Belize Joins Forces with Sustainable Hospitality Alliance for Greener Tourism

Belize Joins Forces with Sustainable Hospitality Alliance for Greener Tourism

By Author

Published on March 10, 2024

In a pioneering move for sustainable tourism, the Belize Tourism Board has become the first Destination Partner of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. This partnership, announced at ITB Berlin on March 5th, 2024, signifies Belize's commitment to advancing sustainable tourism practices and climate goals on a global scale. Belize, known for its dedication to preserving its natural and cultural heritage, including the globally renowned Belize Barrier Reef, is setting a precedent in the tourism industry for environmental and social responsibility.

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, which unites the hospitality sector to address global sustainability challenges, welcomes Belize as a trailblazer in the movement towards Net Positive Hospitality. The Destination Partner initiative aims to unify tourism organisations and authorities under a shared sustainability agenda, accelerating the industry's progress towards more sustainable and socially responsible practices.

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As part of this groundbreaking partnership, Belize will actively participate in the inaugural 2024 World Travel Sustainability Awards in September. These awards aim to promote sustainability in the travel and tourism industry, highlighting innovative practices that contribute positively to the environment and local communities. Additionally, Belize will engage in various Environmental and Social Accelerator programs orchestrated by the Alliance, aimed at fostering sustainability across the hospitality sector within the country and sharing valuable insights and innovations with the global community.

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, expressed enthusiasm about Belize joining as a Destination Partner, applauding the country's leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism. This collaboration not only showcases Belize's ongoing efforts in sustainable tourism development but also encourages other countries to follow suit in prioritising environmental stewardship and social impact in their tourism strategies.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism for Belize, reaffirmed the country's dedication to sustainable tourism, emphasising Belize's pride in being the first country to join the alliance. "We look forward to collaborating with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to drive positive change in the industry," Mahler stated, highlighting the mutual goal of achieving responsible travel and sustainable development.

This partnership between Belize and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance marks a significant step forward in the global tourism industry's journey towards sustainability. By joining forces, Belize and the Alliance aim to create a more responsible, prosperous, and sustainable hospitality sector that benefits both the planet and its people.

For further information, media inquiries can be directed to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and the Belize Tourism Board through their respective contact details.


6 Must-Visit Halloween Festivals Around the World

6 Must-Visit Halloween Festivals Around the World

By Hariharan U

Published on October 24, 2025

Halloween has evolved from its origins in Scotland and Ireland into a global celebration, with festivals, haunted houses, and costume parties captivating travelers worldwide. Here are six top Halloween events to experience spine-tingling fun:

1. Salem, Massachusetts, USA – A Witch's Paradise

Famous for the 1692 witch trials, Salem hosts the Haunted Happenings festival, turning the town into a Halloween wonderland for a month. Visitors can explore haunted graveyards, join ghost tours and séances, watch reenactments of the witch trials, and attend costume parades and the annual Witches’ Ball. History buffs and thrill-seekers alike will find Salem the perfect spooky destination.

2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Halloween on the Streets

Ho Chi Minh City is fast becoming a lively Halloween hotspot. Streets, especially Bui Vien Street, come alive with locals and tourists in costumes, street parties, and pop-up events. The festival blends Western Halloween traditions with Vietnamese folklore, offering a unique mix of ghouls, ghosts, and creative local characters.

3. Tokyo, Japan – A Halloween Parade Like No Other

The Kawasaki Halloween Parade is Japan’s largest Halloween event. Thousands participate in elaborate costumes, from classic monsters to anime-inspired creations. Tokyo’s Halloween showcases artistic expression with costume contests, haunted houses, and citywide themed parties, creating a colorful spectacle that’s both spooky and quirky.

4. Disneyland Paris, France – A Magical Halloween

At Disneyland Paris, Halloween gets a magical twist. The park features themed decorations, spooky parades, and Disney characters in Halloween costumes. Attractions like Phantom Manor and meet-and-greets with villains such as Maleficent offer family-friendly fun, while seasonal treats and limited-edition merchandise enhance the festive experience.

5. Universal Studios Singapore – Halloween Horror Nights

For thrill-seekers, Halloween Horror Nights in Singapore offers heart-pounding scares. The park transforms into a horror playground with haunted houses, scare zones, and live horror performances. Highlights include the Zombie Apocalypse, an interactive experience where visitors must survive a fictional outbreak.

