Safari Plus - May June 2020 by Safari Plus

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NEWS FLASH TAT launched "Thailand Tourism Virtual Market" The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector has unveiled a range of new worldwide measures to restart the sector. The new Safe Travels protocols provide consistency to destinations and countries as well as guidance to travel providers, operators, and travellers, about the new approach to health and hygiene in the post COVID-19 world. The health and safety of travellers and workers is put at the heart of the new global protocols, which have been drawn up by WTTC Members. Based on the best available medical evidence and following guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they also avoid the emergence of multiple standards, which would only delay the sector’s recovery. These will apply across the main industries within Travel & Tourism including hospitality, aviation, airports, cruise operators, retail, transportation, MICE and tour operators amongst others. Measures being announced today include: Hotels/Hospitality Key measures include: Revisit guidance for cleaning teams for all areas of the hotel with a specific focus on high-frequency touch points, such as room key cards Ensure social distancing for guests through signage and guidelines including lifts Retrain staff in infection control, social distancing and enhanced hygiene measures, including hand washing and the use of masks and gloves All extraneous items should be removed throughout the hotel Integrate technologies to enable automation, such as introducing contactless payments where possible Offer room service using no-contact delivery methods Have clear, consistent and enhanced communication with customers on new health and hygiene safety protocols, both

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digitally and physically at hotels Safe reopening of Food and Beverage outlets and Meeting and Events spaces with specific actions to ensure social distancing, disinfection and food safety Retail Key Measures include: Deep cleaning regimes Staff should be fully familiar and trained in the new policies, including social distancing, the use of thermal scanning and the wearing of face masks Social distancing should be observed in stores through special visual markers Minimise touch points by introducing digital maps, digital queue management, e-menus, virtual personal shopping and roving concierges Promote contactless payments and email receipts wherever possible by providing complimentary WIFI to encourage take up Hand sanitisers at shop entrances and exits, as well as at intervals inside premises and in bathrooms. In cafes, restaurants and other food outlets, all menus to be available digitally Special attention placed to seating and queue management in line with social distancing requirements Capacity limits should be introduced in retail car parks to prevent overcrowding Additional and separate measures for the Aviation and Cruise sectors are still in development and will be announced in due course. Both sectors, which have always had high health and safety standards, are reassessing their protocols, with new measures around hygiene, deep cleansing and social distancing being analysed. According to WTTC’S 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched its first "Thailand Tourism Virtual Market", a new online travel trade networking platform for all Thai sellers to connect to the world's travel industry. The website is now open for Thai tourism operators (sellers) to register, provide profiles and create proposals for business negotiations. The features are being enhanced to include business negotiation functions; such as, demand matching, proposal submission system and chat box. These are scheduled for completion by 15 May, 2020, after which buyers will be invited from all around the world to sign up. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said "The COVID-19 pandemic

has had a deep and widespread impact right across the travel and tourism industry and the global economy. The way travel and trade doing business is being changed right now, TAT is moving to support our private sector businesses are ready for the new ways of doing business that will emerge. Clearly, virtual meetings are one of those. Furthermore, Thailand's annual flagship travel show, the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+), was cancelled this year. As such, TAT has initiated the Thailand Tourism Virtual Market to be an innovative solution B2B online marketing platform for Thai tourism operators. For further info visit - https://virtualmart.tourismthailand.org/

IT&CM CHINA AND CTW CHINA GOES VIRTUAL THIS 2020 The event is staying true to its value proposition of delivering business, learning and networking opportunities between international and Chinese suppliers, buyers and industry professionals at large. Meetings, peersharing, and collaboration are more vital than ever before in leading this industry on its road to recovery. Details on how you can be a part of doing this virtually will be released by June.

No Change To Dates: 3 to 5 August 2020 Despite the challenges of coming together physically this year, we’re committed to keeping vital industry conversations, interactions and engagements alive. Keep these dates saved in your calendar and let’s meet virtually from wherever you are in the world! Stay Tuned For New 2020 Virtual Programme and Highlights By June

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Maharashtra Tour Organisers' Association (MTOA) and Tour Operators and Travel Agents Association of Gujarat (TAG) in association with Safari Plus and Travel Heels are organising the series of webinar for the industry members. Webinar 1 6th May: LEGAL Session (experts discussed issues of legal issues and group legal positions) The webinar was for general awareness about the legal approach, risk management and how the business will change post COVID pandemic 2020. The panellists of the session were the expert lawyers Mr. Suhash Tulzapurkar, Mr. Mohan Jaykar and Mr. Jamshed Mistry. To sum-up the session Mr. Abhijeet Patil concluded that we as an industry will have to stand united to fight on the legal issues which will be raised by the clients and employees. Webinar 2 13th May: Synergy with Industry Stake Holders This webinar touched on the various vertical of tourism and discussed what will be the scenario post lockdown sanitisation measures taken at the respective tourist's attractions and expectations from tourists. And how the stakeholders and tour operators can formulate and work together on the common ground. On the panel discussion were - Religious Tourism Mr. Ramesh Kumar, CEO, VaishnoDevi Shrine; Thematic Tourism (Ramoji Film City) Mr Jalnapurkar, CEO; Adventure Tourism (Empyrean Skyview Patnitop) Mr Junaid Altaf, MD; Cruise Tourism (Jalesh Cruise Liner) Mr Vijay Kesavan, Director Sales & Marketing; Wildlife Tourism (Tiger Trail Jungle Lodges ,Nagpur) Mr Aditya Dhanvate, Partner; Lifestyle Tourism (Ro Ro Services- West Coast Marine Yatch Services) Mr Ashim Monhgia – Chairman & MD; Weekend Getaways (MP Tourism Rep) Mr Ajit Bhaskar, GM MP Tourism.

Webinar 3 20th May: Synergy with Apex Tourism Associations in India Panellists on board were the leaders from the travel trade association - FAITH, TAAI, TAFI & FHRAI. The leaders of these associations elaborated the works undertaken by their Associations, and the possible synergy they see to benefit the travel industry as a whole. The association are doing exemplary work in pushing for Industry Status, GST waiver, court cases with airlines etc. The industry expert on board as panellists were – Mr. PrabhuBhai (President MTOA); Mr. Vishwajeet Patil (Vice President MTOA); Mr Pradeep Lulla (President TAFI); Mr Anoop Kanuga (Chairman Tourism Council TAAI); Mr Gurbaxish Kohli (President HRAWI); Mr Subhash Goyal (Hon Secretary FAITH) and Mr. Pankaj Gupta (President TAG)

