Safari Plus March April 2022 by Safari Plus

Edited & Published by Shailendra Kesari • www.safariplus.co.in • Email - shailendra@safariplus.co.in • March - April 2022 • Vol: 23 Issue: 4

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NEWS FLASH Arunachal Pradesh to get a Greenfield Airport in Hollongi

Considering the importance of air connectivity to the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh, AAI (Airport Authority if India) has undertaken the work of constructing a Greenfield Airport in Hollongi, 15 Kms from Itanagar. With an estimated cost of Rs. 645 crore, the project includes the development work i.e. construction of airport pavements, air side work, terminal Building and city side works. The proposed airport is designed for operations of A-320 category of air craft and future extension of Runway by 500m length to cater A-321 type of aircraft. With an area of 4100 sqm, the terminal building of the airport will be able to handle 200 passengers during peak hours. Equipped with eight check-in counters, the terminal building will have all modern passenger facilities. The airport is planned for operationalization on 15 August 2022.

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Restoration of Tourist/ e-Tourist Visa for Foreign Tourist The improvement in COVID-19 situation in India, the Government has considered the need for further relaxation of visa and travel restrictions. Accordingly, with immediate effect it has been decided that: (i) Currently valid e-Tourist Visa issued for five years, which was suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored to nationals of 156 eligible countries with immediate effect. They will also be eligible for issuance of fresh e-Tourist visa. (ii) Currently valid Regular (Paper) Tourist visa with validity of 5 Years, issued to foreign nationals of all countries, shall stand restored. Fresh Regular (Paper) Tourist visa up to 5 years validity may also be issued to the nationals of the eligible countries subject to the restrictions imposed from time to time. (iii) Currently valid old Long duration (10) Regular Tourist Visa which remained suspended since March, 2020 shall stand restored for the nationals of USA and Japan. Fresh can also be issued The Foreign nationals of Tourist/ e-Tourist Visas may enter into India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) or Airports ICPs by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission or 'air bubble' scheme or by any flights as allowed by the DGCA or Ministry of Civil Aviation. In no case the foreign nationals will be allowed to enter through Land border or riverine routes on Tourist Visa/e-Tourist Visa. Order for opening of Land ICPs and riverine routes will be communicated separately. These instructions will not be applicable to Afghanistan nationals who will continue to be governed by the separate instructions issued by this Ministry regarding grant of e-Emergency X-Misc. Visa. All other health/ COVID-19 related matters, extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall be adhered to.

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EVENTS

Discover Unexplored Ladakh The Land Of Real Adventure

TAAI 66th Convention in Sri Lanka 19th to 21st April 2022 Brand Ambassador:

Vyom Kesari Editorial Assistant: Priyanshu Kesarwani Advisory: Gour Kanjilal Om Prakash Sehgal

On 24th February, 2022 at Colombo, the MOU SIGNING CEREMONY & Exchange between TAAI & Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau (SLTPB) & Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) was done in the presence of the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Govt. of Sri Lanka along with Chairperson Sri Lanka Tourism. TAAI shall be holding its 66th Convention in Sri Lanka from 19th – 22nd April 2022. The Convention would be rich in its content as well as in offering experiential take home to our delegates. The content would focus on the importance of a ‘New Rising’ post covid and the urgent need for members to rise beyond the challenges. Sri Lankan counterparts shall be extending full support in terms of accommodation, logistics and all arrangements to welcome around 400-500

delegates from India’s oldest and nodal Travel & Tourism Association, stated Mrs. Jyoti Mayal, President of TAAI. This convention shall not only strengthen bilateral tourism ties between the two countries but, will act as a catalyst in reviving the travel industry for both countries post the pandemic, she added. We shall create opportunities to sell products of Sri Lanka as a tourism destination but also shall be promoting Incredible India to local Sri Lankan stakeholder partners. Present on the occasion from SLTPB and SLAITO to sign the MoU were Managing Director of SLTPB Ms. KPP Siriwardana, Mr. DP Daluwatte, Director Events, President of SLAITO Mr. Thilak Weerasinghe, IPP Mr. Maheen Kariyawasan, along with their core teams and committee members and the 4 National Office Bearers of TAAI.

