Travel and Hospitality (TnH) - April 2022

ISSUE 7 / VOLUME XIII / APRIL 2022 Rs.350 / Pages 58

EDITOR'S NOTE

Uncertain Times Continue…

With the coronavirus semi behind us, the travel industry expected a roaring back this spring and summer. Around the world, governments suspended coronavirus restrictions, accepting Covid-19 as controllable in everyday life. Just at this juncture, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, marking an unprecedented escalation in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. In addition to all the heartbreaking loss of lives on both sides, the crisis continues to affect global travel by causing increasing disruptions to air service.

According to the Indian travel trade, the struggle has so far not caused any noteworthy influence on bookings here in India, nonetheless we have covered the impacts of the conflict in our story, ‘Russia, Travel and the World’ (pg 8). Plus, as India has completed the final leg of its Operation Ganga rescue mission for Indians stranded in war-torn Ukraine, we revisit India’s successful repatriation efforts in our story ‘‘Operation Ganga: Air India Leads Ukraine Evacuations’ (pg 34).

Finally, on a lighter note, The International Day for Monuments and Sites also known as World Heritage Day is on 18th April and our cover story features a few incredible heritage sites from around our country.

Just a parting thought: One day I would like to tune into the news and hear there is safety and peace on earth.

Publisher & Editor Srishti Jindal

CONTENT 08.

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Russia, Travel, and The World

Another Wave of Revenge Travel on the Horizon

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34.

Top 5 Apps for Travellers

Operation Ganga: Air India Leads Ukraine Evacuations

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7 Iconic Heritage Sites of India on World Heritage Day

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Publisher & Editor Srishti Rai Director Bharat S. Rai

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Russia, Travel, and The World The barrage of sanctions placed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine has had a sizable impact on the travel industry, leaving global travel companies divided. While many travel companies have halted their operations in Russia, others continue to offer their services.

The travel and tourism industry, inching towards recovery postpandemic, was dealt another blow by the invasion of Russia into Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Extensive sanctions continue to be placed on Russia, already crossing a total of 5,000 sanctions. Over 30 countries, including the US, Canada, and the EU shut down their airspaces for Russian planes, and Russia reciprocated by blocking its own airspace for 35+ countries.

Non-Russian airlines, online travel companies, travel agencies, tour firms, and car rental agencies have shown a mixed response in offering services in Russia. The motivating factors include applicable economic sanctions, moral-outrage, selfinterest, and concerns over harming Russian civilian businesses.

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Travel Companies Suspending Operations in Russia A considerable number of travel service providers have suspended operations in Russia and neighbouring Belarus, as a result of the Russian incursion into Ukraine.

These include travel agencies, hotel booking sites, airlines, vacation rentals, and tour guides.

Travel Agencies Online travel agency Expedia, part of the Expedia Group, in early March announced that it would be blocking the ability to book travel in or out of Russia. The travel giant cited the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the government-imposed sanctions, and ceased online travel booking through Expedia and its Vrbo vacation rental brand.

Another travel booking giant, Booking Holdings suspended operations in Russia and Belarus. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Booking Holdings said that bookings from these two countries combined were a low single digit percentage of their total gross bookings.

Tripadvisor, a leading online booking and reviews company, announced implementation of its crisis protocols, in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

In an open letter by the President &

CEO of Tripadvisor, Steve Kaufer, he announced automatic cancellation of any experiences booked in Russia and Belarus under its Tripadvisor and Viator brands. All booking attempts are blocked, commerce with known Russian owned businesses halted, and marketing redirected.

Spain-based online travel agency eDreams ODIGEO shut down its website for Russia on 28 February, removing Russia and Belarus airlines from its offering. Hotel bookings in Russia were suspended from 4 March after its supplier Booking Holdings suspended its own operations.

Booking companies Travelport, Sabre, and Amadeus suspended distribution of tickets and sales for Aeroflot Russian Airlines.

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Tour Companies The Travel Corporation, with 42 travel and hospitality brands under its umbrella, announced that it has suspended all tours of Russia in 2022, and tours with stops in Russia.

