by admin | May 25, 2021 | Economy, News, Politics
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked people to promote tourism spots in their states and also to visit the numerous tourist sites within the country instead of getting attracted by “superficial glitter” abroad.
“It is a matter of concern when we do not see our own country, we do not know about its diversities nor do we understand them. Impressed by mere superficial glitter, we have started enjoying touring foreign countries,” Modi said in his Mann Ki Baat radio programme.
“I have no issues if you travel around the world but have a look at your own country too,” the Prime Minister added.
Modi urged people to visit the seven best tourist destinations in their state and promote them by posting pictures from there on social networking sites with hashtag ‘Incredible India’.
Urging people to travel like a student and observer, Modi said he had visited more than 500 districts in the country. This had helped him to understand things better.
“In order to promote tourism, every Indian must know about the best tourist destinations in your state,” Modi said.
Lakhs of photographs received from every corner of India will actually become a treasure for the tourism sector, he said.
He asked people to write good travelogues and post information about architecture, natural beauty and daily life of various places.
Based on the inputs, the government would prepare publicity material, Modi said.
Observing that October to March was a suitable time for tourism, he asked people to travel to different parts of the country as it was full of “myriad diversities” instead of visiting foreign countries.
He said Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak and Swami Vivekananda travelled widely in India. This developed their understanding of the country.
“Can we make an effort as a student to learn, understand and try to live as per the traditions, culture, attire, eating habits and beliefs of different states, different societies, different groups of our country?” Modi asked.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Istanbul : The number of foreign visitors to Istanbul rose by 10.8 percent in the first eight months of this year, when compared to the same period last year, official Turkish data revealed Tuesday.
Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism said this year, so far, 6.95 million foreign tourists have visited the city, official data showed. A 37.3 percent surge to 1.24 million foreign tourists was seen this August when compared to the same period last year.
According to Anadolu Agency, most tourists came to Istanbul from Germany (656,428 people), followed by Iran (526,084 people) and Saudi Arabia (413,273).
The visitors from Arab countries went up by 36.7 percent to 1.78 million between January and August 2017, compared to the same period last year.
Most tourists came to Istanbul through the Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen airports, 5.45 million and 1.47 million, respectively.
The total foreign tourists were 9.2 million in 2016, 12.4 million in 2015, 11.8 million in 2014 and 10.4 million in 2013.
—AG/IINA
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Corporate, Corporate Governance, News, Politics
K.J. Alphons
Kochi : The Narendra Modi government-led central government’s policy is to have very good Centre-state relations, newly sworn-in Minister of State (Independent) for Tourism, IT and Electronics K.J. Alphons said here on Sunday.
The 64-year-old forme bureaucrat and former Left supported legislator (2006-11) is just the second Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Kerala to get a berth in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. O. Rajagopal was the first in 1999, in the A.B. Vajpayee-led government.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Sunday, former Chief Minister and veteran CPI-M leader V.S. Achuthanandan came down heavily on Alphons for his change of political affiliation.
“This change of position should have never happened to a fellow traveller of the Left. A fellow traveller of the Left should have never become a tool in the hands of fascists. The love of the country should have stood first and not a post. This should be a lesson when the Left selects candidates,” said Achuthanandan.
Incidentally, it was during the tenure of Achuthanandan as Chief Minister (2006-11) that Alphons became a state legislator supported by the Left grouping.
“The policy of the Modi government is to have excellent Centre-state relations and I am confident that I will be able to do it as I have an excellent relation with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan,” said Alphons at Kochi airport, on his first visit to the state, a week after being sworn-in.
Alphons was received at the Kochi airport by BJP’s Kerala unit President Kummanem Rajasekheran and two former state chiefs and other leaders.
Last Sunday, the day Alphons was sworn-in as a central minister, the state BJP headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram wore a deserted look.
The only celebration in the state was seen at his home, where local BJP workers watched the swearing-in ceremony with his mother.
Alphons, however, brushed aside questions of the Kerala BJP not celebrating his elevation. “The day I was sworn-in, people here were busy with Onam celebrations,” said Alphons.
Another significant absentee at the airport was Tushar Vellapally, chief of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BJDS), the second biggest ally of the BJP-led NDA.
The BDJS, formed in 2015 by the Hindu Ezhava strongman Vellapally Natesan, father of Tushar, had secured 3.9 per cent of the votes at the 2016 assembly polls, He was hoping the national BJP leadership would give the party some significant posts in the central cabinet.
But so far, it has not got any and like the Kerala BJP leadership, the BDJS also has been cut up over the rather unexpected elevation of the former bureaucrat, who joined the BJP in 2011 and given an independent charge as the MoS.
Starting Sunday, the Kerala BJP leadership is organising a series of receptions for the new minister,the first one later in the day at Moovattupuzha. From there, when Alphons reaches his home town in Kanjirapally in Kottayam, nine road shows are planned.
On Monday, there would be a reception at Kannur when Alphons arrives for a private visit.
The next day, he will take part in a temple function at Kottayam. On September 15, a civic reception at his home town has been planned, followed by a meeting with various bishops.
On September 16, there will also be a reception in the state capital and he is scheduled to leave for Delhi later in the day.