Marketing Team: Prashant & Dinesh Gupta Correspondent: Payal Gupta

Kerala travel Mart 2022 All set to #RestartTourism and to revitalize the pandemic-affected tourism One of India’s leading travel shows, Kerala Tourism Mart (KTM) will take place from May 5 to 8 at Kochi. The eleventh edition of KTM is all set to promote tourism and its related activities in the State of Kerala. The Mart creates a great learning experience for the buyers, while sellers get an insight on the requirements which has been a major reason for progress and innovative moves in Tourism. The inaugural ceremony of the event will be followed by three days of deliberations at Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centre in Willingdon Island in Kochi. Dr. V. Venu, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), Kerala said, “KTM has grown across its previous 10 editions. It is a oneof-its-kind tourism mart of the country. We are very proud that we have played host to tens of thousands of travel p a r t n e rs o ve r t h e ye a rs . We i n government view KTM as a sterling example of a public-private partnership. We all know that the pandemic has not yet subsided although there are signs which offer us optimism.” The state government’s Caravan Tourism project ‘Keravan Kerala’, will be highlighted in the upcoming edition of KTM. The concept has immense potential to fetch Kerala a special place in the world tourism map, as did Houseboat Tourism earlier. Adventure tourism will too be

March - April, 2022

Kargil Town (2,704 m), situated midway between Srinagar (204 Kms) and Leh, (234 kms) on the Srinagar-Leh highway, is the second largest urban centre (approx. 8,000 inhabitants) of Ladakh and headquarters of Kargil district. A quiet town now, in the past it served as an important trade and transit centre for the Central-Asian merchants due to its unique equidistant location (about 200-230 kms) from Srinagar, Leh and Skardo, all well known trading outposts on the old trade route network. Numerous caravans carrying exotic merchandise transited in the town on their way to and from China, Tibet, Yarkand, Kashmir and Baltistan. Since 1975, travellers of various nationalities have replaced traders of the past and Kargil has regained its importance as a centre of travel-related activities. The town and its suburban villages lie nestled along the valley system formed by the confluence of the Suru River and its tributary, the Wakha-chhu. The land along the narrow valley floor and the hillsides are neatly terraced and intensively cultivated to grow barely, wheat, peas and several other cereals, besides a variety of vegetables. Thick plantations of poplars and willows, besides rich orchards of apricot, apple and mulberry, adorn the area to form a rich oasis against the backdrop of the undulating mountains. Kargil is convenient base for undertaking adventure activities like trekking, mountaineering, camping, river- rafting, etc. in the high Himalayan valleys. It is also a convenient base for taking excursions to the Wakha- Mulbek valley, where the chief attraction is a 9 m high rock sculpture of Maitreya, besides other monuments. Another tour option is to visit the beautiful Suru Valley to behold the gradually unfolding panorama of the impressive Himalayan landscape. Yet another interesting excursion option is to visit Drass to see its famous features like Tolo-ling, Tiger Hill and the Mushkoo Valley, well known throughout India on account of the extensively televised conflict on the LoC between India and Pakistan during May-August, 1999. Kargil also offers some interesting walks through the suburban villages. The best among these is the walk towards Goma Kargil, offering breathtaking views of the unfolding mountain scape as one ascends alongside a tumbling mountain stream. It is best taken in the afternoon as the setting sun plays magic with the changing hues and shades of the hills. A shorter walk across the bridge, over the Suru River, takes you through the ancient village of Poyen, and up the Wakha-chhu valley. A stroll in the bazaar might lead to shops selling local vegetable / fruits, dry apricots, Local Handi crafts, travelling hookahs and brass kettles, handcrafted items of everyday use that find their way into the marts as

