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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayIPyiambO0 Have you ever imagined traversing through the middle of the mighty Himalayas by train? This seemingly "crazy" idea may soon become reality. Following recent discussions between the foreign ministers of China and Nepal to speed up feasibility assessments into a cross-border railway, China plans to dispatch surveyors to Nepal as soon as this year. On top of thorny enough obstacles like challenging topography and high altitudes, linking the two countries by railway requires tunneling through the Himalayas — an unimaginably complex feat of engineering. The bulk of the railway within Nepal will pass along bridges or through tunnels, involving huge costs and formidable construction difficulties. That being said, the project is still well wo...

Three major cruise companies have declared they will accept self-administered COVID-19 examinations In many instances where rules still apply, According to a news release, starting on Sept. 6, Carnival Cruise Line will accept unvaccinated passengers' self-administered tests in addition to lab-administered tests for cruises lasting 15 nights or less. However, other locations, including Bermuda and Canada, demand that self-tests be under a doctor's supervision. A similar modification was also revealed by Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Starting on September 5, both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will permit passengers on U.S. cruises to take a home test or one that is "professionally given by a health professional." Local limitations also apply to those adju...

Reservations for Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship, the Carnival Luminosa, which will make her debut from Brisbane, Australia on November 6, 2022 before repositioning for seasonal service from Seattle to Alaska in next May, are now open. In just three months, the Carnival Luminosa will be the latest Carnival ship to be decked out in the gorgeous new livery that was unveiled on Mardi Gras in 2021 and has since been added to half of the Carnival fleet. This livery features the red, white, and blue colors that have long been associated with Carnival Cruise Line. The ship will also include a retro-style funnel resembling those of Carnival's first ships, such as Mardi Gras, Carnivale, and Festivale. "We couldn't be prouder to welcome Carnival Luminosa to our fleet and to start our highl...

Visitors to Thailand who enter the country under visa waiver agreements or with visas obtained at the airport will soon be able to extend their stay by 15 days. The proposed maximum stay extension for visitors from other countries who have visa on arrival or visa waiver arrangements has been accepted by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Travelers from nations with visa waiver agreements will be able to stay for up to 45 days under this new regulation, which will go into effect on 1 October 2022 and remain in effect until 31 March 2033. Tourists who qualify for visas on arrival will be able to stay for up to 30 days, doubling the current 15-day limit. This extension, according to CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, is intended to support the economic a...

The Japanese government on Wednesday lowered its travel advisory for 54 countries and a region, including Indonesia and the Philippines, and is no longer urging citizens of Japan to avoid unnecessary travel to those countries. According to the Foreign Ministry, the travel warning for those regions has been downgraded from the second-lowest Level 2 on a scale of four to Level 1, which encourages Japanese nationals visiting such places to "remain fully alert." Twenty-three countries and a region from the Middle East and Africa, including Egypt and South Africa, 11 countries in Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, 10 countries in Asia and the Pacific, including Pakistan and Myanmar, and 10 in Latin America are also now officially classified as Level 1. A total of 35 places, includi...

British Airways has announced that it will cancel more than 10,000 flights to and from Heathrow until the end of March in 2019, as it adjusts to the ongoing workforce shortages that have affected aviation, After the London airport urged airlines to sell fewer flights and prolonged the summer's 100,000 daily restriction on passenger numbers by another six weeks until the end of October, the carrier decided to reduce its short-haul itinerary by 8%. Heathrow's request comes amid a difficult post-Covid recovery in which it has battled to hire enough workers to satisfy the demand from returning business travelers and visitors, resulting in pandemonium and lengthy lines over Easter, spring break, and into early summer. In an effort to relieve the pressure brought on by the staffing iss...

The Cayman Islands has lifted all COVID-19-related restrictions pertaining to inbound international travel, effective Wednesday, 24 August 2022. In the latest statement by the Department of Tourism, all travelers—vaccinated and unvaccinated—are permitted to enter the Cayman Islands without the need of any additional documents or health-related steps due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers are NOT required to: Apply for a Travel Declaration or Travel Request via Travel CaymanPresent a negative COVID-19 testShow proof of vaccinationWear masks The newly announced policy changes also include the lifting of mask-wearing mandates within the destination.If you are traveling to the Cayman Islands before August 24th, please visit www.exploregov.ky/travel for exisiting protocols. ...

Low-cost airline Canada Jetlines is set to takeoff after receiving official approval from Transport Canada to start flying out of Toronto Pearson International Airport this month. On Thursday, August 18, Canada Jetlines announced that it received its Air Operating Certificate (AOC), which serves as confirmation of their professional capabilities and approved safety regulations required to operate an airline. The airlines will launch flights from Toronto Pearson International airport beginning August 29. Canada Jetlines Chief Executive Officer Eddy Doyle commented on the most recent development: “The entire team at Canada Jetlines is thrilled to obtain our AOC after meeting all necessary operation standards and passing all inspections. We thank Transport Canada and greatly appreciate...

Players in Sri Lanka's travel business are attempting to increase the number of visitors from Saudi Arabia as the island country struggles with an ongoing crisis in its tourism industry. Sri Lanka has always relied heavily on tourism as a source of funding. The tourist industry contributed $4.4 billion, or 5.6%, of the nation's GDP, in 2018. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted international travel, this figure fell to just 0.8 percent in 2020. In an effort to boost tourism as the nation descends into its worst economic crisis since independence, Sri Lanka has declared 2022 the "Visit Sri Lanka Year." The Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority has selected its top primary markets and top potential markets, which include Saudi Arabia, based on an analysis ...