KOCHI: 

The second edition of the virtual Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), the flagship event of Kerala’s tourism apex forum KTM Society, will be held from May 9 to 12, seeking to reach out to trade partners, stakeholders and tourists across the world by leveraging digital tools amid a remarkable turnaround in pandemic-hit travel and tourism industry.

Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas will inaugurate Kerala Travel Mart 2023 (KTM 2023). Minister for Finance KN Balagopal will deliver the keynote address and Industries Minister P Rajeeve will be the guest of honour at the event.

Besides business meetings, seminars on live themes, led by officials, experts and stakeholders, will be held as part of the event, offering insights into the latest trends in the tourism sector and Kerala’s position as a major experiential tourism destination. A biennial event, KTM held a physical conclave last year.

The first edition of virtual KTM, held in 2021, saw a total of 44,500 business meetings and online discussions. According to organisers, KTM 2023 would be a great opportunity for the members to avail the virtual stalls free of cost.

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The place of worship can accommodate around 515 worshippers, including 65 women. It is located along Al Dhaid Road.

The mosque is built on a total land area of 4,601 square metres, and was built according to the Islamic architectural style mixed with modern character, topped by five circular domes and a lighthouse with a height of 21 metres, with the presence of service facilities from toilets, ablution, housing for the imam, and a number of car parks.

The Department of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah said the new mosque is in line with the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The Sharjah Ruler aims to create and “nurture an atmosphere of faith for the residents of the Emirate”, the authority added.

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Due to weather and geographical difficulties, the 28,251-foot summit of K2 had never been reached in winter before. Climbing to the top of K2, which is the second-highest peak after Mount Everest, requires technical skills.

The team members — Nimsdai Purja, Mingma David Sherpa (Team Nimsdai), Mingma Tenzi Sherpa (Team Nimsdai), Geljen Sherpa (Team Nimsdai), Pem Chiri Sherpa (Team Nimsdai), Dawa Temba Sherpa (Team Nimsdai), Mingma G, Dawa Tenjin Sherpa (Team Mingma G), Kilu Pemba Sherpa (Team Mingma G) and Sona Sherpa (SST) — reached the top of the peak on Saturday afternoon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKGyyPDBNL-/?utm_source=ig_embed

“THE IMPOSSIBLE IS MADE POSSIBLE ! K2winter — History made for mankind, History made for Nepal! At 17:00 hours local time @nimsdai and team summited K2, teaming up with @mingma.g and team and a member from SST, Sona Sherpa. A very special moment.

The whole team waited 10 metres below the summit to form a group then stepped onto the summit together whilst singing our Nepalese National Anthem. We are proud to have been a part of history for humankind and to show that collaboration, teamwork and a positive mental attitude can push limits to what we feel might be possible,” Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims Dai, wrote on Instagram.

“Nepali climbers have made history again. For the first time in the history of winter climbing, Nepali climbers reached the top of Mount K2 (the second highest mountain in the world). Congratulations to our Nepali climbers,” Mira Acharya, an officer in the Nepal Department of Tourism, wrote in her Facebook post.

Located in Pakistan part of Karakoram Range, K2 was the last amongst the world’s 14 tallest mountains — all higher than 8,000 metres that had not been climbed during winter.

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This extraordinary find is discovered in the archaeological park’s Regio V site, which is not yet open to the public.

Traces of nearly 2,000-year-old food were found in some of the deep terracotta jars containing hot food which the shop keeper transformed into a counter with circular holes.

The front of the counter was decorated with frescoes, some painted with animals that were ingredients in the food, such as chicken and ducks.

There was a multi-sided counter with deep vessels for hot food, similar to soup containers.

Archaeologists also found a decorated bronze drinking bowl known as patera, ceramic jars used for cooking stews and soups, wine flasks and amphora. They also traces of pork, fish, snails and beef had been found in the containers.

“This is an extraordinary find. It’s the first time we are excavating an entire termopolium,” said Massimo Ossana, director of the Pompeii archaeological park.

Pompeii was buried in a volcanic eruption in 79AD and is one of Italy’s most popular tourist attractions.

Nearly 80 fast food sites have been found at Pompeii but this is the first time an eatery has been entirely excavated, he added.

Around 13,000 people were living in Pompeii, 14 miles from Naples, when it was buried in ash, pumice and dust.

The ruins were discovered in the 16th century and excavations began around 1750. Around two-thirds of the town has been uncovered.

Pompeii, one of Italy’s most popular attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a rare documentation of Greco-Roman life.

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Saudi Arabia is set to open Hegra- the ancient archaeologist site, for the public. Hegra, undisturbed for almost 2000 years, is the kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hegra, is the lesser known sister city of Petra in Jordan and lay buried under the sands of time. The Nabateans, an ancient Arab people who inhabited northern Arabia and the southern Levant, has built Hegra, just like Petra.