curios. The showroom of the Government Industries Centre has pashmina shawls, local carpets and local handicrafts on display and sale. Apricot jam produced here is a rare delicacy, while Kargil's famous dry apricots can be purchased from the market. SIGHTSEEING IN AND AROUND KARGIL. 1: Gongma Kargil View Point, Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, Heritage Village Walk. 2: Spritual Tour, Kartse Khar, (Chamba) Apati Chamba, Mulbek Chamba, Baroo Khanka, Glimps Of Nun Kun. 3: Drass War Memorial, Bhimbhat, Glimpse Of Tololing & Tiger Hill, Manman Pass. 4: Kargil , Border Village Tour, Hunderman & Latoo, Kaksar, Batalik, Badgam, Confluence of Suru and Drass & Shingoo Rivers 5: Apricot village Tour, Hardass / Karkitchu, Shilikchay, Chanigund 6: Parkachik Glacier / Glimpse of Nun Kun Peaks / Heritage Village Tangole,Full day Trip 7: Lake tour Shashi Tso one day trip 8: Sapi Village + Sapi Lake 4 Hrs Trek, One Night Two Days. 9: Kargil to Pezila Lakes, Darang Durung Glacier, Rangdum Monastery,1 Night 2 Days 10: Nun Peak Base Trek through Shafat Nallah, 1Night 2 Days, 11: Trek to Kun Base Camp, 1Night 2 Days, 12: Kargil, Batalik, Darchiks, Garkon, Dha Bema, Chiktan Khar, Haniskot in 2Nights 3 days. 13: Jasgon to Farona trek 2 days. 14: Zankar Valley 3 Nights 4 Days Article By- Mohd Hamza (Director) SPACE TOURISM (Ultimate Travel Experience)

the main theme. Alongside, the internationally-acclaimed responsible tourism, too, will receive prominent attention. Jose Pradeep, Hon. Secretary, KTM Society shared this time the exhibition area of KTM will cover more than 1 Lakh sq. ft. “Aspects like responsible tourism and caravan tourism will be highlighted this time. It will be a plastic and paper-free travel mart,’. Post-event FAM trips for buyers will be also organised.

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EVENTS

Discover Unexplored Ladakh The Land Of Real Adventure

TAAI 66th Convention in Sri Lanka 19th to 21st April 2022 Brand Ambassador:

Vyom Kesari Editorial Assistant: Priyanshu Kesarwani Advisory: Gour Kanjilal Om Prakash Sehgal

Marketing Team: Prashant & Dinesh Gupta Correspondent: Payal Gupta

March - April, 2022

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March - April, 2022

SHIRDI

Place of Divine & Spritiuality

Back to Your Roots

www.monteriavillage.com Monteria Village hosted 10 female travel agents of Travel Heels and Safari Plus to experience the daily life, culture, cuisine, entertainment, art and heritage of an Indian village. The theme park is spread over 35 acres in Khalapur, Raigad district. One can indulge in more than 40+ traditional village activities to get the true essence of the village life, right on a farmland which is surrounded by palm and mango tress. Attractions on the property are Nakshatra garden, Lakshman Jhula replica, Dhanvantri Garden, Himmat Farm, boating in man-made lake, laze on hammocks, chase the butterfly in the Flower garden. Bring your childhood memories back playing with the traditional games like lagori, marbles, top, even running around rolling a tyre. You can also experience the life of carpenters, furniture

March - April, 2022

The busy and stressful life can get you longing for a break, what best then a trip to Shirdi. A break that would dive in yourself and will rejuvenate you from soul to body. A small town, situated close to Nasik and 280kms from Mumbai, the pilgrim city, Shirdi attracts tourists and devotees from all across the world to its holy lands. Home to the venerated sage Sai Baba, Shirdi undeniably ranks among the topnotch pilgrim destinations in the country. Worshipped for his compassionate nature, prudent preaching and miraculous healing powers, this humble saint with divine powers stamped his impression all over the land. Best time to visit - Shirdi is a major pilgrimage centre and scores of tourists throng the city throughout the year. Festivals like Guru Poornima, Baba's death anniversary and Dussera witness lakhs of devotees visit this place. The most fascinating about Shirdi is the Palki that is carried every Thursday throughout Shirdi. Baba's footprints are carried in a ceremonial procession from Dwarkamayi to Chavadi on every Thursday night. Accomodations - Sai Ashram Phase 1 consisting of 1536 rooms can accommodate 9000 devotees.1152 common rooms with attached bath room and 384 AC rooms. It also has an Open Air Theatre (OAT) to accommodate about 2000 devotees for Sai Kirtans, Bhajans and other cultural programs. The Dwarawati is two minutes walking distance from the Bus stand. It has 334 rooms & dormitories & large rooms to accommodate small groups or families of six to ten people. It also have 80 AC Rooms . The Saibaba Bhaktaniwassthan (500 Rooms) the biggest accommodation complex consisting 542 rooms of various categories. It is about 01 Kilometer away, on south of the Mandir Complex, on the Highway itself. Nearby place to see - The Khandoba Mandir is located on the AhmednagarKopergaon road, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in the area The neem tree is also said to be the spot where Baba's Guru took his Samadhi, which gave rise to the name Gurusthan. Today, the place consists of a huge neem tree and an old portrait of Sai Baba along with the silver impressions of his feet. Dwarkamayi (Masjid) This is the mosque where Baba lived, preached,

