Tourism

06th October 2021:Feature/ Tourism Lesser-Known Hidden Gems Across the Commonwealth Virginia offers a wealth of popular tourism destinations such as Virginia Beach and Shenandoah National Park. While both are incredible places for a holiday, they tend to get booked early during high season. But no worries, Virginia has you covered. All around the state you will find, lesser-known hidden gems perfect for new adventure. Take some advice from the locals and check out these low-key, yet idyllic destinations for your next U.S. holiday. Craving some water-time fun in the sun? The small beach towns of the Chesapeake Bay are calling your name. Check out Colonial Beach, a quaint, riverside resort town complete with sandy beaches and a variety of marinas. It’s known as a boater’s paradise and often called the Playground of the Potomac. If you like to soak up both history and sunshine on your beach excursions, consider Fort Monroe. Situated at the mouth of the James River, Fort Monroe has several secluded beach fronts that line the Chesapeake Bay. Nicknamed Freedom’s Fortress, this bayside community was once a former military base, and during a visit you’ll discover just how integral the fort was to American history. If you’re seeking to really find some peace and quiet, Onancock is right up your alley. Called “the Gem of the Eastern Shore” this small town is chalk full of waterfront excursions, award-winning restaurants, and a diverse arts scene. In and around the famous Chesapeake Bay there’s plenty to keep you busy. Kiptopeke State Park invites guests to learn about Chesapeake Bay ecology and the natural history of the region while enjoying a variety of outdoor activities including kayaking, fishing, hiking and swimming. If you’re interested in learning about the Chesapeake Bay while also getting out on the water, book a kayak tour with SouthEast Expeditions. They provide several interesting tours for every type of traveler, including kayak trips to great Virginia wines at Chatham Vineyards in Machipongo, a guided paddle through the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge, and an aqua-culture tour where you’ll harvest your own clams for dinner. Another must-see stop on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is the Assateague Island National Seashore, a protected barrier island off the eastern side of the peninsula complete with miles of pristine white sand beaches, a historic lighthouse, and of course, the beautiful wild ponies made famous in the classic book “Misty of Chincoteague”. Visitors can also catch a ferry to nearby Tangier Island, a remote island off the coast accessible only by air or sea, which has been called the “Soft-Shell Crab Capital of the World.” With more than 7,000 miles of shoreline, we’ve barely scratched the surface with our few pointers above. Check here for more hidden beaches from locals in the know. Shenandoah National Park has become a legend, with songs, poems, and letters penned by famous authors memorializing the stunning scenery of the landscape. The Park attracts thousands to see the views with their own eyes each year. However, the locals know that the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests also contain impressive scenic beauty that is not to be missed. These national forests combined in 1995 to form a 1,664,110-acre park through the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, running all the way from the Tennessee border in Southwest Virginia to the northwest corner along the West Virginia state line. You can hike or bike the more than 2,200 miles of trails; fish, kayak, or canoe the 2,300 miles of streams; or simply take a drive to admire the wildlife and abundance of native plants untouched by civilization. While in the area, stop by Burke’s Garden in Tazewell, an awe-inspiring mountain-ringed valley known as “God’s Thumbprint’ due to its aerial appearance. South of Shenandoah, on the western edge of the Virginia Mountain region, you’ll find another spot the locals love. The Alleghany Highlands are known for beautiful views, outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking, and delicious maple syrup that is harvested within the Highlands. It is the perfect destination for those looking to get “off the grid” and unwind with a little peace and quiet. With Highland County referred to as Virginia’s “Little Switzerland”, this mountainous region is a must-see vacation spot in the Commonwealth. Iconic spots within the Alleghany Highlands include Humpback Bridge, the only covered humpback bridge still standing in America, Falling Spring, a breathtaking 80-foot waterfall in Covington, and the Historic Masonic Theatre, Clifton Forge’s opera house and masonic lodge that dates back to 1905. Make your way to the Garth Newel Music Center in Hot Springs for live music performances and a taste of the musical heritage of the region. Hike some of the almost 40 miles of trails within Douthat State Park, which are also open to mountain bikers. And before leaving the Alleghany Highlands, stop by Sugar Tree Country Store to pick up a few bottles of premium Highland County Maple Syrup. A vacation to Virginia is all about discovering what you love. Aviation World Online.Contents and Image provided by Virginia Tourism Corporation

