New Delhi: With Reliance Jio taking the premium 700MHz in all 22 telecom circles or zones, the company is set to provide its consumers much faster and efficient indoor 5G coverage in highly populated cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune and Chennai to gain more subscribers.The 700 MHz spectrum can provide 6-10 km of signal range with one tower and forms a good base for offering 5G.The pricey 700 MHz band saw bids worth Rs 39,270 crore, led by Reliance Jio.Allocation of the 700 MHz band is one of the key solutions for meeting the mobile data explosion challenge faced by the telecom industry and regulators, seeking additional spectrum for the deployment of new mobile broadband networks and capacity.Pulkit Pandey, Principal Analyst, Gartner, told IANS that the interest in the 700 MHz band by the telecom companies "indicates the communications service providers (CSPs) are focusing on enhanced indoor coverage, where the 700 MHz band could play a crucial role"."This band could also help CSPs to provide standalone 5G services and introduce network slicing. This could be an indication for CSPs trying to also start working on standalone 5G," Pandey added.Availability of prized 700MHz spectrum will mean that Jio has to upgrade only 1 lakh out of 3.5 lakh towers to cater to 80 per cent of target 5G opportunity in India, while peers have to upgrade a higher number of towers.The 5G era will open 10 times faster than 4G and 30 times faster than 3G, allowing millions to have an experience never seen before.Jio said that its unique 700 MHz spectrum footprint will make it the only operator providing "true 5G" services across the country."The speed, scale and societal impact of Jio's 4G rollout is unmatched anywhere in the world. Now, with a bigger ambition and stronger resolve, Jio is set to lead India's march into the 5G era," said Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm.According to chip-maker Qualcomm, the 700MHz spectrum can achieve more than 300 Mbps of download speed in trial conditions.The 700 MHz spectrum will also help Jio to deliver 5G SA (standalone) services for enterprises."An operator having the sub-Ghz spectrum in its 5G layer can gain between 200-300 basis points (2-3 per cent) of total subscriber market, and a much higher number (10 per cent market share gain) over an operator that does not have a sub-Ghz layer in its 5G rollout," according to a white paper by global consulting firm Analysys Mason.Sub-Ghz bands (usually in the range of 700Mhz and 900Mhz) are ideal for wireless applications, cover long distances and consume less power."Jio is fully ready for 5G rollout in the shortest period of time because of its nationwide fibre presence, all-IP network with no legacy infrastructure, indigenous 5G stack and strong global partnerships across the technology ecosystem," said the company. Jio said its 5G network will enable the next generation of digital solutions that will accelerate India's AI-driven march towards becoming a $5+ trillion economy. —IANS

With Reliance Jio taking the premium 700MHz in all 22 telecom circles or zones, the company is set to provide its consumers much faster and efficient indoor 5G coverage in highly populated cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune and Chennai to gain more subscribers.

With Premium 700Mhz Band In Its Kitty, Reliance Jio Has An Edge Over Rivals

Ayodhya: A railway station that is a replica of the Ram temple, an international airport equipped with modern amenities, wide roads that will allow easy access to temples, improved facilities for boarding and lodging and, of course, the much-awaited Ram temple.Ayodhya, till a few years ago, was known mainly for the Babri demolition and the ensuing legal battle for a temple.&nbsp;Today, it is a city that is poised to become one of the most preferred tourist destinations in the coming years -- one that will attract not only domestic but also foreign tourists in large numbers.The construction of Ram temple that is being simultaneously marked by rapid development of the holy city is paving the way for a new Ayodhya.The holy city is all set for an expansion that will be known as 'Navya Ayodhya'.The new township will spread across 1500 acres and will have guest houses of about two dozen states. The new township will be developed as a Vastu-friendly Vedic city.The New Ayodhya will be having guest houses for 5 countries including Korea, monasteries, and over 100 plots for different sects, communities, and volunteer organisations.The focal point of the holy city, however, will remain the upcoming Ram temple, arguably the largest Hindu temple in the world.According to a conservative estimate of the tourist department, Ayodhya will be witnessing a three-fold increase in the tourists' footfall, in the next one decade. Over 6.8 crore of people will be travelling to Ram's birthplace by 2030, the statistical analysis suggests.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is leaving no stone unturned to make Ayodhya one of the best and top-notch cities across the globe.Following the Supreme Court's decision in favour of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in 2019, all the development schemes have been fast-tracked by the Yogi government.Officials have been asked to complete all projects by 2023 when the sanctum sanctorum of the temple opens for devotees.Yogi Adityanath promises to make Ayodhya an eco-friendly city and all departments are working in tandem to ensure this.According to officials, entry points will have electronic vehicles for ferrying devotees to the Ram temple.All the main routes will have parking and multi-level parking areas.The state government also announced that a 200 feet high statue of Lord Ram would be installed on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya.There is a proposal to build a digital museum based on Lord Ram in Ayodhya to boost tourism and beautify the temple town.The Uttar Pradesh government is also planning to make a ropeway to facilitate the tourists. This idea of government will not only be convenient for the tourists and devotees but it will also help in reducing pollution.The Saryu River will be connected to STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) to make it cleaner and purer without any pollution.Ayodhya will also be developed as a solar city.The Urban Development Department along with Non- Conventional Energy Development Agency (NEDA) is in the process of preparing a comprehensive action plan on the same.&nbsp;—IANS