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Travel Heels, a social group of women entrepreneurs in Travel Industry organised a Motivational Webinar in association with Safari Plus for women colleagues of the industry to celebrate its 1st Anniversary. The webinar “The comeback is always stronger than the set back” was on 20th April, 2020. The panellists were - Ms. Vasuki Sundaram, Founder CEO of Wings Travels & Tours and leads the IATO Maharashtra Chapter as the Chairperson; Ms. Neela Lad retired as the Regional Director, Western & Central region at IndiaTourism, Ministry Of Tourism at Mumbai Office; Ms. Ranjini Nambiar, President for Skal International India and CEO of Footloose Yatra Consultants; and Dr Rathore Rashmi, a MD Doctor, Winner of- Mrs. India Legacy 2018, a Soft Skills Trainer and Image Consultant. The session was introduced by Ms. Parul Kesari, Founder of Travel Heels and Editor-in-Chief at Safari Plus and moderated by Ms. Naina Malika Williams, Founder, Bangalore Escapades. The webinar had discussions on how the women entrepreneur can stay calm on the current situation and how they can utilize the time on planning, marketing and business development so, that they can be prepared for the season to come. Ms. Vasuki Sundaram said, “We need to go back to our basics. This is a great opportunity as we got this time to learn more about our destination, we can also learn new languages, get trained with the insight knowledge of the domestic products. This is the right time when we can build a strong relationship with our clients and vendors as well. We have a diverse range of product in our own country like Beaches, wildlife, mountains, the need of the hour is to think out of the box and bring the ideas and do the things differently and specialize on any one segment .This is the best time to explore your forte and you will succeed. We should not panic, tourism will bounce back and everyone will have their own share.” Ms. Neela Lad sharing her view said, “Innovation is the only way to win, and at present we are clueless as to what the TRAVEL will be like post COVID 19. We need to be the better version of ourself, keep learning new things, keep upgrading. The MOT and other states are also focusing on the Experiential Tourism. In my opinion Neighbourhood Travel will be the next to open up soon. The things will change and we call it NEW NORMAL the things will be different and we need to gear up to face them. So the key

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mantra is to reinvent y o u r s e l f a n d reintroducing that one extra mile to what you're offering and focus on the long term resolve.” Ms Ranjini Nambiar said, “The current phase is just the same as we all would have experience once in our life “set back” but this is the way nature teaches us and brings the NEW YOU. And yes we will emerge out more stronger from this too. So, we as the travel industry should stand together and merge as a strong force to sustain for long term. According to me collaboration will be the key factor and collaborating our strength and asset would help us to cultivate and nurture Tourism in our own Country. Talking on how much the appearances matter for your personal branding, Dr. Rashmi Rathore focused on the grooming the oneself, “Personal branding is an art & science of creating and maintaining an impactful image through optimal utilisation of available personal resources. A strong and positive image can always help you stand out from your competition. We need to focus on the basic ABCD of personal grooming – 'A' stands for Appearance as in your clothing, grooming and body language. 'B' stands for Behaviour - How you treat others with etiquette, personality and attitude 'C' stand for Communication – It includes both speaking and listening and your ability to put forth your ideas. 'D' stands for Digital Presence and it is as important as your personal presence. In today's world this makes whole lots of difference when you are connecting to the world. Your Linkedin or your Facebook account are a mirror to your personality. To conclude the session it was learning experience for everyone, to explore your ownself and coming out to be the better version of you. Dedicate and define what your forte is and polish that. Work together with your clients and vendors and think how we can benefit each other to STAND STRONG. As we say THIS SHALL PASS TOO, and we will come back stronger and organized. Travel Heels is a global platform for the women colleagues of Travel Industry. The group is founded by Ms. Parul Kesari, Editorin-Chief, Safari Plus with a vision to unite and give a platform to women in travel community and to connect with others who h a v e s a m e p a s s i o n “ To E x p l o r e t h e W o r l d ”. FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/groups/2065559377069793

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Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has officially announced the launch of ATM Virtual, a threeday event that will take place from 1-3 June 2020. The event, which underscores AT M ’ s c o m m i t m e n t t o delivering positive business and networking opportunities to the region’s vast travel and tourism community, will focus on emerging trends, opportunities, and the challenges which are directly impacting the tourism industry amid the COVID-19 global health pandemic. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Our debut virtual event provides us with the opportunity to work closely with the ATM community and ensure we can support the travel and tourism industry in rebounding as quickly and efficiently as possible. We will address the impact the global health pandemic has had on the travel and tourism industry and discuss a road map to recovery, identifying the trends shaping the future of the industry and the ‘new normal’ that lies ahead.” ATM Virtual will feature comprehensive webinars, live conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking events, one-to-one meetings, as well as facilitating new connections and offering a wide range of online business opportunities. 1ST DAY - Communicating and Building Confidence Now and The Hotel landscape in a post-COVID-19 world. 2ND DAY - Virtual ATM China Forum and Networking sessions as well as Bouncing Back: Tourism Strategies for the Future, and Catapulting Resilience Through Technology and Analytics. 3RD DAY - The event will conclude with the International Travel Investment Conference.

The packed agenda will also feature interviews with highca l i b re av i at i o n key n o te speakers providing a detailed update on the aviation industry. It will also feature a session run by Arival, focused on the rise of online travel agencies (OTAs), the re-opening of operations, and what this means for tour and attraction operators across the Middle East. One-to-one pre-scheduled 30minute meetings between editors, exhibitors, and buyers will also take place, while live video sessions will include Q&As and polls which will be run alongside the presentations to enable audience interaction. A series of independently moderated, pre-recorded on-demand roundtables have been designed to discuss emerging hot topics such as domestic travel, luxury travel trends, corporate travel, and tourism recovery plans. Also, key travel editors and leading travel and tourism experts will be writing blogs on topical subjects spanning not just regional but international industry verticals. In addition to ATM Virtual, the WTM Portfolio has launched a new online portal, the WTM Global Hub, which went live on 23 April 2020. The platform, which will provide content in English, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese, will provide a wide range of webinars, podcasts, videos, news and blogs from key industry figures, providing travel professionals with a wealth of information, advice, and support to cope with the current crisis and plan for the future. ATM Virtual takes place from Monday 1st to Wednesday 3rd June 2020. To register for the event please visit: atmvirtual.eventnetworking.com/register/

The HOMESTAY industry in the Northeast has grown extensively in the past few years as has the demand. It contributes to the local economy, slow travel and is a more sustainable model than the large hotel formats for a region that is still emerging on the

and gardens to stroll around. One such property located near Jorhat is Puroni Bheti Retreat. Meghalaya the new emerging tourist destination of 2019 has

global travel map. Sikkim has sustained a flourishing homestay industry especially in the rural areas of Lachung, Pelling and Namchi with gracious hosts who personally tend to guest needs. Ourguest is a travel startup based in Gangtok that deals exclusively with homestays and such alternate locally run stays. For more info www.ourguest.in The Tourism Department of Arunachal Pradesh is venturing out in the same directions. In Sangti Valley, Arunachal Pradesh the local community with the help of travel experts and the

places that recently popped up for tourists to visit. In Mawlynnong, Tura, Jowai and Mawphalang locals for extra income have opened their homes to travelers during the season time and are listed in popular sites like AIRBNB and Makemytrip.com. In Nagaland due to the Hornbill festival which takes place early December the demand for accommodation is exceedingly high. There are camp sites set up for two weeks which cater more to backpackers and luxury travelers. Organizations like www.nagahomestay.com and www.explorenagaland.com arrange accommodation for travelers in local homes. Annie

