Tag: destination
Thailand: Visa fee waiver extended till April 30
Bangkok (TAN): The government of Thailand has announced extension of the visa-on-arrival fee waiver from January 31 to April 30, 2019. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said the extension will be applicable for citizens of 20 countries.
Under the waiver, citizens from all these 20 countries will be granted stay in Thailand for up to 15 days without having to pay THB2,000 visa-on-arrival fee.
List of countries eligible for the fee waiver
- Andora
- Bulgaria
- Bhutan
- China, including Taiwan
- Cyprus
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Papua New Guinea
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Ukraine, and
- Uzbekistan
Continue reading Thailand: Visa fee waiver extended till April 30
Uzbekistan to waive visa for citizens of 45 countries
Tashkent (NITN): Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that tourists from 45 countries will be able to visit Uzbekistan visa free, effective from February 1, 2019.
This is the latest in a series of reforms designed to stimulate the Central Asian country’s tourism development, as Mirziyoyev identified tourism and foreign investment as the two priorities for his term when he came to power in December 2016.
Initiatives including the introduction of e-visas in June 2018 have already resulted in an increase in foreign tourist numbers from 2.6 million in 2017 to 5.3 million in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates significant further growth in 2019.
National carrier Uzbekistan Airways will take delivery of two new Airbus A320neos and three new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in spring 2019, increasing its capacity on long haul international routes and enabling it to add new destinations. The airline already provides direct flights between London Heathrow and Tashkent, and expects to add a second UK airport to its network this summer.
From February 1, 2019, the following countries will be able to enter Uzbekistan visa free for up to 30 days:
Andorra, Canada, Iceland, Mongolia, San Marino, Argentina, Chile, Ireland, Montenegro, Serbia, Australia, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Latvia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Norway, Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland, Brunei Darussalam, Greece, Malta, Republic of Cyprus, United Kingdom Bulgaria Hungary Monaco Romania, and Vatican City.
Nationals of France, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Turkey were granted visa free access in 2018. Germans will have visa free access from January 15, 2019.
President Mirziyoyev’s 5 January decrees also stated that:
- The existing e-visa scheme will be extended to cover the nationals of 76 countries, and will allow for double and multiple entries;
- New visa categories will be created for pilgrims, students, academics, and for medical tourism, and will be available within one month;
- Hotels must offer accommodation “regardless of the place of residence, citizenship, kinship and marital relations of individuals, as well as other factors that restrict the right to privacy.” This removes restrictions on unmarried couples;
- A list of prohibited sites (i.e. those of security concern) will be published on or before February 1, and clearly marked with signs. Tourists may photograph and film all unmarked sites without restriction.
Venice to levy tourism tax on daytrippers
Venice (TAN): Vacationing in Venice is all set to turn dearer, even if you have just a day trip in mind. City officials have plans to charge tourists up to EUR10 for visiting the Mediterranean destination.
The move was announced as part of a new budget policy in Italy, in order to curb overtourism and push the local economy.
Many travellers including cruise ship passengers come to the city for a day or less. While they usually choose not to book accommodations for this tiny window, they definitely end up adding to problems of crowding and overtourism.
Munnar turns winter wonderland as mercury dips below zero
Kochi (TAN): Sub-zero temperatures and South India do not often go hand in hand. Yet, the mercury in Munnar, one of Kerala’s most favourite tourist getaways, dropped below zero degrees last week, covering the hill station in thick layers of frost.
Places such as Chittuvara, Lakkad, and Chendura in Munnar saw temperatures fall up to -3 degree Celsius.
Tourism benefited as travellers flocked to Munnar to witness the unusual weather conditions first hand. Hotel and business owners were hopeful further fall in temperatures would boost business in the area.
Not just Munnar, other places in Kerala including Wayanad, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kannur too recorded dip in minimum temperatures. The cold and dry weather in South India has been attributed to the cold wave sweeping across the subcontinent. Ooty, Tamil Nadu’s popular tourist destination, was hit by the cold wave and experienced a chilly weather. Continue reading Munnar turns winter wonderland as mercury dips below zero
Delta to fly Minneapolis-Mexico City direct from June 8
Minneapolis (TAN): Delta, in partnership with Aeromexico, will offer a new nonstop service between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Mexico City, from June this year, subject to government approval.
