A group of global Beauty Divas visited Kashmir yesterday as a precursor to the Miss World pageant 2023, in a big boost to MICE tourism and a historic development for the tourism sector of J&K, with Tourism Department making all required arrangements for the visit.

Miss World, Karolina Bielawska; Miss World Caribbean, Emmy Pena; Miss World America, Shree Saini; Miss World India, Sini Shetty; Miss World England, Jessica Gagen; Miss Asia, Pricilia Carla Saputri Yules; Julia Eric Morley, Chairman and CEO of Miss World Organization, and her team; Ms. Rouble Negi, founder Rouble Negi Art Foundation are among those in the group.

The Tourism Department coordinated the Beauty Divas’ visit in partnership with the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation.

The visit of these celebrities is expected to give a further boost to MICE tourism in J&K, which is already witnessing a very encouraging scenario following the successful holding of the 3rd Working Group meeting of G 20 countries in May this year. The G 20 event, which proved to be a game changer and a transformative event for the local tourism, has led to an increased footfall of foreign tourists visiting the UT, which has gone up several notches after the successful eve.

In this context, the visit of world-renowned beauty queens to Kashmir will draw the attention of the global tourism market to what J&K has to offer in terms of natural beauty, corporate events, wedding tourism, local craft and cuisine, as well as positioning J&K as a destination for major global and corporate events. This is intended to boost local tourism, craft, and economy to unprecedented levels.

Speaking on the event, PME Chairman Jamil Saidi characterized Kashmir as India’s finest gem, which holds a particular place in his heart. The gorgeous terrain and kind people here, he says, remind him of unity in variety. He expressed gratitude to Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and the Tourism Department for hosting them.

The visit of worldwide Beauty Divas to Jammu and Kashmir promises to be a combination of elegance, talent, and cultural interaction. The visit, which embraces the spirit of art, culture, and worldwide allure, will not only promote the region’s scenic surroundings but will also create a global platform for local artists and artisans to engage.

During their tour, the divas are scheduled to immerse themselves in the beauty and indigenous craftsmanship of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as connect with the local population and promote the region’s distinct legacy.

In response to a query, Mr. Saidi stated that J&K is set to hold such significant worldwide beauty and corporate events, for which he thanked the persons involved.

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Typhoon Saola is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to southern Taiwan before heading towards China’s southern coast, as per warnings from Taiwan’s weather authorities.

The powerful typhoon, moving northwest, carries sustained winds of 162 kph (101 mph) and gusts reaching 198 kph (123 mph), according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau.

While the typhoon’s eye is not projected to directly hit Taiwan’s mainland, its outer bands are likely to impact the southern cities.

The weather bureau alerted residents to the potential danger of high waves and swells, advising against boat journeys. Heavy rain is anticipated across Taiwan’s eastern and southern regions from Wednesday into Thursday. Currently classified as a mid-strength typhoon, there exists a slight possibility of the storm gaining strength.

Typhoon Saola recently caused flooding in the northern part of the Philippines, leading to displacement but no reported casualties. The typhoon’s trajectory is projected to lead it to southern Fujian and Guangdong provinces along China’s southern coast.

It’s notable that Taiwan has been spared a significant typhoon landfall in recent years. In July, the island managed to avoid severe damage despite Typhoon Doksuri causing widespread flooding, capsizing boats, and resulting in several dozen fatalities across the Philippines and China.

The impending threat of Typhoon Saola serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to these natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and timely warnings to ensure the safety of residents and property.

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A powerful earthquake struck Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali and other parts of the country, sparking panic but reportedly causing no immediate damage or casualties.

The U.S. Geological Survey registered the initial earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1.

The epicenter was situated in the Bali Sea, around 181 kilometers (112 miles) northeast of Gili Air, a small island near Lombok Island adjacent to Bali. The quake occurred at an estimated depth of 513.5 kilometers (319 miles). Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency indicated that while there was no tsunami threat, aftershocks remained a concern.

The first aftershock was measured 5.4 in magnitude, followed by another of 5.6, both striking the Bali Sea shortly after the initial tremor just before dawn. Though the quake prompted many residents and tourists to flee buildings in search of higher ground, reassurances that no tsunami danger existed led to a return to normalcy.

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Thai Vietjet has been rated 5-star in sustainable tourism at the STAR: Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, on August 25, 2023, at the award ceremony held in Bangkok.

The carrier has been awarded for its continuous efforts in environmental protection and sustainable tourism under the ‘Fly Green Fund’, which was officially established in early 2021.