The largest small-group adventure travel company in the world, Intrepid Travel has currently shut down tours visiting Ukraine and Russia for the short-term future. Intrepid Travel Managing Director for North America, Matt Berna, confirmed the short-term suspension, adding that they are not boycotting Russia, but waiting for safe travel circumstances. On their website, Russia tours are displayed as available from October 2022.

Germany-based tours and activities company GetYourGuide stopped its marketing activities for Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, and is suspending its attractions and experiences in the region.

G Adventures, an adventure travel specialist tour company, has cancelled tours to Russia and will no longer offer tour services to Russian nationals living in Russia. Founder Bruce Poon Tip expressed support for Ukraine, and also confirmed that G Adventures will not be accepting any bookings from Russian agencies.

Trafalgar Tours previously had 4 trips to Russia scheduled for this year,

and is giving travellers the option to reschedule for a later date, or to a different location. The President of Trafalgar Tours for the US, Melissa DaSilva, stated that they won’t be taking guests to Russia for the rest of 2022.

Famous travel guidebook writer and host Rick Steves in late February cancelled all upcoming tours in 2022 that included a stop in Russia under his tour company Rick Steves’ Europe.

Their other European itineraries are currently on schedule.

Affordable tour package provider SmarTours confirmed the cancellation of their tours in Russia and encouraged other travel companies to halt business dealings with Russia and cancel tours.

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Hospitality Companies Airbnb suspended all operations in both Russia and Belarus, also blocking users from both the countries from making any Airbnb bookings in other countries. The suspension was announced by the Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Airbnb, Brian Chesky on Twitter.

Airbnb had approximately 100,000 short-term rentals across Russia and Belarus.

Independent hospitality software developer Cloudbeds, provider of digital tools to multiple hospitality businesses, has indefinitely suspended all operations and services in Russia. The suspension includes services provided to Russiabased companies, including partners such as MaxiBooking and Ostrovok, and customers operating in Russia.

Travel Companies Continuing Services Despite the extensive number of businesses suspending operations and services in Russia, there are still some travel companies offering active services.

Chinese airlines and major Middle Eastern airlines from countries that have not placed sanctions on Russia are still operating flights to and from

Russia. These include Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways.

Google Travel is continuing to take advertising for bookings of hotels in Russia, on behalf of hotel chains, online travel agencies, and independent booking companies.

For its partners, Google Travel is also selling vacation rentals in Russia.

Although Spain’s eDreams ODIGEO has shut down its Russian site, it does support booking of flights to and from Russia on approved airlines from other eDreams websites outside the country.

Only itineraries that don’t violate applicable EU sanctions and are processed through active payment methods are supported.

Online travel booking company Lastminute.com is offering bookings for hotels, villas and car-rentals in Russia, and selected smaller travel agencies are also active. Other car rental firms still operating in Russia are Yodo, Avis, Budget, and Rentmotors. Big brand hospitality companies such as Marriott and Hyatt continue to operate.

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Challenges for Airlines Apart from the direct suspension of flights due to the 30+ airspace closures resulting from the RussiaUkraine conflict, there are additional challenges for the airline industry.

With large areas of airspaces closed, operational airlines will have to identify alternative paths circumventing blocked areas. The longer routes increase consumption of fuel and other flying expenses, triggering an increase in fare prices for travellers.

Beyond the Travel Industry The invasion of Ukraine by Russia sparked off a series of boycotts across industries, suspending operations in Russia, and even in its neighbouring supporter Belarus.

Payment processors such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express shut down their services, making it difficult for people in Russia to complete payments.

Entertainment providers including Spotify, TikTok, and Netflix, have closed services in Russia. Popular food and beverage companies such as McDonalds and Starbucks closed the shutters on their branches in Russia. Several film festivals have dropped Russian movies from their

programmes. Car manufacturers Volvo, Jaguar, Ford, Renault, and General Motors, along with motorcycle manufacturer HarleyDavidson have suspended sales and operations in Russia.