performed his miraculous deeds and maintained his “Dhuni” (a sacred fire that still stays lighted). If you are here to feel the true vibrancy of the saint, the Masjid will impart you the essence of Baba's aura. The most Primary monument in shirdi one can visit Samadhi Mandir, this is where Baba's remains have been buried. Baba promised he would listen and help his followers free them from all pain. Lendi Bagh is an important place and a must-see while you are in the town. Lendi Bagh was transformed into a beautiful garden by Sai Baba Lendi Bagh is a beautiful little green park with towering trees and blooming flower plants. How to Reach - One can reach Shirdi through train, state buses or by private cars. By Air - One can fly from direct to Shirdi (The Shirdi Airport is located at Kakadi village, about 14 km south-west of the town of Shirdi). By Road - Maharashtra State Transport buses are available from major cities like Nashik, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Pune, Manmad and Kopargaon to Shirdi. Private air-conditioned buses also available from various cities of Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujrat, Andhra-Pradesh to Shirdi. By Train - Shirdi can be reached from the new railway station at Sainagar, other Railway stations are Manmad-Junction (60 Kms), Kopargaon(22 Kms) and Nagarsul (50 Kms) on the Central Railway.

weavers, tailors, potters, metal and stone artists, bamboo and khaat weavers, blacksmiths, cobblers, and goldsmiths. Try your hand in all these skill & take home an artifact made by you. Also enjoy champi or a haircut from a barber. Taste the delightful makes of papad, pickle and shrikhand from women cooperative sellers. To quench your thirst, there are options of coconut water, saunf water, kokum drink, marble soda (goti soda), buttermilk, or a cutting chai. So, if you are looking forward to spend quality time with your family and loved ones, then head to Monteria Village it has activities to engage all age group. Sabras Restaurant serves home cooked meal both veg and Non Veg. All-inclusive packages that include breakfast, lunch, hitea starts from Rs 999 (child), Rs 1499 (senior citizen) to Rs 1699 (adult) per person per day.

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SHIRDI

Place of Divine & Spritiuality

Back to Your Roots

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Flying Konkan Zi pline

B2B Kashmir/Leh specialist www.fairfaxholidays.in

India's first Coastal Zi pline in Devgad,Maharashtra Konkan Devgad Zipline is the first of its kind adventure sport activity along the coastal region of India. With state of the art set up, the zipline boasts of wire rope made of Usha-Martin steel and has 12 mm of thickness. The landing point height is 40ft from ground, and is accessed through a special steel ramp made for landing with staircase installed on it. All safety gear is made using internationally accepted brands. The Harness, Pully, Joco and sling used are sourced from World's leading Mountaineering equipment manufacturing brand, PETZL. The carabiner used are from Madrock, Edelweiss and PETZL brands, while the safety gear and helmets mandatory for all participants, are from the Zip rider brand. Apart from Zipline, Flying Konkan also plans to launch a surfing school to further enhance the reach of water sports. She also aims to provide skills and employment to local youth who can become instructors and volunteers.

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Vaishnavi Joil, has worked 18 years in IT working with some of the leading MNC's. The lockdown forced her to move to her hometown in Devgad. She took this as an opportunity to give back something to her hometown and in the process, disrupt the coastal adventure tourism sector, she grabbed it and went on to develop India's first Coastal Zipline Adventure, The Flying Konkan Zipline, along the picturesque beach of Devgad. As a woman entrepreneur herself, Vaishnavi is also invested in empowering the local women folk and plans to start a restaurant/ eatery that employs local women, who cook the best of local cuisines, so as to allow travelers the most authentic taste of the region while also helping local women become independent. Having immense experience in Technology, she also plans to launch a Tech Start-up in Konkan so that locals there don't have to ever leave their beautiful hometown to earn their livelihood. She is also working on an innovation with RPA robots and creating solutions that help solve a series of real world problems!