A railway station that is a replica of the Ram temple, an international airport equipped with modern amenities, wide roads that will allow easy access to temples, improved facilities for boarding and lodging and, of course, the much-awaited Ram temple.

 Ayodhya prepares for 3-fold increase in tourist arrivals with brand new look

Thiruvananthapuram: With Congress candidate Chandy Oommen winning the September 5 Puthuppally bypoll hands down, the traditional political rivals find themselves going back to the drawing board in view of the nearing Lok Sabha polls.
Chandy Oommen won with a record breaking majority of 37,719 votes and the worst hit on account of it is Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose stock is now hovering at rock bottom for multiple reasons and the CPI(M) cadre is reportedly not pleased with his style of functioning. So are the other Left allies, as at present of the 20 Lok Sabha seats, 19 are with the Congress-led UDF.
Though the CPI(M) top brass tried to play down the defeat at Puthuppally, according to sources in the know of things, an air of displeasure has
started blowing at all levels of the party especially at the lowest levels, which is the backbone of the party.
Both Vijayan and state party secretary M.V.Govindan watched Chandy racing to a record-breaking win and after a while the former left the state party headquarters and Govindan, facing a volley of questions, tried his best to shield Vijayan from being branded as the main cause of the debacle.
A media critic on condition of anonymity said though all knew what the result at Puthuppally would be, this drubbing was not expected as theruling Left ruledsix of the eight village councils in Puthuppally.
“The sooner the CPI(M) realizes that the once invincible Vijayan is cracking, the better it’s for the CPI(M). One reason why he has started
to lose the confidence of the people is the way he has been staying away from public glare as it’s seven months since he has met the media, nor has he answered the multitude of allegations that have surfaced about him and his family,” said the critic.
State Congress president K.Sudhakaran said the result at Puthuppally is the beginning of the end of the Left in Kerala.
“The narrative that in Puthuppally we got the vote of the BJP is humbug. Our candidate received votes from people working in various political
parties, including the CPI(M). The CPI(M) vote share has gone down drastically. Things no longer augur well for the CPI(M),” said Sudhakaran.
Veteran Congress legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who marshalled the Congress for the by-election, said 10 per cent of the votes that Chandy got came from the CPI(M).
At the moment the Congress appears in a buoyant mood but the unpredictable nature of their top brass seems to be troubling the party men.
Unlike the CPI(M), where none ever makes a public statement, in the Congress there is hardly anyone who remains quiet and all eyes are on the present leadership of the party handling the newest CWC member Shashi Tharoor.
Tharoor is certainly being looked up as a challenge to the present leadership of the party here and if things get sorted out and fall in order, then the CPI(M) will find the going tough.
&nbsp;—IANS

With Congress candidate Chandy Oommen winning the September 5 Puthuppally bypoll hands down, the traditional political rivals