Jamir's Longchen homestay in Dimapur stands out. Imphal the capital city of Manipur is becoming quite popular for culture tourism and properties are listed on popular sites like AIRBNB and Makemytrip.com. Homestays are a good option for immersive experiences. It allows a traveler to get a first hand glimpse at local lifestyles. Prices range from INR 600 to INR 8000 for a room per night with breakfast. Most properties offer the major meals at an extra cost. Travelers who opt for homestays should be aware that they are actually going to be staying in someone's home whose customs and lifestyle will vary from their own and will not have all the luxuries of a hotel and hence adapt accordingly.

government conducted training workshops in hospitality to set up homestays and a waste management program. They developed activities based on their traditional food and crafts to give travelers an understanding of their cultural heritage. More info on - www.monyulgathering.com In Assam Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Tezpur offer a variety of homestays. In Guwahati the popular ones are centered around Uzanbazar and Beltola area. Prabhakar homestay located in Chandmari is a charming property where conversations with the hosts are a highlight. More info on www.prabhakarhomestay.com A lot of heritage tea bungalows offer a wonderful old world colonial experience with well trained staff to look after guests

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and gardens to stroll around. One such property located near Jorhat is Puroni Bheti Retreat. Meghalaya the new emerging tourist destination of 2019 has

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The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is currently organizing a series of Webinars under the overall theme of ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ with a view to encourage Indians to explore their own country and to enrich the knowledge of stakeholders in the tourism industry, students, general public, etc. on various aspect of tourism sector. The first webinar was held on 14th April 2020 , the webinar was titled " City of Cities- Delhi's Personal Diary'. The core of the session based itself on tourism awareness and social history. This webinar series provide information on the many destinations and the sheer depth and expanse of the culture and heritage of our Incredible India. Topic such as ‘Making India an Inclusive Travel Destination For All’, 'Calcutta – A confluence of Cultures', ‘The Monuments of Mamallapuram – Stories Etched in Stone’ were organised. The Webinar received a very good response with over 2700 registrations and final participation of over 1800. Information on the DekhoApnaDesh Webinars series is regularly posted on the Incredible India social media pages of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

The Ministry of Tourism held a virtual conference with the Industry associations of Tourism and Hospitality sector on Friday. The VC was led by the Secretary Tourism, Shri Yogendra Tripathi along with senior officials of the Ministry. The Associations represented through remote conferencing were FAITH, which is the mother of 9 bodies, the CII, FICCI, PHDCCI and IMAI. The industry put forth a number of ideas and suggestions for tiding over the crisis created by COVID-19 in the sector of tourism and hospitality. The Ministry on its part shared the concerns and also assured the associations that the government was very much with them in this grim hour and that the Ministry would work towards the suggestions put forth. There would be a lot of thrust on promoting domestic tourism was a common takeaway. The Ministry is using its social handles to create awareness of the need to stay at home safe in the period of lockdown and prepare to travel once the world opens up. In the meantime the course modules of the Institutes of Hotel Management are being held online and faculty and students are using technology to remain abreast with their course curriculum.

The lockdown has not only confined us to our homes but all those bucket list travel too has been put to hold for a while. At present human-life is paramount and in order to see a more beautiful world, we need to stay home, follow guidelines and stay safe. The things would change, the perspective to travel would change and so would be the reason to travel. In coming times India would merge strongly as the Wellness Destination of the World with holistic wellness treatments and retreats. So post lockdown, if you decide to rejuvenate, de-stress and detoxify, here we have the recommendations of most sort after wellness retreats in India which follows the ancient practices of healing through Ayurveda, Yoga, Panchkarma, Acupuncture and Naturopathy. Travelers have now shown an interest to atleast take one wellness trip a year where health and wellbeing is top priority. So here we go with the pleothera of recommended beautiful resorts and retreats in India to escape once we start traveling again.

beachfront and lush green hillock is Swasawra Wellness Retreat Gokarana. With its experiential treatments and holistic healing, it's one of the best wellness getaway in country to balance both mind and body. With beautiful 24 Konkani villas to reset your mood, the resort also helps you to dive into your forgotten skills and hobbies like painting, sculpting and many others. It has a mix of yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic treatments along with bunch of outdoor activities like bird watching, kayaking, village tour and boating. A perfect getaway to purify your mind, body and spirits.

The first on the list is Ananda Spa Himalayas, a picturesque resort built right at the foothills of Himalayas, serves as a much needed break for your mental wellness. With an array of health programs and services to offer for your well-being, this resort has taken a step forward when it comes to attract wellness tourism in our country. With 70 deluxe rooms, 5 suites and 3 villas, Ananda is spread across 100 acres of lush green forest and surrounded by mighty mountains. The sound of Ganges, contemporary spa experiences, healthy food and ancient practices, puts the resort on top in India as the best getaway to destress and rejuvenate. With breathtaking views, the programs offered here includes Ananda Yoga, Ananda Renew, Ayurvedic Rejuvenation, Detox, Weight Management and variety of Spa packages.

Apart from the above retreats, our countries is evolving into wellness tourism destination through its age old Ayurvedic rituals and exercises. From north to south and east to west, there are beautiful retreats which taps to this niche segment blending both tradition and culture of India. The country is emerging as globe trendsetter for the wellness and healthy lifestyle. From Aloha on the Ganges to Somatheeram Resort Kovalam and from Niramaaya Retreat Bangalore to Nirvana Naturopathy near Mumbai, these resorts practice 5000 years old science of Ayurveda and brings in best of wellness treatments to make your Spa Holiday a memorable affair. The rising awareness of reliving cleaner and breathing healthier through natural health system has helped grow India as the wellness capital. The retreats are scattered across the country with picturesque locations set amongst mountains, rivers and beaches and giving out of the box wellness experiences. So post lockdown pack your bags and head to one of these retreats to start afresh the year in lapse of nature and giving your body a real gift of happiness. The getaways are ideal for honeymooners, couples, families, girlie gang or self-pampering. By: Hardi Oza (Travelsoul)

Another rejuvenating retreat spread across 26 acres of

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MOT Ministry of Tourism

Ministry of Tourism organises webinar series "DekhoApnaDesh"

holds a virtual conference with the Industry associations of Tourism and Hospitality sector

Apart from the above retreats, our countries is evolving into wellness tourism destination through its age old Ayurvedic rituals and exercises. From north to south and east to west, there are beautiful retreats which taps to this niche segment blending both tradition and culture of India. The country is emerging as globe trendsetter for the wellness and healthy lifestyle. From Aloha on the Ganges to Somatheeram Resort Kovalam and from Niraamaya Retreats ( Kova l a m , Ku m a ra ko m & Thekkady) to Nirvana Naturopathy near Mumbai, these resorts practice 5000 years old science of Ayurveda and brings in best of wellness treatments to make your Spa Holiday a memorable affair. The rising awareness of reliving cleaner and breathing healthier through natural health system has helped grow India as the wellness capital. The retreats are scattered across the country with picturesque locations set amongst mountains, rivers and beaches and giving out of the box wellness experiences. So post lockdown pack your bags and head to one of these retreats to start afresh the year in lapse of nature and giving your body a real gift of happiness. The getaways are ideal for honeymooners, couples, families, girlie gang or self-pampering. By: Hardi Oza (Travelsoul)