6. Seoul Lantern Festival, South Korea – A Spooky Twist on Tradition

During Halloween, Seoul’s Lantern Festival along Cheonggyecheon Stream takes on eerie Halloween forms. Lanterns light up the night with spooky designs, complemented by haunted houses, street performances, and costume parades. The festival uniquely blends traditional Korean lantern art with global Halloween vibes, creating a visually stunning celebration.

From Salem’s haunted history to Seoul’s lantern-lit streets, Halloween is celebrated in diverse and creative ways worldwide. Whether you prefer cultural twists, thrilling scares, or family-friendly fun, these festivals offer something for everyone ready to embrace the spirit of Halloween.


SpiceJet Expands Festive Connectivity to Bihar with New Flights to Patna and Darbhanga

SpiceJet Expands Festive Connectivity to Bihar with New Flights to Patna and Darbhanga

By Hariharan U

Published on October 22, 2025

SpiceJet has announced a major expansion of its domestic network ahead of Chhath Puja and Diwali, strengthening connectivity to Bihar with new and additional flights to Patna and Darbhanga.

The airline has introduced new flights to Patna from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, along with increased frequencies from Delhi and Mumbai. In addition, Darbhanga has gained extra services from Delhi and Mumbai, further improving accessibility for travellers heading home during the festive season.

These routes build upon SpiceJet’s existing operations to Patna from Delhi, Mumbai, and Guwahati, and to Darbhanga from Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi. The new flights commenced in a phased rollout from October 10, 2025, ensuring greater travel flexibility and convenience for passengers amid the festive rush.

Earlier this month, SpiceJet also introduced special daily non-stop Diwali flights to Ayodhya from Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad, enabling devotees and tourists easier access to the Shri Ram Temple during the celebrations.

Commenting on the development, Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet, said, “The festive season holds immense significance for millions of our passengers, and we are delighted to make travel home for Chhath Puja and Diwali more convenient and accessible. With enhanced connectivity to Patna, Darbhanga, and Ayodhya, SpiceJet continues to play a key role in bringing people closer to their loved ones for celebrations that matter most.”

The expansion underscores SpiceJet’s commitment to meeting evolving travel demand, particularly during high-traffic festive periods, by offering affordable, direct, and seamless connectivity across India’s key regional hubs.


IndiGo Integrates with Digi Yatra for a Seamless Digital Boarding Experience

IndiGo Integrates with Digi Yatra for a Seamless Digital Boarding Experience

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 20, 2025

IndiGo and Digi Yatra have announced a new app-to-app integration that allows IndiGo flyers to share boarding passes directly with the Digi Yatra app. The collaboration enhances contactless, biometric-enabled travel while ensuring user consent, data privacy, and faster passenger processing at airports.

IndiGo, India’s leading airline, has partnered with Digi Yatra, the Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)-based ecosystem that uses facial biometric technology for contactless passenger processing, to enable this direct integration between their mobile applications. The initiative eliminates the need for passengers to manually scan or upload boarding passes on the Digi Yatra app.

After completing web check-in, IndiGo flyers can now simply click “Share with Digi Yatra” within the IndiGo app to securely transfer their boarding pass. This process ensures that passenger consent is obtained at every step and that only essential data is shared with authorised Digi Yatra verifiers at airports.

Designed with privacy by design principles, the transaction occurs entirely offline through deep linking between the two apps, without involving any cloud or server processing. This ensures data integrity, authenticity, and enhanced security while improving convenience for travellers.

Commenting on the development, Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, said,

“Our mission is to transform air travel into a seamless, secure, and paperless experience for every passenger. This collaboration with IndiGo marks a significant milestone in that journey. By integrating our technology directly with IndiGo’s app, we are enabling travellers to enjoy faster check-ins, smoother boarding, and enhanced convenience. As more airlines and airports embrace our ecosystem, we will continue to innovate and support India’s vision for digital transformation in travel.”

Neetan Chopra, Chief Information and Digital Officer, IndiGo, added,

“Every year, we fly millions of customers who trust us for our promise of safe, on-time, and hassle-free travel. This partnership with Digi Yatra takes our commitment to customer convenience a step further by enabling a smooth, contactless boarding journey. We are thrilled to be among the first airlines to adopt this technology and remain focused on leveraging innovation to make air travel simpler, faster, and more enjoyable.”

This collaboration underscores the aviation industry’s shared commitment to digital innovation and highlights growing confidence in Digi Yatra’s secure, paperless travel ecosystem as India moves closer to a fully digital airport experience.

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