TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS - August 2019
Aug 2019
May 13, 2023
Virtual Kerala Travel Mart (KTM)
The second edition of the four-day virtual Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) concluded on May 12, 2023. Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas highlighted the government's efforts to strengthen investment in infrastructure development, capacity building, and marketing for the growth of the travel and hospitality industry.
The Tourism Department will intensify its marketing activities to further capitalise on the momentum created in the post-pandemic phase so as to enhance the footfall of both domestic and foreign visitors in the upcoming tourism season, said Riyas while inaugurating the four-day event of KTM Society, the State's tourism apex forum.
The four days of deliberations at the event gave equal opportunities to those running homestays as well as star hotels. The virtual KTM saw innovative ideas and commercial pacts. Kerala's clean environment and variety of natural scenery are specialties that woo international tourists.
May 12, 2023
Varanasi's LBSI Airport Gets India's First Reading Lounge
The Lal Bahadur Shastri International (LBSI) Airport, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh became the first in India to have a reading lounge. Apart from books on Kashi, the lounge`s library has a collection of literature and books in many international languages besides books of youth authors published under Prime Minister Yuva Yojana. The lounge has been established with the assistance of National Book Trust (NBT), an Indian publishing house and autonomous body under the ministry of education of the Union Government.
May 10, 2023
MakeMyTrip Collaborates with Microsoft to Introduce Voice Assisted Booking in Indian Languages
MakeMyTrip, leading travel portal collaborated with Microsoft to bring travel planning to a wider audience through the introduction of voice-assisted booking in Indian languages. The new technology stack incorporates Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services to enable personalised travel recommendations for users based on their preferences.
Currently, the beta version of this integration has been introduced in English and Hindi for flights and holidays customers.
May 09, 2023
Delhi Metro Introduces QR Code-based Paper Tickets for Travel on All Corridors
Delhi Metro passengers will now be able to buy QR code-based paper tickets for travel on all its lines, the DMRC said, describing it a move towards a more transparent and human intervention-free mechanism.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will gradually phase out the concept of physical tokens.
At present, in addition to a token, the commuters will be able to buy a QR code-based paper ticket from the station counter. The DMRC has upgraded its AFC (automatic fare collection) gates, and token or customer care counters, to support the new feature.
By the end of May, the transporter is also targeting to introduce mobile-based QR tickets to make travel in Delhi Metro more seamless, easy, and time-saving, eliminating the need for queuing up for tickets at stations' counters.
May 08, 2023
Delhi's 'Haunted Heritage Walk' Kicks off from Malcha Mahal
Delhi's first 'Haunted Heritage Walk', organised by the city government's Tourism department, started with a guided tour of Malcha Mahal.
Located inside the Ridge forest near Chanakyapuri in the heart of the national capital, Malcha Mahal was built by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq and used as a hunting lodge.
Among the other sites that the walk will cover include Bhooli Bhatiyari ka Mahal, Feroze Shah Kotla and the Tughlaqabad Fort.
The Tourism department is identifying "haunted" sites in the national capital to conduct heritage walks.
A detailed plan on the "hidden and unexplored" historical places in the city is being prepared.
Heritage walks create a positive impact on tourism, enhance the brand value of the city and project its culture.