Category: Destinations

Saudi Arabia unveils plan to build a massive adventure tourism destination ‘The Rig’: Check details

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Saudi Arabia unveiled a masterplan for an extraordinary venture in adventure tourism by the Oil Park Development Company (OPDC). Prepare to be enthralled, called THE RIG. The Kingdom aims to redefine the global tourism landscape, with its latest gem.

THE RIG will stand as a pioneering adventure tourism destination on an offshore platform, drawing inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s abundant oil and gas legacy, AP reported. Comprising three interconnected offshore platforms and a fully repurposed jack-up rig, the tourism hub will seamlessly blend design and experience for an unparalleled adventure experience.

On the occassion OPDC, said that the hospitality and adventure venture would be spread across 300,000 square meters, in close proximity to Al Juraid Island and the Berri Oil Field in the Arabian Gulf. Within this expanse, three hotels will be established, offering a combined total of 800 rooms.

Also read: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia looking to welcome 7.5 million Indian tourists by 2030

Additionally, there are plans for the inclusion of 11 restaurants. The company has outlined the incorporation of key features such as extreme sports hubs, an adventure park, a marina, and helipads to enhance the overall allure of the destination. The oil rig-themed destination will have over 70 attractions, a 6,000-person multi-purpose arena, an amusement park, a splash park and more to cater to visitors of all ages and adventure levels.

Committed to sustainable tourism practices, edutainment, and exploration, THE RIG would adhere to local and international codes and standards for safety and functionality, visitors will get to immerse themselves in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas heritage through the world’s first immersive theatre on a repurposed jack-up rig. It’s a place where extreme fun, new adventures, and learning would converge.

According to the masterplan, the world’s best engineers and designers have been engaged to bring the project to life. It will be located 40 kilometers from the Arabian Gulf coastline, near Juraid Island and visitors will have access to the THE RIG via aire and cruise liners would be able to anchor nearby.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Tourism in France gets a boost thanks to Netflix’s Emily in Paris and Lupin: Study

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Four of five foreign tourists to Paris got an urge to visit the City of Lights after seeing a movie or TV series film, France’s national cinema body said on Thursday. That’s up from three-quarters in a previous study in 2018.

For one out of 10, it was their main reason for coming, and in half of those cases it was the Netflix series “Emily in Paris” (38 percent) and “Lupin” (11 percent) that spurred the trip. The study was conducted by market research company Ifop for France’s National Centre of Cinematography among six nationalities: Belgians, Spaniards, Americans, Britons, Germans and Chinese.

Cinema tourism is not new and certainly isn’t limited to Paris, but has grown along with the explosion of streaming services, said Cecile Lacoue, head of studies at CNC. “It’s a very interesting way to develop tourism and boost the notoriety of towns,” she said.

Also read: France, Switzerland top 10 powerful passports of 2024

In Paris, one foreign tourist out of two has watched Lupin, the French-language surprise success with Omar Sy playing the gentleman thief. Next, at 44 percent, was Emily in Paris, the tale of a young American lost in the world of Paris luxury. Those two series produced by Netflix were far more popular abroad than purely French series such as Versailles, Marie-Antoinette, and Dix pour Cent (Call my Agent).

Still, 86 percent had at least watched some French movie or series, up from 81 percent in 2018, according to Lacoue. Some 41 percent of tourists had seen the comedy “The Intouchables” and 37 percent Jeunet’s whimsical romance “Amelie”, starring Audrey Tautou.

But more visitors had seen US blockbusters filmed in Paris such as “Da Vinci Code”, “Mission: Impossible Fallout” or “The Devil Wears Prada”. Cinema tourism also inspires domestic travellers, with 22 percent saying they have taken a trip within France after something they watched.

The films that inspired them include “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” (Welcome to the Sticks), a movie about a town in the north, or “Plus belle la vie”, a television series about an imaginary Marseille neighbourhood.

The phenomenon risks leading to over-tourism, warns Lacoue. The already popular Normandy seaside town of Etretat is receiving even more visitors after appearing in an episode of “Lupin”. In summer, some 10,000 tourists come each day, far outnumbering the 1,200 inhabitants.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

With no fresh snowfall, tourists cancel trips to India’s winter wonderlands

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Scarce snowfall in the Himalayas has resulted in deserted ski resorts and holiday cancellations. The absence of snow in Kashmir has prompted skiers to skip top tourist spots like Gulmarg, with hotel owners praying for fresh snow so that tourists return.

Wintry conditions in northern India, marked by the lack of snowfall and intensified cold exacerbated by thick fog in the plains, have not been witnessed in about a decade, Reuters reported, citing scientists.