How about Zipline along a Beach? Sounds interesting na! First of its kind in India Flying Konkan Zipline has introduced coastal ziplining in Devgad, Maharashtra. Founded by IT engineers turned entrepreneurs, siblings Vaishnavi Joil & Srikant Joil. Devgad is a quaint little beautiful beach town, along the picturesque Konkan coastline, that has been the native of Joil family and the place where the sibling spent most of their childhood summer vacations lapping up delicious Devgad mangoes. There, she became acutely aware of the lack of opportunities for the youth and the rate of unemployment. Also, the fact that although equally picturesque when compared to some of Konkan's popular tourist destinations, Devgad had not witnessed any tourist flux unlike its neighboring towns of Malvan and Ratnagiri. Perched at a height of about 280 meters from sea level and with a total length of 1885 meters, Flying

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY INCREDIBLE, HOSPITABLE AND BEAUTEOUS ARE THE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE INDIA We Specialized In Varanasi & The Buddhas Trail Piligrim Tours Nepal with Mukthinath Kumbh Mela

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Flying Konkan Zi pline

B2B Kashmir/Leh specialist www.fairfaxholidays.in

Group Departure with Delicious food 2022 Fix Departure April/ May 2022

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PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY INCREDIBLE, HOSPITABLE AND BEAUTEOUS ARE THE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE INDIA We Specialized In Varanasi & The Buddhas Trail Piligrim Tours Nepal with Mukthinath Kumbh Mela

Vaishnodevi with Shivkhori

For all your need Venue | Creatives Styling | Planning Speakers | Marketing Entertainment | Cocktail

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Destinations We Specialise in Kashmir, Uttrakhand, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chardham Yatra, Himachal Pradesh

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Pochampally Pochampally, the village that gets an international recognition and marks a special place on the International Tourism Map. Known as India’s silk city, it is famous for its handloom sarees popularly called as the Ikat. The village in Nalgonda district of Telangana, is located about 51 km from Hyderabad. Pochampally is also special because Acharya Vinobha Bhave, an advocate of non-violence and human rights, started the Bhoodan movement on 18 April 1951 from this village. On one voice of Bhave, the landlord here donated 250 acres of land. The movement of donating land sparked off here it is traced that Vinoba Bhave, visited this town in 1951, where he was given a warm welcome. The people asked him for 80 acre of land and one of the landlords of Pochampally, Vedire Ramachandra Reddy, offered 250 acre of land to people. Ever since this incidence, the town has been referred to as Bhoodan Pochampally. In 1980, famous film director Shyam Benegal made the film ‘Susman’ based on this village, starring Shabana Azmi, Neena Gupta and Om Puri. The film was told about the struggle of handloom artisans. The uniqueness of Pochampalli fabric lies in the transfer of

design and colouring onto warp. The town itself is quite scenic as is situated amidst palm trees, ponds, hills and lakes.

There are more than 1500 families and 10 thousand handlooms here. This gives a view of the cottage industry here. Weavers weave sarees in Ikat style with silk thread. It takes 40 days to make one saree. These sarees are in great demand in many countries including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Dubai, Europe, France.

Pochampally Village in Telangana selected as one of the Best Tourism Villages 2021 by United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

March - April, 2022

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design and colouring onto warp. The town itself is quite scenic as is situated amidst palm trees, ponds, hills and lakes.