Another rejuvenating retreat spread across 26 acres of

MAY - JUNE, 2020

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MAY - JUNE, 2020

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced the launch of the ‘Abu Dhabi Specialist Programme’, an e-learning platform which will educate travel trade industry professionals with all destination-related information about the emirate through a series of online courses. The programme will be rolled out in three phases in several languages across 17 markets, including the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Russia, as well as GCC countries. The first phase has been launched on May 4th, in the USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India. The Abu Dhabi Specialist Programme will equip travel trade professionals with accurate and relevant information about Abu Dhabi, supporting and encouraging them to promote the destination to consumers within their markets. “The Abu Dhabi Specialist Programme is a significant step

forward and through it we will be able to reach a larger number of travel trade agents across the globe, including previously untapped markets like Canada and New Zealand,” said HE Saood Al Hosani, Acting Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi. “This training and education platform ensures that all participating industry partners have easy and quick access to the latest content on Abu Dhabi, thus making the destination promotion aspect of their job much easier.” The courses encompassed in the programme cover information related to key attractions in Abu Dhabi, local events, accommodation options and much more. Additionally, it includes a rewards section featuring incentive programmes, exclusively available for ‘Abu Dhabi Specialists’ – travel trade agents who graduate from the main programme. The Abu Dhabi Specialist Programme will be available for travel trade professionals on www.abudhabispecialist.com from May 4, 2020. For the Indian Travel Industry, upon successful completion of two modules, the travel trade agents can win an Amazon gift voucher of Rs 10,000. And upon successful completion of the Specialist programme, four lucky winners can win latest smartphones and five lucky winners can win a trip to Abu Dhabi (T&C apply)

IITM Bangalore: 24 - 26 July 2020 IITM Chennai: 31 July - 2 August 2020 IITM Ahmedabad: 13 - 15 August 2020 IITM Delhi: 5 - 6 October 2020 (Held Concurrent with Business Travel & MICE Expo 2020)

IITM Mumbai: 9 - 11 October 2020 IITM Pune: 27 - 29 November 2020 IITM Hyderabad: 4 - 6 December 2020 IITM Kochi: 7 - 9 January 2021 IITM Kolkata: 19 - 21 February 2021 Business Travel & MICE Expo 2020 BTME Delhi: 5 - 6 October 2020 BTME Bangalore: 28 - 29 January 2021

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IITM Bangalore: 24 - 26 July 2020 IITM Chennai: 31 July - 2 August 2020 IITM Ahmedabad: 13 - 15 August 2020 IITM Delhi: 5 - 6 October 2020 (Held Concurrent with Business Travel & MICE Expo 2020)

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V-DISPLAY

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated a dedicated training programme on COVID-19 awareness for hospitality professionals across the country. Apart from the business challenges, the pandemic has also raised the need to redefine hospitality. FSSAI has issued guidelines on various food sectors including catering. The trainings will be conducted online using ZOOM platform and the training team is being led by Dr. V Pasupathy, National Advisor, FHRAI and FoSTaC Diamond Trainer. FHRAI will conduct the trainings in collaboration with its training partner – Parikshan. The programme aims to gear up hotel and restaurant players for a post lockdown scenario to ensure the safety of their guests and to instill customer confidence. The program covers training on precautions to be taken and procedures that establishments should ensure implementing including receiving of raw materials, guest service, lobby management, and rooms maintenance post the lockdown gets lifted. “The idea behind is to have at least one senior staff thoroughly trained in safety, security and hygiene of an establishment.

Once the lockdown is lifted, the trained staff will be in a position to impart knowledge to fellow staff in each section. The underlying objective of this programme ultimately is to ensure the health and safety of our guests. Atithi Devo Bhava and to us, our patron’s safety is paramount. The program is being organized keeping in view the awareness requirements about the pandemic and necessary precautions that need to be taken by Food Business Operators (FBOs) before restarting their operations. FHRAI is organizing these sessions to instill confidence in its members, guests, and the work force to prepare ourselves to tackle the post pandemic situation,” says Mr. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI. The sessions will include video presentations, lecture, activities, chats and question-based discussions also. The participants can register themselves through FHRAI to attend the sessions. After successful completion of the training, participants are recommended for certification issued by FSSAI through the training partner after verifying the individual’s credentials. “There are multiple trainers arranged by FHRAI in collaboration with Parikshan to conduct these trainings. The Hospitality Industry is committed and is sincerely working towards safety of the guests and staff,” concludes Mr. Kohli.

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V-DISPLAY

Our Valuable Services:Car and Bus Hire Air Tickets Family & Couple & Group Tours Hotel Booking Guide Service International & Domestic Packages Forex Guidance Corporate Travel Services Visa Assistance

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Today when we see many ideologies fighting with each other for various reasons, it becomes necessary to look behind towards our glorious history and take some lessons from it. Here comes the scope of Patriotic Tourism in India, which could help us to maintain Unity and Integrity of our society. The word Patriotism is defined as “devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty” as per Dictonay.Com. The tour aims to take participants into a bygone era. An era which completed 150 years and has been remembered today. The epic for the Independence began at Barackpore in West Bengal which soon spread all over the country. Thousands of soldiers both the Hindus and the Muslims came together with one aim – to free their motherland from the hands of the foreign powers. There were kings, queens, zamindars, jahagirdars, nobels, farmers, peasants from different religions, cast and communities. Their revolt is known first ever war for independence. Let's pay our homage to those who laid their life to free the motherland…. Let's remember sacrifice of those soldiers who went to gallows and who's names are not even known … remember those unknown soldiers through this unique tour Jara yadd unhe bhi karlo This unique tour has been conceptualized and organized by Mr. Nitin Shastri, who runs a tour company entitled “Offbeat Destinations”. Earlier to this Offbeat Destinations had organized many theme tours with a patriotic zeal; Azad Hind Yatra travelled on the route of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Mynamar on the foot steps of Netaji Subhaschandra Bose, Dandi Yatra travelled to most of the places related to father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Gatha Balidanachi paid rich tribute to commemorate war of 1962 and now Jara Yaad Unhebhi Karlo : Battle fields of 1857. The tour will commence from Mumbai on 7th August and after travelling to Jhansi, Kanpur, Bithoor (Brahmavart), Lucknow, New Delhi , Meerut and Panipat will come back on 16th August, 2020. Participants could see original sword of Queen of Jhansi Rani Laxmibai, visit Palace of Nana Saheb and witness Flag hoisting of 15th August on the ramparts of Lal Quilla by Hon. Prime minister Shri Narendra Modi. Participants could see most of the placed related with our first war of Independence i.e. 1857 War,

enjoy heritage tour will give an unforgettable tour of the City of Nawabs. Those interested could contact Shri Nitin Shastri, Contact Nos. 9422010467 / 7378843665 email : offbeatdestinationspnq@gmail.com

