With the objective of promoting Nepal as a prime tourist destination and to explore its tourism products to the international market, the country will host the third international Himalayan Travel Mart and 43rd Congress of United Federation of Travel Agents’ Association from November 20 to 24. More than 125 tour operators from 45 countries including India, Bangladesh, China, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Canada will participate in the UFTAA Congress cum tourism fair. President of Indian Association of Tour Operators Vijay Thakur and President of Travel Agents Association of India, Rajinder Ray have also confirmed their participation in the travel mart, according to officials.

British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia have agreed to merge in all-share deal to create a combined entity of €15 billion in revenues.

Private air carrier, Jet Airways has launched a new initiative to woo young travelers in the age group of 2-21 years. Under this programme, Jet will make available miles to youths, each time when they travel, which can be redeemed for free flights on their own, Jet Investor relations, Mr. .Vishwanth, told reporters here. The youngsters can avail benefits such as special boarding cards and a dedicated Web page, along with special section for their activities in in-flight magazines, he said. The airline has partnered with National Geographic Channel, to promote NatGeo Junior Hunt a quiz contest for school children.

Expecting a large turnout of tourists during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the government on Thursday said it expects buoyancy in the tourist sector to return due to the mega sporting event.

Travel management companies are in the midst of negotiating next year’s hotel and airline rates on behalf of their corporate clients, an annual ritual that was thrown into turmoil last fall when the economy collapsed, dragging down business travel with it.

With Beijing continuing with its policy of issuing “stapled” visas to Indians residing in Kashmir despite the matter being taken up at the highest level by New Delhi, the government on Thursday said such visas were invalid.

The festival month brought cheer to the domestic airline industry.

Withinaspanof sixmonths,as theworldwasmourningtheglobalrecession,twoof India's largest hospital chains, Prathap Reddy promoted Apollo Hospitals and Malvinder and Shivinder Singh promoted Fortis Healthcare have ventured out to Mauritius. They have tied up with strong local partners and established their presenceinthatcountry .

A merger between British Airways and Spain's Iberia is unlikely to be finalised this week,anindustrysourcesaidonThursday , after Britain's Sky News reported thatadealwassettobeannounced.

As part of its exception plans, Etihad, the national airline of the UAE, started operations from Hyderabad to Abu Dhabi .The airliner will operate four flights a week initially and will increase it to daily from the beginning of 2010, Etihad vice-president Adrian Parkes said that the airline would operate a two class Airbus A320 from Hyderabad that can carry 140 passengers, including 20 in business class. The airline currently operates 38 flights a week from UAE to Mumbai, New Delhi, Tiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode and Chennai.