Travel News & Updates
Anything to Everything

The Indian Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Hardeep Singh Puri while addressing the Indian School of Business’s Deccan Dialogue event on Monday stated that India’s air travel scene will reach the pre-covid levels by the end of the current year or from early next year. 

He also said that as of now, civil aviation is currently running at a 70% capacity in a very meticulous manner. "I have already told my colleagues to look at 80 per cent. I am confident that by December 31, or soon thereafter (week or two into January) we will return to pre-COVID levels," the minister said. 

While the overall contribution of the aviation sector is on the rise, the Union Minister also stressed that the present aviation model is distorted. This is what he had to say, "The value of air traffic between USA and India is roughly $7 bn annually. How much do Indian carriers get of the traffic? They get mere 17 per cent. It is not that the USA carriers get the remaining 83 per cent -- not going to say who gets it. I see no reason why Indian flagship or private carriers can't earn more money flying passengers. These are distorted business models.”

With the whole COVID scenario in place, the rise in India’s aviation sector seems to be a good sign of things getting better. However, for now, all we can do is hope for the best. Until then, stay tuned with Adotrip and if soon planning a trip somewhere special, then, do plan out your itinerary with Adotrip’s smart circuit planner tool. 

On the occasion of Ganga River Dolphin Day last month, India launched the campaign, My Ganga My Dolphin with an objective of cleaning the holy river and also promoting eco-tourism, simultaneously. 

Source: Times of India

Reportedly, Singapore has decided to allow two cruise lines to offer the local residents ‘cruises to nowhere’ from the month of November. This step has been taken by the government to give people a safer travel experience. 

Source: IndiaTV News

According to latest news reports, Hyderabad Airport has become India’s first airport to start e-boarding services for international travellers. This will greatly help in reducing the waiting time for flyers at the airport.

Source: Financial Express

As India is steering towards relaxations amid the new normal, the hoteliers in Goa have decided to offer 20-50% discounts to the tourists. This strategy has come in place to increase the overall hotel occupancy for reviving tourism activities.

Source: Times of India

It’s good news for Delhiites as Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has bagged the second rank in terms of being the world’s safest airport for following protocols amid global pandemic. Singapore’s Changi Airport scores the first position.

Source: Times of India

That’s all for the week! To know more about travelling, stay tuned to Adotrip - the leading online travel platform that caters to all your travel needs!

A wonderful desi glass skywalk has been made in Pelling. This Skywalk in Sikkim, which is the first glass skywalk in India has been built so as to give a wonderful view of the Chenrezig statue.

Source: Times of India 

Kerala’s popular elephant rehabilitation centre at Kottoor is all set to become the world’s largest care-and-cure centre for pachyderms, enhanced with upgraded facilities and features.

Source: Times of India 

According to the reports,  this Diwali, the Kamakhya Temple in Assam will have a dome made of gold that has been donated to the shrine by a leading businessman in India. The revered temple will soon join the league of Sai Baba Temple and Golden Temple that are already adorned with the dome made of gold.

Source: Times of India 

As per the reports, the Dhauladhar range in Himachal Pradesh saw the first snow of the season. The locals of both Dharamshala and McLeodganj, as well as the surrounding regions, rejoiced over the sight.

Source: Times of India 

The famous Ziro Festival of Music to go virtual this year. As declared by the organizers, the famous event of Arunachal Pradesh will be hosted virtually on November 21 and 22, thereby slashing the duration time of the festival by half.

Source: Times of India 

That’s all for the week. Stay tuned to Adotrip for more travel related information, weekly highlights, exclusive holiday packages and much more. With us, nothing is far!

During a recent briefing, the Yatra.com CEO, Mr Dhruv Shringi expressed his opinion, that with the whole COVID scenario in place, the corporate travel is expected to witness a permanent slump of about 10-15%.

He also added that all the travel activities happening right now amid the ‘New Normal’ is essential in nature and even after the relaxations and several updates rolled out during the series of unlocks, leisure travel hasn’t seen a significant boost yet.  