In the past two months, Israel has been facing the COVID19 crisis, together with the rest of the world. In March, Israel has closed its borders and skies to non-citizens in the hopes of minimalizing the virus spread in Israel. Currently, the only flights allowed into the country are flights intended for transitioning of necessary equipment and the return of Israeli citizens to Israel. These days Israel is gradually reducing restrictions and preparing for a new "Corona routine". The government has published a 4-step plan to be executed from May through mid-June, due to the significant decrease in the number of active coronavirus cases in Israel in the past weeks. These are the main factors: Domestic tourism: May 3, 2020, Bed & Breakfast accommodations (especially in the rural tourism areas) will return to operate, provided they follow the recommended "Purple Guidelines" agreed upon by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism. "Purple Guidelines" objective: Accommodation facilities will be held to high standards of cleaning, training of work staff according to the new guidelines, upgrading of air ventilation systems, reducing crowd-gathering and offering special bookings and cancelation terms. Work: All public sector and private sector employees may return to work, subject to the guidelines. Education: By the end of May it is planned that all students in

Israel will return to full educational activity including schools, universities, libraries etc. Leisure and Sport: all points below are subject to relevant guidelines - Parks and nature reserves will open for visitors starting May 4; Gyms are planned to open by May 7; Outdoor sports are allowed for individuals and couples; Stores of all sectors and sizes can open for business; Shopping Malls will open by May 7; Museums will open on May 17; Swimming pools and Amusement Parks will open by the end of May; Theatres, Cinema, restaurants and competitive sports will return to activity by mid-June.

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We are living in unique times right now, COVID-19 has taken the entire world into lockdown and has posed new challenges to everyone. People are bound to work from home and to take advantage of this extra time, e-learning is the great platform to upskill yourself. Safari Plus and Travel Heels hosted a series of educational webinar for travel trade with the help of the associate partners. The webinars and FB Live were insight to tourist destination and the Hotel chains. The webinar associate partners were – GH Earth Wellness; Travstarz Global Group; Star World Holidays; I H C L , Europamundo Vacations; Udaan Hotels & Resorts; Barefoot

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Resorts Andaman; Hippi Soul Pvt Ltd (DMC Isloe Holidays); Niraamaya Resorts; Travcare Holidays South Africa; Curtain Call Adventure; Discover Destination (USA); Charson Advisory; Ocean Park Hong Kong; Nijhawan Group; Trully India; Ascend Global Travel Pvt Ltd; Mohini Solutions Pvt Ltd; Atlantis The Palm Dubai; Pluto Travels, Dubai; Destination Canada; UI Maldives; Mana Hotels; Amritara Group of Hotels; UDS Hotel Groups; Anant Gateway; Avani Travel Services; Divas Sojourn, Delhi; Go Newhere Travels; Thrill Adventure, Tanzania; Pearl Tourism and Leisure Group; Tulsi Tours & Travels;Gully Tours; TGI; Quarry Adventure.

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Raising to SUSTAIN the Glory Bihar's antiquity is evident from its name, which is derived from ancient word “VIHARA” – monastery. It is indeed a land of monasteries. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim and Sikh shrines abound in this ancient land where India's first major empires rose and fell; where the ruins of the worlds' earliest university slumbers in the void of time. The passage of Ganga, flowing wide and deep enrich the plains of Bihar before distributing in Bengal's deltoid zone. Among all Indian states, Bihar is the one most intimately linked to Buddha's life, resulting in a trail of pilgrimages which have come to be known as the Buddhist circuit. The Buddhist trail begins at the capital city, Patna, where a noteworthy museum contains a collection of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures as well as a terracotta urn said to contain the ashes of Lord Buddha. Bihar has been attracting domestic and foreign tourists from

and spots. Prime destinations of Bihar tourism: Bodhgaya – Buddha's Enlightenment sites; Gaya – Final Salvation point; Nalanda – Ruins of World's first university for higher education; Pawapuri – Lord Mahavir's Nirvana site; Rajgir – peek into the Kingdom of Magadh; Vaishali – Site for last sermon delivered by Lord Buddha; birth place of 24th Tirthankar of Jains; Vikramsila – Center of Tantric Buddhism and famous for its university; Kesariya – Venue where the Buddha delivered his famous Kalama Sutta to the Kalama people In 2011 state witnessed 1,32,33,304 tourist arrivals which included 1,27,05,531 domestic and 5,27,773 foreign tourist. And to sustain the growth Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar devised a master plan for keeping the

the ancient times. The travelogues of the Chinese travelers Huen Tsang and Fa-Hien describe historical splendor of Bihar which offers much to tourists irrespective of their age and class. The state is unique as it offers such a rich mix of history for not just one but many religions. Keeping this in mind, Bihar Tourism has identified religious circuits for Boudh, Jain, Hindu, Sikh and Islam religions. The objective of these circuits is to bring tourists from these religions closer to their ancestors and provide profound expression in development of tourist sites

tourism business intact in state. To name some initiative  Maintenance of basic infrastructure  Promoting state’s fair and festival on International level.  Well equipped Tourist information centre are put-up on many places providing tourists abundance of information regarding tourist places, hotels, transport facilities etc..  Development of Handicraft and Cottage Industry like Shilpgram.  Developing weekend destinations to woo neighboring states.  In order to promote Wildlife tourism the state would develop wildlife sanctuaries, crocodile parks, snake

INTERNATIONAL launches MICE venue Hygiene Guidelines TCEB in collaboration with MICE stakeholder associations launches MICE Venue Hygiene Guidelines targeting MICE entrepreneurs to make them wellprepared for the resumption of businesses under the new normal environment, following the positive sign of COVID-19 pandemic situation and the gradual easing of lockdown by the government. The aim is to enable their preparation for the resumption of their businesses under new normal environment where hygiene and health safety will be key concerns and when more relaxation of lockdown measures is on the way. Under the guidelines, the 5 key measures on hygiene and public safety established by the Ministry of Public Health must be strictly adhered to as follows: 1) Limit the number of attendees (1 person per 2 sq-metre space) 2) Body temperature screening (a system, such as application, is required for looking after, transferring and following-up the patients), 3) Distancing practice within business premises, such as meeting room, elevator, restroom, canteen, 4) Tracking system in case a delegate becomes ill after visiting the premise, 5) Queuing system with the separation of waiting areas before entering the premises MICE Venue Hygiene Guidelines have 3 key practices: pre-event,

onsite and post-event. The pre-event practices include preparedness of staff, transport, setting up of screening point, self-screening application or website for attendees to feedback within 24 hours before the event, manual on permitted number of attendees, instruction on holding large scale activities, hygiene instruction for attendees, etc. The onsite practices focus on use of IT to mitigate risks, arrangement of venue to reduce touch points and regular cleaning of touch points and QR code for registration and satisfaction survey to ease the congestion, room layout for better ventilation, 2-meter apart seating, microphone set up at different points and regular cleaning after use. In case of speakers invited from location outside the host city, the attendees must be informed of safety measures taken to reduce incoming risks, such as shuttle service for speakers or providing accommodation near the venue for the speakers, etc. For exhibition, advance booking technology for visiting exhibiting booths to lower gathering crowds or virtual exhibition technology should be employed to create experiences for those waiting in the queue. Online platform should be developed for product booking or purchase. The post event practices include the employment of waste management system that can prevent the infection, producing a report on event organization for concerned authorities in accordance with the orders and announcements of the government's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration

