The construction of stadiums in anticipation of the upcoming 48th India Tourism and Industry Exhibition 2023-2024 at Chennai Island is underway at a rapid pace, as confirmed by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC).
Under the guidance of Minister of Tourism K. Ramachandran, a review meeting was convened on January 4, focusing on ongoing projects within the tourism department. Emphasising the importance of timely completion, the Minister urged officials to ensure these development projects are swiftly finalised for public utilisation. Further, he stressed the significance of maintaining cleanliness in Tamil Nadu‘s hotels to attract more tourists to the region.
During this session, the Minister, along with Principal Secretary/Tourism Commissioner and Chairman/Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Kakarla Usha, evaluated numerous tourism development initiatives. Other key representatives from TN Tourism Development Corporation were also present.
In 2023, more than 5 lakh tourists visited Bhaderwah, showcasing the progress made by the region in the tourism sector. The tourism officials expressed keen interest in bolstering the tourism sector to generate livelihood opportunities, particularly in Bhaderwah, while revealing the ongoing efforts by private stakeholders to establish world-class hotels and 5-star facilities in the district.
As part of the inspection, the Minister also directed departmental officials and contractors involved in stadium construction to meticulously oversee progress and evaluate the government departments’ efforts for the 48th India Tourism and Industry Exhibition 2023-2024 at Chennai Island. Notably, a total of 51 stadiums are currently in the process of being built.The projects are being pushed for timely completion in a run up to host the next edition of Indian Tourism and Industrial Exhibition, a flagship event organised by TTDC since 1974. This spans 70 days annually on the island.
Following the pandemic, the 47th Exhibition ran for 73 days from January 4, 2023, to March 23, 2023, attracting a count of 830,000 visitors. Among them were over 200,000 students who gained insight into government initiatives and welfare schemes showcased during the exhibition.
According to the state tourism corporation, the event also had a socio-economic impact as it created direct employment opportunities for 10,000 individuals and an additional 30,000 indirectly, marking a significant contribution to the region’s workforce.
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The Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, recently chaired an Advisory Group Meeting with Airport Operators on December 19, 2023, ahead of the anticipated festive season. The primary focus was on strategising to prevent congestion at airports during this period. Scindia emphasised the ministry’s proactive measures to ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience for passengers.
During the meeting, the Minister engaged with airport operators, addressing their queries and offering guidance to optimise operations for passenger convenience. The key topic discussed was the promotion of ‘DigiYatra‘ to streamline and expedite the shift from manual to digital check-ins and entry gate processes.
Currently operational in 13 domestic airports, including Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and others, the proposal to extend ‘DigiYatra’ to international passengers for both arrivals and departures was deliberated upon. The Minister urged airport operators to explore and present successful biometric-enabled models utilized in other countries to enhance passenger facilitation.
Further, Scindia also reviewed the Capital Expenditure targets of all airport operators, aligning these goals with the achieved results in the third quarter. Representatives from major airport operators such as GMR Airports, Adani Airports, BIAL, Cochin Airport, and the Airports Authority of India were present at this crucial meeting.
The newly constructed terminal boasts impressive capabilities, accommodating 1200 domestic and 600 international passengers during peak hours, with plans for potential expansion to handle up to 3000 passengers per hour and an annual capacity of 55 lakh passengers. Notably, the design incorporates local culture and heritage elements. This opening follows the Union Cabinet’s recent approval to declare Surat Airport as an International Airport.
In addition to the Advisory Group Meeting, the Minister chaired the Cargo Advisory Committee session on the same day. Discussions within this committee primarily revolved around bolstering collaboration within the cargo industry. Scindia reassured the committee members of the government’s commitment to proactively address concerns within the cargo sector and promote collaborative efforts among stakeholders. The necessity for a digital transformation in air cargo, incorporating elements like E-KYC and digital shipping invoices, was a key focus. The Minister urged the committee to devise a comprehensive action plan to explore and implement digital transformations in the industry.
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) anticipates government action to facilitate aviation’s decarbonisation, as agreed upon during the Third Conference on Aviation Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) hosted by The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Dubai.
During the pivotal CAAF/3 conference, multiple critical agreements were forged, signifying a stride towards sustainable aviation. Among these agreements, a cornerstone was the establishment of a global framework aimed at promoting the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) across all geographies worldwide. The primary objective set forth was ambitious yet crucial: to ensure that aviation fuel by 2030 becomes five per cent less carbon-intensive compared to the fossil fuel currently employed within the industry.
CAAF/3 also acknowledged the differing capacities of various states to adopt and advance in the field of sustainable aviation. Recognising these discrepancies, the conference introduced measures such as capacity building initiatives, the proposition of a “Finvest Hub” and voluntary technology transfers. These measures were designed to facilitate and ensure the participation of all countries in a globally integrated SAF market.
Further, the conference emphasised the pressing need for a solution that would not only stimulate the global SAF market but also enable airlines to offset their decarbonization obligations against the environmental attributes of their SAF purchases. This necessitated the establishment of a robust accounting framework for SAF.
Expressing the urgency of the situation, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, underscored the indispensable role of SAF in achieving the industry’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. Walsh urged immediate and robust policy implementations by governments worldwide to facilitate the exponential growth of a global SAF market.
IATA noted that the demand for SAF within the aviation industry significantly exceeds the current availability. Despite limited access, airlines have demonstrated their commitment by purchasing all produced SAF in 2022, incurring an additional cost of approximately USD 500 million due to its premium pricing over traditional jet fuel. Airlines have also entered into forward purchase agreements totaling around USD 45 billion, reflecting a substantial commitment to future SAF procurement.
Demonstration flights like the one conducted today pave the way for future standardisation, qualification and adoption for 100 per cent SAF flying, as governments adopt broader strategies to support the production and scale up of SAF. The A380 demonstration flight underlines the performance and compatibility of SAF, making it a safe and reliable fuel source.
Walsh further stressed the necessity for governments to act promptly on the CAAF/3 declarations by implementing policies that foster innovation, stimulate production, promote competition, and attract financing. The objective is to address the burgeoning demand for SAF across the globe comprehensively.IATA’s call to action for governments involves policies that maximise SAF production globally. These policies would enable producers to leverage local feedstock availability, emphasize positive rather than punitive measures, favor renewable energies, and recognize the collective responsibility shared in achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
“The goal is maximising SAF production everywhere with positive, not punitive, policy measures. Airlines are ready with open arms to catch the resulting SAF production. While airlines are at the sharp end of decarbonisation, they cannot bear the burden alone,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.
“CAAF/3 has again made it clear that aviation’s decarbonisation will require the wholehearted and united efforts of the entire value chain and governments as we all focus on net zero by 2050. To be perfectly clear, where government money leads, private money will follow. It is absolutely essential that governments play their part, and we will certainly play ours”, added Owens.
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