"The recovery in travel is gradual. It may not be a V or W-shaped recovery," said Mr Shringi. Talking about the daily travel data, he further explained "If one goes by the daily update provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, about 60,000 to 70,000 people are travelling a day. This is in comparison to about 4.5 lakh tickets that were sold on an average daily, before COVID-19,".

Although overall profits are down and the ticket prices are also low significantly as compared to last year, all we can do is hope to see the travel bounce back and returning to its normal pace. 

For more such travel updates, stay tuned with Adotrip - your favourite travel website that is changing the contours of India’s travel landscape. And for planning any of your future trips, whether casual or business, you can always count on Adotrip’s circuit planner.

Vacationing in Maldives and UAE gets cheaper this winter as travel agents are selling the holiday packages at nominal rates to keep the business rolling in the recent time of crisis. 

Source: Times of India

Travellers are now allowed to explore all the ASI monuments, religious places as the government of Madhya Pradesh has lifted all restrictions. The travellers can download the Sarthak Lite App to avail COVID-19 related medical assistance if they feel any discomfort in terms of health.

Source: India.com

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has issued tenders for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mumbai-Hyderabad bullet train project. This is incredible news for regular travellers between Mumbai and Hyderabad as the travellers would be able to commute the cities in less than 3.5 hours.

Source: Times of India

The casinos in Goa are reopened with the permission of 50% capacity and the SOP’s are issued by the Home Department. In lieu of promoting tourism activity, the chief minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant has granted permission to reopen the 19-year-old industry of the state after the spell of 7 months. 

Source: Hindustan Times

The Tent City in the Rann of Kutch is reopening just in time for the festivities on 12 November and will stay open till 28 February. More than 350 tents have been set up at Dhordo village for guests visiting the Rann Utsav.

Source: CN Traveller

That’s all for now. For the latest travel updates, stay tuned to Adotrip - the online travel platform that caters to all your travel needs!

According to a report by Noesis Capital Advisors and Ngage Hospitality, India’s hospitality industry witnessed one of the lowest-performing years due to the whole COVID situation in 2020, in fact, it has been the lowest in the entire decade. 

According to the said report, the room rates for hotels will only be able to reach the levels as that of 2019 by the last quarter of the fiscal year 2021. And keeping in mind that the people are ready to pay even an additional sum of about 15-20% for a safe vacation, the hoteliers have been tying up with branded chains to capture the market demand. 

The report also suggests that the overall demand for the staycations and weekend getaways is expected to pick up pace over the next two quarters due to several factors in place, one of them being the ‘work from home’ approach of the people in the entire corporate sector. 

For more such interesting travel content and news, stay tuned with Adotrip. For planning your travel itinerary, you can always choose and rely on Adotrip’s online circuit planner. 

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has made ‘air bubble arrangements’ with 18 countries until now. And this week, it has added Ukraine and Bangladesh under its list of Vande Bharat Mission. The major objective of taking this decision is to ensure the complete safety of Indians travelling to and fro. 

Source: The Indian Express

Reportedly, IATA is working in association with the International Civil Aviation Organization and WHO to establish a proper system for replacing compulsory quarantine. This decision has been taken unilaterally to revive the airline industry globally. 

Source: The Straits Times

With the onset of Unlock 5.0, the Mumbai government has implemented many relaxations like re-opening of libraries, weekly markets and much more. The resumption of metro services from October 19 has come as a news of great relief for the Mumbaikars.  

Source: Times Now

With unlock 5.0 guidelines in place, the Rajasthan state government has implemented strict social distancing parameters. No additional relaxations in the containment zones. 

Source: Raj Ras

Uttar Pradesh government has also decided to reopen several stagnant verticals of the local economy. This includes the reopening cinema halls, multiplexes outside the containment zones. Keeping this in mind, the State Chief Secretary, RK Tiwari has also ordered arrangements for thermal screenings and contactless sanitisers. 

Source: Times Now

For the latest travel updates, stay tuned with Adotrip - the travel website that is changing contours of Travel & Hospitality!

