Category: Travel

Over 4 million passenger movement recorded at Mumbai International Airport in April 2024

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Peak summer travel saw over 4.3 million passengers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in April 2024. Given the airport’s massive connectivity to international and domestic hubs, it experienced a 131% recovery in passenger numbers, compared to April 2019. In April 2024, CSMIA facilitated the movement of 4.36 million passengers, marking a growth of 42% compared to April 2022 and 9% compared to April 2023.

Overall, the airport witnessed a total of 26,870 Air Traffic Movement (ATM), including 19,892 domestic and 6,978 international ATMs in April 2024. The highest passenger traffic movement in a single day for the month was observed on of April 14 with 1.56 lakh passengers travelling through CSMIA (1,13,540 domestic 43,253 international travellers).

Meanwhile, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad emerged as the leading domestic destinations for CSMIA, while Dubai, Singapore and Abu Dhabi maintained their position as the most favoured international destinations.

Also read: Top 5 domestic and foreign destinations where Indians are headed for a holiday this summer

Cumulatively, domestic carriers secured the top position with the largest market share in domestic and international sectors.

Meanwhile, another survery claimed that India is expected to be a power house for future airline growth driven by the eagerness of people to travel and growing population. The Netherlands-based ING Bank NV said in a report that India was set to deliver strong structural growth figures, and airlines are preparing for this with historically large orders for new aircraft from Indigo and Air India.

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“The country plans to open a range of new airports, and strategically located countries such as the UAE, with the world’s second largest airport in terms of passenger traffic in Dubai are anticipating strong transit passenger growth from Asia,” it said. The report focusing on the outlook for the global aviation sector also noted that the long-term global growth outlook — 20 years — has generally been tempered in the post pandemic era to a range of 3-4 per cent annually instead of 5-6 per cent, with Europe seeing the lowest growth figure.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Schengen visa troubles: Check when you should start planning your Europe trip?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Peak summer travel is here and so is the demand for flights, stays, visas and everything tourism-related. Many of us know those seasoned travellers who not only ensure all their bookings are made from a trusted source, that too way in advance, and we know those slackers who wait until the last minute to do everything — be it booking flights, hotels or making all those other arrangements to have fun once you reach the destination.

It doesn’t matter which category you fall in. What matters is how soon you should start making your travel arrangements as it could take time for you to get your visa, depending on your destination.

CNBC-TV18 had earlier reported that those planning a trip to Europe may have to delay their travel, given the shortage of Schengen visa interview slots. Find out how many days in advance you should start executing your travel plans to Europe to ensure all arrangements are in place.

Also read: European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

“During peak season, visa appointment availability or visa processing can take longer than anticipated,” a VFS spokesperson told CNBC-TV18. “This is common across all geographies and governments. Thus, we [VFS Global] constantly encourage applicants to apply for visas well in advance to avoid peak season-related processing delays.”

The spokesperson added that most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days in advance, with Schengen accepting documents up to six months prior to the date of travel. Hence, it is best to apply for a Schengen visa at least 90 days in advance to ensure there is no delay in visa appointment.

Also read: Need a Schengen Visa? Check these criteria first

Additionally, VFS said, “The availability of visa appointments, mandatory documentation, and the visa application decision are entirely at the discretion of the respective governments [of the country you wish to travel to]. Processing timelines are also under their control.

“As a trusted partner to our client governments, VFS Global handles the front-end administrative tasks in the visa application process. This includes collecting application forms and documentation as per the checklist provided by the government, enrolling biometrics where applicable, and ensuring the safe return of passports post the decision-making process by the embassy or consulate [for a visa].”

As of May 16, the next available slot for a visa interview appointment for Germany or Italy is in July 2024. If you wish to travel to the 2024 Paris Olympics, which commences on July 26, you should’ve started gathering all documents by October 2023.

Given that more and more Indian travellers are looking to explore international destinations, especially in Europe, the rush for securing visas will only rise. So don’t wait until the last minute. Ensure you start your documentation process at least six months in advance.

Also read: Germany eases Schengen visa norms for Indian tourists

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India-Russia may start visa-free group travel programme by end of 2024: Report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Nikita Kondratyev, Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects at the Russian Economic Development Ministry has said that India and Russia are in the final stages of commencing visa-free group travel, Russia-controlled international news network RT News reported.

Consultations between Russia and India on the reported bilateral agreement to ease travel will begin in June, the Russian minister said and added that Moscow and New Delhi were set to strengthen tourism ties by launching the visa-free group tourist exchange programme.

“India is in the final stage of internal state coordination,” Nikita Kondratyev, was quoted as saying on May 16, PTI reported.

Visa-Free Travel Between Russia & India By The End Of The Year

Consultations on a bilateral agreement to ease travel between the nations will begin in June, a Russian Min of Economic Development official told RIA on Wednesday on the sidelines of a forum in Kazan.

