The deal for the twin-engine carrier-based fighters, built for sustained combat operations at sea, is estimated to be worth around ₹50,000 crore. India will begin trade talks with France this week to buy 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, officials with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday. … Read more
International tourism increased significantly in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 97% of pre-pandemic levels, with more than 285 million travelers making international trips between January and March 2024. This marked a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2023, indicating an almost complete recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. UN tourism … Read more
India has been ranked 36th out of 119 countries in the recently released World Economic Forum (WEF) Tourism Development Index 2024. The United States of America was ranked 1st while India was ranked highest in South Asia. Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 The Travel and Tourism Development Index is a biennial report published … Read more
Russia and India are set to boost their tourism ties as they prepare to launch visa-free group tourism exchanges. The first round of consultations between the two nations is scheduled for June with the goal of finalizing a bilateral agreement by the end of the year. Nikita Kondratyev, Director of the Multilateral Economic Cooperation and … Read more
Amid the ongoing Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, the government has imposed a ban on the use of mobile phones within 50 meters of the Kedarnath temple. The decision aims to ensure a hassle-free darshan experience for devotees. Strict enforcement and penalties Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi announced that strict action would be taken against … Read more
The Thai cabinet has approved a plan to extend the visa-free program for tourists from India and Taiwan for another six months. The Southeast Asian country aims to increase foreign inflows to boost its stagnant economy. Tourists from India and Taiwan will be able to enter Thailand visa-free until November 11 after the existing exemption … Read more
The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has partnered with Starscapes, a leading astrotourism company, to introduce Nakshatra Sabha, a new initiative to provide people with a comprehensive astrotourism experience. The campaign will feature a variety of activities, including stargazing, special solar viewing, astrophotography contests, camping under the stars and more. The initiative aims to bring together … Read more
The European Union (EU) has adopted a new visa system called the “Cascade” regime specifically for Indian nationals. Long-term multiple-entry Schengen visas valid for two years can now be issued to Indian citizens. This is a significant improvement over the potentially shorter visas previously offered. To be eligible for a two-year visa, applicants must have … Read more
In a recent discovery, scientists have discovered that Antarctica’s tallest active volcano emits gold particles along with volcanic gases. Mount Erebus, which is still volcanically active, was found to be spewing gold with emissions. In fact, in 1991, American geologists were the first to make this discovery. The new finding remains consistent with observations of … Read more
The Maldives is feeling the pinch as the number of Indian tourists visiting the island nation has dropped significantly in the past few months. Indian tourists who used to flock to the Maldives are now avoiding the island nation. India dropped to sixth position in 2024 compared to being the top visitor in 2023. According … Read more