Reportedly,  Murari Lal Jalan (an eminent UAE based business personality) along with Florian Fritsch, a business magnate, serial entrepreneur and founder of Kalrock Capital (London based financial advisory) have come out as winning bidders for the imploding airline - Jet Airways. 

Both their bids successfully secured more than 99 percent votes from the creditor’s committee of the aforementioned airline which now will be submitted to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) furthering the whole process. 

If given approval, both of them will be the brand new owners of the airline. However, what’s interesting is that both the imminent figures don’t have any prior experience in the aviation industry, thus it would be interesting to see how everything unfolds henceforth.

For more such latest news, stay tuned to Adotrip and remain updated with everything happening related to travel. 

No fairs, food stalls, exhibitions, rallies, processions till October 31st in the national capital. However, The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Sunday has eased Navratri and Durga Puja celebrations by granting permission to organize functions with limited attendees.

Source: Hindustan Times

The most awaited Mysuru Dussehra festival, which is otherwise a grand affair is going to be low-key this year. Every year thousands of revelers from across the world gather to witness the most awaited Dasara festival in Mysuru. However, due to Covid-19, the famous state festival will be confined to the Mysuru Palace and the Chamundi Hills in a bid to contain the pandemic.

Source: NDTV 

In the vested interest of public health, the Nagaland govt has issued the guidelines for the celebration of the Durga Puja festival in the state. 

Source: Eastmojo

No Garba in Gujarat. The state government has imposed that only photographs or statues of the deities can be placed and the time frame of one hour is granted for worship.

Source: The Week

Please note: The events this year are permitted only outside containment zones. For more details, visit Adotrip - the most promising travel website in India. 

Reportedly, the beautiful and lush hill station of Mussoorie will be connected with Dehradun by a ropeway. With this whole project in place, the overall travelling time between the two regions will be shortened by 10-15 minutes. 

This 5.5 km long ropeway will connect Purkal Village in Dehradun to Library Chowk in Mussoorie and is being constructed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) along with a French company that will offer technical assistance on the project. 

This ropeway, which is also being considered as one of the five largest ropeways in the world is expected to improve the tourism activities by considerable notches in the region. It is being estimated to be completed within the next three years. 

For making the whole connectivity quite smooth, the starting point of this ropeway will also be connected to ISBT, airport and also the railway station. Apart from this, it will also be helping the locals and tourists in getting rid of their parking problems which they used to face mainly during the peak season. 

With the ongoing pandemic, governments and leaders of all the countries are trying to come out with newer ways to align themselves with the ‘new normal’ of travelling. 

Lately, a new type of passport namely ‘coronavirus passport’ has been proposed in the UK, and if approved can put an end to the travel woes of Britons helping them avoid the stringent rules and measures of quarantine. In fact, there was a trial run scheduled for it this Wednesday. 

This new ‘COVID Passport’ will allow the travellers to document and upload their COVID-19 status on a website 72 hours prior to their departure making the whole travel experience hassle-free. The news has even left countries like the USA impressed and intrigued at the same time. 

For now, the whole operation will be tested on a flight scheduled between London and New York (Newark) and the passengers of United Airlines and Cathay Pacific flights will be able to benefit from it. 

The Commons Project which is behind this whole concept stated, ‘‘coronavirus passport will allow safer airline and cross border travel by giving both travellers and governments confidence in each traveller's verified COVID-19 status.’’ To further expand this vision, the Commons Project is also planning to involve several other countries into this in the coming three months.

Due to the recent surge in COVID cases, the Kerala government has banned the gathering of more than five people at any place with immediate effect. This ban will continue to remain active until the end of this month.  

The chief secretary of Kerala, Vishwas Mehta issued the order and stated, "in the light of the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state public congregations’ gatherings pose an impending danger of a super spread of the infection.''

For implementing social distancing strictly within the state, section 144 of the criminal procedure code has been implemented with immediate effect. As of now, the district magistrates will be doing a proper assessment of their respective regions at the ground level, following which, relevant orders will be issued for the containment of the virus. 