The Nabateans created a huge empire in the desert from the fourth century BC to the 1st century AD. Emperor Trajan conquered them and they become subjects of the Romans. The tribe was forgotten until the rediscovery of Petra in the 19th century.

The Nabateans controlled the spice trade and built remarkable civilisation in the desert.

Much of Hegra’s appeal is due to the fact that the once thriving city, were virtually unknown to outsiders despite its resemblance to Petra. Ever since the city fell into decline, it had been left undisturbed for 2000 years. Ottomans built a fort at the site during World WarI during the Arab revolt which was instigated by Lawrence of Arabia.

All now that remain now of the city they built is some rock-cut tombs and relics.

Over 90 of the total 111 tombs recorded at the location are decorated. Many of the tombs have inscriptions, written in an early form of Arabic that “warn the living not to interfere with the tombs”.

One inscription reads, “May the lord of the world curse upon anyone who disturbs this tomb or opens.” The site also features some 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period and some cave drawings.

UNESCO has declared the site a World Heritage site and certifies that “the site also features some 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period and some cave drawings. They may have been made by the ancient people known as the Thamuds who are mentioned in the Quran or members of the Dedan culture. According to UNESCO, the site “bears witness to the development of Nabataean agricultural techniques using a large number of artificial wells in rocky ground.”

Saudi Arabia is now determined to boost its economy through tourism along with petro pipeline. Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman announced Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016. It is a roadmap for the kingdom (KSA) over the next two decades to transform into a global hub for trade and tourism that connects Africa, Asia and Europe. To pull off that feat (of finding another profitable source of livelihood for the nation’s people) KSA is banking on tourism as a new source of income.

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The State is valiantly fighting a community spread – it has no qualms in admitting that we have reached that stage – of COVID-19 and leaves no stone unturned to return to the near-zero levels it had reached – winning international praise – before stranded Indians across the world, but mainly expatriates from the Gulf region, began trooping back to the verdant land they held close to their heart as they toiled in the desert heat.

No more can we witness excited relatives coming to pick up the NRI from airport; a COVID special airport taxi ferries the passenger home. The airport formalities are systematic and quick in Kerala. Instructions were given on the 14-day home quarantine, which brother now spends on the first floor of the house in isolation. The rest of the family has gone into quarantine too, with a COVID alert notice promptly pasted on the gate by the local government staff.

Save for getting his first name wrong, the rest of the protocols are perfect. Courteous cops from the nearest police station enquire on him daily either over the phone or in person – keeping tab on international arrivals has become necessary as some citizens like to play truant and explore the world outside. It also shows the new face of Kerala Police – friendly and approachable, or jana maitree, as they have rebranded themselves. They don’t mind if they look a bit silly dancing to Nanchamma’s “Kalakkatha sandana meram” if it can get the message of handwashing and hygiene across to the State’s people. Some day we will thank coronavirus for improving our sense of hygiene and for bringing certain English words – quarantine, pandemic, lockdown, clusters etc – into local parlance.

Books have been sent from the local library for the quarantined visitor. Ayurvedic pills to boost immunity also arrive. In this case, district administration Pathanamthitta is effectively micro-managing the physical and mental health of each person under observation.

After a week in quarantine, he gets a nasal swab done at the nearest hospital beating serpentine queues. Anyone who has come in contact with a COVID-positive person has to take the test apart from international arrivals like him.

Another friend who drove down to Kochi from Chennai is also going through a 14-day quarantine to be followed by 14 days under observation. He too gets regular calls and visits from the police and health department staff including the mental health counsellor, who even asks how they are managing and how they get provisions. Police have been known to fetch provisions for the elderly and the invalid.

Apparently, the police are able to concentrate their energies on the COVID fight because accidents and crime have come down during the pandemic. The former because there are fewer vehicles on the roads due to lockdown and containment zones; intense patrolling and virus transmission fears have probably led to a decline in petty thefts while murders, suicides and unnatural deaths have also gone down, according to police officers.

Containment zones, clusters and triple lockdowns have been clamped to bring down Kerala’s COVID cases that have been surging since the beginning of repatriation flights and resumption of inter-State movement. A brave administration and its frontline warriors continue to micro-manage the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and prove why Kerala’s health standards are on a par with that of developed nations.

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DUBAI
The UAE government has announced that all UAE residents currently stranded abroad and wanting to return must complete a COVID-19 test. Only those who produce a COVID negative test done at accredited laboratories and taken within 72 hours of take-off will be permitted to board the flight.
The guidelines were announced on June 29 by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship for residents with valid visas returning to the country from July 1.
Residents can access the list of accredited laboratories in 106 cities from 17 countries on smartservices.ica.gov.ae. More countries will be added to the list shortly in the second and third phases.
Owing to time constraints, laboratories will have to deliver results digitally, it noted.
For residents returning from countries without accredited laboratories, the tests can be conducted upon arrival back in the UAE. Residents will have to take home or institutional quarantine for 14 days. The costs will have to be borne by the individual or under certain circumstances by their company. The returning residents will have to download an app for monitoring during quarantine.

