Here’s your weekly dose of travel updates!
Check out the latest news and updates about the travel and tourism industry from around the world.
1. US to issue 1 Million US Visas to Indians this Year
After launching several initiatives to ensure that Indian applicants get their US Visa sooner, the United States of America plans to issue the US visa to nearly 1 million Indians by the end of 2023. A spokesperson from the US Embassy in Delhi said, “The US Mission has already processed more than two lakh applications at our Embassy and Consulates in India and we’re on track to hit our goal of processing more than one million non-immigrant visa applications in 2023. Our goal is to process one million visa applications, which includes non-immigrant visas of all categories.”
2. World’s Longest Railway Platform Inaugurated in Karnataka
The 1,507 meter long railway platform at the Hubballi Station (renamed as Shri Siddharoodha Swamiji Station), of the South Western Railway Zone in Karnataka, was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. As per the news shared by the Indian Ministry of Railways, this ‘World’s Longest Railway Platform’ was inaugurated by PM Modi on March 12 and was built at a cost of INR 20 crores.
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3. Skytrax announces World Airport Awards – Singapore Changi Airport bags the Top Spot
On March 15, Skytrax released its annual ranking of the World’s Best Airports at an awards ceremony held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Amsterdam. Singapore Changi Airport which had previously won the title for 8 consecutive years reclaimed the top spot after losing out to Doha’s Hamad International Airport in the last 2 years.
4. Singapore Tourism Board encourages Summer Travel for Indian Families
The Singapore Tourism Board is set to launch a series of exciting offers and discounts on various experiences that one can enjoy with our Singapore tour packages. This initiative is a part of their ‘Enjoy Your Picture Perfect Family Holiday in Singapore’ program under the ‘Family Times’ banner. With Singapore visa online process already being easy and hassle-free, this initiative is the icing on the cake that one needs to plan their Singapore holiday asap.
5. Amazing Thailand Festival 2023 to be held in Mumbai
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), will be hosting the Amazing Thailand Festival 2023 at the Jio World Drive in BKC, Mumbai. The festival will place from March 24 to 26 and is aimed at boosting tourism in Thailand along with increasing the brand awareness of Thailand in India. The festival will largely focus on promoting the 5F’s of Thailand – Food, Film, Fashion, Fight, and Festival. We are sure after attending the festival you will be inclined to book a Thailand tour package and apply for your Thailand visa to visit this beautiful country.
6. Bali plans to ban Motorbikes for Tourists
If you plan to roam the streets of Bali on a motorbike, then book our Indonesia tour package and do so before the government bans foreign tourists from ever doing so. As per the reports, the government plans to impose this motorbike ban due to several misdemeanors wherein tourists were caught riding motorbikes without helmets, valid driving licenses, and even fake license plates.
7. Dates for Apricot Blossom Festival in Ladakh announced
Soon the union territory of Ladakh will be filled with apricot blossoms and the Ladakh Tourism Department is ready to organize a festival to celebrate the arrival of these pretty baby pink flowers. The festival will feature a variety of cultural activities along with an array of handicrafts on sale. The Apricot Blossom Festival will be held from April 4 to 17 so book your Leh Ladakh tour package accordingly.
8. Sphinx Statue with Dimples discovered in Egypt
A Sphinx Statue made of limestone and much smaller than the Sphinx close to the Pyramids in Giza was recently discovered in the Qena Province of Southern Egypt. Believed to be a depiction of the ancient Roman Emperor Claudius, this dimpled statue is smiling and is located close to the Hathor Temple in the Dendera Temple Complex which you must visit during your tour of Egypt.
9. Srinagar to host Tulip Festival followed by the reopening of the Tulip Garden
A key highlight of our Jammu and Kashmir tour packages, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar is all set to reopen for the general public on March 24. Spread across 30 hectares, and home to 1.5 million tulips, it is the Largest Tulip Garden in Asia. After it is re-opened it will host the annual Tulip Festival which will take place from April 3 to 20.
10. Udaipur to host Mewar Festival from March 24 to 26
If you are planning a holiday in Rajasthan then this is the best time to do it. One of the popular cultural festivals of Rajasthan, the Mewar Festival will be held in Udaipur from March 24 to 26 this year. The festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of spring and people wear colorful traditional outfits and make rangolis to mark the occasion.
11. Spain and Portugal to Offer Digital Nomad Visa
The European countries of Spain and Portugal recently joined the list of countries that offer Digital Nomad Visa. A Digital Nomad Visa is a residence permit that allows an individual to work remotely from anywhere in the world away from their country of residence. So far there are 30 countries that offer a Digital Nomad Visa. For more information click here.
12. Several Delhi Railway Stations to get an Indoor Gaming Zone soon
Under the ‘New, Innovative Non-fare Revenue Ideas Scheme’, Northern Railways plans to set up indoor gaming zones at the Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin, and New Delhi Railway Stations in Delhi. Within 2 months passengers waiting for their trains can choose to play games like table soccer, table tennis, air hockey, chess, pool, etc.
13. Saudi Arabia Nationals can now get e-Visa for India
On March 16, the Embassy of India in Riyadh shared a tweet announcing, “The Embassy is happy to announce that the facility of e-visa has been restored for the nationals of Saudi Arabia with immediate effect in all five sub-categories i.e., e-tourist visa, e-business visa, e-medical visa, e-medical attendant visa & e-conference visa.” The India e-visa services were started in 2019 and suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
14. Visa and Forex Center for Bangladesh to be set up at Kolkata Railway Station
The Railway Ministry plans to set up a visa facilitation center at the Kolkata Railway Station to help travelers from Bangladesh who wish to extend their stay and avoid paying penalties for overstaying. Alongside the visa extension center, a forex center will also be available to ensure better services for the passengers traveling to and from the neighboring country.
15. Vietnam to ease Visa Rules to Boost Tourism
In a bid to boost tourism and attract more foreign travelers, the Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh gave official instructions to its cabinet to ease the Vietnam visa rules. The instructions included – offering more visa waivers, expanding the Vietnam e-visa program, and implementing reasonable fees for extending the length of stay for foreign tourists enjoying their Vietnam tour packages, etc.
With so much to see and experience in the world who wouldn’t be excited to travel? Head over to Akbartravels.com and find solutions to all your worries related to visa applications, flight tickets, and hotel bookings. What else? We have the best budget holiday packages available to make your holiday truly peaceful.
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