Although with October, when several states are in the preparations of Unlock 5.0, Kerala will once again witness a complete standstill of activity. Because of this decision of the Kerala government, many economic and travel activities will have to be shut again. 

Missing the beautiful pink lilies of Kottayam, Kerala? Well, feel miserable no more because you can now get a sight of them virtually. The lilies in question can be found over the backwater villages of Kerala every monsoon. And, now, the authorities of Kerala Tourism are all set to promote them via online tours. The prime idea behind this is to keep the Kerala lovers posted over the state’s latest updates and give them a glimpse of the gorgeous lilies, as amid the pandemic not many people are travelling.

As per the recent reports, Malarikkal Tourism Society, India Tourism, and Kerala Tourism have filmed guided tours of the locations where these lilies are grown. In addition to that, the other developments in Kerala have also been filmed. These videos will soon go live on the official websites of different government agencies.

The Pink Water Lilies e-Festival is filmed on the similar lines of how Onam 2020 celebrations were covered in the month of August of 2020.

For the unversed, the lily fields of Malarikkal and Kottayam are super popular, courtesy of them being the most-photographed tourist attractions of Kerala, back in 2019.

Now, very soon the paddy saplings would be replacing the pink lilies, hence the authorities are waiting for the government to lift some travel restrictions so that a limited number of tourists can be invited via the water route of Pazhukkanila.

After the tourism industry being completely shut for almost 6 months, courtesy COVID-19 and the national lockdown, things have started looking up gradually. While different states are taking different measures and steps to ensure tourism footfall again, Kullu District’s Parvati Valley has some lucrative offers for you.

The hoteliers of Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh, have planned on reopening their hotels for the tourists. While some are still pondering as to what offers to give, most of them are planning to give a flat 50% discount on hotel bookings.

Speaking about the same with Times Travel, Kullu Hotel Association’s official stated that close to 300 hotels and homestays of the valley are all set to welcome the guests again. The preparations are already in full swing and the accommodations are following the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) issued by the govt. While this is what the hoteliers are doing, all that the travellers would need to do mandatorily is show their COVID-19 Negative reports in order to get an entry in the valley.

In addition to this, the hoteliers have also requested the government to allow travellers without a pass. They also sought deluxe buses to and from Kullu-Manali and other Indian cities to be operational.

You read that just right! Well, seems like our quarantine days are passé now as we have stepped into the new normal. Every industry is reopening gradually and so is the travel one.

Taking the initial steps to boost tourism, Uttarakhand has taken a major step. To attract tourists, the UK Government has started an initiative, i.e., Tourist Incentive Coupon. According to Satpal Maharaj, the Uttarakhand Tourism Minister, under this project, no matter which destination you visit in UK, you will get an INR 1000 coupon for accommodation.

This offer will be live in a few days’ time and would be applicable in only those cases wherein travellers are making a booking in homestays or hotels for a minimum of 3 days. This plan is being executed considering the current COVID-19 scenario and what it has done to the tourism industry. This move by the government will ensure improved tourism health in the state.

Speaking about the same, the UK Tourism Minister, Satpal Maharaj said, “The tourists will be given the discount coupon while registering themselves on the government portal under tourist category. They will then be able to use the coupon during their stay in a hotel or homestay in the tourist spots of the state.”

This decision was taken in a recent cabinet meeting. In the same meeting, the refund process of Jim Corbett National Park was also discussed and how the refund against the advance bookings would be made. Apparently, Jim Corbett would continue to stay shut in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In keeping with ITC Hotels' commitment towards enhancing gourmet experiences, the chain recently announced its partnership with Zomato, India’s leading food delivery platform, to offer customers responsible dining experiences in the comfort of their home. Zomato, as an online aggregator, will not only enable ‘contactless’ deliveries on all pre-paid orders but will also provide patrons of ITC Hotels the option of Takeaway menus via this platform. The association with Zomato further strengthens ITC Hotels’ Pan-India distribution footprint for home delivery and takeaway. This will widen the outreach of the chain’s signature culinary offerings to thousands of customers.