Multiple apparel, accessories, and other retail brands have also shut down operations. Boeing has blocked aid to Russian airlines, including technical support, parts, and maintenance. The International Olympic Committee called on sports federations worldwide to cancel events planned in Russia or Belarus, and bar their athletes from attending events elsewhere. Sports federations responded with full and partial boycotts.

Long-Term Impact The current scenario between Russia and Ukraine is unpredictable, and the long-term impact is unclear. Many travel companies are not expecting tourism to Russia to recover in 2022, but changes in public sentiment can influence everything.

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Top 5 Apps for Travellers

Smartphones are a consistent presence in modern day-to-day lives, and there are an abundance of apps for nearly every activity and task. A multitude of travel apps are available in the market, but some offer greater advantages and flexibility over others.

Mobile applications commonly known as apps, have evolved exponentially from their initial function as simple tools. Advancements in mobile device technology further fuelled the market for advanced apps. Currently, there are an estimated 1.85 million different apps available for download in the iOS App Store, and 2.56 million apps offered by the Google Play Store.

The travelling experience can be completely transformed with the aid of the right apps. There are mobile apps for every step of the journey and for all types of adventures.

Specialised apps can be used for everything from planning trips to making bookings, and overall to streamline the travelling experience.

TnH has shortlisted 5 travel apps that are highly rated and can help with an enjoyable and hassle-free travelling experience.

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1. Tripadvisor (Planning and Reviews) Useful for advance planners and spontaneous travellers, Tripadvisor is an online booking and review website and mobile app. It features detailed comparisons and user-generated content, reviewing everything from restaurants and hotels, to attractions and events.

Tripadvisor can be used for inspiration and planning before a trip, giving you ideas on where to go and what to do. Bookings can also be made directly from the app for transportation, lodging, restaurants, and travel experiences.

For impulsive travellers, the Tripadvisor app can help in exploring new destinations after arrival. Based on the location, suitable activities and restaurants can be found on the app itself. With a user-generated content model, the Tripadvisor app provides genuine recommendations and detailed reviews.

Tripadvisor is a free app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

2. Skyscanner (Bookings) Skyscanner is a leading booking app that provides comparisons and bookings of flights, hotels, and cars.

Available worldwide, Skyscanner has over 100 million users per month.

It checks prices with 1,200 travel companies, so that users get the best prices.

The ‘Everywhere’ feature of Skyscanner offers endless inspiration for travelling to new destinations.

Simply entering the preferred budget and travel timelines into the Skyscanner app delivers multiple location options to travel to. For fixed locations, the Skyscanner colourcoded booking calendar identifies affordable flights for travellers.

Although there are several apps available for travel bookings, Skyscanner is highly rated for its reasonable prices and plethora of search filters. Bookings are simple and reliable, with deals from a wide range of carriers and travel agents.

Skyscanner is available free for download for Apple and Android devices.

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3. TripIt (Itinerary Creation)

4. PackPoint (Packing)

Managing multiple bookings can be messy, troublesome, and a hassle, particularly for longer trips or bookings from different sites.

The TripIt app manages all travel bookings, combining all of them into a single master itinerary document.

All that is required is to send booking confirmation emails to the TripIt app, and it automatically integrates the booking confirmations.

A packing list organising app, PackPoint builds custom packing lists based on the traveller’s destination, travel dates, and expected activities.

The intuitive app asks travellers for inputs such as gender, travel destination, type of trip, laundry facilities and duration of stay.

There are options for activities such as hiking, working, snow sports, swimming, and fancy dinners.

The TripIt app is useful for business and tourism trips as it provides a clear view of reservations already made, helping travellers stay on track. The app is capable of creating short and long itineraries, based on the booking reservations. The master itinerary can be accessed at any time from any place, offline and online.

The checklist generated by PackPoint can be adjusted as needed, by adding new items, and hiding items not required. The lists take into account the weather at travel destinations, removing the need to separately check weather forecasts.

Apart from itinerary creation, TripIt also provides airport maps and navigator guidance, helping travellers reach their scheduled spots. The TripIt itineraries can be shared easily with others.