Puthuppally bypoll outcome sets tone for LS polls

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas on Sunday said that tourism activities across Kerala are moving ahead safely and normally with all events including the Champions Boat League (CBL) taking place as per schedule, marking the commencement of the high inbound season.
The minister said that the situation was well under control in a few pockets of Kozhikode district from where some cases of Nipah virus infection were reported, thanks to co-ordinated and foolproof containment measures taken on a war footing.
Riyas, who is camping in Kozhikode, his home district, to closely monitor the situation along with Health Minister Veena George, said that there was no room for worry on this count.
Tourism Department officials are in close touch with the travel and hospitality industry and service providers and the feedback is that all tourism activities are on track as planned, the Minister said.
In the affected area, the government has mobilised the medical community and the health infrastructure in full strength. Localised quarantine zones have been demarcated and all precautions are in place. The strong and timely interventions have started yielding results, he said.
Given the state’s strong health sector infrastructure and history of effective interventions during the past medical emergencies, Kerala has always remained a safe destination for tourists, and the situation is no different now, he said.
Kerala Tourism has come out unscathed from serious crises in the past, like natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic and is poised to scale new heights by the year-end, having clinched an all-time high record of 20.1 percent increase in domestic arrivals in the first half of 2023, he added.
—IANS

Kerala Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas on Sunday said that tourism activities across Kerala are moving ahead safely and normally

Tourism activities are in full swing in Kerala: Minister

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh): The tourist inflow in Shimla has increased in recent weeks, bringing hope to the tourism industry, which was hit hard by floods and landslides earlier this year. Bengali tourists, who typically visit Shimla during the Navratri festival have started arriving in the town.
Speaking to ANI, Priyanka Naskar, a tourist from Kolkata, expressed her happiness on arrival to Shimla. “It is good to be here. I am coming for the first time. We were in a state of fear that there were floods and rains that caused havoc here. But it is very good here and we are enjoying it. I would recommend everyone to come here and ask our Bengali people not to cancel their bookings, it is very good here. I wanted to come once to hills here and now I am happy to be here,” said Priyanka Naskar, a tourist.
Pravir Haldar, a tourist from West Bengal lauded the Himachal Pradesh government's efforts to restore all roads.
"I have been coming here earlier but this year due to heavy rain and floods. However, we did not cancel our visit, there was a sense of fear, but now we are feeling safe. Both the Union and State governments have done good and restored all roads. The tourist destinations are safe and the roads are clear and I would recommend everyone to come here. For Bengali tourists, Shimla, Kali Bari temple, and hills are the best choice. We are feeling happy to be here, I am disappointed as I wanted to travel through the Tody train but it was cancelled," said Pravir Haldar, a tourist from West Bengal. Weekend tourists from neighbouring states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi are also flocking to Shimla. Gurjeet Kaur, a tourist from Delhi, said that she was enjoying her time in the town.
“I am coming from Delhi, we thought it would be tough and roads would be closed but everything is normal after the floods here. We like coming on weekends as most of the people prefer coming on weekends. On weekends we have holidays and it is the right time to spend and enjoy the holidays,” said Kaur. Notably, due to Milad-un-Nabi/Eid-e-Milad and Gandhi Jayanti holidays accompanied by Saturday and Sunday off on the 28th, 29th, 30th, September and 1st, and 2nd of October have caused a rush among tourists to visit Shimla. Mohinder Seth, President of the Himachal Pradesh Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Stakeholders Association, said that the tourist arrival has increased after the floods and that the industry is hopeful of good business ahead. He raised concern over the illegally operated homestays and bed and breakfast (B&amp;B) guest houses are becoming a threat to the hotel industry. “The illegally operated homestays and bed and breakfast (B&amp;B) guest houses are becoming a threat to the hotel industry. The tax imposed by the transport department on tempo travelers is 6000 rupees per entry is very high the travel agencies across the country are against it, if transports are paying taxes for all Indian tourist permits why there is a need to impose additional tax? We have received a letter from Gujarat, the travel and transport business units are planning to shift the tourists to Jammu and Kashmir,” said Mohinder Seth.
Thousands of tourists annually visit Hill state, as per data available with the tourism department of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2019 nearly 1720000 tourists including nearly 400000 foreign tourists visited the state with a jump of nearly 5 per cent in comparison to the year 2018. During the years 2021 to 2022, arrival decreased due to the pandemic and now again it has started increasing but rain and floods have hit it again. An economy of over 11000 crore is generated in the state of Himachal Pradesh in the tourism sector and it is considered a backbone for the economy in the state which contributes to 7.3 per cent of state GDP.  "Now this will affect the employment of lakhs of people in the state. This year till June over 1.6 crore tourists arrived in the state but after the rain and floods in July and August, tourism was badly hit in the region. Now the tourism business units are reviving business," added Seth.&nbsp;
—ANI