ITC Hotels’ ten-year strong ethos of ‘Responsible Luxury’ underscores the chain’s culinary brands and initiatives to present innovative cuisine experiences while adhering to superior standards of food safety and hygiene. In keeping with the same, ITC Hotels has introduced 2 unique gourmet experiences, viz. ‘Gourmet Couch’ and ‘Flavours’. These initiatives have received overwhelming feedback from diners across India and are now available on Zomato as well.

‘Gourmet Couch by ITC Hotels’ is the chain’s most recent and unique culinary offering that encompasses a luxury dining experience with exclusively curated menus from ITC Hotels’ signature brands, delivered at the guest’s residence under stringent ‘WeAssure’ hygiene and safety protocol. Additionally, the specially curated menu under the brand ‘Flavours by ITC Hotels’ showcase an array of authentic global culinary delights and also celebrates indigenous flavours of the region with the chain’s culinary initiative - ‘Local Love’. Thus, diners can enjoy the subtle flavours of different cuisines, authentic to a region and culinary style.

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Chadha, COO, ITC Hotels said, “ITC Hotels has always showcased the finest culinary traditions through its globally acclaimed signature brands. However, in a world where change is the order of the day, it has been our endeavour to ensure our patrons continue to enjoy their favourite cuisine through an outreach dining experience in the comfort and safety of their home. As part of ITC Hotels, Responsible Luxury initiative, the ‘WeAssure’ programme follows a stringent hygiene and safety protocol for pan-India home delivery of food to their valued guests.  The collaboration with Zomato will further assist us in responsibly delivering our unique culinary experiences using their advanced distribution network across the country.”

“ITC Hotels are known not just for their luxurious hospitality but also for their culinary delights and we are glad to partner with them. With the growing trend of celebrations at home, we believe that ITC’s exclusive gourmet and indigenous food offerings powered by our wide on-ground delivery network will offer great food delivery options for consumers celebrating small and large occasions. Zomato will ensure that its 8 Max Safety measures are well implemented in every delivery to provide an experience as close and unique as ITC Hotels,” added Mohit Sardana, COO-Food Delivery, Zomato.

Zomato has implemented 8 Max Safety measures to ensure the utmost safety of food. These measures include – restaurants follow WHO practices; contactless delivery; both restaurant staff and delivery partners wear masks; temperature checks and sanitization stations for both kitchen staff and delivery partners; and mandated use of Aarogya Setu app.

Crafted with care at ITC Hotels and handled with utmost hygiene to ensure wellbeing, the mindfully curated menus will bring unique culinary experiences for gourmet aficionados across all major cities in India. ITC Hotels has also implemented stringent measures and protocols, including mandatory temperature checks for all Chefs and Food & Beverage associates. Moreover, the special take-out counter at each ITC Hotel has been enhanced with hand sanitizers and thermometers to corroborate the health parameters of local food delivery partners.

ITC Hotels would commence the home delivery and takeaway venture with Zomato with several properties across India. These would include ITC Maurya (New Delhi), ITC Maratha (Mumbai), ITC Grand Central (Mumbai), ITC Royal Bengal (Kolkata), ITC Grand Chola (Chennai), ITC Gardenia (Bangaluru), ITC Windsor (Bengaluru), ITC Kohenur (Hyderabad), ITC Kakatiya (Hyderabad), ITC Rajputana (Jaipur), ITC Mughal (Agra), ITC Grand Goa (Goa), Welcomhotel Chennai, Welcomhotel Bengaluru, Welcomhotel Vadodara and Welcomhotel Coimbatore.

Looks like unlock 2.0 has come with a lot of relaxations and is showering good news for the travel enthusiasts. Wonder why? Well, soon after Goa and Uttarakhand opened borders for tourists, Himachal Pradesh has also relaxed its tourism ban.

But if you want to forget all about this quarantined life and enjoy in the lap of nature in Himachal Pradesh, you need to follow five major rules.