The basic TripIt app is available for free download on iOS and Android devices. A paid version (TripIt Pro) is also available that provides real-time itinerary updates.

Convenient and customisable, PackPoint has gained popularity amongst travellers by simplifying the packing process. Easy to use, the completed lists can easily be shared via text message, email, Twitter and Facebook, and saved for future reference.

PackPoint app is available for free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. A paid version, PackPoint Premium, is also available, with advanced features such as integration with TripIt and Evernote, and advanced customisation capabilities.

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5. Google Translate (Communication) Different languages are used across the world, both within India and outside. Language barriers can pose a big challenge for travellers.

It is not always possible to learn a new language before travelling or find people to translate in a foreign location, domestic or international.

Google Translate is a valuable app for travellers visiting a region with a language they are not familiar with. It supports 109 languages and has over 500 million daily users.

The app can translate languages received as audio or text, including pictures of signs in other languages.

Live translations are provided and can also be vocalised through the speaker.

For 43 languages, Google Translate can provide live translation support for bilingual conversations.

Translations for selected languages are available offline, and users can save frequently used or preferred translated words and phrases .

The Google Translate App is available for free download for iOS and Android devices.

Bonus: TripWhistle Emergencies are unexpected and can happen anywhere, and require urgent action and response, but

emergency help numbers vary from country to country. The TripWhistle app is dedicated to travellers’ safety, providing local emergency numbers and transmission of current coordinates.

Free to download, the TripWhistle App maps movement of the device it is installed on in GPS coordinates, rather than city addresses.

Additional Apps Travelling is a personal experience and everyone has their own preferences. While some apps have versatile benefits applicable for all kinds of users, there is an abundance of niche apps also available.

Depending upon mode of transport, airline, destination, activities, and preferences, additional apps can be advantageous. For example, an app of the airline booked can give realtime updates, or a cab-hailing app for the specific city to visit can be used for local movements.

Downloading too many apps can be overwhelming and confusing.

Consider shortlisting apps that are most useful, and prioritising apps that provide the most support and ease of operation. Practise any travelling apps before the trip and use technology to improve your travels.

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Another Wave of Revenge Travel on the Horizon Revenge tourism became a trending phenomenon after the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic in India, spurred on by vaccinations and growing frustrations over movement restrictions. As the country overcomes another wave of the Covid pandemic, another round of revenge tourism appears on the horizon.

The designation of Covid-19 as a pandemic was followed by extensive travelling and movement restrictions, both at local and national levels.

Former frequent travellers and the general public were forced to stay at home, working from home, and attending schooling from home. Pent up frustrations, mental pressure, and stress resulted in a surge in tourism as soon as movement restrictions were reduced, in a trend known as ‘revenge travel’ or ‘revenge tourism’.

Across the world, revenge tourism emerged as a dominant touristic behaviour, with the time-frames changing based on the Covid-19

waves in the respective regions.

These travellers tend to prefer unconventional locations, less crowded areas, off-grid options, and places with natural beauty.

Unfortunately, with a common range of preferences, even the typically less crowded tourism spots ended up with large crowds. While the chosen destinations varied, there was a clear avoidance of big cities so that social distancing could be maintained.

The unpredictable nature of the pandemic led to an aversion of advance planning, particularly planning months ahead of travel.

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Waves of Revenge Tourism The first wave of revenge tourism in India is estimated to have taken place from July 2021 to December 2021. By then, the vaccination programme was in full swing after starting in January 2021, and the Delta wave of the coronavirus pandemic was also tapering down. International travel was limited; however, domestic travel soared.

Domestic tourism demand tripled in 2021 as compared to 2020, with the number of travellers in areas such as Goa, Tirupati, and Shirdi exceeding pre-pandemic figures. Meanwhile, none of the top 6 metropolitan cities crossed their pre-pandemic air traffic levels.

Massive numbers of travellers were spotted in popular hill stations such as Mussoorie, Manali, Nainital, and Shimla, disregarding social distancing protocols. In some cases, the police had to step in to send tourists back to prevent overcrowding. The local tourism facilities were pushed to their limit, with hotels selling out and restaurants jam-packed.

