Travel News
Drink ‘feni’ but don’t do drugs: Minister advises visitors to Goa
Panjim (TAN): Don’t do drugs but drink the local liquor “feni” to get high, the tourism minister of the India’s coastal state Goa has advised tourists.
Answering a question on the use of drugs at EDM events in Goa, minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said: “Enjoy the music, drink cashew feni, but do not indulge in drugs.”
“We have taken precautions that drugs are not introduced during electronic dance music (EDM) festivals,” the minister told reporters this week. Goa has a lively EDM scene. Continue reading Drink ‘feni’ but don’t do drugs: Minister advises visitors to Goa
Myanmar: French tourist spends a month in jail for flying drone
Naypyidaw (TAN): A French tourist is spending a month in a Myanmar prison after being arrested for flying a drone close to the country’s Parliament building, media reports said.
The Myanmar authorities booked Arthur Desclaux (27) in February for brining a drone into the country without the requisite permits and flying it in a prohibited zone.
Though the offence carry a maximum sentence of three years, the court only gave the French tourist a one month sentence because he pleaded guilty but insisted he was not aware of the local laws. Continue reading Myanmar: French tourist spends a month in jail for flying drone
Pietermaritzburg in South Africa struggles to attract tourists
Pietermaritzburg (TAN): In spite of being the capital and the second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, Pietermaritzburg, located 67 kilometres from Durban, is struggling to attract local and as well international tourists.
Pietermaritzburg has a rich cultural heritage and affordable recreational activities. It is also known the world over for its colonial and liberation heritage. The city has historical connections with renowned leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and the country’s former president Nelson Mandela. Continue reading Pietermaritzburg in South Africa struggles to attract tourists
Japan is on the verge of a tourism spike, but it has hurdles to cross
Tokyo (TAN): The tourism industry in Japan is on a high with it seeing an unprecedented 31 million foreign tourists in 2018 and the numbers are only expected to climb in the coming years, says The Japan Times.
In spite of its great potential, the archipelago country has not been among the foremost choices of international travellers because of problems such language issues for English-speaking tourists, the country being prone to natural disasters and it not many business establishments accepting cashless payments.
“We realize there are many Western tourists worried that Japanese society is not quite ready for English-language communication,” says Hiroshi Tabata, head of Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), the government organisation that guides the country’s tourism strategy. Continue reading Japan is on the verge of a tourism spike, but it has hurdles to cross
Jane Goodall to sound sustainable tourism bugle in Sierra Leone
Freetown, Sierra Leone (TAN): Jane Goodall, a British primatologist most known for her long-term study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania, began her tryst with Sierra Leone 27 years ago. Goodall is returning there to mark the anniversary of her journey and also start a new tourism initiative in the country.
The country of Sierra Leone has had a troubled past but is looking ahead with renewed hope to reach out to tourists from all over the world and put forward a unique destination with a strong sustainable tourism message.
During her three day visit to Sierra Leone from February 27 to March 1, 2019, Jane Goodall (84) will visit the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which she had an important role in founding. Continue reading Jane Goodall to sound sustainable tourism bugle in Sierra Leone
India e-tourist visa now valid for 1 yr; continuous stay for 90/180 days
New Delhi (TAN): India has decided to increase the validity of electronic tourist and electronic business visas from 60 days to one year with multiple entries in an effort to attract more international tourists.
The country’s ministry of home affairs, in a recent statement, said the decision had been taken because of the immense popularity of the e-visa.
[ALSO READ: HDFC Bank ruins Regalia card travel privilege by overcomplicating rules] Continue reading India e-tourist visa now valid for 1 yr; continuous stay for 90/180 days
US: Big Little Lies town wakes up to overtourism
Monterey County, California (TAN): Overtourism is impacting places such as Venice, which has now introduced an entry fee. It has had an impact on places like the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. But this factor has also pushed the Game of Thrones shooting site to manage the industry more mindfully.
