spent a whopping GBP 50 million in 2018, a report in The Irish Times said.
Citing Tourism Northern Ireland figures, the report said every one in six international visitors during this time came for Game of Thrones tourism. Visitors in this category came from North America, Europe, India, Australia, China and elsewhere.
“It has been a phenomenal success and it has been fantastic for North Ireland to be associated with this worldwide success over the past 10 years. It has been so positive for Northern Ireland and HBO has been very, very good to us throughout this time,” the chief executive of Tourism Northern Ireland, John McGrillen, said. Continue reading 350K Game of Thrones fans visited Northern Ireland in 2018 →
US: Baseball season tourism rush in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, US (TAN): Spring is always an attractive time in Fayetteville, a city in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.
Downtown businesses have said they are seeing an increase in customers after the recent home opener of the city’s minor league baseball team, the Woodpeckers.
The Fayetteville Area Visitors and Convention Bureau said that tourism wise, the All American City has been on the upswing for a while, and the numbers are probably going to increase next weekend because of the annual Dogwood Festival. The event usually attracts around 200,000 visitors to the area. Continue reading US: Baseball season tourism rush in Fayetteville, North Carolina →
Easter attack could ruin Sri Lanka’s tourism dept targets
Colombo/Kolkata (TAN): The travel industry is bracing for the impact of the horrific attack in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo and Negombo, where the airport is located, on Easter Sunday.
The island nation had welcomed 2.1 million tourists in 2017 and had set the target to double that number this year.
To that effect, it had announced to offer free visas to citizens of more than 30 countries, including the US, UK, European Union and Thailand in an effort to attract tourists during the low Yala monsoon season. Continue reading Easter attack could ruin Sri Lanka’s tourism dept targets →
I wouldn’t change my Sri Lanka plans because of the terror attacks
I had made a friend in Sri Lanka through Orkut, the most popular social networking site of the time. When I decided to visit Sri Lanka in 2012, both of us were equally excited that we would meet for the first time.
Kanchana had been to India on several occasions and had told me: “You will find the people in Sri Lanka same as Indians. Only warmer.”
After my trip to the island nation, I couldn’t agree more. Today, when the world is reeling from the shock of the Easter attack in Sri Lanka that killed hundreds and left so many more injured, I decided to write about the warmth of the islanders and their hospitality in this post. Continue reading I wouldn’t change my Sri Lanka plans because of the terror attacks →
Buddha Air to start Kathmandu-Kolkata nonstop flights from May
Kolkata (TAN): Nepal-based private airline Buddha Air will start operating nonstop flights between this east Indian city and Kathmandu from May 27.
The airline will operate three flights a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on this route.
The U4 163 from the Nepal capital will leave at 0800 hours and land in Kolkata at 0930. The return flight will depart at 1030 and reach Kathmandu at 1230. All are local time. Continue reading Buddha Air to start Kathmandu-Kolkata nonstop flights from May →
Sri Lanka waives visa fees in low rainy season
Colombo (TAN): Sri Lanka is set to offer free visas to citizens of more than 30 countries, including the US, UK, European Union and Thailand in an effort to attract tourists during the low Yala monsoon season.
“We will start granting a free visa period for six months from 1 May 2019 for some selected countries during our off-peak period,” The Independent quoted the country’s tourism minister John Amaratunga as saying.
“In the next phase of this programme, we plan to set up a permanent system at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to issue visas on arrival, as is the practice in many countries.” Continue reading Sri Lanka waives visa fees in low rainy season →
I did not visit Notre-Dame cathedral when I went to Paris. Here’s why
Soon after the devastating fire at the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, many people who have visited the French capital put up pictures they had taken of the 850-year-old church.
At the risk of sounding like an ignoramus, let me admit that till the time the news of the fire broke, I only had a hazy idea about the this Catholic church that the French people identify so much with.
By “hazy idea”, I mean I was aware of the presence of Notre-Dame as a church, but I wasn’t aware that the most famous one of the name was present in Paris. (There are 18 churches only in France called Notre-Dame, says Wikipedia.) Continue reading I did not visit Notre-Dame cathedral when I went to Paris. Here’s why →
Jet Airways cancels all domestic and international flights
Mumbai (TAN): India’s oldest private airline, the 25-year-old Jet Airways, cancelled all its domestic and international flights indefinitely on Wednesday.
It’s last flight, a domestic one, flew on Wednesday night. Continue reading Jet Airways cancels all domestic and international flights →
French President promises to rebuild fire-ravaged Notre-Dame cathedral
Paris (TAN): French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to rebuild the 850-year-old Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris that was ravaged by a massive fire on Monday evening.
The fire brought down the world-famous cathedral’s spire crashing to the ground as onlookers watched aghast.
“This Notre-Dame Cathedral, we will rebuild it. All together. This is part of our French destiny. I am committed to this: from tomorrow a national subscription will be launched, and far beyond our borders,” President Macron, who visited the site, tweeted in French. Continue reading French President promises to rebuild fire-ravaged Notre-Dame cathedral →
Not-a-fan at a fan Mecca
Only yesterday, I noticed a friend posting pictures of herself in Philadelphia. I got really excited and asked her if she would be making the pilgrimage up the famous Rocky Steps.
“Why?” she asked. She obviously had no clue about Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky film franchise that had a fan base only a few others could boast of. It reminded me of the time I was in the city.
Being a fan, I, obviously, had to see the Rocky steps. The friend I was staying with went along. He, much like the one who was in Philly yesterday, had not seen a single Rocky film and had no clue about how much it had become part of popular culture. Continue reading Not-a-fan at a fan Mecca →