The identification of Omicron as a new variant of concern in the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent rise in cases and lockdowns, once again stalled tourism. However, as the new Covid-19 wave ebbs and international travel reopens, a fresh wave of revenge tourism is expected.

Widespread Vaccinations and Precautions Confidence has an integral role to play in people seeking out travel, especially revenge travel. People are likelier to engage in travel when they are confident that they are relatively safe and protected from the devastations the earlier waves of Coronavirus caused.

Nearly 80 percent of the eligible population in India is already vaccinated and booster shots have also begun. The long-term efficacy of the Covid vaccines might not be confirmed, nevertheless, they have proven to reduce the severity of coronavirus if contracted.

Apart from vaccinations, travel service providers have adapted their offerings to incorporate safety precautions against Covid-19.

These include routine sanitisation of premises, fully vaccinated staff, adherence to masking and social distancing protocols, and facilities for prompt medical assistance.

Clearly visible precautions and safety measures encourage people to travel, further facilitating revenge tourism.

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WHF and Hybrid Working Models

Opening Up of International Travel

Businesses worldwide switched to work from home (WFH) or remote working formats with the initial spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, with schools also switching to online learning. Intended to limit the movement of people, WFH gained popularity for the convenience and cost-savings it offered. As people spent more time than ever at their homes, the urge to travel increased, fuelling revenge travel.

The previous wave of revenge tourism primarily focused on an increase in domestic travel demand. India did have air bubble agreements with certain countries, however, the entry requirements in each country varied and airfares were exorbitantly priced.

From 27 March, international flights will resumed as usual, after 2 years of restrictions due to Covid-19.

As the Covid-19 virus hit the world in waves, WFH directives changed, with some offices reopening. Now, 2 years later, a substantial number of businesses are retaining the WFH model, or adopting a hybrid working model where employees can work from home and occasionally visit the office. Firms supporting WFH/ hybrid models include Microsoft, TCS, Facebook, Flipkart, Tata Steel, Vedanta, Twitter, and more.

The mode of working that people engage in has a direct correlation with their desire to travel. Stuck at home, without change in surroundings may cause fewer distractions and reduce commuting expenses, but it can become monotonous and frustrating. With a lot of pent up energy and monetary savings, people are likelier to travel frequently.

With the opening of commercial international flights, airfares are expected to drop by up to 40 percent, driven by an increase in supply.

Worldwide, countries have reduced their entry requirements; some only require proof of vaccination while others only a Covid negative test upon arrival, and some have no requirements at all. As local Coronavirus waves subside, more international borders are expected to open.

The new wave of revenge travel is expected to flourish with an increased demand for international travel. The last wave of revenge travel already showcased that domestic locations can get overcrowded, making international travel all the more appealing. There is also greater freedom in terms of types of destinations to visit, ranging from cold climates to warm climates, beaches and mountains, cultural spots and wilderness.

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Uncertainty of the Future If the past 2 years have proven anything, it is that the future is always unpredictable. Experts predict that the Coronavirus will eventually become endemic, and a part of normal life, although the timeline is dependent upon the discovery of any new variant of concern.

Revenge travel is likely to settle down in due course, once people have followed through with their urge to get a change from the Covid-19 imposed restrictions. In the longterm, traditional tourism patterns are expected to return, with a slight increase in demand as compared to pre-pandemic times.

For the struggling travel and tourism industry, revenge travel is both a boon and a burden. After the standstill the industry came to during the earlier Covid-19 waves, the sudden increase in demand for services can be lucrative. An overwhelming demand, on the other hand, can be difficult to meet and manage, particularly while maintaining all safety precautions.

Revenge travel is inevitable, and now is the best time to prepare for the new wave on the horizon.

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Operation Ganga: Air India Leads Ukraine Evacuations Barely a month after the historic privatisation of Air India, the carrier proved its mettle in the evacuation of stranded Indian nationals from Ukraine. Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Air India led the way for other commercial airlines and the Indian Air Force in bringing Indians back home.

