Tag: UK
Fun things to do in Scotland this winter
November 11 (TravelAndy): From roof-raising celebrations to cosy Còsagach experiences, winter offers the chance to experience a completely new, yet equally exciting, side of Scotland.
As the landscapes change and the weather cools, the atmosphere is heating up as the country prepares to celebrate some of the biggest dates on the Scottish calendar including St Andrews Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night.
Winter is also the perfect time to embark on a new outdoor adventure to enjoy Scotland’s beauty during a different season. Following are the highlights: Continue reading Fun things to do in Scotland this winter
India plans e-visa fee roll back: Report
September 1 (TravelAndy): The Indian government plans to roll back the hike in e-visa fees, The Hindu Business Line reported.
“So far, we have done a great job by introducing e-visa. However, all the gains that we have achieved from this, I think we are negating some of those by increasing the e-visa fee,” the report quoted Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, as saying.
In June, India had increased the e-visa fee from USD50 to USD80. The fee for US and UK passport holders was increased to USD100. The bulk of foreign tourists come to India from the US and UK. Continue reading India plans e-visa fee roll back: Report
Year of Young People events to kick-start Scottish summer
June 4 (TravelAndy): From brass band competitions, film screenings and poetry slams to music festivals, graphic novel exhibitions and carnival parades, a wealth of events, co-designed by Scotland’s young people, is set to celebrate the Year of Young People 2018, capturing the spirit of summertime, as well as the interest of parents for school-holiday inspiration throughout June and July.
Kicking off the events in June is the North-East’s largest food and drink showcase, Taste of Grampian which returns to the Thainstone Centre in Inverurie on 2 June. In addition to a wide range of high-quality food and drink produce from the area, masterclasses and cookery demonstrations by celebrity chefs, you will also be able to get a taste of Grampian’s best young bands, singers and musicians on the brand new Year of Young People Stage. Fun for your ears and taste buds is guaranteed!
On 3 June, Custom House Quay in Greenock will be transformed by Evolve Fest 2018, a vibrant summer festival with fun for all, planned by Inverclyde’s young people. Try your hands at arts, crafts and upcycling during pop-up workshops, see two unique films created by young filmmakers, dance along to brand-new music composed by young musicians working with ‘Love and Money’ frontman James Grant, enjoy specially choreographed performances by the Beacon Youth Dance Club and Clydeview Academy students and be inspired by a visual art exhibition created by local high school students from St Columba’s High School, Gourock. Continue reading Year of Young People events to kick-start Scottish summer
UK expects surge in Chinese tourists
November 15 (TravelAndy): Millennials are set to be the driving force of growth in Chinese travel to Scotland, it has been revealed.
Chinese visitor numbers to the UK are expected to rise by almost half, from 260,000 to 384,000, over the next five years, VisitBritain predicts. Scotland currently accounts for almost a fifth (17%) of all Chinese visitors to the UK.
The rise in visitors from China to Scotland and the UK is expected to be driven by the young adult traveller. Research shows that the average age of Chinese visitors to the UK is younger than the average age of all inbound travellers. In 2016, half of Chinese visitors to the UK were aged between 25 and 44. Continue reading UK expects surge in Chinese tourists
Check out Scotland’s beautiful autumn colours
September (TravelAndy): If anything stirs the heart and soul, it’s a walk through a woodland in Scotland: as the leaves turn rich red, gold and warm orange, as the crisp air moves in, before settling in front of a crackling fire for a comforting hot chocolate or wee dram.
Visitors to Scotland this autumn can follow in the footsteps of poets William Wordsworth and Robert Burns who felt inspired by the rich tapestry of autumn: from enchanted Perthshire forests, to the fairy glens of the Highlands, to the coastal trail of Aberdeenshire, among many other places to visit.
Autumn in Scotland is a truly magical time. Continue reading Check out Scotland’s beautiful autumn colours
UK campaign targets domestic tourists
September 9 (TravelAndy): A UK-wide tourism campaign is launching to inspire young people from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take a holiday at home.
Statistics show that 16-to-34 year olds took almost 1.4 million fewer holidays at home last year compared to a decade ago.
VisitEngland’s £2.5 million ‘Join the World – Discover the UK’ digital and social media campaign, launching on Monday 11 September, is targeting this ‘lost generation’ using overseas social media influencers and travellers to showcase to their peers the amazing moments and experiences that can only be had on a holiday at home in the UK. Continue reading UK campaign targets domestic tourists
Norwegian to fly London-Singapore from Sep 28
April 27 (TravelAndy): Budget airline Norwegian will start flights between London and Singapore from September 28, 2017, the airline said.
With this, the airline’s growing low-cost long-haul network expands to Asia.
Norwegian will operate four weekly flights, increasing to five in the winter, from London’s Gatwick to Singapore’s Changi Airport. Continue reading Norwegian to fly London-Singapore from Sep 28
New airline plans UK-India direct flights
June 27 (TravelAndy): UK-based low-cost airline POP, short for People Over Profit (because it intends to donate the majority of its profits to charity), intends to start non-stop flights from Stansted Airport in the UK to the Indian cities of Amritsar and Ahmedabad.
At present, non-stop flight from UK fly only to the Indian cities of Mumbai and Delhi.
The services are slated to begin from autumn, 2016. Continue reading New airline plans UK-India direct flights
UK: Public sector rail service could be 10% cheaper
April 13 (TravelAndy): Season tickets prices in the UK could decrease by as much as 10 per cent by 2017 if the the railway service was run by the public sector and not private parties, a campaign group Action for Rail has found.
Train ticket prices in Britain are among Europe’s costliest.
The group further says that between 2015 and 2020, the contracts on 11 train lines will come up for renewal and the government could save GBP1.5 billion if the public sector took over the reins.
Budget travellers will be keeping their fingers crossed about this one.