Check out the latest news and updates about the travel and tourism industry from around the world.
1. Good News for Indian travellers! Now you can get a 5-year multiple-entry Dubai Visa
In a bid to increase travel from India, Dubai has recently introduced a five-year multiple-entry Dubai visa for Indians. This Dubai Visa will allow the visitor to stay in the country for 90 days and can be extended for another 90 days, however, the total stay cannot be extended by more than 180 days in one year. The processing time of the visa will be only 2 to 5 working days upon submission and acceptance of the request.
Bader Ali Habib, the regional head of proximity markets at DET expressed, “With exceptional flight connectivity and our ongoing commitment to the Indian market, we are confident that our upcoming initiatives will further amplify awareness about Dubai’s diverse offerings, multicultural setting, and abundance of hotels and attractions, continuing to make it the top travel choice for Indian tourists.” With the multiple entry visa, visitors can explore Dubai better.
2. Saudi Arabia’s First Luxury Train ‘Dream of the Desert’ all set to invite Passengers from 2025
Saudi Arabia is redefining luxury travel with its new luxury train ‘Dream of the Desert’, a testament to unparalleled comfort, cultural immersion and breathtaking scenery. The project is being carried out as a collaboration between the state-owned Saudi Arabia Railways and Italian hospitality company Arsenale Group at a whopping 200 million Saudi riyals.
The train route will cover 800 miles from Riyadh to Al Quarayyat with key stops being Al Qassim, Hail and Al Jouf while you experience the Bedouin hospitality and warmth. The train will be an ode to Saudi’s cultural heritage while carrying modern amenities in all the 40 luxury cabins carrying a maximum of 82 passengers at a time.
3. India’s Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi Airports grab Spots in Business Travel Rankings
While the aviation powerhouses Singapore and Hong Kong topped the Business Travel Rankings, Indian airports have also marked their place among the best in Asia, according to a study, Bangalore’s Kempegowda Airport received 7th place with a ranking of 5.56, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport ranks 9th with 5.22 ranking and the Indira Gandhi Airport of Delhi ranks tenth with a 4.22 ranking as compiled by Business Financing.
4. 5 Safest Cities in Asia to Visit in 2024, Japan’s Tokyo sits at the top spot
Planning to visit Asia, the Insider Monkey survey reveals the top 5 safest cities in Asia to visit in 2024 using Numbeo’s security index.
- Tokyo, Japan (Safety Index: 76.0)
- Singapore (Safety Index: 76.3)
- Taipei, Taiwan (Safety Index: 84.4)
- Seoul, South Korea (Safety Index: 75.5)
- Doha, Qatar (84.0)
5. Planning an Italy getaway? The Amalfi Coast is getting its own Airport
It’s time you book cheap flight tickets to the beloved Italian destination of Amalfi Coast as the opening of the new Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport will make it more accessible. From July 2024, travellers will be able to directly land into Amalfi Coast and other destinations like Positano, Vietri sul Mare and more, making it a perfect summer European vacation. The commercial airport will be situated 44 kms away from Amalfi city and will be well connected with several transport options.
6. A floral paradise meets Kashmir’s tranquillity: Visit the Tulip Festival from 19th March to 20th April 2024
The largest tulip garden in Asia, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Kashmir will be hosting the Tulip Festival from 19th March 2024 to 20th April 2024. The mesmerising paradise will be adorned with about 1.5 million tulips of almost 48 different species. The tulip garden also displays other spring flowers such as hyacinths, daffodils, roses, narcissus, muscari, cyclamens and Kashmiri handicrafts, cuisine and culture. Other special tourist attractions to explore with your Kashmir Tour Packages include Mughal Era gardens, Dal Lake, Pari Mahal, Shalimar Bagh, Hazratal, etc.
7. Want to receive your US Visa sooner? The US is looking to additionally reduce visitor visa wait time for Indians
The United States is working to additionally reduce the wait time for visitor visas for Indians following a 75% decrease last year in US Visa applications. The US Bureau of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Rena Bitter said in an interview that today more Indians can travel to the United States than in any other time in history.
“Last year, the Embassy in India processed 1.4 million visas, explosion of an incredible number…in every category there is no wait time at all except in one area of travel where there is still some wait time and that is people travelling for the first time to the United States for tourism,” she said.
8. World’s Most Powerful Passports of 2024 revealed: India stands at 85th position
According to the Henley Passport Index, which assesses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), India now ranks in the 85th position as compared to the previously compared 83rd position in 2023. In 2024, Indian passport holders can travel to 62 countries without a visa. The citizens of the top-ranked country, France, enjoy visa-free entry to 194 nations. Other top-ranking nations include Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden and Austria. A passport is a mandatory document required for international travel and you can easily apply for passport online.
9. Topping the charts: Indians make up the highest arrivals at Dubai Airport in the year 2023
According to the Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest airport globally says that Indians have accounted for the highest number of passengers passing through their gates.
Some of the reasons why so many Indians are drawn towards Dubai include:
- Plethora of over-the-top tourist attractions, engaging experiences and activities.
- Taste of splendid luxury and hospitality, family-friendly environment and Emirati culture.
- Quick Dubai Visa online in just 24 hours and cheap Dubai flight tickets online.
10. Paris’ Eiffel Tower shuts down for visitors amid protests
Following a scheduled labour strike, the iconic Eiffel Tower is currently closed off for all kinds of tourism purposes. Hence, if you are planning to visit France with our all-inclusive France Tour Packages on your Schengen Visa, you might want to confirm the opening of Paris’s top tourist attraction on the official website before visiting. For those who have already purchased an e-ticket, you are likely to be refunded for the same.
11. South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange 2024: The 31st edition was a big success
The South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange 2024 which was organised by the Informa Markets in India marked the 31st edition of South Asia’s premier B2B travel trade exhibition. It was held at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, Delhi NCR from 22nd Feb to 24th Feb hosting more than 1,500 exhibitors, 800+ hosted international and domestic buyers, and agents/operators/professionals from over 120 Indian cities and towns. Akbar Travels Online was also one of the many exhibitionists here. SATTE 2024 is looking to foster cross-border collaborations and contribute to developing the Asian travel industry.
12. Now Fly to and from Kozhikode and Mumbai with Air India Express
The carrier service Air India Express has announced operations between Mumbai and Kozhikode with daily direct flights. The timings likely for the Kozhikode to Mumbai flights will be around 01:10 to 02:50 Daily and Mumbai to Kozhikode 22:50 to 00:40+1 daily. Air India Express flies 112 flights every week from Mumbai and 15 weekly flights from Kozhikode to domestic as well as international destinations.
13. Bhutan looking for 300k visitors in 2024, expects 50% footfall from India
Borrowing expectations from the 70% tourist surge from India, i.e.150k arrivals, Bhutan has set an overall target of 300k visitors in 2024 and is expecting 50% of it to be from India. Carissa Nimah, a Department of Tourism official said, “Our focus is high-value, low-volume strategy. We never aim to be a mass tourism destination; our focus is always on sustainable travel.” Their tourism development schemes and hotels in Bhutan have been developed and have also provided for hospitality skill development for locals.
14. Kerala may get new Vande Bharat Rail Service on the Ernakulam -Bengaluru or Thiruvananthapuram-Coimbatore Route
Railways is looking to allot one more Vande Bharat service in Kerala either in the Ernakulam-Bengaluru or Thiruvananthapuram-Coimbatore sections. Respective officials have demanded the train on their respective routes and have approached the railway minister for the same.
There has been a high influx of tourists choosing Kerala Tour Packages and coming in to explore Kerala for its natural beauty and also easy connectivity of flights to Kerala from all over India.
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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