New Delhi, 4th September: The Republic of Turkey has declared that fully vaccinated travellers from India will no longer be subjected to mandatory 14-day quarantine rule, with effect from 4th of September 2021.The announcement will ease the travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers of 12 years of age and older travelling from India or stayed in India in last 14 days. The vaccines that have been approved by WHO or Turkish Government are covered under this exemption. In addition to WHO approved vaccines, the vaccines approved by Turkish Government are Pzifer Biontech, Sputnik V and Sinovac. For the same, a traveller must be taken the second dose (if Johnson&Johnson one dose is sufficient) at least 14 days prior to the date of travel. For Indian travellers who are vaccinated with Covishield will also be allowed to travel to Turkey. Once, Covaxin gets a nod from WHO, travellers vaccinated with the same will also be able to visit Turkey. The fully vaccinated travellers are also required to submit their negative PCR test report taken 72 hours before departure in order to exempt the quarantine. Non-vaccinated travelers are required to undergo mandatory quarantine for 10 days in a hotel or a location mentioned in the declaration. The Republic of Turkey usually announces changes to the travel list, after assessing its criteria like corona virus cases, vaccination roll-outs and possible threats from variants to determine restrictions on different countries. By the 4th ofSeptember the Turkish government has successfully vaccinated 79% of its population above 18 of age with first dose and 62 % population above 18 of age with both the doses. Despite the fluctuating global scenario of COVID-19 strain, Turkey has kept a strong grip on the COVID-19 situation with guidelines & protocols in place for tourists and businesses associated with tourism. Due to this, the tourist inflow data in Turkey continues to be impressive. The tourist inflow numbers in Turkey between January-July 2021, despite the pandemic, was recorded at 11.9 million. Just in July 2021 4.3 million international visitors visited Turkey.

“Virginia is for Lovers and it’s become one of the most beloved and iconic slogans in the world…” Recently, Virginia Tourism Corporation(VTC) interacted with Indian media to update on the latest travel guidelines as well as its preparedness to welcome tourist once again. In an exclusive interview with Aviation World Magazine, Heidi Johannesen, Global Marketing Director, VTC, explained the USP of the tourism nation. Virginia is for Lovers. What is the significance of this popular saying? Our brand, Virginia is for Lovers was created more than 50 years ago, and it’s become one of the most beloved and iconic slogans in the world. No one knows exactly why the slogan has been so durable, but part of the mystique is that it’smeant many things to different people. Today, a new generation is discovering love for Virginia’s mountains, beaches, history, theme parks, vibrant cities, and outdoor activities. At its core, the slogan calls to mind the value of spending quality time doing what you love with the ones you love. India seems to be one of the main tourist markets for VTC. What type of travellers generally visit there? Roughly a quarter of our Indian visitors come to Virginia for vacation. We do have a high number of Indian travelers who visit Virginia to spend time with friends and family who live in the area, or whotravel here on business. But no matter what their reason for visiting, while they are here, they also spend time visiting our attractions. The average length of stay is slightly more than 12 nights and shopping, sightseeing, visiting museums, national parks and monuments are the top activitiesfor our Indian visitors during their stay. Key destinations one must visit in Virginia. And how many days is fair enough to explore them? Even narrowing down the key destinations in Virginia is challenging, as we simply have so much to offer. Ideally, visitors wouldspend at least a week to explore and see the highlights. That would allow them to make a big circle through the state, departing from Washington Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia and heading a short hour west through Virginia wine country to Shenandoah National Park; thensouth through the famous Shenandoah Valley; before cutting east towards the ocean and the Chesapeake Bay; and finally, back north towards the airport.Iconic sites along the route includethe scenic Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Parkandthe world-renowned Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as the Appalachian Trail.Our historic triangle comprised of Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown,is a must to learn about the birth of America, thenvisitors can move on to the ocean, to spend some time at Virginia Beach. Finally, a visit to our capital of Richmondis a must before completing the circle. Along the route, visitors will want to stop at several of the U.S. president’s homes – especially George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Seeing a few of the prominent monuments and memorials as they circle the state is also a must, like Manassas National Battlefield Park andArlington National Cemetery. And of course, along the way they’ll have ample opportunity to stop at one of our more than 300 wineries and nearly 300 craft breweries, as well as dine at our multitude of fantastic restaurants. What are convenient flight options for travel to Virginia from India? Air India offers non-stop flights between New Delhi and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) located in northern Virginia, 30 miles outside Washington D.C. Travelers can also hop on a quick direct flight from major US cities such as New York, Newark, or Chicago. The Dulles International Airport or to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, both located in Virginia are very well connected with major cities across the United States. Indian travellers have the option to take connecting flights to Washington Dulles International Airport via the Middle eastern, Atlantic or Pacific carriers. What is the flight time? The flight time between New Delhi and Virginia is roughly 15 ½ hours. At present tourists are a bit reluctant to travel. So, anything innovative or rather attractive tourism strategy VTC has planned for revival of the industry? Through our WanderLOVEcampaign, we are highlighting the opportunity Virginia provides to discover everything America has to offer easily in one state – from history and culture to an expansive outdoors and an amazing culinary scene. Research tells us that travelers are looking for destinations off-the-beaten path, where there are less people and more outdoor attractions. Virginia offers easy, almost door-to-door access for Indian travelers to the very thing they seek. Withnon-stop flights direct to a world-class airport located at their end destination, visiting Virginia doesn’t require multiple U.S. airport stops and travel through major cities. As iconic American destinations go, there are few more accessible for Indian travelers. Any timeline being set back to pre-Covid tourism stats? Given the changing nature of this pandemic, we think it is too early to make that call. Research is saying we should be back to pre-Covid stats in 2023-2024.But we’d love to think that we will begin again to see visitors from India as soon as the borders reopen. What are the new normal rules that travelers need to ensure before they plan to visit Virginia? Effective May 28, 2021, Virginia’s universal indoor mask mandate was lifted to align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those guidelines call for all unvaccinated individuals to wear a mask when indoors with people outside their own family members. Unvaccinated individuals must also wear a mask when in outdoor situations where social distancing is not possible. All our attractions are open now at full capacity, or will be soon, and ready to welcome visitors, asking that they follow these CDC guidelines.For current and complete information prior to visiting we encourage travelers to read the COVID-19 updates found on the home page of our website at Virginia.org and to visit the websites of any attractions they plan to visit. Can non-vaccinated travellers visit Virginia? At this time there