They attributed the lack of snowfall in the Himalayas to the “unusual” winter caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Reuters quoted a 35-year-old snowboard instructor in Gulmarg as saying, “Fifty percent of the season is already gone.” While Ananda Bhole, the manager of a local guest house told CNBC-TV18, “When it started snowing in mid-November, we were optimistic that the months of January and February, will see more visitors arriving, but that has not been the case. We have had quite a few cancellations from January 14 to 21.”

During this time of the year, the hills and plains are covered in knee-deep layer of snow, however, it’s mid-January and dry and barren land can be seen all over the hills.

Nonetheless, the snowboard instructor is hopeful that the region would witness snowfall in the first week of February, noting that his European and American clients have cancelled trips due to insufficient snow.

However, Bhole explained that Indian visitors usually do not usually cancel their trips, they stay with us and continue to explore other destinations that are not on their itinerary.

Reuters spoke to travel industry executives in neighboring states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, who also reported cancellations. Kushaal Sangwan, the owner of Blue Poppy Resort in the Auli ski resort in Uttarakhand, revealed a drop in bookings to 20% and noted an increase in cancellations just days before the booking if there is no snow.

Also read: Discover Kashmir by visiting these most-scenic locations

The usual winter snow and rain in northern India, including the Himalayas, are brought by a weather pattern called western disturbances — frequent extra-tropical storms originating in the Mediterranean Sea. However, this season has seen a notable absence of these storms, according to RK Jenamani, a senior scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD). He explained that without weather systems, snowfall becomes unlikely.

The vanishing western disturbances are linked to changing wind patterns and rising temperatures due to the active El Nino weather phenomenon and climate change, stated Gufran Beig, a former chief scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. Describing the current weather as highly unusual for this time, Beig highlighted the cold conditions in Delhi in January and the lack of snow, labeling it one of the most polluted and prolonged stretches of winter.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

This summer fly on exclusive charter flights from Bengaluru to Bhutan

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Bhutan is gradually becoming a favourite destination for discerning Indian travellers and compared to 2022, there was a 25% surge in demand for travel to the Himalayan Kingdom last year. Seizing the opportunity, Thomas Cook (India) along with Group Company SOTC Travel has introduced exclusive charter flights to Paro (Bhutan) from Bengaluru, which is set to commence in April 2024.

Southern India plays a pivotal role as a source market for Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel, contributing over 45% of their business to Bhutan. However, there is lack of direct air connectivity from southern India, which results in increased costs of approximately 15% and inconveniences related to multiple flights, airport/terminal changes, multiple check-ins, and baggage handling. This challenge prompted the companies’ adoption of a Blue Ocean strategy, introducing special charters to Bhutan from Bengaluru.

The Bhutan charters will cater to group and free of itinerary travellers among others. Renowned as one of the happiest, greenest and the first carbon-negative country, Bhutan offers travellers breathtaking vistas, distinctive monasteries and romantic hotspots for all type of travellers. The destination provides rejuvenating hot-stone baths, unique culture, and warm, welcoming people.

Also read: Bhutan cuts tourist fee for stay per night from $200 to $100 to attract more international visitors

Travellers to Bhutan can visit renowned monasteries like Taktsang Palphug and Rinpung Dzong, exploring the Thimphu weekend market, indulge in archery lessons, immerse in hot stone therapy at natural hot springs, and sightseeing. The tour encompasses local Bhutanese meals, farmhouse lunches, beer tasting with snacks in Paro.

Outdoor and adventure enthusiasts can indulge in thrilling activities such as white water rafting at Po Chu and Moochu confluence, kayaking at Wang Chhu, trekking to the Taktsang Palphug Monastery (Tiger’s Nest Monastery).

Speaking about the charter operations, Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Charter departures will be available in the summer months of April and May 2024. The duration of each tour will be eight days. And destinations would include Thimpu, Punakha and Paro. He added, “The launch of our exclusive charters from Bengaluru is a smart strategy to leverage the growing interest towards the Himalayan kingdom.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

₹350 crore special plan announced to boost forest and water tourism in Vidarbha

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday (January 13) unveiled a special ₹350 crore plan to promote tourism in Vidarbha and said that various facilities are being developed to enhance the overall tourist experience in the region and generate employment.

Fadnavis added that the government is focusing on the creation of a robust tourism circuit in Vidarbha encompassing both forest and water tourism sectors. He was while inaugurating a cable-stayed bridge over the Wainganga river at Ambhora on the Nagpur-Bhandara border.

“The ₹350 crore development plan includes an allocation of ₹100 crore to Bhandara district and ₹250 crore to Nagpur district. Various facilities are being developed to enhance the overall tourist experience in the region and generation of employment,” he added.