Amidst tensions between Ukraine and Russia, and the mounting potential of an invasion by Russia, the government of India recommended that its nationals in Ukraine evacuate.

The first Air India evacuation flight made its trip back from Kiev on 22 February 2022, however, on 24 February, Russia invaded Ukraine.

The airspace above Ukraine was shut down the same day as the invasion, and the second Air India evacuation flight had to turn back before it could land. Approximately 4,000 Indian nationals are estimated to have left Ukraine before the airspace closed, but around 22,000 remained

in Ukraine, including over 18,000 students.

Continuing with India’s proud legacy of bringing back stranded nationals in times of crisis, Operation Ganga was launched to evacuate the Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine. Air India played an integral role in leading the evacuations, and was subsequently joined by other civilian airlines, and the Indian Air Force.

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Continuing a Legacy

Finding a Way Out

Air India has an illustrious past of playing a major role in evacuations of Indians from international countries during troubled times. Air India is also recognised by the Guinness World Records for conducting the largest evacuation of people by a civilian airliner. The record was made for Air India’s evacuation of over 1 lakh people from Kuwait in 1990, after the country was attacked by Iraq.

Prior to the Ukraine evacuations, Air India operated flights under Vande Bharat Mission in 2020 to bring back nationals stranded abroad due to Covid. In 2015, Air India conducted evacuations from Yemen, in 2014 from Libya and Malta, in 2011 from Egypt, in 2006 from Lebanon, and in 1997 from Saudi Arabia.

After the second scheduled Air India flight to Ukraine was turned back due to closure of the airspace, the mission of bringing back Indian nationals became significantly more complex.

With active shelling and fighting underway, the on-ground situation was dangerous. Operation Ganga was launched, and with tremendous coordination, the movement of Indians was directed to neighbouring countries to facilitate evacuation.

In the case of Ukraine, Air India was already pushed into action for evacuations before the airspace was closed, marking its first such mission after privatisation.

The stranded Indians faced immense challenges, with lack of food, water, shelter, and constant risk of inadvertent harm from the Russian attacks. Within Ukraine, stranded Indian nationals walked, used buses, available trains, and other modes of transport to cross the borders and reach evacuation sites.

According to statements of Ministry of Civil Aviation officials to the media, since Air India is now a private carrier, its role in the evacuations was in response to a request, and not a directive. A week before Ukraine’s airspace was shut down, the Ministry reached out to all airlines, requesting them to fly to Ukraine, however, only Air India and SpiceJet gave a commitment.

Indians in Ukraine travelled to adjoining Romania, Poland, Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia, where flights were scheduled to bring them back to India. The government of India set up Control Centres available 24/7 to help its nationals in finding suitable borders to cross.

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Combined Effort

Costs Involved

Operation Ganga was a combined effort of the Indian government, airlines, international embassies, Ukraine, and its neighbouring countries. Union Ministers were deployed to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to aid in Operation Ganga coordination.

Before the airspace of Ukraine was closed, the fares of flights back to India nearly tripled in price, making it difficult for families to afford tickets.

Regardless of costs, flights out of Ukraine were still fully booked. Under Operation Ganga, the evacuation flights became free of cost, with the government bearing costs of the flights. Selected state governments also volunteered to cover the travelling costs of people from their respective states.

Harshdeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs was sent to Hungary and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Civil Aviation went to Romania. General Vijay Kumar Singh, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation was sent to Poland, and Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, went to Slovakia.

Air India was soon joined by other private airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia India, and Go First, along with Air India Express. From 1 March, after the death of an Indian national in Ukraine due to the unrest, the Indian Air Force was also brought into action.

The maximum number of flights w conducted by Air India and Indigo, while the IAF deployed their C-17 aircrafts, capable of carrying larger numbers of evacuees in fewer flights.

Air India flights had a capacity of around 250 passengers, IndiGo capacity was 216, and Air India Express and SpiceJet both had capacities of 180 passengers each.

In comparison, the IAF C-17 capacity was 400 passengers.