Since the establishment of Fly Green Fund, the airline has introduced a wide range of campaigns, including Garbage Hunter, where the airline formed a group of volunteers to remove trash and garbage from different cities/provinces across Thailand, and ‘Metro Forest’, in which the airline aims to add more green space in Thailand’s urban regions.

“As an air transportation service provider, Thai Vietjet believes that we are also responsible for environmental sustainability. We have put an enormous effort into reducing pollution from our daily operation, and have taken many actions to protect the environment, reducing the cause of the global warming issue that humanity has been facing. Our appreciation goes to the Tourism Authority of Thailand for recognizing our hard work and effort toward sustainable tourism. We believe that by working together, we will be able to achieve the common goal of promoting sustainable tourism in Thailand” said  Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Director of Commercial, Thai Vietjet.

The “STAR: Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating” program is a sustainability program under TAT, which helps push Thailand’s move towards sustainable tourism. Under the program, businesses that meet the program’s self-assessment requirements will be awarded the “Sustainable Star” certificate, which is valid for two years.

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Lapita Dubai Parks and Resorts has selected Ravneet Arora as the new Director of Sales and Marketing.

With over 12 years in the hospitality sector, Arora’s experience includes serving as the multi-property Director of Sales and Marketing for a cluster of Marriott hotels.

This portfolio consisted of Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Creek, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, Element by Westin Al Jaddaf, and Courtyard by Marriott, Culture Village, where she spearheaded comprehensive sales and marketing endeavors. In her fresh role, Arora will be responsible for crafting and executing sales and marketing strategies to boost Lapita’s market share, drive revenue growth, and elevate guest satisfaction.

Lapita’s General Manager, Faiek El Saadani, expressed excitement about Arora’s addition to the team, highlighting her luxury hospitality background. Arora, who began her career with Marriott in 2007, progressed through various Sales and Marketing roles, contributing significantly to corporate partnerships and source market expansion. Relocating to the UAE in 2017, Arora’s stint at Ghaya Grand saw her enhance apartment occupancy and secure substantial corporate contracts.

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In New Delhi, the impending G20 summit is expected to boost the hotel industry to greater heights. The Secretary General, Hotel Association of India, MP Bezbaruah, observed that the room and hotel occupancy rates have climbed back to the levels existed during pre-pandemic times.

The HAI executive, in conversation with PTI, explained that on explanation of the rising demand because of the summit and a boost up in tourism, the hotel industry is witnessing room rates touching greater highs. He said because of the current demand-supply situation, room rates have got increased a little bit than the pre-pandemic. He said that he can well understand that at this present moment, there is a huge demand from not only G20 but from tourists who are pouring into the metropolitan cities to see what is happening as well and for that reason, demand has gone up. Seemingly, the prices have gone up as it’s mainly a request/demand and supply situation in the market.

While making a remark on the feedback from members in terms of the high tariffs in the hotels, the HAI Secretary observed that mostly occupancy and the room rates are back to the prices of pre-pandemic times. Actually, the room rates have been occasionally a little higher.

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With the UAE commemorating Emirati Women’s Day, which is on the 28th of August, the extraordinary
assistances of Emirati women in boosting the country’s growth with the farsighted leadership take centerstage on this important event.

The theme for this year’s Emirati Women’s Day, ‘We Collaborate for Tomorrow’, supports the country’s all- embracing maxim for the year, ‘Today for Tomorrow’, aligning with the ‘UAE Year of Sustainability’. With their steadfast devotion, Emirati women would carry on playing an essential role toward driving sustainable development for the upcoming days, forming an inheritance of permanent development.

From proficient administrators to CEOs, Emirati women are energetically backing Dubai’s effort to boost its position as one of the best three international cities in the world, in agreement with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. On this distinctive event, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) highlights its exceptional female officials who play essential parts in DET’s determinations to guarantee the triumph of the D33 Agenda.

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Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Delhi office is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ryo Bunno as its new Executive Director, effective from 15th August 2023. With a rich background in Journalism, Communications, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations, Ryo Bunno brings a wealth of experience and a global perspective to his new role.

In 2018, Ryo Bunno joined the Japan National Tourism Organization, Tokyo embarking on a fulfilling career journey. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to the Digital Marketing and PR section. In recognition of his exceptional skills and dedication, he was assigned to JNTO Manila Office in July 2022, where he continued to elevate the organization’s presence in the international tourism landscape. His term in Manila, which concluded in August 2023, marked another milestone in his illustrious career.