Also read: Over 50 lakh tourists visited these 5 sites in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Mar-Nov, 2023

At the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Pahela-Ambhora cement road performed at Bhandara, Fadnavis emphasised the development of water tourism in Ambhora. A spectator gallery has been constructed on the Ambhora bridge, providing tourists with a panoramic view of the natural beauty, the confluence of five rivers, and the surrounding forest area.

This initiative is expected to boost employment in various sectors, including boating, water sports, water adventure sports, and hotel management. Fadnavis said local people would be given priority in employment opportunities arising from this project.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari lauded the Ambhora cable-stayed bridge as a state-of-the-art project incorporating innovative technologies and features. The union minister announced plans to introduce a light and sound show, akin to Nagpur’s Futala Lake, featuring AR Rahman’s music.

Also read: ‘Ten million Fireflies’ light up the night sky: Where to witness the magical phenomenon in Maharashtra

This addition aims to attract tourists from around the world, further contributing to the economic development of the region, he said. Gadkari said the Ambhora bridge has significantly reduced the travel distance from Ambhora to Bhandara, alleviating traffic problems and reducing communication costs.

Gadkari also unveiled the Wainganga-Nalganga river interlinking project, aimed to convey water from the Gosekhurd project to dams in Nagpur, Wardha, Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, and Washim districts through a vast network of canals spanning 600 km.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

100 charter flights may land in Ayodhya for Ram Temple ceremony, state to get 5 more airports

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Thursday that over 100 chartered flights is expected flights are expected to descend upon Ayodhya airport for the consecration ceremony of Ram temple on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya on December 30, which will soon have direct connectivity to several tier two cities so that devotees can commute to the holy city with ease.

Speaking at the launch of the IndiGo Ayodhya-Ahmedabad flight, the UP CM said that the airport is likely to see over 100 chartered flights land for the grand ceremony on January 22.

He noted a remarkable 30% increase in air passengers in the state over the last fiscal year, reaching 96.02 lakh compared to 59.97 lakh in the 2016-17 financial year.

Also read: SpiceJet announces special Delhi-Ayodhya flight for Ram temple inauguration

Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that Uttar Pradesh will have five new airports open in February, with the total number of airports in the state going up to 19. Scindia revealed that the upcoming airports at Azamgarh, Aligarh, Moradabad, Chitrakoot, and Shravasti, will be opened soon. IndiGo is commencing its Ayodhya-Delhi services from January 11 and will operate three-weekly flights between Ayodhya and Ahmedabad, with Mumbai-Ayodhya services beginning on January 15.

Highlighting the expansion plans for Ayodhya airport, Scindia shared that the airport’s runway will be extended to accommodate larger aircraft and facilitate more international flights.

Lastly, Adityanath highlighted Ayodhya’s growing prominence as a destination, emphasising the government’s commitment to enhancing connectivity through road, rail, and air, aligning with the prime minister’s vision. The Ayodhya airport, currently covering 6,500 square meters and handling 600 passengers at peak hours, is slated for expansion.

Also  watch: Gold-coated ‘nagada’ reaches Ayodhya ahead of Ram Mandir consecration

The second phase will see an increase in capacity to 3,000 passengers, with plans to extend the runway from 2,200 to 3,700 meters to accommodate larger aircraft and international flights. Minister Scindia noted the significant surge in air connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, with weekly flight movements increasing from 700 in 2014 to 1,654 at present.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Starry nights: Pench Tiger Reserve gains recognition as India’s first dark sky park, fifth in Asia

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has become India’s first Dark Sky Park and is the fifth in Asia. The recognition is testament to the reserve’s commitment to safeguarding the night sky, curbing light pollution, and establishing an ideal environment for astronomy enthusiasts and star gazers.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature highlighted the intrinsic value of the night sky as a natural, cultural, and historical resource. Prabhu Nath Shukla, deputy director of the reserve, put the spotlight on the importance of preserving natural darkness for nature conservation, ecological integrity in protected areas, and the well-being of communities in healthy cities.

Shukla emphasized the increasing global threat of light pollution, stating that it poses a substantial risk to this invaluable resource. The Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society Working Group, under the leadership of the International Astronomical Union, advocates for the creation of ‘Dark Sky Parks’ by national and local governments.

Also read: Tiger population in MP rises to 785 from 526 in four years

The Dark Sky Park certification, according to Shukla, focuses on key areas such as lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and night sky monitoring. To enhance the stargazing experience, the reserve has established a night observatory with the district planning committee fund, designating the area near Bagholi for the purpose.

As part of its comprehensive measures, the reserve has replaced over 100 street and community lights in Wagholi, Sillari, Pipariya, and Khapa villages within the Paoni Range buffer area. The new lights are strategically positioned to face the ground, effectively mitigating light pollution and preserving the pristine quality of the night sky.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow