Citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain can enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to an incredible 194 destinations around the world, the highest number recorded since the Henley Passport Index began tracking global travel freedoms 19 years ago. The index is created by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Pakistan fares slightly better at fifth from the bottom, with access to 34 destinations. India stands at 80th, offering visa-free travel to 57 countries, while China ranks 62nd with access to 85 countries. The Asian…
Author: holidayweekly
KARACHI: Majority of candidates nominated by United Business Group (UBG) and Businessmen Panel Progressive (BMP) succeeded in the elections of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for the term of 2024-25. According to the results issued on Saturday late night, the UBG and BMP Progressive bagged all the leading seats including the slots of the president and the senior vice president. The UBG’s presidential candidate Atif Ikram Sheikh was unofficially elected, defeating Muhammad Ali from BMP. Meanwhile, Saquib Fayyaz another nominee of the UBG defeated Abdul Ghani of BMP on the slot of senior vice president.…
KARACHI: The 12th series of Exercise Barracuda, organized by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), concluded successfully from 2-4 January. PMSA, a key player in maritime security, has consistently demonstrated leadership at both national and international levels. This exercise, a signature event since 2007, further highlighted their commitment. In a delightful addition to the land side phase at Manora Beach Park on January 3, the Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) showcased the diverse tourism offerings of Sindh. Delegates from over 16 countries visiting the event expressed keen interest in the STDC stand, turning Manora Beach Park into a vibrant hub…
ISLAMABAD: Amid growing concerns over new COVID-19 variant spread, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to resume mandatory testing of 2% of inbound passengers, The News reported on Thursday. The testing will help detect and prevent JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19. However, reports regarding the unavailability of testing kits and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) later emerged, as major airports, including Islamabad and Karachi, lacked the facilities, officials told the publication. “On the directives of caretaker federal Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan, surveillance at the country’s points of entry, including airports, has been increased and 2 percent mandatory testing…
KARACHI: Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s low-cost airline, has partnered with 1-Link to streamline payments for flight bookings. Under this innovative collaboration, passengers will have a dedicated time window to confirm their bookings by completing the payment process, offering unmatched flexibility and convenience. 1-Link, which is Pakistan’s largest payment gateway and switch system will enable customers with any bank account to easily complete their bookings by making payments from their phone or laptop, eliminating the need to visit a physical Fly Jinnah office for the transaction. At the core of this partnership is a dedication to providing Fly Jinnah customers with a…
HARBIN-CHINA: This winter, the city of Harbin has spared no effort to show sincerity and creativity in entertaining, if not spoiling, tourists from all over the world. Currently, Chinese citizens have portrayed the city as a generous big brother who is doing everything possible to entertain guests coming from afar with its unique charms and creative ideas. Harbin has long been a major tourist attraction in winter, and it has garnered more attention this winter. It ranked fifth among the most popular cities for the 2024 New Year holiday, following Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Among the top 10 cities,…
BANGKOK: Thailand enables applying for a visa extension online – a measure that is expected to benefit both tourists and residents. E-extension, the new system is designed to simplify the extension process for 12 visa categories. The online visa extension system aims at making Thailand even more attractive for foreigners and the recent changes have already shown positive trends to the country’s tourism. Phuket, one of the most visited destinations in Thailand, has facilitated visas for foreigners, introducing an online visa extension system. The Immigration Bureau Commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Itthiphon Itthisanronnachai, has announced that foreigners residing in Phuket under…
NAIROBI: Visitors to Kenya from across the world will no longer require a visa from January, President William Ruto has said. Ruto said his government had developed a digital platform to ensure all visitors would receive an electronic travel authorisation in advance, instead of needing to apply for a visa. “It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya,” he said in a speech in the capital Nairobi at an event to mark 60 years of independence from Britain. Ruto has…
DUBAI: The United States has emerged as the preferred destination for individuals seeking immigration aiming to gain a second passport due to economic, education, business, and travel reasons, a new report has revealed in a comprehensively analysed global migration movements between 2020 and 2023. Canada and the UK have come up as the second and third choice respectively, according to ‘The Annual Global Immigration Trends 2023’ by Ace Luxury Immigration Solution, a leading immigration and citizenship by investment firm. The report revealed the most favourite destinations, the origin of migrants, and where the rich migrate. The survey highlighted that the…
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has acknowledged Pakistan’s outstanding performance in tourism, marking a remarkable 92% recovery to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The country experienced a 115% surge in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the previous year, signaling a robust comeback post-Covid-19. Attributing this success to concerted efforts in tourism promotion, Managing Director-PTDC Aftab Rana said that the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) last year actively engaged in six major global events such as World Travel Mart London, ITB Berlin, New York Travel and Adventure Show, Arabian Travel Mart Dubai, Seoul Travel Mart Korea and Travel Mart…