Tag: traveller
Indian tourist numbers to Jordan up by 30%
Amman (NITN): Jordan Tourism Board recently announced that it has witnessed 30.40 per cent growth in 2018 from the Indian market.
Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board, elaborated: “The Jordanian-Indian relationship has witnessed a tremendous positive shift throughout 2018. His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein’s visit to India in February 2018 has had a cascading effect on the whole dynamics that connect both countries.”
Granting Indian visitors an upon-arrival visa was one of these changes that helped increase the number of Indian tourists visiting Jordan for its remarkable religious and historic sites, such as the Baptism Site and Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Moreover, close to Petra, one can witness a Mars-like nature-crafted setup called Wadi Rum, which, just like Petra, has been incredibly used by big Hollywood studios to shoot some of its most iconic feature films, from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Martian to the upcoming hits Aladdin and Star Wars: Episode IX.
Bollywood has recently discovered the magnificence of Jordan as a filming location to shoot some of its feature films, including Krrish 3, and with the recently facilitated upon-arrival visas, Bollywood’s presence in Jordan is promising to be even more fruitful!
On a marketing level, the Jordan Tourism Board executed a number of marketing campaigns in India in 2018 to promote Jordan, which played a key role in presenting Jordan as a go-to destination in the Middle East.”
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which once captivated ancient travellers, continues to enthral a whole new generation as a modern, vibrant nation. From the haunting, primeval starkness of Wadi Rum, the teeming centre of urban Amman, from the majestic ruins of bygone civilizations to the timeless splendour of the Dead Sea, Jordan is unveiled as a unique destination offering breathtaking and mysterious sights, high standard accommodations, exquisite cuisine and countless activities that can provide visitors with inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation.
Marveling at herds of gazelles and oryx and migrating birds, camping amidst the grandeur of Wadi Rum or Dana Reserve, trekking the ancient caravan trails from the highlands of Moab and Edom, hiking the wooded hills of biblical Gilead, or experiencing the unique, cleansing mud baths of the Dead Sea are just a few examples of the treasures awaiting visitors to this unique kingdom.
The new stream of luxury hotels emerging in Amman, Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea is just adding quality to a refined product that is distinct, accessible and friendly; a product that is home to a new display of modern meeting facilities and unique venues for incentive travel as well.
Whether it is a conference for 5000 people, a lavish dinner in the peerless desert of Wadi Rum, a barbecue at the shores of the Dead Sea, or a reception atop a medieval castle overlooking the Jordan Valley, the amicable and competent people of Jordan will ensure a memorable, once in a lifetime experience.
Seabourn cruise line to serve premium caviar to guests
Seattle (TAN): Seabourn cruise will serve premium quality caviar on board its five ships, beginning in the next few months.
The cruise line, in culinary partnership with chef Thomas Keller’s caviar company Regiis Ova, plans to offer decadent caviar to luxury travellers. Guests will get a taste of Siberian Reserve caviar, cultivated in a family-owned farm in Uruguay’s San Gregorio de Polanco.
The caviar, says a statement from the cruise company, is known for its delicate taste and texture. It has nutty and fruits hints. Continue reading Seabourn cruise line to serve premium caviar to guests
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
Ticket policy in Machu Picchu becomes stricter than before
Cusco (TAN): Machu Picchu has introduced new ticketing rules to fight overtourism, starting January 1, and they are stricter than ever before!
Under the new policy, visitors will be able to opt from three hour-specific time slots – early morning (hourly from 6 to 9am), morning (hourly from 9am to 12pm) or afternoon (hourly between 12 and 3pm), media reports said.
The rule requires visitors to choose their favoured time slots, and arrive within an hour of them, failing which they will not be permitted to enter at all.
Continue reading Ticket policy in Machu Picchu becomes stricter than before
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
Queensland to get more Qantas flights
Cairns (TAN): Qantas has announced an increase in seating capacity and frequency across the company’s Queensland routes, from March 31, this year.
The addition will enable Australia’s flagship airline to offer over 2,600 extra seats every week compared with the same period last year.
The airline will continue the deployment of Airbus A330s on select flights from Cairns to Melbourne and Sydney.
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.
MP: Stepping into the heart of India this winter
December 14 (TravelAndy): Now is a fascinating time to explore Madhya Pradesh, not just because of the diversity it offers in terms of breathtaking landscapes, forest covers, fauna, heritage, and art and handicrafts, but also because it celebrates all of those through festivals, and other cultural performances, while sharing it with the outside world.
Bhopal, the capital city will host ‘Hriday Drishyam’, a two-day musical event from December 15 to 16, to bring together the finest and most loved Indian classical and jazz musicians on the same platform — Hariprasad Chaurasia on flute, Smita Nagdev on sitar, Shruti and Ninad Adhikari on santoor, and the band Golpe Tierra, among several others. The festival, all set to take place at Minto Hall, Shaurya Smarak, Bharat Bhavan, and Iqbal Maidan, has made entrance free for music lovers.
December 16 will see locals and travellers alike getting ready for the ‘Go Heritage Run’ in the exquisite temple town of Orchha. The annual event, organised in different locations every year, is an effort to delve into the cultural depths of the state. The run, slated to start at 6am from Sheesh Mahal, will take the participants through roads and trails sharing glimpses of ‘chhatris’ and temples from the Bundela era.
Continue reading MP: Stepping into the heart of India this winter
Perth Airport introduces sleeping pods for passengers
December 13 (TravelAndy): Perth Airport has introduced sleeping pods at its T1 zone, making it the first airport in Australia with this facility.
The airport has installed eight pods in collaboration with Smarte Carte and Finnish company GoSleep.
According to Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown, the pods would be perfect for passengers who either arrived early or had some time between connecting flights, as they connected their flights in different ways, many with a short stopover. Continue reading Perth Airport introduces sleeping pods for passengers
The tourist-traveller fight makes no sense
Not very long ago, there was this group of pictures widely shared on social media. It was a travel company that made them and shared them initially on their Facebook page. These guys differentiated between a tourist and a traveller and sought to emphasise how they helped you explore a place like a traveller and not a tourist.
Not surprisingly, with this craze in people to be a traveller and not a tourist, the pictures were quite a hit and were shared many times. Continue reading The tourist-traveller fight makes no sense