The tourist inflow in Shimla has increased in recent weeks, bringing hope to the tourism industry, which was hit hard by floods and landslides

Himachal Pradesh: Tourism in Shimla booms amid festive season, weekends

Jakarta: More than 140 Rohingya have arrived in Indonesia's North Sumatra province over the weekend, state news agency Antara reported on Monday, adding to a surge of arrivals of members of the Myanmar Muslim minority to Indonesia.
The group, consisting mostly of women and children, arrived by boat in North Sumatra's Deli Serdang area late on Saturday, according to the Antara report that cited a police officer.  The arrivals came after the military said last week its navy vessel had driven away a boat carrying Rohingya in waters further north off Sumatra, as the persecuted ethnic minority faces growing hostility and rejection in Indonesia.  More than 1,500 Rohingya have landed in Indonesia since November, according to data from the United Nations' refugee agency (UNCHR).  For years Rohingya have been leaving Myanmar, where they are generally regarded as foreign interlopers from South Asia, denied citizenship and subjected to abuse.  They depart usually for Indonesia or neighbouring Malaysia from November to April, when the seas are calmer.  Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees, but has a history of taking in refugees if they arrive.
—Reuters

More than 140 Rohingya have arrived in Indonesia's North Sumatra province over the weekend, state news agency Antara reported on Monday

More than 140 Rohingya arrive in Indonesia's North Sumatra

Bangkok: Thailand and China will permanently waive visa requirements for each other's citizens from March, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday.
Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which relies heavily on tourism, in September waived entry requirements for Chinese tourists until February this year.  "This will upgrade the relationship between the two countries," Srettha told reporters.  In 2023, Thailand welcomed 28 million foreign tourists, slightly above its target, generating 1.2 trillion baht ($34.93 billion) of revenue, government data showed.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/new-year-new-flights-as-etihad-welcomes-2024-with-more-destinations-to-india" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/new-year-new-flights-as-etihad-welcomes-2024-with-more-destinations-to-india</a>&nbsp;
Of that, the top source market was Malaysia with 4.5 million visitors, followed by 3.5 million arrivals from China.  That compared with a pre-Covid record of 39 million arrivals with 11 million from China.
—Reuters

Thailand and China will permanently waive visa requirements for each other's citizens from March, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said

Thailand, China to permanently waive visas for citizens from March: Thai PM Srettha Thavisin

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh continues to solidify its position on the global tourism map, achieving new milestones each year. In 2022, the number of tourists visiting UP was 31.85 crores, while in the first nine months of 2023, over 32 crore tourists, including a significant number of international visitors, explored Uttar Pradesh. Among the various destinations in the state, Kashi attracted the highest number of tourists, while Prayagraj and Ayodhya also witnessed the arrival of crores of visitors. The year 2023 marked a significant milestone for Uttar Pradesh across diverse sectors. Achieving top positions in both central and state welfare schemes, the state also experienced notable progress in the field of tourism. From January to September 2023, the number of domestic tourists visiting Uttar Pradesh was 31,91,95,206, and 9,54,866 foreign tourists also explored the state. Notably, Varanasi, in particular, witnessed the highest number of tourist arrivals. From January to September, a total of 8,42,04,814 tourists visited Varanasi, with 8,40,71,726 being domestic tourists and 1,33,088 being international tourists. After Kashi, Prayagraj emerges as the second choice for tourists. A total of 4,49,95,996 tourists visited here from January to September 2023. Among them, the number of domestic tourists was 4,49,93,289, while 2,707 foreign tourists also explored Prayagraj. Similarly, Ayodhya secured the third position in terms of tourist arrivals. From January 23 to September 23, a total of 2,03,64,347 tourists visited Ayodhya. Among them, the number of domestic tourists was 2,03,62,713, while 1,634 were international tourists. It is noteworthy that the highest number of tourists coming to Uttar Pradesh was recorded between January and July, ranging between 5.56 to 5.80 crore. —ANI

