Maharashtra Government Steps Up Efforts to Ensure Safety of Tourists Stranded in Nepal: Minister of Tourism Shambhuraj Desai

Mumbai, August 2026: The Maharashtra government is making every possible effort to ensure the safety of tourists from the state who are stranded in Nepal amid the severe situation caused by flash floods. Seven tourists from Maharashtra are currently stranded in Nepal. Authorities have managed to establish contact with four of them, two each from Mumbai and Pune, and confirmed that all four are safe. Efforts are underway to establish contact with the remaining three tourists, the Hon'ble Minister of Tourism, Shri Shambhuraj Desai, said.

The state government has made a toll-free helpline 1070 and the State Control Room number 022-69107600 available for Maharashtra residents stranded in Nepal. The State Control Room is operating round the clock. Based on information received from citizens and their families, the authorities are co-ordinating with the concerned agencies and taking the necessary action.

Flash floods and landslides in Nepal have disrupted roads, bridges and communication networks in several areas, making it difficult to establish contact with stranded tourists. Against this backdrop, Maharashtra’s disaster management authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Information on citizens and tourists from Maharashtra currently in Nepal is being collected, and ongoing efforts are underway to assess their safety and provide assistance as needed.

The Hon'ble Minister of Tourism, Shri Shambhuraj Desai, has directed the concerned authorities to maintain continuous co-ordination and extend all necessary assistance to the stranded tourists. The Maharashtra Tourism Department, the Disaster Management Department, and the respective district administrations are working in close co-ordination to ensure that Maharashtra residents receive timely assistance during emergencies abroad.

In view of the seriousness of the situation in Nepal, citizens have been urged not to panic and to contact official authorities for assistance. They have also been advised not to believe or circulate unverified information or rumours. Information received from the families of stranded tourists is being verified by the concerned authorities, following which further assistance and rescue measures are being undertaken.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that a large number of Indian citizens and tourists are stranded across Nepal following the flash floods. In response, the Maharashtra government is co-ordinating with the Central Government, the Indian Embassy and the concerned authorities in Nepal to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Maharashtra residents.

Establishing contact with the remaining three tourists and confirming their safety remains the state government’s top priority. The government machinery is working continuously to reach the stranded tourists and ensure that all possible assistance is provided to them, the Minister of Tourism, Shri Shambhuraj Desai, said.

The Ascott Limited Becomes First Service Residence Operator To Sign Global Agreement With Bureau Veritas

CapitaLand’s wholly-owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has entered into a global agreement with a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, Bureau Veritas to certify the hygiene and safety standards of its properties worldwide. As the first serviced residence owner-operator to enter into such an agreement, Ascott has embarked on the project as part of its ‘Ascott Cares’ program, which focuses on nine commitments to continue providing safe homes for its staff and guests.

Our guests can continue working remotely with maximum peace of mind and leave it to Ascott to provide an environment that is not only comfortable but also clean, secure, and safe.

Ascott in India recently launched ‘Sheen – Fabric Care’, its minimum-contact, professional fabric care services.

For More Information Click Below:

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Tourism and Hospitality sector seeking 680-million dollar aid package from province

According to the Tourism Association of BC, over 100-thousand jobs in the sector have been temporarily or permanently lost due to the pandemic.

The sector is seeking a 680-million dollar stimulus recovery package from the BC Government.

Chairperson, Vivek Sharma told Vista Radio businesses are facing some increased costs after re-opening.

“Any businesses that have re-opened has had to do at a significant cost to change the way they do business bringing in barriers, personal protective equipment, and implementing ways of doing contactless operations, all of that comes at a cost.”

Sharma added several businesses have been ravaged because of COVID-19.

“Ten percent of our restaurants have closed permanently and another 50% are expected to close if they don’t get any assistance. Hotel occupancy has been down about 65% for June over previous years.”

“We need to get strategic on how we aid industry now and when we came up with this amount we broke it down into three categories so that we know how the aid is required.”

The three components are:

A Working Capital Recovery Grant ($475 million) to help sustain and maintain solvency for businesses that have prospects to return to profitability in the medium term (i.e. 18 months). This could include the provision of low or no-interest loans with an extended payback period. As the timing and magnitude of out-of-province visitors are uncertain, the immediate priority would be to sustain businesses that normally rely on these visitors and generate significant revenues for the visitor economy, as well as businesses that play central roles in attracting visitors to a community or a region.

Support for Adaptation Costs ($190 million) that would provide funds to help businesses adapt their operations to the health and safety requirements of COVID-19 and protect their workforce, visitors, residents, and local communities; and develop innovative ways of delivering tourism experiences to augment and accelerate recovery.

Support for Developing Resilient, B.C.-focused Supply Chains ($15 million). The goal would be to support industry subsectors (accommodation, attractions, transportation, food services, and retail) refocus their supply chains and forge new relationships with B.C. suppliers, to create supply chains that will not only promote recovery over the next 18 months but also contribute to the industry’s resilience going forward.

Destination BC’s projection for this year is a 69% decline in tourism revenue from the $20.4 billion generated in 2018 to $6.7 billion in 2020.

City’s iconic eateries open their doors with safety measures in place

Be it the Garma garam New Lucky Restaurant ki chai, piping hot bhajiyas at Ashtodiya Bhajiya House, Gujarati thali at Chandravilas, or mouth-watering non-vegetarian delicacies at Moti Mahal, the eating out experience in Ahmedabad is incomplete without going to these iconic eateries.

After being closed for more than two months, these eateries are back in action again, but with all safety measures in place.

From face masks, hand gloves, and sanitizers to social distancing and thermal scanning, they have seamlessly adapted to the new normal.

For More Information Click below :

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/citys-iconic-eateries-open-their-doors-with-safety-measures-in-place/articleshow/76707479.cms

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts resumes business with enhanced hygiene and safety protocols

Key Take Away

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has opened its door to guests with enhanced safety and hygiene protocols. The group has elevated its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which have been designed on the principles of The Oberoi Dharma, with the guest at the heart of everything. To ensure that all standards and protocols are adhered to, each hotel has a dedicated Hygiene and Safety Manager.

The Oberoi Group has also collaborated with Bureau Veritas, a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services

For More Information Click Below :

www.hotelierindia.com/business/11240-oberoi-hotels-resorts-resumes-business-with-enhanced-hygiene-and-safety-protocols

One fine meal: Chef Tarun Sibal talks about the future of restaurants and the culinary industry after the lockdown

Key Take Away

With 18 years of experience behind him, Tarun is a product specialist with core competence in the food and beverage category, across production, operations, formats, food heritage, and food and liquid culture.  

Tell us about your culinary journey?

I started my culinary journey in the year 2000 at IHM Pusa Delhi. The three major milestones of the first phase of my professional life were being an Industrial trainee at the Oberoi, a Management trainee with the Habitat World, and a Sous Chef in 2006.

Finally, 2019 saw the birth of “TITLIE” Culinary Bar in Vagator Goa, based on collaborative cuisine and my most prestigious product so far, TitlIe opened to packed houses and got unprecedented love from the audience. 

How have you managed your restaurants during the lockdown? What has happened to the restaurant industry as a whole?

The first step for us was to safeguard the interest of our employees and staff members.

What were some of your culinary initiatives during the lockdown?

​​We started a massive training drive for almost 100 of our staff members and food handlers covering Hygiene and Safety protocols

For More Information Click Below:

yourstory.com/weekender/chef-tarun-sibal-one-fine-meal-titlie-restaurants