This form is valid till 31 December, 2020

Address - 405, 4th Floor, Wing - C, Shreepati Aradhna, Bhuleshwar Road, Mumbai - 400002, INDIA E- shailendra@safariplus.co.in

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This form is valid till 31 December, 2020

Address - 405, 4th Floor, Wing - C, Shreepati Aradhna, Bhuleshwar Road, Mumbai - 400002, INDIA E- shailendra@safariplus.co.in

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All port operations carried out with minimum operational employees. All administrative and finance departments functioning with skeletal staff. All operations carried out following DG shipping's SOPs. All meetings through Zoom and digital systems. All file work and instruction given through WhatsApp Groups. Security guards replaced in the outlying areas by quick response mobile teams. All payments through e-payment systems Preventive measures  Port areas made isolated and self-sustainable. All workers stay inside. All cooking and facilities provided inside. Outsiders to be extremely limited and entry allowed only after thorough scrutiny. Separation of MbPT and private gangs.  All colonies made isolated and self-sustainable. All contract workers to stay inside the colony.  Preventive measures like fumigation, hand washing facilities, sanitizers provided at all entrance gates of all buildings. Masks provided to all workers in all colonies  Home quarantine training given to all employees and all residents, SOPs circulated to all employees.  If any employee or officer has to travel he travels in a fumigated vehicle. Hospital arrangements - Hospital divided into two parts. i) COVID-19 Hospital (Newly prepared) ii) Non COVID-19 Hospital. Screening is done at the new gate and each hospital has it's own entrance, it's own reception, it's own casualty, ICU, wards etc. PPE suits compulsory in COVID-19 hospitals. Special SOPs defined for separation of patients. Two isolation wards prepared 1. COVID-19 (suspect) isolation ward with it's own ICU 2. COVID-19 (positive) isolation ward with its own ICU. Mask and gloves compulsory even in non COVID-19 hospitals. All necessary equipments like PPE, Mask, Gloves and Medicines

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purchased in large quantity. Even seven new ventilators procured.  Telemedicine facilities provided for all patients through all

hospital departments.  Dispensing of medicines to patients through tie up with Wellness

Pharmacy outlets spread all over the State. Quarantine Facility  Quarantine Wards started at three locations namely, Dhanvantari Building in MbPT Hospital, Nadkarni Park Welfare Centre, Wadala, and CMC Building inside Indira Docks for keeping the suspected persons.  Tied up with Sailors' Home, Wadi Bunder (500 beds) for use as quarantine facility.  Established tie up between Municipal Corporation and a Cruise Vessel having accommodation for 2000 persons on board to serve as floating quarantine facility.  Vacant flats in the residential quarters in the vicinity of Port Trust Hospital readied for accommodating the isolation cases/staff on emergency duty. Control Room and Co-coordinating Officers  A 24 X 7 emergency team constituted for any emergency communication by the employees.  Civil Defense staff and Volunteers from departments trained to attend COVID-19 emergencies.  CEOs appointed for every residential building to look after sanitation, water supply, electricity, garbage disposal, assisted by local volunteers.  Nodal officer appointed for continuous co-ordination with Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and DCP Port Zone for unhindered evacuation of cargo form the Port.  Co-opted with Municipal officers on WhatsApp group to keep track of residential Clusters in the City where COVID 19 outbreak is reported to enable thorough screening of port employees from affected clusters.

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purchased in large quantity. Even seven new ventilators procured.  Telemedicine facilities provided for all patients through all

hospital departments.  Dispensing of medicines to patients through tie up with Wellness

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Genting Cruise Lines is pleased to announce the introduction of enhanced preventive measures for its Dream Cruises and Star Cruises fleet with an increase in safety levels for the cruise industry due to the continuing COVID-19 situation globally. As the health and safety of Genting Cruise Lines’ guests and crew remain its top priority, various precautionary measures with stringent health screening processes in accordance with regional government policies had been implemented from the onset of the pandemic. As a result, to date, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 among guests or crew while on board or transmitted via any of Genting Cruise Lines’ ships. A further vote of confidence was provided by the Asia Cruise Terminal Association (ACTA). In endorsing the measures, Chairman of ACTA, Singapore Cruise Centre said, “ACTA and all its members endorses Genting Cruise Lines' initiative and pledge to support these procedures throughout its member ports located across the region including in China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Highlights of the preventive measures: Embarkation and Disembarkation  Mandatory temperature screening and pre-boarding health declarations for all guests  Infrared fever screening system at the ship gangway  Higher frequency with increased levels of sanitization and disinfection at the ship gangway and passenger walkways  Stringent checks for all embarking individuals including crew travel documents; guests aged 70 years & above to provide a doctor’s certificate of fitness for travel  Online check-in for guests to receive designated arrival time at the cruise terminal to minimize crowd congestion  Additional waiting areas for cruise boarding & disembarkation (with staggered times)  Compliance with all local port and health authorities’ regulations Guest accommodations  Higher frequency with increased levels of sanitization and disinfection in guest cabins with hospital grade disinfectants, including:  Twice daily wipe-down of guest cabins and guests cabin corridors  Fogging of vacant guest cabins and guests cabin corridors

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 Clean and disinfect guest bathrooms with heavy-duty alkaline bathroom cleaner and disinfectant.  Timely removal of food items from cabins to prevent spoilage and cultivation of microorganisms and bacteria.  Timely housekeeping cabin turnover; bedsheets and linens professionally cleaned and disinfected at high temperatures  Injection of diluted cleaning solution into drains to avoid clogged pipes and to prevent bacterial growth  In case of sickness, thorough cleaning and disinfection with hospital grade disinfectant and fogging the cabin after. Common Public Areas  All public areas on board will undergo a two-tier sanitization process with thorough cleansing, fogging and wiping using hospital grade disinfectant. On-board Ship Venues and Cleaning Frequency:  Elevators: Every 2 hours  Public areas and facilities: 2 – 10 times daily  Spa and amenities: Min 2 times daily  Other Public Areas: To adjust disinfection frequency accordingly  Common public areas will be sanitized from once daily to 2 - 4 times daily and frequent touchpoints such as handrails, lift buttons, table-tops, door handles etc. will be sterilized every hour or less during peak hours (Embarkation & Disembarkation time, returning from shore excursions, meal periods)  Frequent usage of heavy-duty neutral PH floor-cleaning agent to disinfect all floor areas of the ship  Sanitizer dispensers available at various public areas and crew members stationed at key on board venues to provide hand sanitation. Food Hygiene Practices & Standards  F&B restaurants / bar areas, including galleys, will be cleaned and sanitized 3 times daily, during and after service  Guests are encouraged to wash hands before entry and use sanitizer dispensers available at F&B outlet entrances/exits  Guest seating will ensure ample spacing; disposable cutlery will be provided, upon request.  Self-service at F&B buffet restaurants will be suspended. All food & beverages will be served to guests by crew members wearing face masks & disposable gloves.