Uttar Pradesh continues to solidify its position on the global tourism map, achieving new milestones each year. In 2022

More Than 32 Crore Tourists Visited Uttar Pradesh Within 9 Months

Shamshabad: In preparation for the floor test of the Champai Soren led coalition government in Jharkhand, which is scheduled for Monday legislators from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress parties have arrived at Shamshabad airport. They have relocated from their residence in Hyderabad.  The Soren government is planning to seek a vote of confidence on February 5 at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. This comes three days after Champai Soren took office as Chief Minister. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha holds 29 seats while its ally Congress has 17 seats. The RJD and CPI (ML) together contribute 1 seat in the 81 member Jharkhand Assembly. With a combined strength of 43 MLAs the INDIA bloc seems positioned to navigate through the upcoming floor test successfully.  In addition Congress leader Pranav Jha made allegations on Sunday claiming that the BJP has been consistently trying to destabilize their party in Jharkhand. "The Chief Minister has been given voting rights. We have than enough numbers to secure a majority. Our presence here is a measure against BJPs persistent attempts to disrupt our unity. There are threats from enforcement agencies, like ED, CBI and IT; it appears they are making efforts to disturb every opposition state " Pranav Jha informed reporters in Hyderabad. The Jharkhand governments floor test is scheduled to take place in the Assembly on Monday. This strategic move is seen as an attempt by the ruling coalition to strengthen their position and counter any attempts by the opposition party, BJP to lure away their members. The Assembly session will begin on February 5. Last for two days.  Earlier former Chief Minister Hemant Soren approached the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest. However the apex court refused to consider his plea and directed him to approach the high court instead. Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Wednesday night after being questioned for six hours in connection, with a money laundering case related to a land scam. The investigation focuses on illegal funds generated through the manipulation of official records involving fraudulent sellers and buyers who used fake or forged documents to acquire valuable plots of land worth crores of rupees.
—Input from Agencies

JMM and Congress MLAs arrive at Shamshabad airport ahead of Jharkhand's critical floor test. Updates on Champai Soren's government and BJP's alleged interference.

JMM and Congress Legislators Touch Down at Shamshabad Airport Before Crucial Floor Test for Champai Soren-led Government

Jamnagar (Gujarat): Founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani spoke on the pre-wedding function of her son Anant Ambani with Radhika Merchant. She shared the relevance of art and culture and how she is "passionate" about them, saying, "Throughout my life, I have been inspired by arts and culture. It has deeply moved me and I am very passionate about it."
While talking about her son's wedding, she mentioned, "When it came to my youngest son Anant's wedding with Radhika, I had two important wishes - first, I wanted to celebrate our roots. Jamnagar holds a special place in our hearts and has profound significance. Gujarat is where we come from, it's where Mukesh and his father built the refinery, and I started my career by converting this arid and desert-like area into a lush green township and a vibrant community." "Second, I wanted the celebration to be a tribute to our arts and culture and a reflection of our heritage and culture created by the hands, hearts and hard work of our talented creative minds. Sanskriti aur parampara ye neev hai Bhartiye sabhyata ki aur is prachin aur pavitra Bharat bhumi ko main dil se naman karti hu."
<a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1763403157969772854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1763403157969772854%7Ctwgr%5Ed9b192cd17b5f861be862e900f20b614aefc7348%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aninews.in%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fout-of-box%2Fnita-ambani-speaks-on-pre-wedding-celebration-of-her-son-anant-ambani20240301113738" target="_self">https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1763403157969772854?</a>
Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani's youngest son, Anant, is set to tie the knot with industrialist Viren Merchant's daughter, Radhika Merchant. Several celebrities have started arriving for the grand pre-wedding festivities. Earlier, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone arrived in Jamnagar on Thursday. Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji has also reached the city. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also reached the city. Zuckerberg arrived with his wife, Priscilla Chan and the couple received a warm welcome at the airport with white garlands and a traditional dance performance. Pop sensation Rihanna, superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and American singer and songwriter J Brown also arrived in Jamnagar for the three-day pre-wedding celebrations. Apart from J Brown, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and bassist Adam Blackstonehas also reached Jamnagar. On Wednesday, the Ambani family organised 'anna seva' to seek the blessings of the local community for the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. After the meal, the attendees enjoyed traditional folk music. Famous Gujarati singer Kirtidan Gadhvi stole the show with his singing. At Jogwad village near Reliance Township in Jamnagar, Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani and other members of the Ambani family, including Radhika Merchant, served traditional Gujarati food to the villagers. Radhika's maternal grandmother and parents--Viren and Shaila Merchant-- also took part in the 'anna seva'.
—ANI

Discover the grandeur of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar, embraced by Nita Ambani's passion for Indian culture.