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Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi’s presidential palace that is a unique cultural and architectural landmark in the UAE capital, has been nominated by World Travel Awards as the Middle East’s Leading Cultural Tourist Attraction 2020.
Qasr Al Watan means ‘Palace of the Nation’ and is part of the four-year-old, nearly 100-acre Presidential Palace, located on a peninsula at one end of the city’s iconic Corniche. It houses the formal offices of the UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,the Vice-President and Dubai Ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is the official meeting place for the UAE Cabinet and the Federal Supreme Council.
The Palace, which was first opened to the public in March 2019,had shut its doors on March 14, 2020 owing to the nationwide fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the “working palace” remains closed to the public; the 10 zones that were opened to the public include the library, which has a collection of 50,000 books collected over 35 years,and the Great Hall, which has a dome that is 37 metres in diameter.
There is a 12-ton chandelier in the Spirit of Collaboration hall which hosts the Arab League and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) summits. Made up of 350,000 crystals,the chandelier had to be assembled in place.The palace,surrounded by lush, manicured gardens, took 150 million man hours to build. Inspired by Mughal architecture,its facade was constructed of white granite and limestone.

According to a palace tour guide, the palace’s pastel colours have a special significance.The three main colours — blue,yellow and white — represent a certain characteristic of the UAE. The blue stands for the Arabian Gulf waters, the yellow for the Arabian sands and the white represents purity and peace.
Qasr Al Watan’s 300-seat banquet hall, laid with 149,000 hand-engraved pieces of fine bone china tableware, is also open to public gazing. A palace and garden ticket, which gives access to all public spaces, inside and out, costs Dh60 for an adult and Dh30 for children aged 4-17 years. A garden-only ticket gives access to grounds and visitor centre and costs Dh25 for adults and Dh12 for minors.
Qasr Al Watan thus represents a first-of-its-kind insight into the Arab heritage and the governing principles that shaped the history of the UAE and its vision to the future. The palace, which is an enriching journey in a contemporary setting that reveals and reflects on governance, knowledge and craftsmanship of the UAE, deserves the prestigious award.

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The full house event was attended by over 430 top hospitality leaders from the Middle East. The glamorous evening included a reception, a great meal and excellent entertainment, in addition to the actual awards ceremony.

Chris Newman, chief operating officer, Emaar Hospitality Group won the Hotelier of the Year Award while Riad Abi Haider, general manager, Address Boulevard and Address Dubai Mall walked away with ‘General Manager of the Year’ title.

Among the other prominent winners were:-

• Entrepreneur of the Year:- Suneel Bhambhani, managing director, Fusion Food & Entertainment Dubai

• Executive Chef of the Year:- Yoann Grillet, director of food & beverage and Culinary, FIVE Palm Jumeirah

• CSR Champion of the Year:- Eddie Ignatius, corporate director of Quality & Business Excellence, TIME Hotels

• Hotel of the Year (5 Star):- FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai

• Hotel of the Year (Best Weekend Getaway):- Hatta Damani Lodges Resort

• Best New Luxury Hotel of the Year:- Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai

• Best Hospitality Employer of the Year:- Emaar Hospitality Group

• Inspirational GM of the Year:- Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster general manager, Ramada Hotels Ajman

• Dynamic HR Leader:- Nawaz Mahmood, senior director HR, Caesars Bluewaters Dubai

• Hotel Team of the year:- Ghaya Grand Hotel, Dubai

The list of all the award winners can be seen at http://www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com/award-winners/winners-2019

“We received an amazing response to online voting for the fifth Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards 2019 with over 175,000 votes for various categories. The awards were presented to recognise top industry organisations which have shown skill, creativity, ingenuity and success in the Middle East & North Africa’s growing hospitality industry,” said Bhatt.

Hozpitality Group also announced the 3rd edition of exclusive awards for Chefs in MEA ‘Chef Excellence Awards’ on June 2, 2020, to be held at Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf in Dubai. “We are again partnering with Emirates Culinary Guild and ICCA and are looking for a great event together,” said Bhatt.

“Our mission is to bring the hospitality industry closer. The new Hozpitality platform offers a place to connect with people interested in the sector. This empowers people to learn from each other and to better understand the world and the industry,” added Bhatt.

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The new visa-on-arrival scheme will not be available to UAE nationals visiting the subcontinent for the first time, said a report in Emirates news agency WAM.

First-time visitors will be required to apply for an e-visa or paper visa at Indian consular posts, it said.

Emiratis visiting India under the new visa-on-arrival scheme will be required to fill a form and present it along with their disembarkation card at immigration counters, the report cited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as saying.

The form is available to print online at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/visa-on-arrival.htm and should be presented to the visa officer at the visa counters on arrival at the six international Indian airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

UAE passports should have a minimum validity of six months remaining for visas on arrival. Such visitors should not have residency or be employed in India, the report said.

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