Pochampally Village in Telangana selected as one of the Best Tourism Villages 2021 by United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

March - April, 2022

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INTERNATIONAL South African Tourism aims to achieve 64% YoY growth in arrivals from India in 2022 To accelerate travel recover y momentum in India, South African Tourism looks at capitalizing on strong consumer demand in the country with their biggest travel trade initiative in India – their annual Roadshow. The tourism board showcased long-term investment and interest in the Indian market and outlined a strategic roadmap to garner 64% YoY increase in Indian visitors in 2022. Trave l l i n g to M u m b a i , D e l h i , Bengaluru and Ahmedabad this year, the 36-member South African trade delegation reiterated the tourism board’s emphasis on expanding the destination and product offering – thus, offering Indian consumers More & More! In

addition to experiences, representatives from accommodation establishments, destination management companies, South African Provinces, SMMEs and womenowned companies showcased their product and services, while engaging Indian travel and trade associates. “We have spent the last two years hoping for and preparing for this exact moment – the return of travel! As South African businesses land on Indian shores, we are excited to be introducing our partners and consumers to a host of value-driven and thoughtfully crafted adventures. Our evolved brand strategy will help us drive South Africa’s value proposition across stakeholders while creating customized engagement models to suit the unique requirements from each of our target regions within India. We are already seeing an uptick in forward travel bookings and hope to further build aspiration and intent to travel,” said Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head, MEISEA, South African Tourism. While consolidating its position in wildlife, adventure and cultural offerings, the destination will also target the niche film tourism market, for which South African Tourism has seen an upswing in enquiries and destination shoots. In order to arrive at this, the destination is engaging aggressively with production houses and OTT platforms.

Saudi Arabia lifts all COVID-19 entry restrictions for tourists The Saudi Arabian Government has lifted all COVID-related entry restrictions for holders of tourism visas, making the destination one of the most accessible to travelers in the world. Effective immediately, visitors to Saudi will no longer need to present proof of vaccination or a PCR test to enter the country. Institutional quarantine requirements will be entirely removed, and all travelers from the countries currently red-listed will be allowed entry. Social distancing rules will be lifted across the country, including Makkah and Madinah, and masks will be required in enclosed public places only. This lifting of restrictions on leisure, business and religious visitors marks the most comprehensive update to travel regulations since Saudi first opened to international travelers in September 2019. “We welcome this decision by the central government, which protects both lives and livelihoods while welcoming travelers back to Saudi,” said Ahmad Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “The return to pre-pandemic levels of openness was made possible by our country’s ambitious vaccination program and other successful efforts to minimize the spread of the virus. By reducing costs and inconveniences for

– No proof of vaccination or PCR test required for entry – Red list of countries discontinued – Quarantine requirement eliminated – Social distancing requirements lifted for Makkah and Madinah – Fees for all visa categories will incl ude a nominal fee for medical insurance for COVID-19.

travelers, we are also supporting the many thousands of people who depend on tourism, while driving revenue to companies that have been severely affected by the pandemic.” Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to close its borders following the emergence of COVID-19. Since then, the government has implemented stringent health and safety protocols at all public venues, including hotels, restaurants, public buildings and offices. 99 percent of the population over the age of 12 is now fully vaccinated.

Yas Island is set to stage 22nd IIFA

Yas Island Abu Dhabi, is set to be transformed into a glittering stage and the most glamourous awards International Indian Film Academy between 20 – 21 May 2022. The 22nd edition of IIFA returns after two years and Superstar Salman Khan will host the awards at Yas Island's state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue Etihad Arena.

March - April, 2022

As the destination looks forward to welcoming the awards ceremony, attractions across Yas Island were light up in yellow, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, CLYMB Abu Dhabi, Yas Mall, Yas Plaza Hotels, as well as Etihad Arena and W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island. Starting from only AED 907* for the Standard Package for two adults per night, guests can book a stay from 8 March 2022 on yasisland.com at one of Yas Island’s leading hotels with breakfast and receive two Standard category tickets to the IIFA Awards on 21 May 2022. Guests can also opt for the Premium Package starting at AED 1,347*, which are closer to the stage, or the Ultimate Package starting at AED 2,467*, which are right next to the stage. All packages are based on two adults sharing and stay dates must include the event date. To ensure the health and safety of all guests, concertgoers will be requested to show their green status on the Al Hosn app and 96-hour negative PCR test.