Nita Ambani speaks on pre-wedding celebration of her son Anant Ambani

Male: Indian tourists, who used to flock to the Maldives, are now shunning the island nation and its tourism industry is already feeling the pinch of declined revenue, prompting calls for mending the fence with New Delhi.
India has slipped to sixth position in 2024 compared to being a topper in visitor numbers in 2023, prompting voices from the local tourism industry to flag the danger for the tourism-dependent economy of the archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean.  A full-blown backlash was directed at the Maldives following derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian officials after Modi posted photos and video of the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India’s west coast on January 6 on his X handle.  According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry statistics, over 17 lakh tourists visited the island nation in 2023, out of which more than 2,09,198 visitors were Indians followed by Russians (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).  The number of Indian visitors was more than 2.4 lakh in 2022 while over 2.11 lakh Indians flew to the Maldives in 2021. The Maldives was also one of the few countries open for international tourists during the pandemic and nearly 63,000 Indians visited that country during that period.  India occupied the sixth spot in tourist arrivals in 2024, the Ministry’s statistics showed, compared to the consistent first spot since 2020 with Indian tourists visiting the island nation even during the pandemic time.
Till about 10 days ago, the Ministry data showed that tourist arrivals from India as of March 2 was 27,224, which is a 33 per cent decline compared to last year when the corresponding number stood at 41,224.  The local tourism industry is worried about the development and already flagged caution.  Explaining how India plays a vital role in sustaining tourism-related receipts to the state during off-peak season, a news portal Sun.mv said: “Indian travellers have a counter-travel pattern to European travellers; meaning Indian visitors frequent to the Maldives during hot seasons, which coincides with a drop in European market arrivals. In other words, India is the most significant 'filler' for the Maldives tourism off-peak season."  It further reported on Tuesday, how, tourism industry experts and analysts have highlighted the adverse impacts of dwindling Indian arrivals to the Maldives, while some have forecast estimated losses north of USD 1.8 billion to USD 2 billion.  “Travel agencies and operators relying on Indian arrivals report a revenue decline of 80 per cent - a dangerous prospect,” the report said.  Quoting an official from ‘Let's Go Maldives’, a prominent travel agency, the portal said, the Indian traveller market consists of multiple demographics and segments from affluent to budget travellers and India is a large summer market.  “Without India, the occupancy rate is impacted negatively. This makes it a crucial market for us,” the official added.
It is not just the Indian passport holders that have boycotted the Maldives but “the arrival of affluent and wealthy Indian-origin travellers from other nations as well has declined, which too indicated the contribution of the Indian market in Maldives tourism, the news report said quoting a prominent travel agency, Travel Connection Maldives' CEO Mohamed Mirshad.  Authorities are hoping that the resumption of direct flights between Hanimaadhoo International Airport in Maldives and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state of India would bring back some more visitors from India.  "This is the most opportune moment for the island nation to mend fences with its ally. It is also logical that the smaller countries are in need of security and safety ensured by their larger allies. Any conduct to the contrary would not result fortuitously for the Maldives, as evident with the current tourism industry statistics and revenues," Sun.mv said.  “Arrogance will not benefit us, it would damage the sensitive economy of the country even further. True wisdom lies in accepting one's own weaknesses and strengths, and the reality that we live in to avoid any future brunt,” it added.
—PTI

The Maldives faces a tourism setback as Indian tourists shun the island nation due to a social media spat, plummeting to sixth in visitor numbers in 2024 from the top spot.

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With Premium 700Mhz Band In Its Kitty, Reliance Jio Has An Edge Over Rivals

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With Premium 700Mhz Band In Its Kitty, Reliance Jio Has An Edge Over Rivals

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