New Delhi,30th June 2021: Turkey is all set to further ease the restrictions imposed on travellers from 1st July onwards. The new unlock rules include the removal of the night curfew restrictions including weekends for locals and tourists. All dining options, restaurants and bars will be functional. Entertainment houses like cinema halls and concert venues can function without any restrictions subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriated guidelines. The 14-day quarantine rule for anyone who has travelled to India within the last 14 days is still in place but travellers will now have the option of staying at the quarantine hotel of their choice and at their own expense. Turkey is also undertaking one of the biggest vaccination drives where 42% of the country’s population has received the first dose as 30th June 2021 and is working dedicatedly to fully vaccinate 70% of the total population by August. The new guidelines have been announced keeping in consideration the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country however hygiene, mask and social distancing rules will be followed throughout.

Delhi,17th June, 2021 This summer, Hong Kong’s great outdoors will be very much within reach to those who reside abroad — thanks to a series of uniquely soothing sensory videos created under the 360 Hong Kong Moments initiative by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), which have managed to capture and bottle the city’s auditory essence into highly immersive and pleasurable viewing experiences. A highlight of the Great Outdoors Hong Kong (GOHK) 2021-2022 summer campaign, four distinctly themed Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos will each feature 30-second snapshots of dreamy environmental acoustics heard in far-flung corners of the city. The videos are designed to stimulate the senses and to heighten one’s sensitivity to the harmonic countryside symphonies just a stone’s throw from the city. ASMR in Peng Chau invokes a ship’s horn, a temple’s chimes and the hypnotic kau cim (shaking of fortune sticks). Swaying leaves, dripping waterfalls, chirping birds and flapping wings angle for attention in ASMR in Shing Mun Reservoir. ASMR in Stanley spans splashing in the ocean and swooshing open a paper fan, to biting into a piece of deliciously warm French toast at a local cha chaan teng diner. Finally, ASMR in Sai Kung delves into the myriad tones and timbres of the open sea, which can be encountered during a lone stand-up paddle-boarding session. Both calming and provoking, the video series stars curious individuals exploring the outskirts of Hong Kong through a hyper-focused lens, and culminates in a three-minute magnum opus, which brings all the contrasting elements together into one beautifully euphoric whole. The ASMR videos form part of the broader GOHK summer campaign, which will also showcase 13 seasonal routes, covering hiking and sightseeing destinations, island-hopping itineraries and water sports experiences. A particular focus is water-based activities, which are easily accessible but often overlooked by visitors who might not be well acquainted with the green side of Hong Kong. For summer, recommendations include kayaking and snorkelling near Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark in Sai Kung, the city’s back garden. The entire Great Outdoors Hong Kong 2021-2022 campaign is hosted on its own dedicated campaign website, and is packed to the brim with useful information, like insider tips, dining recommendations and transportation suggestions. On top of the signature ASMR vignettes, the site features a colourful mix of photos, written itineraries and 13 videos-for-beginners — short-form videos carrying themes such as “adventure”, “antiquity”, “instagrammable” and “relaxation”, offering an overview (distance, elevation, difficulty, duration, etc.) and en route experiences about each seasonal route to inspire future trips.