Dismissing speculations that Alphons was given the post as he was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, Kanjirapally diocesan bishop Mar Mathew Arackal told the media on Sunday that Alphons got the post on account of his merit and need not be seen as a policy of the BJP to attract the minority communities.
“Our Church does not have any untouchability to any party and the Church always had good relations with the NDA government in the past also,” said the bishop, who is based at Alphons’ home town Kanjirapally.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Corporate, Corporate Buzz, Economy, News
By Saket Suman,
Bishangarh : Rajasthan is undoubtedly one of the leading Indian hotspots when it comes to tourism, but the establishment of this new heritage resort in Bishangarh, a quaint village in Shahpura district, is a diversion from the otherwise popular destinations in the state.
Perched magnificently atop a granite hill, the bold and striking architecture of Alila Fort Bishangarh appears seamlessly sculpted from the surrounding rustic terrain, providing a 360-degree view of the impressive Aravalli Hills. The all-suite resort boasts 59 stately suites that are designed for quiet indulgence. Every suite in the property is carefully curated and provides panoramic views of the stunning surroundings.
Udaipur, Jaipur, Mt Abu and Jaisalmer, among others, are the usual cities of interest for tourists travelling to the pristine state, but Alila Fort Bishangarh, approximately six kilometres off the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway, will certainly emerge as a new destination in Rajasthan. It is some 210 kilometres from Delhi.
And why not if you look at the rich history of this ancient warrior fort, now steeped in luxury. It is perhaps the only warrior fort converted into a heritage resort. This historic landmark embraces elements of Jaipur Gharana architecture, featuring Rajput and Mughal influences. A perfect example of this can be seen in the Amarsar restaurant, where Tudor and Cusped arches harmoniously coexist — aptly styled for a warrior fort. The walls have been finished not with paint but with modern adaptations of the traditional surkhi (stone dust) and araish, the dying Rajasthani plastering art that results in glistening surfaces.
The resort still features the fort’s original two-metre-thick walls and its battlement turrets and arches. Over the duration of its transformation, the soul of the fort has been passionately brought to life, recreating the courtly flavour of Shahpura’s royalty while retaining its stark and inherent simplicity.
The pristine village of Bishangarh belongs to the Royal Shahpura Gharana, established by Rao Manohar Singh in 1584. The Shahpura thikana had been a part of the Jaipur Durbar, ruled by the Suryavanshis from Amber Fort. Fort Bishangarh was built by Rao Bishan Singh, the ruler of Shahpura district from 1793 to 1810, as a warrior fortress in the last few years of the 18th century.
This rich history of the fort will definitely be a tempting factor for many tourists, but the property has a lot more to offer than just a dose of its own history. My two-day stay at the resort was marked by all things luxurious, but at the same time there was an air of difference all through. Most importantly, it is a quiet and serene place.
There are little elements to keep your interest alive. The library, set amidst old marble pillars, bears testimony to the old kingdom with the size of its holdings mapped out on the wall, and Spa Alila, carved out between granite rocks in the old dungeon, provides the perfect setting for relaxation.
The food experience and the menus have been innovatively curated by Chef Ranveer Brar to bring back the older ways of cooking on open fire and in the hot sand, where the food is slow cooked in its own juices. Simple, fresh and artisanal with a throw-back to tradition are the operating mantras at Alila Fort Bishangarh.
The adventure continues even as you step out into the village. A typical “historical day” (one of the many experiences that the property offers to guests) begins with a brief lesson on Rajput and Mughal history, where guests visit Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Jaipur’s City Palace to recreate the moments of the Maharajas. Guests seeking adventure can experience a combination of off-roading in a Land Rover, driving ATVs, riding horseback and trekking in the Aravalli Hills. Art and culture enthusiasts can engage in touring Jaipur’s famed Rajasthani jewellery manufacturing units to learn about semi-precious and precious stones.
It is the combination of all such factors that may very soon turn this quaint village into one of the new destinations for tourists in Rajasthan. Alila Fort Bishangarh is not your usual resort; it is an experience in itself that lives in you long after you check out.
(Saket Suman’s visit to Alila Fort Bishangarh was at the inviation of the Alila Group of Hotels. He can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | World
China-Nepal border
Kathmandu : Trade and tourism between Nepal and China would be boosted after the Rasuwagadi-Kerung border crossing was upgraded into an international border point, according to the Himalayan country’s business leaders.
Following the upgrading, the border has been opened for international visitors, reports Xinhua news agency.
Following the closure of Tatopani-Khasa border crossing since the deadly April 2015 earthquake, Rasuwagadi-Kerung is the only operating trade point between the two countries.
“We are very much exited from the Chinese decision (to upgrade the border point) because we can now sell combined tourism package of Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the international visitors,” Suman Pandey, chairman of Nepal Chapter of Pacific Asia Travel Association, told Xinhua.
While China is expected to expand its railway network to Rasuwagadi-Kerung within the next few years, Nepal has also planned to develop a railway from Kathmandu to Rasuwagadi.
“I hope both countries will prioritize infrastructure building in the border point following the upgrading,” Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, president of Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Xinhua.
According to the traders, improved connectivity through the border point will contribute towards China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Nepal and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in May.
—IANS