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Yas Island is set to stage 22nd IIFA

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INTERNATIONAL Qatar Tourism re-establish its presence in the India Qatar Tourism back on the ground after a two-year pandemicprompted hiatus, setting a positive tone for tourism resurgence. The Qatar Tourism delegation was led by Philip Dickinson, Vice President International Markets, Qatar Tourism, along with Sandeep Shevale Tourism Marketing & Promotions and Deveekaa Nijhawan – International Public Relations & Communications. The delegation's DMC participants covered Discover Qatar, Al Tawfeeq Travel and Travel Designer W.L.L. The team was also supported by BRANDit, India Representative of Qatar Tourism. Berthold Trenkel, Chief Operating Officer, Qatar Tourism, said “We are pleased to re-establish our presence in the India market. The objective was to highlight the various facets that Qatar offers not just in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup, but beyond as well. The aim is to leverage our tourism assets based on six demand spaces identified in line with our vision, namely Sun, Sea and Sand; Active Holidays; Relax &

Contact for Rejuvenate; Cultural Enthusiasts; Luxury City Breaks and Romantic Getaways. With the launch of new hotels, theme parks, cultural hotspots, retail outlets, leisure projects and more, Qatar is all set to unravel a new wave of experiences.” To reaffirm trade partnerships, Qatar's national carrier, Qatar Airways in association with Qatar Tourism hosted a networking dinner at The St. Regis Mumbai on 14th March 2022. The interactive evening was wellattended by travel trade partners and media representatives. The guests were acquainted with the destination and informed about various tourism products, developments and projects underway in Qatar.

Rates

SINGAPORE Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia

VFS Global processed around 40,000 UAE visa applications from India since Dubai reopened

One Rep Global to Represent Ras Al Khaimah Tourism One Rep Global, led by seasoned luxury hotelier Hemant Mediratta, has been appointed as the exclusive India representation partner for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA). One Rep Global will be responsible for driving holistic sales, trade marketing and PR strategies in India for the popular destination. The announcement comes at an opportune time as the international travel restrictions are being eased and more Indians are expected to travel overseas in 2022. “As one of our biggest source markets, India continues to hold a lot of appeal in the new normal of travel,” said Iyad Rasbey, Executive Director, Destination Tourism Development & MICE Commenting on the partnership, Hemant Mediratta, Founder – One Rep Global said, ‘We are delighted to be representing Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) in India and are looking forward to working closely with the tourism authority to position Ras Al Khaimah as an attractive leisure destination for Indian travelers. The emirate has something to offer for travelers of all age groups and is also an attractive choice for the large scale ‘big fat’ destination weddings from India. MICE is another crucial segment that we will target for Ras Al Khaimah from India.”

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VFS Global processed over 40,000 UAE visa applications since Dubai borders reopened in 2021. The data reflects the significant contribution of VFS Global’s Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC), an exclusive visa application processing facility for Emirates Airline passengers. Dubai recorded 32% year-on-year (YoY) visitor growth in 2021, marking the first notable sign of recovery in the international travel sector, according to data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. India, the top source market for the UAE, witnessed 5.3% YoY growth in travellers, with 910,000 visiting the popular Gulf destination in 2021, despite the withdrawal of commercial flights from India and frequent travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic. According to the organisers, EXPO 2020 Dubai has been the strong draw for travellers as overall EXPO visitor numbers exceeded 19 million. VFS Global’s relationship with the UAE government started in 2002 with Emirates Airline. The company has processed more than 3 million UAE (Dubai) visa applications for Emirates Airline customers. DVPC offers 3 Visa application point of sale avenues to Emirates customers travelling to Dubai such as: 1) Retail Visa application Centres in 15 countries with 27 visa application centres 2) An e-Commerce model residing on www.emirates.com serving over 180 nationalities 3) An m-commerce (mobile app) serving 180 nationalities.