1. Labourers or workers coming to projects, orchards and farms would need to directly head to the worksites.

2. Employers would require to register for the same

3. The interstate movement must be registered via the COVID e-Pass Software (LINK HERE)

4. Tourists would have to stay in the state for a minimum for 5 days and prior bookings need to be made for the same in the hotels

5. 72 hours after a tourist’s entry in the state, they all would be tested for COVID-19 by ICMR accredited labs. Those who test negative would not require to quarantine themselves.

Himachal Pradesh aka HP is one of the most popular tourist states of India and hence this relaxation is nothing less than relief for all the travel buffs, especially for the North Indians, who never miss a chance to visit the various spellbinding hill stations of this state.

While the announcement has been made, there is still no clarity as to from when the tourists would be allowed to visit this land of hill stations.

For the unversed, while trains and flights are functional, bus services are still suspended till further notice.

There is no denying that the uncalled-for situations like the pandemic, COVID-19, require unprecedented moves by both – the public and the government. This is the reason why we are living a caged life we never wished for, for over 3 months now, and the Government, on the other hand, is trying hard and efficiently to fight the pandemic, so much so that everything was halted for a couple of months so that we adhere to the strict guidelines and stay safe, indoors.

While we are getting used to the “New Normal”, gradually different modes of travel are also being functional again. One of them is the airways which is currently considered to be the safest way to travel, if you must. Resuming services on May 25, today, that is June 25, marks the 1 month of the flight services recommencing. And, to know in detail about what all has changed and what the travel sector has to offer to us, we touched base with, Jitender Bhargava, the former ED of AirIndia and author of the popular book – The Descent of Air India.

In an exclusive conversation with him, we asked how safe he finds the flight to be in the current situation, considering social distancing might not be possible on it. On this, here’s what the former ED had to say, “There was a fair amount of apprehension amongst travelling public initially but the fear will gradually wane. In the first 20 days of flights resumption, only 0.03% of the passengers tested positive on arrival. The standing operating procedures introduced by the ministry of civil aviation for airlines and airports have taken care of the social distancing norms. Interaction between staff and passengers on the ground and in the air has been minimized. There is a huge difference between the way passengers are travelling now and how they travelled in Pre-COVID-19 times.”

He further added, “The dynamics of air travel has seen a paradigm shift since domestic flights were allowed to be resumed. All three stakeholders viz airports, airlines, and the passengers have been mandated to take precautions to ensure that air travellers neither get infected nor infect others. Additionally, state govts. are subjecting arriving passengers to quarantine to prevent air travellers infecting other citizens. This, by itself, is a huge deterrent for a person to think of travelling.”

Mr. Bhargava also stated that while the govt has restricted the number of flights, the loads have still not been very impressive. “Flights are averaging no more than 50-55% loads which means that more than a third of the seats on a flight are going unoccupied. This is primarily because a lot of people are afraid of getting infected during travel and do not want to be subjected to quarantine on arrival”, he added.

Speaking about the full-revival of the travel sector, he is of the opinion that things getting back to normal as they were before the pandemic might take up to 2 years. “There has been huge demand destruction with almost all industrial sectors having been adversely impacted, seeing layoffs, salary cuts, etc. Additionally, social engagements like weddings, business functions like conferences and seminars, and tourism which were the reason for travel have come to a virtual halt. It will begin reviving only after the threat of Coronavirus has been contained and the fear amongst the people has abated. All stakeholders will have to find innovative means like laying greater emphasis on domestic tourism”, said the author.  

When asked what according to him the Government could have done earlier to avert the current situation for the aviation sector, that directly hit the travel business, this was his answer, “Suspension of air services was a natural corollary to the lockdown imposed by the govt to contain the spread of Coronavirus. If the flights had not been suspended infected passengers ran the risk of infecting very many others and carrying the infection to a larger geographical spread. All segments of the travel business have been affected - be they the airlines, the hotels, the travel portals or the agents - including staff associated with these establishments. This has been a global phenomenon and is not restricted to India alone.

While some countries have extended financial bailouts, the Indian govt hasn’t extended any benefit thus far. It is desirable for the govt to provide relief but the fact that the govt has severe limitations on finances can’t be overlooked. This has been an unprecedented pandemic and its consequences have also therefore been equally horrendous.”

