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. India is Officially the ‘Most Beautiful Country in the World’ – Recent Study by Titan Travel
A recent study conducted by travel experts at Titan Travel revealed that India is the ‘most beautiful country in the world’. With over 219 million posts dedicated to India on Instagram, the decision was fairly easy to take. Other top-ranking countries are Japan (164 million posts), and Italy (159 million posts). Dubai grabbed the top spot as the most popular city destination on TikTok with over 137.7 billion TikToks dedicated to the city.
2. A Digital Schengen Visa will replace the Traditional Schengen Visa Sticker soon
An agreement has been reached by the European Council and the European Parliament to replace passport stickers and make the Schengen visa completely digitalized. A digital Schengen visa (encrypted 2D barcode) will replace the traditional Schengen visa sticker and apply to long-stay visas as well. It will also be issued by EU nations like Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania that have not yet fully complied with Schengen regulations.
Read More: Digital Schengen Visa: Travel to Europe made easy!
3. Kolkata to Bangkok Road Trip could become a reality by 2027
You will be able to travel by road from Kolkata to Bangkok by the year 2027. The news about the Trilateral Highway that will connect the two cities was announced at a recent business conclave organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It is a part of the four-year-old Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) project. The 2,800 kilometers long Trilateral Highway will start in Bangkok, travel through Thailand’s Sukhothai and Mae Sot, then cross Yangon, Mandalay, Kalewa, and Tamu in Myanmar before continuing to India.
4. Kerala to soon start Vande Metro Services
After the Vande Bharat Express Train, Kerala is likely to welcome the soon-to-be-launched Vande Metro services. The Railway Board is currently examining potential routes for the new services, and each railway zone in the nation has been asked to suggest five Vande Metro trains.
5. With 43.4 Lakh passengers, Mumbai International Airport witnesses a record-breaking performance in May
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) solidifies its position as a leader in Indian aviation. With an astounding total of 43.4 lakh passengers in May, Mumbai Airport has seen an 8% rise in passenger traffic, demonstrating the airport’s steady growth. The airport demonstrated its significance as a major aviation hub in May 2023 alone by recording a total of 26,054 ATMs.
6. New Harry Potter Theme Park Inaugurated in Tokyo
Potterheads rejoice! It’s time to put on your robes and pull out your wands as the Warner Brothers Studio Tour Tokyo is now open for visitors. Set up near the city of Tokyo, this Harry Potter based theme park includes sets of the iconic Platform 9 and three quarters, the Forbidden Forest, the Ministry of Magic, the Great Hall, and Diagon Alley. If only it was possible to ride your broomsticks to Tokyo! Until then get your flight tickets to Tokyo along with your Japan visa and set off on a magical journey.
7. India’s Highest Altitude Bus Service between Delhi and Leh Resumes after 9 months
The longest and highest altitude bus service in India has resumed operations after a long winter and nearly 9 months of closure. This bus service links Delhi to Leh via Manali in Himachal Pradesh. This 1,206 km long journey passing through Rohtang Pass, Baralacha Pass, Lachungla Pass, and Tanglangla Pass will take approximately 30 hours to complete and can be easily considered one of the extreme road trips in India.
8. An Exclusive App for Solo Women Travellers – Kerala Tourism Board
Kerala Tourism plans to launch a mobile app for female solo travellers. The app aims to provide women-friendly Kerala tour packages, operators, and guides, making travel in Kerala easier and more comfortable for women. The Responsible Tourism Mission has been assigned the task of developing content for the app, which will include location-specific information and accurate images.
9. In a bid to ‘Go Green’, Chennai Airport switches to Renewable Energy Sources
Chennai Airport has achieved the remarkable milestone of meeting all its power requirements through renewable energy sources. The airport’s green initiatives, including the use of solar power for taxiway lights and runways, energy-efficient design, LED lights, and efficient air conditioning, have resulted in a reduction of 2,200 tons of carbon emissions per year and significant energy savings.
10. Mumbai’s 2nd International Airport, the Navi Mumbai International Airport will open in 2024
A new airport is being constructed in Navi Mumbai to alleviate pressure from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. This will be the first time an Indian city will have 2 international airports! The Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to be operational in 2024 and will have the capacity to accommodate 90 million passengers by 2032. Featuring modern technology, emphasizing on environmental friendliness with electric vehicles, solar power, and green electricity, the airport will cover 1160 acres and cost INR 16,700 crore.
11. Starting in October, Emirates will offer Premium Economy on Flights to India
Emirates announced that from October 29, 2023, passengers flying on Mumbai – Dubai and Bengaluru – Dubai routes will have access to its coveted Premium Economy service. These two well-known Indian destinations will be served by Emirates’ newly retrofitted flagship A380 aircraft, which also has newly designed interiors that elevate the experience in all other cabin classes.
12. Lufthansa and Vistara expand their European Codesharing Partnership
To provide its customers with better connectivity while they are traveling throughout Europe, Vistara has expanded its codeshare partnership with Lufthansa. Due to this agreement, Vistara’s network will now serve 12 important European cities.
13. Kochi to get additional daily services from Etihad Airways starting October 29, 2023
The UAE’s national carrier, Etihad Airways, will add a new daily Airbus A320 service to its existing weekly schedule between Kochi and Abu Dhabi. Starting from October 29, 2023, the additional daily flight will increase the number of flights between Abu Dhabi and Kochi to 20, providing both leisure and business travelers with more flexibility and improved connectivity to one of South India’s most dynamic cities.
14. IndiGo to start Flights to Nairobi
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) gave permission to IndiGo to operate flights to Nairobi, Kenya, marking its entry into the African region. The airline plans to start flights to Nairobi from July 24, 2023, followed by flights to other destinations such as Jakarta, Tbilisi, Baku, Tashkent, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Jakarta, and Almaty in early August.
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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