India is “at… pic.twitter.com/qbIQa7CJXb

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) May 16, 2024

CNBCTV18 could not independently verify the report. Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2024 in Kazan, the minister highlighted that the first discussions on the draft agreement are scheduled for June, with expectations of signing by the year’s end. Kondratyev stressed that Russia and India’s commitment to bolster tourism ties, mirrors the visa-free tourist exchange programme already established with China and Iran. The initiative with China and Iran commenced on August 1 last year and mark a significant step towards enhancing tourism cooperation between the countries.

In February 2024, Tourism Moscow made a mark at the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE 2024) exhibition held in Greater Noida, showcasing tourism potentials for Indian travellers in Moscow. A delegation of representatives from Moscow City Tourism Committee and the Made in Moscow project team was one of the largest at the event, showcasing the vibrant tourism offerings of the Russian capital for Indian tourists.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Butter chicken battle heats up in Delhi High Court with new evidence

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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With new photographic and video evidence, an Indian court battle over the origins of the world famous butter chicken is set to get spicier.

Two Indian restaurant chains have been sparring since January at the Delhi High Court, both claiming credit for inventing the dish in a lawsuit that has grabbed the attention of social media users, food critics, editorials and TV channels across the globe.

The popular Moti Mahal restaurant chain said it had the sole right to be recognised as the inventor of the curry and demanded its rival, the Daryaganj chain, to stop claiming credit and pay $240,000 in damages. Moti Mahal said founder Kundan Lal Gujral created the cream-loaded dish in the 1930s at an eatery in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, before relocating to Delhi.

That “story of invention of butter chicken does not ring true” and is aimed at misleading the court, Daryaganj said in a new, 642-page counter-filing reviewed by Reuters.

Daryaganj says a late member of its founding family, Kundan Lal Jaggi, created the disputed dish when he helmed the kitchen at the relocated Delhi eatery, where Gujral, his friend-cum-partner from Peshawar only handled marketing.

Both men are dead, Gujral in 1997 and Jaggi in 2018.

Evidence in the non-public filing includes a black-and-white photograph from 1930s showing the two friends in Peshawar; a 1949 partnership agreement; Jaggi’s business card after relocating to Delhi and his 2017 video talking about the dish’s origin.

Moti Mahal declined to comment. The judge will next hear the case on May 29.

A key point of contention, which the court will have to rule on, is where, when and by whom the dish was first made – by Gujral in Peshawar, Jaggi in New Delhi, or if both should be credited.

Butter chicken is ranked 43rd in a list of world’s “best dishes” by TasteAtlas, and bragging rights about who invented it can matter, brand experts said.

“Being an inventor has a huge advantage globally and in terms of consumer appeal. You are also entitled to charge more,” said Dilip Cherian, an image guru and co-founder of Indian PR firm Perfect Relations.

Moti Mahal operates a franchisee model with over 100 outlets globally. Its butter chicken dishes start at $8 in New Delhi, and are priced at $23 in New York.

Late U.S. President Richard Nixon and India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru are among the famous clients to have visited its primary outlet in Delhi.

Daryaganj started in 2019 and its butter chicken costs $7.50. It has 10 outlets, mostly in New Delhi, with plans to expand to other Indian cities and Bangkok.

In its 2,752-page Indian lawsuit, Moti Mahal had also accused Daryaganj of copying “the look and feel” of the interiors of its outlets.

Daryaganj has retorted with photographs of restaurant interiors which the judge will review, claiming it is Moti Mahal that has copied its “design of floor tiles”.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2024 list: India’s trailblazers in the art & style and food & drink categories

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Your Europe trip could be delayed due to shortage of Schengen visa interview slots

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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As more and more Indian travellers continue to make summer holiday plans, securing a Schengen visa is becoming increasingly difficult, given the surge in demand for travel to Europe in 2024. According to reports, the next available slot for an appointment for Germany and Italy is in July 2024. There has been a 44% rise in visa applications for Schengen countries, including from India. Last year, Schengen visa applications from India rose to 9.7 lakh, compared to 6.7 lakh in 2022.

India ranks second globally in terms of percentage rise in applications, followed by China. Despite the rise in demand for Schengen visa from India, many Indian travellers would face disruptions in their travel plans due to the shortage of available visa interview slots. Nonetheless, the scarcity of available visa interview slots has disrupted travel plans of many Indians.

Anil Kalsi, Vice President of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) told Times of India, “[Schengen Visa interview] Appointments are simply not available with a majority of Schengen countries. If you want to travel to Europe this summer, the earliest appointment date for Germany and Italy is in July. This is making life very difficult for travelers.”

Also read: European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

However, despite official statistics, experts suggest that the actual demand from India may exceed the reported figures. Nonetheless, the scarcity of available visa interview slots is hurting aspiring Indian travellers. Kalsi highlighted the magnitude of the shortage of interview slots with most Schengen countries and stressed that such situations force travellers to settle for slots that are available for other destinations, or cancel their plans to visit Europe altogether.