In Monterey County too, there’s a push to shape tourism in a more sustainable way.
Bixby Bridge in Monterey County on the Big Sur coast in California became a most-sought-after destination sometime last year when it was featured in the opening credits of the HBO TV series Big Little Lies. Pictures of Bixby Bridge are all over social media. Continue reading US: Big Little Lies town wakes up to overtourism
Take part in this survey. It could make your Vietnam visa process simpler
Hanoi (TAN): Vietnam’s Tourism Advisory Board is inviting recent travellers to Vietnam to share online feedback about their visa experience as part of an ongoing effort to improve visa policies for tourists.
The tourism advisory board is a consortium of Vietnam’s leading travel industry stakeholders.
The board intends to gather a significant number of responses which it will then submit to the government as along with a report. The board has in the past successfully lobbied for policy changes, including expansion of Vietnam’s visa exemption programme. Continue reading Take part in this survey. It could make your Vietnam visa process simpler
GoAir waives cancellation fees for India flights this February
New Delhi (TAN): India-based GoAir is running a promotion that has zero cancelation fees on tickets booked with HDFC Bank credit cards.
This scheme covers all passengers who book GoAir refundable tickets till February 28, 2019.
The offer is only valid on domestic flights in India and the maximum value per transaction cannot be more than INR25,000.
A maximum two cancellations under this scheme will be permitted per customer. Continue reading GoAir waives cancellation fees for India flights this February
Machu Picchu finally becomes wheelchair accessible
Cusco (TAN): The first ever wheelchair-accessible tour has been introduced at Machu Picchu, the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Peruvian Andes.
California-based travel company Wheel the World has developed the wheelchair-accessible tour of the iconic site, that was so far unreachable to wheelchair-bound travel enthusiasts.
Wheel the World was founded by friends from Chile, Alvaro Silberstein and Camilo Navarro. Though Silberstein uses a wheelchair, the two friends devised ways to travel the world. Continue reading Machu Picchu finally becomes wheelchair accessible
Germany’s sausage-themed B&B: Celebration of favourite food
Berlin (TAN): If you have a thing for sausages and quirky décor, the perfect place awaits you in a German village. Located in Rittersbach near the Bavarian town of Nuremberg, Boebel Bratwurst Bed and Breakfast could be the world’s first sausage-themed hotel.
The seven-room accommodation, decorated with sausage wallpapers and bratwurst-shaped cushions, happens to be the brainchild of 48-year old Boebel. A fourth-generation butcher, Boebel also runs his family’s butcher shop along with the bed and breakfast.
Celebration of favourite food
Boebel admitted to bratwurst being his favourite German dish. “I like to travel around the world – and when I travel around the world, I like different foods, food culture. And I thought: ‘Why only abroad?’ I made a place where people meet in Bavaria in my home and eat typical food and connect together,” CNN Travel quoted him as saying. Continue reading Germany’s sausage-themed B&B: Celebration of favourite food
Emirates: A380 to connect Amman with Dubai in summer 2019
Dubai (TAN): Emirates has announced it will operate its Airbus A380 between Dubai and Amman during peak summer months this year. The upgraded service, as a remedy to higher seasonal demand, will run from June 1 to October 26, 2019.
Adil Al Ghaith, senior vice president, commercial operations for Gulf, Middle East and Iran, Emirates, said, “Jordan has been a strategically important market in this region for Emirates for a long time. The upgrade to an A380 service to Amman during the peak summer period is in line with our strategy to better serve seasonal peaks, and strengthen our presence in key markets by providing an industry-leading experience for our customers, and offering them a seamless A380 experience via Dubai to major destinations in the world.”
While Emirates will use its A380 for one of its three daily flights on the Dubai-Amman route, it will be the first time the airline will run a scheduled A380 service to Amman since 2016. Continue reading Emirates: A380 to connect Amman with Dubai in summer 2019