MoT/PIB: India, 18th June 2021 Healthcare and Tourism are the fastest growing industries in the world. Medical Value Travel (MVT) is being promoted as a fusion product of these industries. Over the years, India has grown to become a top-notch destination for medical value travel because it scores high over a range of factors that determines the overall quality of care. India has also become a favoured destination for Yoga and Wellness with its focus on traditional therapies through AYUSH. Ministry of Tourism has recognized the immense potential of MVT and has been actively working on promotion and development of Medical Tourism. The Ministry of Tourism has accordingly formulated a Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism, which can be accessed from the following link and also available on Ministry of Tourism’s website https://tourism.gov.in/ under “what’s new” section https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/202106/Draft%20Strategy%20for%20Medical%20and%20Wellness%20Tourism%20June%2012.pdf Before proceeding to finalize the draft strategy document and to make the document more comprehensive, Ministry of Tourism would like to invite feedback/comments/suggestions on the draft National Strategy and Roadmap. The comments may be forwarded to the Ministry of Tourism on or before 30th June, 2021 at e-mail IDs : js.tourism@gov.in, bibhuti.dash72@gov.in, prakash.om50@nic.in.

18th June 2021;MoT/PIB News: India The Ministry of Tourism has formulated a Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India – An initiative towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. Driven by the spirit of “Vocal for Local”, rural tourism can contribute significantly to the mission of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India can be accessed from the following link also available on Ministry of Tourism’s website https://tourism.gov.in/ under “what’s new” section. https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/202106/Draft%20Strategy%20for%20Rural%20Tourism%20June%2012.pdf Before proceeding to finalize the draft strategy document and to make the document more comprehensive, Ministry of Tourism would like to invite feedback/comments/suggestions on the draft National Strategy and Roadmap. The comments may be forwarded to the Ministry of Tourism on or before 30th June, 2021 at e-mail IDs : js.tourism@gov.in, bibhuti.dash72@gov.in, prakash.om50@nic.in.

New Delhi,25th May 2021: One of the global leaders of Safe Tourism, Turkey is ready for 2021 summer season with heightened safety measures. Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) hosted the ambassadors of foreign missions, in the Safe Tourism event held in Antalya, Turkey from May 21 to 23. Indian Ambassador to Turkey also graced the event with his presence and experienced the measures on-site. The ministry aims to ensure that all safe tourism measures are experienced directly by the representatives of foreign missions to Turkey. Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, talked about the preparations for the 2021 summer season and stated in his speech that, “As a leading country in safe tourism, Turkey welcomed more than 16 million guests in 2020, and we are looking forward to 2021 to be a year of heightened safety in tourism season. We are ready for the Summer 2021 season with more than 10,000 certified tourism facilities across Turkey.” While addressing the ambassadors during the event, Minster Ersoy also mentioned that, “Tourism safety has been our top priority over the last year and we had a successful season of certification program that has become one of the best practices worldwide. In our national vaccination program, more than 27 million doses of vaccine have been applied to Turkish citizens to date. The vaccination program, in which we prioritize tourism workers, will continue to accelerate in June,” added Minister Ersoy. Launched by Turkey in June 2020, Safe Tourism Certificate certifying compliance with global safety standards for tourist spots, accommodation facilities and airports. The Certificate have been awarded to more than 9,800 businesses as it enters its second year and includes various restaurants, cultural venues, congress facilities, marine tourism facilitates, theme parks and ski lift facilities. Starting in 2021, Turkey made this certificate compulsory for all accommodation facilities with a bed capacity of 30 and above. Turkey has also given priority to tourism personnel within the scope of the national vaccination program and is ready for 2021 summer with high safety standards.

