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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
One more conflict puts city tourists' Durga Puja vacation plans on hold
1 2 3 Kolkata: The reverberations of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia were felt in Kolkata on Thursday, with tourists booked to travel to these countries during Durga Puja feeling the jitters. The two neighbouring Southeast Asian countries are among the most popular destinations for leisure travellers from Kolkata. Nearly 2 lakh people from the city travelled to Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket in Thailand last year, while Phnom Penh and Siem Reap received around 50,000 visitors from Kolkata. Together, the two countries attract around 40-45% of the international traffic originating from Kolkata. Phones in the offices of travel agents and tour operators in Kolkata rang off the hook shortly after news broke that Thailand launched air strikes on military targets in retaliation to Cambodia firing rockets and artillery at Thailand. "Will it be safe to travel to the region?' was the most common question that travel agents fielded on Thursday evening. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "We initially planned to travel to Turkey and Greece. But after the Indo-Pak conflict, in which Turkey lent its support to Pakistan, we dropped Turkey from the itinerary. Then the war between Israel and Iran, followed by the latter's missile attack on Qatar, forced us to drop travel via the region altogether. Though we went to Thailand before, we decided to go there again because it appeared to be the safest bet. But now, even that is not an option. We will probably take a holiday someplace in India this year," said Gariahat resident Dilip Ray. Scores of other travellers who recently booked holidays to these countries are now requesting travel agents to cancel the foreign visit and instead organise a domestic tour. Agents and operators who advised clients to travel to the region are requesting them to refrain from taking any decision yet and say they are pretty certain the situation will improve, given that a lot rides on tourist movement for the two countries, particularly Thailand. "We hope the skirmish will be over soon. Otherwise, the impact will be devastating. Around 40-45% of outbound travellers from Kolkata visit Thailand, and around 7-8% visit both Thailand and Cambodia. A conflict will impact both countries,' said Travel Agents Federation of India national executive committee member Anil Punjabi. Sensing the potential impact on its economy, the Tourism Authority of Thailand was quick to point out that the conflict zone was geographically restricted to remote areas of the Thai–Cambodian border and did not impact the popular tourist destinations. "The Royal Thai Govt would like to reassure all travellers that the overall security situation in Thailand remains safe, stable, and welcoming. The recent developments are confined to a limited area near the Thai–Cambodian border in Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces and do not affect the rest of the country. Tourist destinations across Thailand remain operational, with no disruptions to travel, transportation, or public services," it stated. Notwithstanding the assurance, tour operators acknowledge it will be difficult to convince travellers to visit a country at war. "No one wants to wade into a conflict zone on a holiday. While Thailand and Cambodia will bear the brunt, even other countries in the region — Malaysia and Singapore — will take a hit," Indian Association of Tour Operators chairman (West Bengal) Debjit Dutta said. Travel Agents Association of India national executive committee member Manav Soni said unless the conflict ends soon, it could even impact airlines. "Five airlines operate between Kolkata and Bangkok, four of them daily. A lot is riding on this conflict," he said, hoping and praying the situation de-escalates soon.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
Geopolitics nudges Kol tourists eastwards
Kolkata: Tour operators and travel agents are urging clients to avoid travelling west this Durga Puja and winter and instead look at destinations in Southeast Asia, the Far East and Australia. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The advice stems from the unprecedented situation that many westbound travellers found themselves in last week, when several hundred flights from Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were cancelled, leaving passengers stranded in these hubs for 48-72 hours. With no direct flights to Europe or America from Kolkata, Gulf carriers offered the most convenient connection to the west. But the chaos following the closure of airspace after Iran launched a missile attack against a US airbase in Qatar forced the travel trade community to rethink itineraries for clients during the ensuing holidays. "Unless my clients insist on travelling to Europe or the US, I will advise them to explore Southeast Asia, Japan-Korea and Australia-New Zealand. There is a lot to see in this part of the world. Though normal flights have resumed in the Gulf, the disruptions over the Israel-Palestine conflict since Oct 2023 and the larger one this June due to the hostilities between Israel and the US on one side and Iran on the other have rattled us," said Travel Agents Federation of India national executive committee member Anil Punjabi. Preliminary trends show seven out of 10 customers prefer to travel eastward rather than to the Gulf or beyond. Some are wary of the situation escalating again. With the Russia-Ukraine war showing no sign of ceasefire despite US president Donald Trump's intervention, many feel avoiding the region until stability returns may be the best call for this Durga Puja and winter. Travel Agents Association of India national executive committee member Manav Soni said travel to the peaceful east could be a better bet. "Other factors, such as lower costs and visa waiver by countries in Southeast Asia, offer ease of travel. But the foremost factor is the assurance of safety," Soni said. "One can take risks while travelling for work or meeting families and friends. But families don't want uncertainty on vacations. " Punjabi also said for Southeast Asia countries, where a visa was required, the processing time was much less.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Air India plane crash effect: Everyone now wants seat 11A, even if it costs extra