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 Culinary use of wild animals and related products are strictly

Medical Centre Isolation Area staff related to suspected cases

prohibited.  Stringent procurement guidelines will be enforced and product sourcing from highly affected regions will be strictly prohibited. Entertainment and Recreational Activities Theatres will be sanitized before and after each show; 3D glasses disinfected before and after guest usage (if applicable) Cleaning and disinfection of all toys, games and Kids’ Club facilities twice daily and/or after every use. All duty-free shops and entertainment venues will be disinfected twice daily before and after service. All recreational equipment will be disinfected every 2 hours before guest usage Guests capacity will be limited to half the venue capacity to provide ample space between guests Sanitizer dispensers will be readily available at various venues including entertainment venue entrances/exits. Tour coaches will be limited to half capacity & sanitized frequently; training for tour operators based on guidance from the WHO. Spa & Gym facilities will be sanitized prior to and after usage by guests. Fresh Air Ventilation Systems 100% external fresh air is filtered and supplied to passenger cabins and on board public areas Air filters and cooling coils thoroughly checked, cleaned and replaced to ensure healthy air quality. Medical Centre Isolated wards available in the Medical Centre Contaminated items and medical waste will be properly sealed and disposed according to health and safety guidelines. Used face masks and protective equipment disposed at designated central collection points. Medical equipment and waste bins cleaned, disinfected and washed twice daily with hospital grade disinfectant. Crew Members Practices & Standards Twice daily temperature checks. All Frontline crew are required to wear face masks Housekeeping and F&B crew required to wear disposable gloves. Designated crew may also wear protective garments and eye protection if required. All crew to use anti-bacterial hand soap for at least 20 sec to sanitize hands.

are required to: wear adequate personal protection (face mask, eye protection, disposable gloves & disposal outer garment) follow proper hand washing practices before and after work duty update personal health information daily. Provide Training Workshops and pertinent information on health and safety preventive measures Reduction of crew movement Genting Cruise Lines reiterates that the health and safety of all its guests and crew across its fleet is of utmost importance. With these new standards and practices in place, Genting Cruise Lines is optimistic that the cruise industry will rebound from this temporary setback and regain the confidence of all cruise passengers when operations resume. “At Genting Cruise Lines, the safety and health of our guests and crew are of paramount importance to us. With the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak regionally and globally, many guests as well as crew have developed higher awareness and expectations with regards to the safety and preventive measures of cruise ships,” said Mr Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines. “As a responsible cruise company, it is our duty to adopt a pro-active approach to meet and also strive to exceed the growing expectations and concerns of the public. As such, we have carefully reviewed our prevention and response plan with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind to devise and provide enhanced and comprehensive measures across our fleet. We have taken the positive opportunity during this hiatus period to also implement comprehensive crew training to reinforce effective cleaning procedures, health and hygiene protocols and efficient guest interaction, which we will adopt as the new safety norm for our fleet and we hope for the industry too.” Mr. Zhu added: “The public will be pleased to know for instance, that all of Genting Cruise Lines’ ships allow for 100% external fresh air to be filtered and supplied to each passenger cabin as well as on board public areas ensuring a constant and healthy flow of fresh air throughout the vessels. Besides that, isolated wards are available in the Medical Centre and cabins can be converted into quarantine rooms if required.” To boost confidence in future reservations for guests, Genting Cruise Lines has also launched its “Cruise As You Wish” program in which all new and existing Dream Cruises and Star Cruises bookings prior to or on 30 October 2020 will have the flexibility to cancel up to 48 hours before sailing and receive 100% future cruise credit to be redeemed of any Dream Cruises or Star Cruises sailing embarking on or before 31 March 2021.

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 Culinary use of wild animals and related products are strictly

Medical Centre Isolation Area staff related to suspected cases

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A small town on banks of Arabian Sea, Gokarna, is one of India's most consecrated places situated in the district of Uttara Kannada, on the coastal expanse of Karnataka. Legend has it that Lord Shiva emerged here from a cow’s ear, hence the name ‘Go-Karna’ which means ‘cow’s ear’ in Sanskrit. It is also located at the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers Gangavali and Aghananshini. The shore is bordered by the natural splendor of four beaches - Om Beach, Kudle Beach, Half Moon Beach and Paradise Beach. Gokarna is a contradiction in itself. A temple town, a pilgrimage site full of Hindu saints and Sanskrit scholars, Gokarna is also a hippy ecstasy with drums, guitars and hammocks. OM Beach - Om Beach with its characteristic 'Om' shape created by two semi circular coves (and that’s where it gets its name) is one of the most popular beaches about 8 kilometers from Gokarna. A very well-liked beach by the tourists and locals, Om Beach offers an enchanting alternative to the crowded beaches of Goa. It has many isolated, private beaches nearby, which can be reached only on foot. Om Beach is known for the occasional, spontaneous psychedelic, dance festivals/parties that take place there, and on the adjacent beaches of Om Beach. This beach is distinguished by its spiritual hippies – with ash smeared on their foreheads, tattoos all over their body, long hair, beard and beads all over. Kudle Beach – An incredible, fantastic white-sandy beach, Kudle is just about a 20-minute walk from Gokarna. It offers

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water sports that are much cheaper than those at OM beach. With a host of sea-facing hotels and resorts, Kudle Beach also offers sea-side shacks that rent out rooms at a cheaper rate. Well known for its shacks and cafes, it is a potpourri of cuisines ranging from Mexican to Mughlai. Excellent seafood is also served here (my favorite being the simple - Kalamari Fry). Kudle Beach also offers a much more child-friendly atmosphere, which is particularly absent at OM beach. Paradise Beach – Also known as the Full Moon Beach, it is the furthest among the other beach destinations of Gokarna. Stony stretches mingling with sandy shores, Paradise beach is just the perfect place to enjoy a private vacation away from all the hustle-bustle. Paradise beach is also a great stretch to camp out. The sea here is calm and the beach is very clean. Open restaurants with seafood specialties and barbeques are available here. Paradise beach is accessible only by boat or trekking across the hillocks from Om Beach. Half Moon Beach - A crescent shaped cove, it lies on a rocky stretch and a very small stretch of beach on the way to Paradise beach. Half moon beach is unapproachable by road and only means to reach it other than on foot, is by the sea. Go backpack across this beach haven with your friends (like I did) or go alone and trek towards private beaches for some soul searching and you might just come back with a few new friends. With friendly locals and tourists, it is easy to mingle with everyone and forget about work and time. Go, lose yourself. How to reach Gokarna? By Air: The nearest airport is the Dabolim Airport in Goa. By Rail: Gokarna is connected by rail from Karwar, Ankola, Hubli, Mangalore, Kumta and Margao. The Konkan Railway passes through Gokarna - Kumta (35 km) and Ankola (20 km) are the nearest major railway stations. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation operates buses from these places to Gokarna. By Road: From Bangalore, there are 1-4 buses operating. It is a 12 hour overnight journey from Bangalore to Gokarna. Private buses also operate to/from Hampi/Hospet. National highway 17 is about 9 km from the town. The Bangalore - Goa Highway passes through Ankola which is 20 km from the town. If arriving from Goa, you can take a local bus from Madgaon or Canacona to Karwar, and then take another bus to Gokarna.