18th May 2021: The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) held its annual Tourism Update event online this morning (18 May), discussing tourism trends and sharing details of the HKTB’s latest strategic plans with around 2,700 trade representatives from Hong Kong, mainland and overseas travel agencies, attractions, hotels, airlines, retailers, restaurants, meeting and exhibition operators, cruise lines, and other travel sectors. HKTB Executive Director Mr Dane Cheng told the representatives the HKTB was preparing to step up promotions and would launch a new round of the Hong Kong Neighbourhoods campaign. In addition, the HKTB also hopes to relaunch mega events in physical formats to prepare for tourism recovery.Mr Cheng said: “As well as driving local tourism through the Holiday at Home platform, the HKTB has maintained Hong Kong’s international profile with a succession of promotional campaigns throughout the pandemic.“The global economy has started to rebound with Asia predicted to recover sooner and the Mainland expected to outperform other markets in economic growth. Combined with the gradual easing of the pandemic situation in Hong Kong, this makes it a good time for Hong Kong to further raise its profile. As cross-border travel gradually resumes, the HKTB will launch the Open House Hong Kong platform to conduct large-scale promotions in our source markets.” The HKTB has in recent years launched two promotions, Old Town Central and Sham Shui Po, under its Hong Kong Neighbourhoods campaign. Both were warmly welcomed by visitors who appreciated the in-depth experience they offered. To tie in with the opening of M+ visual culture venue in late 2021, the HKTB will focus its next promotion on the West Kowloon Cultural District and its surrounding area in the next quarter by revamping the promotions on the authentic local cultural aspects of the neighbourhood to help boost interest from visitors as travel resumption draws closer. If the pandemic situation in the city remains under control, the HKTB also hopes to relaunch mega events that Hong Kong people can initially take part in. The first event to return in a physical format will be the Hong Kong Cyclothon, and the HKTB is studying the feasibility of extending its route to the Hong Kong Section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to add to the event’s appeal. For other mega events to be conducted in an “Online+Offline” format, new elements of interests will be added to maintain Hong Kong’s global visibility. The HKTB will also continue to lobby for international large-scale business events and meetings to be hosted in Hong Kong. However, the pace of global tourism recovery will be determined by the situation surrounding the pandemic and the vaccination rate worldwide. The HKTB therefore appeals to everyone in tourism-related industries to take part in the vaccination programme and help Hong Kong achieve herd immunity as soon as possible. At today’s event, the HKTB invited representatives from leading Mainland and Hong Kong brands to share their insights at two forums titled “Seize the Business Development Opportunities in the Mainland and Greater Bay Area” and “Global Hong Kong Brands Gear Up for the Recovery”. Guests at the forums discussed the way forward for tourism and the preparation works. Here are some of the insights they shared: Industry Forum 1: Seize the Business Development Opportunities in the Mainland and Greater Bay Area Mr Yanxiang Liu, General Manager of Tickets & Travel BU, Meituan: “In the wake of the epidemic, the travel industry has accelerated its online transformation, and consumer behaviour and demand have changed. Meituan is committed to exploring effective ways to drive the recovery of the tourism industry. We will leverage the strengths of technology and e-commerce to provide a diverse consumer experience and help Hong Kong’s tourism industry better grasp market trends, allowing us to work together to build a vision for a better life.” Mr Liwei Yang, Head of Volcengine Culture & Tourism Industry, ByteDance: “The idea that ‘content is king’ has become the key to success in digital marketing in recent years. Data analysis plays a very important role in the widespread communication of content. ByteDance will continue to maximise its capabilities in big data analysis, cloud computing and artificial intelligence to move forward with our industry partners.” Mr Frank Huang, Vice President, Fliggy: “The convenience brought by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will further increased the demand for travel within the Greater Bay Area. Young consumers has become a key visitor segment. Fliggy will continue to work with the Hong Kong tourism trade to attract visitors from the Greater Bay Area through a variety of promotional platforms and resources and drive tourism development.” Industry Forum 2: Global Hong Kong Brands Gear Up for the Recovery Dr Jennifer Cronin, President, Wharf Hotels and Chair, Heritage Tourism Brands: “Hong Kong’s hotels are renowned for offering the world’s best service. Not only has the quality been enhanced during the pandemic, but we have also committed to be ahead of the curve in guest expectations under the new travel paradigms. I believe the Hong Kong tourism industry is more than ready and geared up for a swift recovery.” Mr Simon Large, Director Customer, Cathay Pacific Airways: “To meet travellers’ expectation throughout their consumer journey, we believe that digitalization, such as digital travel passes in the aviation industry, will play an important role in facilitating the safe, progressive return of international travel, enabling our customers to travel with reassurance and convenience throughout their journey. Moreover, we also believe that vaccination is the key of tourism recovery.” Mr Eric Gnock Fah, COO & Co-founder, KLOOK: “We are witnessing a permanent shift in consumer behaviours and digital adoption will only accelerate further. While the pandemic has brought many challenges to the travel industry, it also presents an opportunity to rethink and reinvent to address evolving customer expectations or risk being left behind.” Mr Syed Asim Hussain, Founder, Black Sheep Restaurants: “I believe in the magic of Black Sheep Restaurants and I believe in our city. Hong Kong is going to come back in a big way, and we