Depending upon the aircraft, the flying costs are approximately between Rs 7 to 8 lakh per hour, with an estimate of 5-6 hours to reach Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. The round trip is estimated to be over Rs 1.10 crore for an average total time of 14 hours. The costs can be lower if the fuel costs are already factored for, similar to chartered flights.

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Mission Complete In a span of 12 days and 90 flights, Operation Ganga came to a successful end on 10 March, evacuating a total of 22,500 Indians from Ukraine. In addition, 150 foreign nationals from 18 other countries were also evacuated, including nationals from neighbouring Nepal and Bangladesh, and Ukrainian family members of Indian citizens.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a statement to Rajya Sabha, confirmed that under Operation Ganga, 76 civilian flights and 14 Indian Air Force flights took place.

The operation was executed in the midst of great difficulty, requiring movement across a large war-torn state with military action underway, including Russian air strikes and shelling.

Around 35 flights took place from Romania’s capital Bucharest, another 28 from Budapest, the capital of Hungary, 9 from Rzeszow in Poland, 5 from Suceava, Romania, and 3 from Kosice, Slovakia.

India was the only country to actively launch an evacuation initiative, with most other countries leaving their nationals with a recommendation to find their own way out of Ukraine.

Operation Ganga did face criticism, particularly in light of the difficulties Indian students faced in crossing the borders.

Air India, even after privatisation, has proven that it retains the same spirit and conviction to come to the aid of the nation when called upon.

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Celebrating India’s Rich Heritage on World Heritage Day World Heritage Day, on 18 April, celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the world. India, as one of oldest civilisations of the world, has an abundantly rich heritage with 40 recognised UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Recognising the importance of heritage at a global level, UNESCO in 1982 established 18 April as World Heritage Day under ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites. The theme for 2022 is Heritage and Climate, connecting heritage with one of the most pressing concerns of today – climate.

In India, UNESCO has recognised 32 cultural heritage sites, 7 natural heritage sites, and 1 mixed site, with another 49 sites on the tentative list. There are multitudes of heritage locations across the country that are remarkable even without UNESCO recognition, conservation and preservation of which are managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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Humayun’s Tomb The tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi was built in 1570 and was the first ever garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.

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Humayun’s Tomb features Mughal architecture with a grandeur design and monumental scale, inspiring the construction of the Taj Mahal.

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Taj Mahal One of the 7 Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal in Agra is universally famous, and is considered as the jewel of Mughal architecture in India.

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An immensely large mausoleum made with white marble, the Taj Mahal is perfectly symmetrical, with intricate carvings and details.

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Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri, translating into the City of Victory, is a complex of monuments and temples in Agra, built in the second half of the 16th century.

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Serving as the capital of the Mughal Empire for 10 years, Fatehpur Sikri was the first extensively planned city of the Mughals, with dedicated spaces for key activities.

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Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves is a complex of 34 monasteries and temples, dug into the wall of a high basalt cliff in Maharashtra.

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Dating back from 600 to 1000 AD, Ellora Caves is unique and artistic, featuring Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain sanctuaries side-by-side.

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Red Fort

Made out of red sandstone, the Red Fort was built as a palace fort and along with the older Salimgarh Fort, comprises the Red Fort Complex.

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The Red Fort Complex architecture features a fusion of Persian, Hindu, and Timurid traditions, and is remarkably well-preserved.

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Sun Temple

The Sun Temple in Konark is a tribute to Hindu Sun God Surya, depicting his chariot with 24 wheels and 6 horses.

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Built in the 13th century, the Sun Temple is a culmination of Kalinga temple architecture with embellished and refined iconography.

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Jaisalmer Fort

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One of the 6 forts included in the Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO site, Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan.

Jaisalmer Fort is one of the few ‘living forts’ in the world, with around onefourth of the old city’s population still living inside the fort.

DL-SW-01/4211/20-22 | DATE OF POSTING: 5-6 OF MONTH | RNI NO. DELENG/2010/33723 | DATE OF PUBLISHING: 4th OF THE MONTH