While according to Mr. Bhargava, it might take up to 2 years for the travel sector to revive, we at Adotrip, are ensuring that you keep your spirits high and keep reading about the culture and heritage of India so that your travel list is already made before we are done with the coronavirus, courtesy a website that is always vocal for the local. Stay tuned!

The San Francisco based online marketplace company, Airbnb has launched Go Near, a new initiative to support economic growth through domestic travel. This announcement came as soon as the local travel industry began to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the world began to travel again. 

As per the brand’s booking data, global travelling is beginning to bounce back and new research has identified a series of trends that will shape travel in the weeks and months to come. In addition to that, the steps that Airbnb is taking to work with local communities and their efforts to best serve hosts and guests around the world basis the ongoing trend is simply laudable. 

1. Partnering with local communities to promote travel and economic growth 

Airbnb is working with governments and tourist agencies to help restore travel in a responsible way that benefits local citizens and small businesses economically. In India, they have signed partnerships with SEWA, Princess Diya Kumari Foundation and Nagaland Tourism to promote community-based tourism. What we have found is that as people travel again, conscious choices and preference for sustainable travel will lead to recovery, benefiting communities and encouraging safe travel. 

The in-person experiences the stay-booking platform offer in partnership with the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation in Jaipur also give visitors the opportunity to learn local crafts from rural women in Rajasthan, which in turn helps them market their products better and aids them in taking the next step towards financial self-sufficiency. 

2. Go Near 

In India, 51% of the brand’s business comprises domestic bookings. In addition, search trends and Wish Lists by Airbnb users in India indicate that long lockdowns have only piqued interest in and aspirations to travel, once the lockdown is eased. Key domestic markets for Airbnb are Goa, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai & Bangalore, but a surge in searches for stay options in nearby cities, especially Alibag, Lonavala, and Panchgani near Mumbai, is also seen. 

3. Social Connection 

The power of connections is strong even when people can’t travel. We have seen close to 50,000 bookings of more than 400 Online Experiences since the offering was launched less than two months ago, making Online Experiences the fastest-growing product Airbnb has launched. 

4. Affordable Travel 

With the prospect of an economic downturn, people are looking for more affordable ways to travel as well as make money, while businesses and communities are looking forward to the economic benefits that travel brings. 

Addressing the new campaign, Amanpreet Bajaj, Country Manager - Airbnb India, said,

“We believe that the pursuit of human connection and experiences is perennial. For India, the launch of ‘Go Near’ is a reflection on people’s desire to travel closer home to some really amazing domestic destinations that India has to offer - the trends show us that people are eager to travel once again with new considerations of safety. Airbnb will continue to follow guidance from local officials and encourage safe, responsible travel and work to ensure guests have great experiences. At Airbnb we are also going back to our roots, ensuring our hosts are heard, and making sure that we are doing everything we can in partnership with authorities to help them in their economic recovery”. 

About Airbnb

Airbnb is one of the world’s largest marketplaces for unique, authentic places to stay and things to do, offering over 7 million accommodations and 40,000 handcrafted activities, all powered by local hosts. An economic empowerment engine, Airbnb has helped millions of hospitality entrepreneurs monetize their spaces and their passions while keeping the financial benefits of tourism in their own communities.

With more than half a billion guest arrivals to date, and accessible in 62 languages across 220+ countries and regions, Airbnb promotes people-to-people connection, community and trust around the world.

Located in Lutyens’ Delhi, Taj Mansingh was turned into a COVID-19 facility Tuesday, June 16, 2020. According to a recent report, 5 more hotels too would become treatment centres in the near future. Taj Mansingh has collaborated with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital at the behest of Delhi Government.

The state government, which says that the step has been taken “in the overall imminent public interest”, has directed Taj Mansingh to keep all the rooms empty for the hospital.

Today, June 17, 2020, the officials from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital would be inspecting the hotel, after which the facility would be set up and the staff would be trained. Currently, the hotel is undergoing renovation.

