With excellent combination of advanced facilities, skilled doctors, and low cost of treatment have made India a popular hub of medical tourism, resultantly attracting a large number of foreign patients every year. The total number of such visitors in 2017 was 4.95 Lakh. This number had stood at around 2.34 Lakh in 2015 and 4.27 Lakh in 2016. Bangladesh and Afghanistan continued to be the top countries from where the maximum number foreign tourist arrivals (for medical purpose) were seen. In 2017, about 2.21 Lakh tourists from Bangladesh are estimated to have come to India for medical reasons, compared to…
Author: holidayweekly
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 7 August while hearing a suomotu case on Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) high airfare on Islamabad-Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)sector, directed the national flag carrier to lower its rates to the tourist destination. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nasir took suomotu notice of the matter last month. He was heading a three-judge bench hearing the case alongside Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice IjazulAhsan. In April, GB lawmakers expressed concern over a sudden Rs. 5, 500increase in the one-way fare from Islamabad to Skardu, bringing the one way fare to Rs14, 000. They noted that…
ISLAMABAD: Serena Hotels announced the winner of the bilingual Faisalabad Creative Writing Competition out of more than 70 submissions in both English and Urdu. The theme of the competition was Faisalabad in 2028 which encouraged the youth from across the country to envision the future. Eminent jury panel comprising Hafiz Tahir Khalil – Bureau Chief Daily Jang Islamabad and Sanam Zeb – Sub Editor Dawn Media Group selected the best essays on the basis of the quality of their arguments and the skill of narration during a panel session held at the Islamabad Serena Hotel. Ms. Nayyab Nasir from Lahore…
HUNZA: Former captain and now Chief Selector of Pakistan’s Cricket Team Inzamam-ul-Haq and former fast bowler Aaqib Javed have demanded the government to promote the country’s tourism industry. The duo from Pakistan’s victorious squad of World Cup 1992 visited the picturesque Hunza Valley along with the management of Lahore Qalandars following players’ development trials in Gilgit-Baltistan. Inzamam and Javed, along with Qalandars CEO Atif Rana, visited the historic Altit Fort and Attabad Lake in the valley. They were briefed on the history of Altit Fort, leaving Javed mesmerised by the scenic surroundings. “This is so historic and rich. We must…
BEIGING: Chinese Communist Party is probing the chairman of the Shanghai Airport Authority for alleged corruption as President Xi Jinping continues his five-year-plus crackdown on graft. Wu Jianrong, 56, has come under suspicion of violating party rules and state laws, according to a statement posted on the website of the party’s disciplinary watchdog in Shanghai on Monday night that offered no other details. A spokesman for the Shanghai Airport Authority declined to comment on Tuesday afternoon. The inquiry into Wu follows China charging former top internet regulator Lu Wei with corruption last month. Xi is pressing ahead with his signature…
MOSCOW: It has been confirmed that fans who travelled to the FIFA World Cup this year can re-visit Russia without a visa until December 31, 2018. Russian president Vladimir Putin made the announcement in July, but it was confirmed yesterday by the Foreign Office. It said that the offer of visa-less travel until the end of this year was open to all FIFA World Cup Russia Fan ID holders. They are advised to contact the Russian Embassy for further information. According to the announcement yesterday, fans with valid ID cards will be able to avoid the complicated visa application process,…
RIYADH: First, the kingdom announced that it had expelled Canada’s ambassador to the kingdom and frozen all new trade and investment transactions. Now, Saudi Arabia’s state airline has announced the suspension of its direct flights to Canada, starting August 13. The airline has announced an immediate suspension of reservations on its flights to Toronto and the suspension of all flights to and from Toronto from August 13, said a report in Saudi Press Agency, citing an official statement from the airline. The airline said it would cover cancellation fees, find alternative flights and issue refunds to passengers set to fly…
MUSCAT: National carrier Oman Air is continuing its expansion across Europe by extending its codeshare agreement with Lufthansa. Under the expanded codeshare deal, passengers can now travel on Oman Air flights from Muscat International Airport and connect to Madrid, Brussels, Vienna and Prague from Lufthansa’s Frankfurt and Munich hubs. The agreement offers travellers even better connectivity and an extended range of services between Muscat and Europe. Guests of both airlines will benefit from the greater convenience and the agreement is the latest step in developing closer links between Oman Air and Lufthansa, both of which share a commitment to deliver…
LONDON: Britain’s Rolls-Royce sank into the red in the first half after taking another big hit from expensive repairs to its Trent 1000 engine, it said on Thursday, 2 August. The group, which recently axed 4,600 jobs, also faced turbulence from restructuring costs and the weaker value of the Brexit-hit pound. Rolls suffered a loss after taxation of £962 million ($1.26 billion) in the six months to the end of June, it said in a results statement. That contrasted with a net profit of £1.17 billion in the same part of 2017. The company, whose products power Airbus and Boeing…
LONDON: Transport technology provider Trapeze Group has deployed its Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system to help improve operations and reduce passenger stress at London’s Heathrow Airport. The RTPI system provides travellers’ information for both airside and landside shuttle services across the airport, assisting service providers to improve schedule efficiency and improve communication with passengers. Trapeze Group account manager Matthew Newman said: “Without accurate, real-time information, waiting in an airport car park for a bus transfer can leave passengers worrying that they won’t make their connection. “The value of the system is already clear. Data screens are accurate and real-time…