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www.megatravelmart.com www.rajwadaahotels.in www.padharomharedesh.in Mobile : 9413027506 | 9571215433 Email: tharholidays@gmail.com info@padharomharedesh.in rajwadaahospitality@gmail.com

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V-DISPLAY

Rates

SINGAPORE Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia

VFS Global processed around 40,000 UAE visa applications from India since Dubai reopened

Easy

Explore India Lets Make Your Holiday Memorable

Victory Tower

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Dubai

Jaisalmer Desert

Pattaya

Mehrangarh Fort

Singapore

Bikaner

Udaipur

Pushkar

International Destinations

Nepal

Jaipur

Japan

Jawai

Bundi

Kenya

UN SEEN BHARAT

www.megatravelmart.com www.rajwadaahotels.in www.padharomharedesh.in Mobile : 9413027506 | 9571215433 Email: tharholidays@gmail.com info@padharomharedesh.in rajwadaahospitality@gmail.com

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SNAP SHOT

IITM Kochi 30 - 31 March 2022

IITM Delhi 1 - 3 September 2022

IITM Delhi 13 - 14 April 2022

IITM Ahmedabad 15 - 17 September 2022

IITM Kochi 19 - 21 January 2023

IITM Bengaluru 29 - 31 July 2022

IITM Mumbai 22 - 24 September 2022

IITM Kolkata 3 - 5 March 2023

IITM Chennai 5 - 7 August 2022

IITM Pune 25 - 27 November 2022 IITM Hyderabad 2 - 4 December 2022

March - April, 2022

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March - April, 2022

SNAP SHOT

IITM Kochi 30 - 31 March 2022

IITM Delhi 1 - 3 September 2022

IITM Delhi 13 - 14 April 2022

IITM Ahmedabad 15 - 17 September 2022

IITM Kochi 19 - 21 January 2023

IITM Bengaluru 29 - 31 July 2022

IITM Mumbai 22 - 24 September 2022

IITM Kolkata 3 - 5 March 2023

IITM Chennai 5 - 7 August 2022

IITM Pune 25 - 27 November 2022 IITM Hyderabad 2 - 4 December 2022

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March - April, 2022

HOSPITALITY

Pride Group Expanision

‘Pride Biznotel in GIR,Gujarat PRIDE DIVINE RESORT SOMNATH

Pride Group of Hotels, has now signed ‘Pride Biznotel’ at the renowned Lion den at Gujarat’s Gir National Park. The property will come into operation from April 2022. Pride Biznotel Gir will be the group’s 12th property in the State of Gujarat. Pride Biznotel brand is a moderately priced, upscale, full-service hotel that meets the discerning needs of a Business, adventure and leisure traveler. “We are extremely delighted to sign Pride Biznotel at Gir, the home to the majestic Asiatic Lions. The property will be located very close to the Gir National Park, giving wildlife enthusiasts a unique opportunity to spot the king of the jungle in his natural habitat. Rich in flora and fauna the region is also home to various species of birds. Gir has gained immense popularity and is frequented by both domestic and foreign tourists throughout the year. Pride Biznotel Gir will offer the most fascinating hospitality experience at one of India’s most famous holiday destination” says, Atul Upadhyay, Vice President, Pride Group of Hotels.

Pride Group of Hotels has signed ‘Pride Divine Resort’ in the pilgrim town of Somnath. The hotel will be located in close proximity to the Somnath Mahadeo Temple, Somnath Beach, and other places of interest. The property will encompass 65 Rooms & Cottages, a pool, 2 restaurants, 2 covered banquets of 8,000 sq ft size, and a lush green spawning lawn of 25,000 sq ft size. Pride Divine Resort Somnath will welcome guests from April onwards. Announcing the signing, Atul Upadhyay, Vice President, Pride Group of Hotels says, “The pilgrim town of Somnath, famous for the Somnath Jyotirling Temple attracts lakhs of devotees every year. Somnath is firmly entrenched in history, heritage, culture, and spirituality, making it one of the most renowned pilgrimage destinations in India. We are extremely delighted to sign the Pride Divine Resort Somnath that will offer contemporary amenities, impeccable hospitality, and all the devotional settings for travelers to this region. Religious tourism has seen a significant uptick in Gujarat and is poised to grow exponentially in the years. We have now moved a step forward by expanding our footprints in popular pilgrimage circuits primarily in tier 2 and tier 3 cities”.

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HOSPITALITY

Pride Group Expanision

‘Pride Biznotel in GIR,Gujarat PRIDE DIVINE RESORT SOMNATH

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March - April, 2022

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Edited & Published by Shailendra Kesari • www.safariplus.co.in • Email - shailendra@safariplus.co.in • March - April 2022 • Vol: 23 Issue: 4