In this new role, Ryo Bunno will play a pivotal role in leading the JNTO, Delhi Office into its next phase of growth and innovation. His extensive experience, dedication to excellence, combined with his global perspective and passion for travel, makes him an invaluable asset to the organization. Under his leadership, JNTO, Delhi Office is poised to continue its mission of promoting Japan as a must-visit destination for Indian travelers.

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Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has welcomed the latest tourism numbers, saying that tourism revenues will help reduce the current account deficit.

Tourism is booming! Türkiye welcomes a remarkable 7.1 million foreign visitors in one month, marking the best July in history, Şimşek wrote on social media.

Türkiye’s current account deficit is expected to shrink significantly, from a 12-month rolling deficit of $56 billion in June to around $40 billion in December, thanks to a slowdown in consumer loan growth and a sharp rise in tourism revenues, the minister said.

This is supportive of a more stable [Turkish] Lira.

Tourism is one of the major sources of hard currency for the country’s economy.

In July, foreign tourist arrivals increased by 7.3 percent from a year earlier, the data from the Tourism Ministry showed last week.

More than 30 million tourists visited Türkiye in the first seven months of the year, raising hopes that the country may host a record number of holidaymakers in 2023.

Foreign tourist arrivals rose by 16.2 percent in January-July to 26.8 million, while 3.3 million Turkish citizens residing abroad vacationed in the country during the same period.

In the same period of 2019, Türkiye hosted 26.77 million foreign visitors.

As a whole in 2019, Türkiye received a record number of tourists, including more than 45 million foreigners and 6.7 million Turks residing abroad.

Despite the ongoing war with Ukraine, tourists from Russia increased from 2.2 million in January-July 2022 to 3.5 million in the first seven months of 2023.

Germans constituted the second largest group of foreign holidaymakers at 3.2 million, up from 2.99 million a year ago.

Some 2.1 million Britons vacationed in Türkiye in the same period, rising from 1.8 million a year earlier.

Tourism revenues

Türkiye’s tourism revenues amounted to $21.7 billion in the first half of 2023, rising by a strong 27 percent from the January-June period of last year.

The country set a target of attracting 60 million tourists and generating $56 billion in tourism revenues in 2023.

Türkiye posted a current account surplus of $674 million in June thanks to strong tourism revenues and a smaller trade deficit due to a fall in global energy prices after reporting a deficit of $7.84 billion in May.

Travel item recorded a net inflow of $4.2 billion in the month, according to the latest data from the Central Bank.

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SKIL Cabs is excited to announce the appointment of Aman Khupsare as the General Manager – Operations. Aman brings with him over two decades of diverse professional experience, having worked with multinational corporations and startups across industries including Pharma, Telecom, Insurance, Media, Fitness, and Wellness.

His expertise spans areas like Sales and Distribution, Business Development, and Account and Project Management.

Aman is known for his exceptional cross-functional proficiency in both strategic and operational aspects of business. A self-starter and a mindful taskmaster, he possesses a notable ability to manage young and dynamic teams. Aman’s accessibility and social nature play a pivotal role in fostering enduring and profitable relationships.

Speaking about his appointment, Aman Khupsare said, “I am grateful to the SKIL Cabs team for vesting their trust in me to lead the operations. Driven by a holistic perspective and setting ambitious goals accordingly, my leadership helps boost the self-confidence of my team members. I am an avid learner, constantly updating my knowledge by immersing myself in reading, observing, and interacting with high performers. Respect and care for my colleagues are paramount to me. It would be my endeavor to take our operational excellence to new heights.”

Vikash Kejriwal, COO at SKIL Cabs, expressed his excitement about Aman’s arrival, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Aman Khupsare to our team as the General Manager – Operations. His rich and diverse experience, coupled with his leadership acumen, aligns seamlessly with our company’s vision. We are confident that Aman will play a pivotal role in driving SKIL Cabs to new heights of operational excellence and customer satisfaction.”

Aman’s career objectives align with his determination to lead enterprises into new areas of success. He aspires to be recognized as a valuable asset to the organization on the back of his collaborative nature and eye for detail in aiding the brand’s growth in upcoming markets.

On a personal front, Aman Khupsare envisions nurturing young children to lead meaningful lives and become responsible citizens of India.

With Aman Khupsare’s exceptional background and SKIL Cabs’ commitment to innovation, this collaboration promises to redefine industry standards and set new benchmarks for success.

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