The surge in visa applications reveal a contrasting narrative from countries like Russia and China. While demand from the Asian country leaped to the top in 2022, China witnessed a remarkable 1,104% rise compared to the previous year. On the other hand, Russia’s trajectory shifted from rank 2 in 2022 to rank 5 in 2023, which can be attributed to its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

The geopolitical turmoil has led to a steep 25% decline in Schengen visa applications from Russia over the past two years.

In April, 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on issuing multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date.

The new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian passport holders applying for Schengen (short-stay) visas was unveiled to provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Ban on VIP darshan for Char Dham Yatra extended to May 31; no social media content creation on temple premises

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Given the surge in pilgrims visiting holy shrines under the 2024 Char Dham Yatra, the Uttarakhand government has extended its ban on VIP darshan until May 31. The move will ensure all devotees have equal access to the four dhams, ANI reported. Subsequently, an order has been issued prohibiting videography and creation of social media content within a 50-meter radius of temple complexes across all the four shrines in Uttarakhand.

In conversation with ANI, Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand Radha Raturi highlighted the importance of preserving the sanctity of the temple premises and respecting devotees’ religious sentiments.

In view of the huge crowd of pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has extended the ban on VIP darshan till May 31, so that all the devotees can easily visit the four Dhams. pic.twitter.com/u2GX19Ap8n

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2024

In a letter, Raturi said, “I would like to inform [everyone] that this year, there is a continuous surge in the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Char Dham in Uttarakhand. For better management, we have decided not to have any “VIP Darshan” till May 31, 2024.

Dhami also held a meeting with senior officials of the state. He said, “The number of devotees on Char Dham Yatra has doubled in comparison to previous years. We are trying to make all arrangements so that devotees don’t face any difficulties during the Yatra. I want to appeal to everyone to come here only after getting their registrations done. In the future, a master plan will be made for Gangotri and Yamunotri to make the journey of devotees smooth.”

Also read: Thousands of devotees walk treacherous route to reach Yamunotri — watch video

The Chief Secretary elaborated that the sacredness of the temples and devotees’ reverence we are permitting mobile phones, but their use for video recording or creating reels within temple premises is strictly prohibited.

Commissioner of Garhwal Division, Vinay Shankar Pandey, told ANI that this year’s Char Dham Yatra has witnessed a significant increase in pilgrim numbers compared to the previous year. With over 26.73 lakh devotees registered for the pilgrimage, including 1.42 lakh offline registrations in Haridwar and Rishikesh, authorities are focused on ensuring a smooth and respectful pilgrimage experience for all visitors.

In pics: Thousands visit Kedarnath as Char Dham Yatra begins

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

UAE launches 10-year Blue Residency visa for environment contributors — Details here

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The UAE Cabinet has approved the 10-year Blue Residence visa, aimed at recognising and supporting individuals who make significant contributions to environmental protection. The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, following a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid emphasised the UAE’s strong commitment to sustainability, stating on X, “The sustainability of our economy has become linked to the sustainability of our environment, and our national directions in this area are clear and consistent.”

وضمن مشاريع مجلس الوزراء لتنفيذ التوجهات الوطنية التي أعلنها رئيس الدولة حفظه الله بأن يكون العام 2024 عاماً للاستدامة .. اعتمدنا اليوم “الإقامة الزرقاء” … وهي إقامة طويلة الأمد لمدة ١٠ سنوات سيتم منحها للأفراد ذوي الإسهامات والجهود الاستثنائية في مجال حماية البيئة سواء البحرية… pic.twitter.com/c765IficS6

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 15, 2024

As the UAE continues its Year of Sustainability (2023–2024), the Blue Visa initiative aligns with the country’s long-term goals of promoting environmental conservation and sustainable practices. Here’s a comprehensive look at the new visa:

What is the UAE 10-year Blue Visa?

The UAE has introduced the Blue Residency, a long-term residency program designed for environmental advocates. This 10-year visa is intended for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to environmental protection, reflecting the UAE’s dedication to fostering sustainability both domestically and globally.

Eligibility for the UAE 10-year Blue Visa

The Blue Visa will be awarded to those who have shown outstanding commitment and impact in various environmental sectors. This includes work in marine life conservation, land-based ecosystems, air quality improvement, sustainability technologies, and the circular economy. The initiative is part of the President’s directive to extend the Year of Sustainability, highlighting the UAE’s ongoing efforts to support global environmental sustainability.

Application Process for the UAE 10-year Blue Visa

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the Blue Visa through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP). Additionally, relevant authorities can nominate deserving candidates for consideration.

The Blue Visa offers numerous benefits, including long-term residency in the UAE, opportunities for collaboration on environmental projects, access to funding and resources, and recognition for their environmental contributions. This initiative not only supports environmental advocates but also reinforces the UAE’s commitment to a sustainable and greener future.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow