Travel Reveals

Dubai welcomed 7.28 million international overnight visitors last year, representing 32 per cent year-over-year growth on the figure for 2020. In contrast, the number of international guests the emirate welcomed in 2019 wasn't nearly as high as it was before the Covid-19 pandemic. In spite of this, the city experienced a very successful year last year, setting it up for sustainable growth in the coming years. The Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (DET) reports that international visitor numbers in Dubai have surpassed 3.4 million visitors in the fourth quarter of 2021, surpassing 74% of pre-pandemic levels of fourth quarter 2019. This bodes well for Dubai's hotels in the fourth quarter to surpass pre-pandemic levels. "This achievement also shows that we are on our way to becoming the world's best city for living and working," commented DET director general Helal Saeed Al Marri. “Dubai continuously set precedents in the global tourism recovery, demonstratin

Dwarka, an ancient Indian city, is said to have submerged beneath the Arabian Sea.T he foundations of its city walls are now being sought by underwater archaeologists to confirm its existence.  Dwarka, one of seven holy pilgrimage centres in India, is not only a religious, but also an archaeological site. It was a fortified city spread across almost 84km where the Gomti River and the Arabian Sea met, referred to in the epic Mahabharata as the ancient kingdom of Krishna. Upon Krishna's death, the ancient city was sunk beneath the Arabian Sea. Archaeologists tried to find physical evidence of the sunken city off the coast of modern-day Dwarka in the second half of the last century to demonstrate its existence beyond doubt.  Thus, many artefacts have been found underwater, including stone blocks and pillars; however, the exact age of these discoveries is still unclear. Currently, archaeologists are planning an underwater search for the foundations of the ancient city walls. If they fi

  Kashmir witnesses highest tourist footfall in seven years! Tourists gained increased confidence after the second round of vaccinations, which was conducted as soon as possible in the valley. It is estimated by officials that only 6327 tourists visited Kashmir in November 2020, a significant decrease from the approximately 1,27000 tourists present today. Director of Tourism Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo, told a leading news agency more than 127,000 tourists came to Kashmir in November and almost 93,000 tourists came in October, marking the first time Kashmir had recorded such large numbers of tourists in the past seven years. This has been attributed to several campaigns, such as the roadshows in Kashmir to promote tourism, and other measures that were taken after the second wave of the virus to attract tourists to the region. Kashmir's government organized 21 roadshows across the country.All members of the tour and travel fraternity were vaccinated as soon as possible in the valley after t

  For the travel industry, the easing of rules around testing for passengers arriving in Northern Ireland is a game-changer.  As of Friday morning, fully vaccinated traveler's will no longer have to take a pre-departure test or self-isolate on arrival.   As a result of the Health Department's announcement, Oasis Travel has received additional inquiries and calls. "January is traditionally one of the busiest months of the year, and this news should boost business," she told UTV.  Passengers who are fully vaccinated are still required to fill out a passenger locator form and take a test on or before their second day of arrival. Starting on Sunday, 9 January, this can be either a lateral flow or PCR test. Although NHS Test and Trace tests cannot be used for international travel, lateral flow tests for this purpose must be purchased from a private provider. Anyone with a positive lateral flow test must book a free confirmatory PCR test and isolate. In the statement, it st

Mumbaikars, do you crave a luxurious weekend getaway? It's no surprise you're craving a change of environment with work from home looming over your head. That's exactly what we're here for! These 6 fun weekend getaways from Mumbai include relaxing Ayurvedic treatments, pet therapy and cosy forest cabins for a quick getaway with your family.   Lonavala-Khandala  People of Mumbai hold a special place in their hearts for the twin hill resorts of Lonavala and Khandala.  The sightseeing in Lonavala includes forts, caves, dams, and more.  The perfect road trip, one day trip from Mumbai, or an escape into the hills, these places cater to all moods and fancies of Mumbaikars.  In fact, they are one of the best weekend getaways near Mumbai for couples.  Murud-Janjira In Raigad district of Maharashtra, across the coast from a small village called Murud, stands Murud-Janjira Fort on a small island. There are several legends and stories within the walls of the fort, which are immens

The travel industry has reacted to the lifting of travel restrictions by U.S. President Joe Biden on December 31, resulting in an upsurge in travel to eight southern African countries.   The restrictions were imposed by President Biden in late November and applied to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended removing the travel curbs last week because their continued implementation wouldn't have an appreciable impact on Omicron's spread in the United States, given the already existing levels of community transmission.   In response, U.S.Travel Association executive vice president Tori Emerson Barnes released a statement regarding the easing of the travel restrictions. "The White House's decision to lift the travel ban on southern African nations is the right one, given the safety protocols and vaccination requirements in place for entering the country," Emers