Following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which claimed 241 lives, one detail has captured the public imagination: seat 11A. That's where the only survivor, 40-year-old Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was seated. Ever since, Indian travel agents have reported a surge in requests for that very seat — with some passengers even willing to pay extra for it. Ramesh, a UK-based passenger, walked away with minor injuries after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical complex shortly after takeoff. His brother, seated beside him, tragically did not survive. Ramesh's miraculous escape, seated in the emergency exit row, has sparked what many are calling the " Viswash effect ." Travelers are now increasingly seeking out emergency exit seats — especially 11A — believing it might offer better survival odds. 'I want seat 11A, or whichever seat is by the emergency exit,' said Rajesh Bhagnani, a frequent flyer from Kolkata. 'After watching Viswashkumar's great escape, I feel that seat gives me a better shot at survival.' Another traveler, businessman Jitender Singh Bagga, echoed the sentiment. 'I'm willing to fork out any extra amount for it,' he said, referring to his upcoming flight to the US. 'Even when 11A isn't next to an emergency exit, passengers are asking for it,' said Anil Punjabi of the Travel Agents Federation of India. 'It's about belief, comfort, and peace of mind.' Live Events Is Seat 11A the safest? Aviation experts say it is not so straightforward because aircraft vary widely in seat configurations, crashes are unique and survival often hinges on a complex interplay of factors. "Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location," said Mitchell Fox, a director at Flight Safety Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit. Ramesh Viswashkumar said his 11A seat was near an emergency exit on the London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday and he managed to walk out. Sitting next to an exit door might help you survive an accident but it won't always be 11A because aircraft can have dozens of different configurations. "In this particular instance, because the passenger was sitting adjacent to the emergency exit, this was obviously the safest seat on the day," said Ron Bartsch, Chairman at Sydney-based AvLaw Aviation Consulting. "But it's not always 11A, it's just 11A on this configuration of the Boeing 787." A 2007 Popular Mechanics study of crashes since 1971 found that passengers towards the back of the plane had better survival odds. Some experts suggest the wing section offers more stability. Sitting next to an exit door, like Viswashkumar, gives you an opportunity to be one of the first out of the plane, although some exits don't function after a crash. The opposite side of the plane was blocked by the wall of a building it crashed into, he said. The London-bound Air India flight AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died along with 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex. The ill-fated flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal along with First Officer Clive Kunder. While Sabharwal had 8,200 hours of flying experience, Kunder 1,100 hours, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier said in a statement. The aircraft departed from the Ahmedabad airport at 1.39 pm. The pilot (Sabharwal) of the plane issued a 'Mayday' distress call, denoting a full emergency, soon after take-off to the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad. Moments later, the plane, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, smashed into the medical complex located outside the airport compound.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: Survivor's story hikes demand for emergency exit seats...
Air India plane crash: Survivor's story hikes demand for emergency exit seats... KOLKATA: The miraculous survival of Viswashkumar Ramesh, the only person to escape Thursday's AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, has led to an unprecedented demand for seats near emergency exits on flights across carriers. Ramesh was seated on 11A - next to the emergency exit - when tragedy struck. Seat numbers next to emergency exits vary according to the types of aircraft and class configuration. These seats come with extra legroom and a higher price. Aviation experts, however, said such seats may not provide any additional safety in the event of a crash. All they offer is ample legroom. For some passengers, however, they offer mental peace now, report Tamaghna Banerjee & Subhro Niyogi. Jitender Singh Bagga, who runs a distribution and logistics operations business, said he asked his travel agent to only book seats next to emergency exits when he travels to the US via Delhi next week. "I am willing to fork out any extra amount," Bagga said. Rajesh Bhagnani also told his agent about his preference for a seat next to the emergency exit. "After watching Viswashkumar's great escape, I want to be next to the emergency exit," said Bhagnani. Anil Punjabi of the Travel Agents Federation of India, confirmed the rise in queries for these seats, with a special interest in seat 11A.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Reviving tourism: Travel agents from across India to converge in Kashmir this weekend
Reviving tourism: Travel agents from across India to converge in Kashmir this weekend NEW DELHI: Travel agents from across the country will converge in Kashmir this weekend in a bid to revive tourism there following this once-thriving industry's near-total collapse after the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), which is one of the country's biggest umbrella organisations for agents with over 1,600 members, is holding its meeting in Srinagar and Pahalgam from June 13-16 to instill confidence among the fraternity. 'Our members from all over the country will go to Kashmir and assess the situation for themselves. Once and if they feel confident about the place and about the safety & security of tourists, they will again start presenting Kashmir as a destination,' said TAFI VP Anil Kalsi, adding, 'We will be staying across hotels, including houseboats, and have meetings with govt representatives. Airlines will also be a part of this meeting we are having in Kashmir. ' Srinagar hotels and flights commanded a big premium before the Pahalgam attack as Kashmir was seeing unprecedented tourist footfalls post Covid. But after the April 22 attack, tourists already there left Kashmir in droves and those who had plans to visit cancelled the same. 'What happened in Pahalgam was tragic and shocking beyond words. Authorities there need to regain confidence and trust of tourists for the latter to return there,' said a Delhi-based travel agent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo If the agents' meet finds the situation safe enough for that to happen, what incentives will the local hotels and airlines offer for tourists to return? 'The near complete collapse of demand has left airfares and hotel tariffs at near bottom levels, so prices are very low. Gulmarg's Khyber, for instance, used to have daily tariffs of about Rs 75,000 which are now down to Rs 21-22,000 and the hotel is offering packages,' said Kalsi. J & K is currently focussed on ensuring a safe Amarnath Yatra as they hope that will send out a message that tourists can return to Kashmir. The yatra duration has been curtailed to 38 days, instead of 52 days in 2024, and will be on between July 3 and Aug 9, 2025. A total of 581 companies from various Central Armed Police Forces, along with personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, will be deployed along the pilgrimage routes to ensure safety of the lakhs of pilgrims. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