On the other hand, Sandeep Mishra, North-West District Magistrate, has ordered to attach the following hotels with the following hospitals.

• Rohini’s Hotel Crowne Plaza to Shalimar Bagh’s Fortis Hospital
• Pitampura’s City Park Hotel to Prashant Vihar’s Santom Hospital
• Pitampura’s Hotel Ramada and Shalimar Bagh’s Khosla Hospital to Shalimar Bagh’s Max Hospital
• Rohini’s Seven Seas Hotel to Rohini’s Saroj Super Speciality Hospital
• Pitampura’s Hotel LA to Rohini’s Jaipur Golden Hospital

Also, while patients with moderate coronavirus symptoms would be provided treatment at these hotel-turned-hospitals, those who are in a more serious condition and would require ICU and ventilators would be kept in the hospital.

TOI quoted a Government official as saying that although the patients would be charged as per the hospital’s tariff, the hospitals would pay

• 5-star hotels – Rs. 5,000
• 4-star and 3-star hotels – Rs. 4,000
• Budget hotels – Rs. 2,000

In Taj Mansingh’s case, the biomedical waste would be disposed of by the hospital staff. The hotel staff, on the other hand, would be given the basic training and provided with the full protective gear.

Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha National Park has been reopened for the tourists after over a couple of months. The tourist destination was shut towards the end of March until now, post the pandemic made its way to India.

It was reopened on June 15, that is yesterday, and on the very first day only, the National Park witnessed more than 70 tourists and 19 vehicles.

Known as one of the most popular Tiger Reserves in the country, Kanha National Park has been reopened keeping all the state government and centre’s guidelines in mind.

Quoting one of the National Park officials, Business Insider India reported that the online ticketing facility is also available now, just like it was before the Park was shut.

To religiously follow the social distancing norm, the safari vehicle would have 12 tourists instead of 18 and 1 tour guide instead of 2. Also, those above the age of 65 or less than 10 would not be allowed in the park.

For the uninitiated, MP’s Kanha National Park is situated in Mandala District’s Satpura Mountain Range. To know more about the National Park, Click Here.

It’s never easy to turn a vision into reality, then into a grand success. And, we are one of those lucky few who did it, and did it with much grandeur. Powered by Adomantra, when Adotrip came into existence a year ago, little did we know that you will shower us with so much love that within such a short span we will win a gold, that too when several online travel biggies are surrounding us.

You read that just right, at the recent Digixx Summit | Awards 2020, your very own favourite Desi travel website, Adotrip bagged the best, that is, a Gold Award in the category of Digital Marketing Excellence in Travel and Leisure.

On this grand victory, the elated CEO of the brand, Mr Vikas Katoch shared:

“Although we have won several awards in the past 6 months, courtesy our hard work and the way we work for our clients around the clock, this one is truly special as it is Adotrip’s first award, that too, a gold one. It is a marvellous job done by the team who never lost hope, even when the going was tough. I thank each one of you and all those who have been a part of this journey. We could never have come this far without your constant love and support. We promise that soon, your very own website Adotrip will bring a lot of new, innovative and fun stuff for you. Stay hooked”.

About Us

Adotrip is an online travel company that focuses on promoting India and its values. We have an audience of over a million and we are always focused on being vocal for the local while promoting Indian tourism our way.

The brand’s USP is its circuit planner that helps you plan your trip across India, and make itineraries for free.

After a long wait, there is finally good news for all the travel enthusiasts. What usually takes 8 hours or more of a drive will now be nothing more than 4 hours, courtesy a new highway between Delhi and Amritsar that would be completed by 2023.

Typically, the motorists take NH44 via Delhi-Jammu Road for their Delhi-Amritsar-Delhi excursion, but, in order to lessen the travel time, the centre has zeroed in on a highway that will remarkably take down the travel time.

For this project, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, has sanctioned Rs. 25,000 Cr budget and this decision was taken Tuesday (June 2, 2020).

As per the government approval, the first stretch would be from Delhi to Gurdaspur. In the second stretch, the already built - NH3 (from Kartarpur to Amritsar bypass) would be revamped.