Steve Sear, President – International and EVP – Global Sales, Delta, said according to the feedback they got from the passengers of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Mexico City Mexico City happens to be the most requested destination, and that the new service will give them that.
“At the same time, it allows for more choice and options for customers in many US and Canadian cities through one convenient, easy connection as well as easy connections to dozens of destinations in Mexico thanks to our partnership with Aeromexico,” he added.
Continue reading Delta to fly Minneapolis-Mexico City direct from June 8
San Francisco is TAP Air Portugal’s new destination
December 26 (TravelAndy): TAP Air Portugal has announced San Francisco as its new destination, with five flights operating between Lisbon and the American city each week starting next year.
Operations will begin on June 10, 2019, with five flights flying to and from Lisbon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. While flights from Lisbon will take off at 10.00 am, and arrive in San Francisco at 2.40 pm, local time, the ones in the opposite direction will depart at 4.10 pm, and reach Lisbon at 11.25 am, on the following day.
San Francisco will be the airline’s third new destination in the United States and eighth destination in North America in 2019. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of TAP, said the airlines was following its expansion plans in the United States.
Continue reading San Francisco is TAP Air Portugal’s new destination
Qatar Airways to fly to Malta from June
December 25 (TravelAndy): Come summer, Qatar Airways will launch direct services to Valletta, Malta – the newest addition among the airline’s European destinations.
The operations will begin on June 4, 2019, making it Qatar Airways’ first entry into the Mediterranean country. The airlines will fly an A320 aircraft to the Maltese capital daily in summer, and four times a week in winter.
Talking about the new route, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, group chief executive, Qatar Airways, said the airline looked forward to introducing travellers from across the globe to the captivating city of Valletta.
British Airways to fly from London City Airport to Croatia
December 24 (TravelAndy): British Airways has announced a new route from London City Airport to Split in Croatia, which will start operating next year.
The airline has planned to connect the Croatian city to the Docklands airport with three flights a week during the summer months of June through September.
While British Airways already operates flights between Heathrow Airport and Split, flights from London City Airport to Croatia will be introduced for the first time.
Luke Hayhoe, general manager commercial and customer, British Airways, said they have been looking at new route and additional frequency possibilities with the arrival of their new aircraft next year, and that it was a natural addition to the summer leisure schedule.
Continue reading British Airways to fly from London City Airport to Croatia
US tour operators name Italy as 2019 ‘hot’ destination
December 19 (NITN): The tour operator members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) have named Italy the most popular or “hot” destination for travellers in 2019, a recent survey by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) revealed.
The top 10 “hot” destinations for the coming year also include Iceland, which ranked second, followed by Japan, Vietnam, Australia, France, Spain, Colombia, Cambodia and Portugal.
USTOA members also identified their top 10 off-the-beaten path or emerging destinations that they see gaining popularity in 2019: Iceland ranked first, Cambodia ranked second, followed by Croatia, Colombia, Vietnam, Portugal, Bhutan, Bolivia, Myanmar, and Ethiopia.
Continue reading US tour operators name Italy as 2019 ‘hot’ destination
Suspension Train in Germany’s odd tourist destination list
June 26 (TravelAndy): The Suspension Train in Wuppertal, locally known as The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, has been included in a list of “10 odd tourist attractions in Germany you shouldn’t miss” by The Local, Germany.
The Schwebebahn station is right next to the Wuppertal hauptbahnhof. You see the stairs going up on the left just as you leave the station. The beautiful hanging tram, which runs over the river Wupper (from which the town gets its name), feels like a large cable car as it gently sways while running.
It is the world’s oldest railway of it’s kind — 117 years old and still in regular use, the report adds. [Also read: Ride the Schwebebahn in Wuppertal, Germany] Continue reading Suspension Train in Germany’s odd tourist destination list