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Article by - Ms.Sapna, Marketing Manager, Pluto Travels Email: sapna@plutotravels.ae

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Article by - Ms.Sapna, Marketing Manager, Pluto Travels Email: sapna@plutotravels.ae

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AVIATION Post Covid-19-related travel restrictions Mask compulsory on all flights Air France as from 11 May 2020

KLM starts gradual and careful restoration of its European network

Air France implement measures in response to the COVID-19 health crisis on their journey as from 11 May 2020  Compulsory wearing of masks for all crew members and agents Physical distancing at airport and on board and the installation of Plexiglas protection screens at airports each time it is possible  On most flights, the current low load factors make it possible to separate customers as required. The reinforcement of daily aircraft cleaning procedures, with the disinfection of all surfaces in contact with customers such as armrests, tables and screens, The introduction of a specific procedure for the periodic disinfecting aircraft by spraying an approved virucidal product effective for 10 days,  On domestic & Short flights meal and beverage services have been suspended. On long-haul flights, cabin service is limited and preference is given to individually wrapped products. In addition, the air in the cabin is renewed every 3 minutes. Air France aircraft is equipped with "High Efficiency Particulate Air" or HEPA filters, that extract more than 99.99% of the smallest viruses, including those no larger than 0.01 micrometres, and Coronavirus type viruses, ranging in size from 0.08 to 0.16 micrometres, are filtered through the HEPA filters.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will gradually begin restoring its European network. The airline will resume daily service to eight extra destinations, which were suspended in compliance with Covid-19-related travel restrictions. The wearing of face masks will be compulsory on all flights across the whole KLM network from 11 May. KLM's target for May is the resumption of 15% of its flights, compared to the period before the Covid-19 outbreak. A considerable number of the intercontinental flights are currently being operated on a cargo-only basis Effective 4 May 2020, KLM will resume service – one daily flight, seven days a week – to the following destinations: Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Milan, Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Helsinki. Compulsory face masks on board - Screening and hygiene to protect customers and KLM staff, on board and at airports. Starting 11 May, masks will be compulsory on board and during boarding. In view of the changing nature of regulations and legislation, until further notice, face masks will remain compulsory until 31 August 2020. Further details will be published in the course of this week on KLM.com and in passengers' pre-travel and check-in information.

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Mystifying !ndia India is unique geographically, socially, culturally, scientifically. Home of the Himalayas, the tallest mountains, India is our world's largest and oldest democracy, and contains an amazing wealth of wisdom, culture and spirituality. And within this earliest civilization known to mankind, lie hidden mystical secrets. It lies hidden in India's silent spirituality, making her a mystic land of meditation, contemplation and enlightenment.

The panorama of Pangong Lake

Living Root Bridges Have you ever wanted to go to forest of some kind of magical presence? In the depths of northeastern India, in one of the wettest places on earth, bridges aren't built - they're grown. The living bridges of Cherrapunji, India are made from the roots of the Indian Rubber Tree - 'Ficus elastica' tree. It may sound magical or even exaggeration; the root bridges of Cherrapunji are really alive. The root bridges, some of which are over a hundred feet long, take ten to fifteen years to become fully functional, but they're extraordinarily strong - strong enough that some of them can support the weight of fifty or more people at a time. One special root bridge, believed to be the only one of its kind in the world, is actually two bridges stacked one over the other and has come to be known as the "Umshiang Double-Decker Root Bridge."

The Pangong Tso lake of Ladakh, situated at an altitude of 4350 meters on the Indian/Chinese border, is in a high mountain valley in the upper drainage basin of the Indus river and at the east end of the Karakoram Range. Pangong Lake is long, narrow and the water is brackish making it the highest situated lake with salt water. Five fresh water rivers fed by the perennial springs and snow-melt mountains, flow into the Indian portion of the lake, still keeping its salt level high. Pangong means extensive concavity and is 134 kilometer long, but it is only 5 kilometers wide at the widest points. The topography is not just a tourist's paradise but a geologist's sphere of influence too but surely no fun for the army in the frozen temperature to take care of the tactical landscape.

Levitating Stone

Roopkund Skeleton Lake

Roopkund, better known as “Skeleton Lake,” is one of the most mysterious places in India. It is a glacial lake in Uttarakhand state of India, at an altitude of about 5,029 meters (16,499 feet). An enormous grave of between 500-600 skeletons is what this place is most famous for. The carbon dating from samples indicated that the people were from the 12th century to the 15th century. The site is so isolated that it requires about four days travel from the nearest human settlement. Generally, trekkers and adventurers travel to Lohajung or Wan by road. Following this awesome discovery of 1942, the skeleton abode of Roopkund has generated a phenomenal sensation. More recently in 2004, a team of European and Indian scientists visited Roopkund to carry on with the probe and part of their findings included anthropological treasures like well-preserved corpses, jewelry, bones and skulls belonging to the dead.

Shivapur, a small village near Pune, Maharashtra is famous for its Levitating stone. The story behind is that Qamar Ali, who lived in this village (6 centuries ago), was born in middle-class Muslim family whose men prided themselves on their muscular prowess. Unlike his aggressive older brothers, he was introspective and gentle. When he was scarcely six, he became a disciple of a Sufi Pir and started meditation and fasting. Before long, throngs of devotees began to flock at his doorsteps, drawn by his mystic's compassion and miraculous powers of healing. Renowned for his extraordinary power, on his death bed he requested to keep a circular stone near his tomb. If 11 people touch their finger to the stone and shout the name “Qamar Ali Darvesh”, the stone flies up in the air. It is a huge stone weighting around 200kg. While some call it illusion and some impossible , the fact is that it is an inexplicable event.

Magnetic Hills of Ladakh

Bhangarh ruins of Rajasthan

Can you ever imagine a vehicle moving up a steep hill with the ignition off? Sounds unbelievable right? The Magnetic Hill is located on the Leh-Kargil-Baltik national highway at a distance of 30 km from the capital city Leh in Ladakh. It is at a height of 14,000 feet above sea level and is known to possess strong magnetic properties. The uncommon phenomenon here is that the car moves by itself when put in neutral gear at a steady speed of 10km/hr or above depending on the type of vehicle. Today the place has become a popular sightseeing place where tourists are amazed to see their car moving on its own.

Noted to be the scariest place in India, Bhangarh is attracting scores of tourists these days, lies beneath the Sariska forest in the Alwar district in the state of Rajasthan. Hundreds of years ago, its occupants fled, or died. Nobody's sure. Not a single human soul lives in the 158 hectares of land. The city, according to legend, was cursed by a tantric (a performer of Black magic) in the sixteenth century. The tantric, was attracted to the beautiful queen of Bhangarh, Ratnavati. One day, he saw her maid buying some hair oil for the queen and put a love spell on it. The queen was a tantric herself and as she looked at the swirling oil, she threw the flagon away. As soon as it touched the ground, a stone magnified into a boulder and moved towards the tantric. Before the boulder crushed him, he put a curse on the land and the whole town was vacated over night never to be returned to again.

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Vol: 21 Issue: 5

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