IHM Ranchi Celebrates World Tourism Day with Cultural Fest a

IHM Ranchi Celebrates World Tourism Day with Cultural Fest and Competitions

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on October 3, 2024

On World Tourism Day, IHM Ranchi, in association with the Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand, organized a vibrant cultural event at Audrey House, Ranchi, centered on the theme "Tourism and Peace." The event featured multiple competitions and activities aimed at promoting the importance of tourism in fostering harmony.

The celebration started with lamp lighting by dignitaries, including Secretary of Tourism Mr. Manoj Kumar, Director of Tourism Ms. Anjali Yadav, Deputy Director of Tourism Mr. Rajeev Kumar, and Principal of IHM Ranchi Dr. Bhupesh Kumar. Students of IHM Ranchi also performed a unique presentation of Ganesh Vandana, and various tribal dances, such as Nagpuri and Oraon Kudukh, showcased Jharkhand's rich cultural heritage.

A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion on "Sustainable Resources, Authenticity, and the Role of Indigenous Ingredients of Jharkhand." Prominent chefs, including Dr. Chef Parvinder Singh Bali, Dr. Chef Saurabh Sharma, Chef Ashish Bhasin, Chef Gautam Chaudhary, and Chef Nitin Shinde, shared insights on the importance of Jharkhand's local cuisine and the use of indigenous ingredients. Chef Bali emphasized that a dish represents a state's identity, while Chef Bhasin called for promoting local cuisine globally. Chef Shinde advocated for including local dishes in restaurants, and Chef Saurabh highlighted the use of root vegetables like Madua, Khukadi, and Kudrum to elevate Jharkhand’s culinary scene. Chef Bali also urged people to adopt authentic plating styles for Jharkhandi cuisine.

The event saw the inauguration of the Tourist Trade Registration Portal, the launch of Adventure Tourism Safety Guidelines, and the release of the book "Beyond the Forest" and the research journal "Palash: A Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Service Management," published by IHM Ranchi.

Several competitions were held to celebrate World Tourism Day, including painting, quiz, photography, and chef competitions. Students and youth participated actively. In the painting competition, Anshu Sharma secured first place, followed by Rishika and Manya. In the quiz competition, Aarb Singh came first, with Atharv Kumar and Shuvajeet taking second place, and Ameya Devarshi finishing third. The chef competition saw Tushar Prem and Satyam Kumar win first place, followed by Jia Ranjan and Manisha Kujur in second, and MD Abdul and Amit Kumar in third. Anisha Kerketta and Ankit Kumar received consolation prizes. Media influencers who played a vital role in promoting tourism were also honored during the event.

Mr. Manoj Kumar, Secretary of Tourism, congratulated everyone and emphasized the significance of tourism activities in the state. Director of Tourism Ms. Anjali Yadav praised the initiative, highlighting Jharkhand's rich cultural and culinary heritage. She described the state's diverse tribal communities as a "treasure trove of traditions and art" and stressed the need to preserve this legacy.

Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal of IHM Ranchi, congratulated participants on World Tourism Day and underscored the importance of tourism for social, cultural, and economic development. He urged everyone to contribute towards making tourism safe and sustainable, noting that the theme "Tourism and Sustainability" requires preserving resources for future generations while safeguarding cultural heritage and local communities.

Following these discussions, a live cooking show featuring renowned chefs, including Vijay Kumar Shahi, Nishant Chaube, Adit Grover, Simran Singh Thapar, and Sandeep Pandey, showcased local dishes made with traditional ingredients. The event also featured presentations on "Tourism Development and Related Areas" by speakers such as Ms. Debika Mandal, Assistant Manager of Jharkhand Tourism, Dr. Sudarsha Yadav, Professor of Mass Communication at Central University of Jharkhand, Dr. Manisha Oraon, Co-founder of The Open Field Farms and Camp Tribe Jharkhand, and Dr. Bhupesh Kumar.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Alok Aswal, Head of IHM Ranchi.

FLY91 Adds Tirupati as 13th Destination, Expands Regional Network

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 24, 2026

Regional airline FLY91 has added Tirupati as its 13th destination, further expanding its regional network across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. With the new addition, the airline now serves four destinations across the two states.

The airline will connect Tirupati with Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry, supporting travel for pilgrims, tourists, business travellers and students across southern India. Bookings for the new Tirupati services are now open through FLY91’s website and travel agency network.

Tirupati is one of India's major pilgrimage destinations and is home to the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala, which attracts millions of devotees. Beyond pilgrimage, the city is also an important educational, cultural and commercial centre in Andhra Pradesh.

Manoj Chacko, MD and CEO, FLY91, said, "The addition of Tirupati marks another important milestone in the steady expansion of our regional network and reinforces our commitment to Andhra Pradesh, where we now serve three destinations. By connecting Tirupati to 3 important cities, we are making travel across an important religious, educational and cultural corridor more convenient while improving connectivity between key regional centres. As a regional airline focused on 'Connecting Bharat' through safe and reliable air services, we remain committed to enhancing access between India's growing regional markets."

FLY91 will operate daily flights between Tirupati and Hyderabad. Flights between Tirupati and Vijayawada will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, while services between Tirupati and Rajahmundry will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

With Tirupati now added to its network, FLY91 serves Goa (Manohar International Airport, Mopa), Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Solapur, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Agatti, Kochi, Hubballi, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Tirupati. The addition strengthens FLY91’s focus on connecting regional markets and improving access between important destinations across India.

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Air India Express Begins Flights from New Bhogapuram Airport in Andhra Pradesh

By Hariharan U

Published on August 19, 2026

Air India Express has commenced operations from the newly inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh, connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vijayawada.

The airline began operations from the new airport on August 17, 2026, with 10 daily flights serving the three key domestic destinations. The inaugural flight departed for Bengaluru at 8:00 AM, with guests receiving ceremonial boarding passes to mark the launch.

The new services strengthen air connectivity for Visakhapatnam and the surrounding region, while providing travellers with additional options to connect with major business, tourism and commercial centres across southern India.

Air India Express currently operates two daily flights between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad and two daily services between Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru, along with a daily service connecting Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

The Bengaluru–Visakhapatnam schedule also includes additional services on Thursdays and Saturdays, providing greater flexibility for travellers.

Flight Schedule

Route	Departure	Arrival	Frequency
Hyderabad – Visakhapatnam	07:00, 14:35	08:20, 15:55	2x Daily
Visakhapatnam – Hyderabad	08:50, 16:35	10:00, 18:00	2x Daily
Bengaluru – Visakhapatnam	16:50	18:30	Daily
Visakhapatnam – Bengaluru	08:00, 22:10	09:45, 23:50	2x Daily
Bengaluru – Visakhapatnam	05:55	07:30	Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat
Bengaluru – Visakhapatnam	20:35	22:10	Thu, Sat
Visakhapatnam – Vijayawada	19:00	20:00	Daily
Vijayawada – Visakhapatnam	20:30	21:40	Daily

All timings are local and are effective from August 17, 2026.

The airline is also expanding its network from Andhra Pradesh with the addition of Tirupati, with daily flights connecting Tirupati and Hyderabad scheduled to commence from September 1, 2026.

From the same date, Air India Express will also resume its daily service on the Hyderabad–Chennai route, further strengthening connectivity between key cities in southern India.

With the latest additions, Air India Express currently serves 48 domestic and 16 international destinations, operating more than 3,000 weekly flights across India, Southeast Asia and West Asia.

The commencement of operations at Bhogapuram marks another step in the airline's network expansion strategy while strengthening connectivity to and from Visakhapatnam, one of Andhra Pradesh's important commercial, industrial and tourism centres.