Panda Twins Spark New Wave of Excitement for Hong Kong Tourism

Panda Twins Spark New Wave of Excitement for Hong Kong Tourism

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on August 20, 2024

Ocean Park Hong Kong recently celebrated the rare birth of giant panda twins, marking a significant milestone for the park and the city. On August 15, 2024, one day before her 19th birthday, Ying Ying, the beloved giant panda at Ocean Park, gave birth to a female and a male cub. This event is notable as Ying Ying has now become the oldest first-time mother of giant pandas on record.

Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, expressed his excitement, stating, "The babies' arrival adding to the new giant pandas soon to arrive in Hong Kong are thrilling news for Ocean Park and all of Hong Kong. We would like to express our gratitude for the continued support and generosity of the Central Government, whose unwavering commitment to Hong Kong has made this possible. The HKSAR Government's decision to entrust the pandas to Ocean Park also allows us to play an active role in the conservation of this precious species.”

The birth of these panda cubs is particularly special because giant pandas have a notoriously difficult time reproducing, especially as they age. Ying Ying, who had shown signs of pregnancy in late July, was confirmed to be pregnant on August 11 through ultrasound scans. She went into labor on August 14, and after more than five hours, successfully delivered the two cubs early the next morning. The female cub weighs 122 grams, while the male cub weighs 112 grams.

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Image Source: South China Morning Post

Currently, the newborns are under 24-hour intensive care by Ocean Park's animal care team and experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). Due to their fragile state, particularly the female cub, who is experiencing lower body temperature and weaker cries, the public will have to wait several months before the cubs are introduced.

The arrival of the panda twins has also sparked excitement within Hong Kong’s tourism industry. The city is already anticipating the arrival of two additional young adult pandas, gifted by Beijing to commemorate the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. These pandas are expected to further boost tourism and provide new opportunities for Ocean Park to explore revenue streams. The park has already launched a new social media account to share updates on the pandas, including a video of one of the cubs being fed.

Lawmaker Michael Tien referred to the panda births as a "game changer" for Hong Kong’s tourism strategy, suggesting the city adopt the pandas as mascots and develop related merchandise. “Hong Kong lacks things that money cannot buy,” he said. “If it can be bought with money, there is plenty of that around the world. How do we stand out? It is with these pandas.”

Tourism experts like Timothy Chui, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, have encouraged Ocean Park to capitalize on the pandas' appeal by creating unique, panda-themed experiences and merchandise, potentially replacing Hong Kong's current dragon mascot with a panda.

With the birth of these twins and the arrival of more pandas, Hong Kong’s tourism sector is poised for growth, as the city embraces these new additions to its cultural and economic landscape.


Green signal for ₹136cr city-side hub at Thiruvananthapuram airport

Green signal for ₹136cr city-side hub at Thiruvananthapuram airport

By Hariharan U

Published on September 15, 2025

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is moving closer to a major transformation, with the Union environment ministry’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) recommending environmental clearance for a ₹136 crore city-side development project. The initiative, planned by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) at Chackai within the airport grounds, aims to reshape the capital city’s gateway into a modern hospitality and commercial hub.

The project will feature a 240-room luxury hotel, expansive food and beverage areas with over 600 seats, and world-class infrastructure across nearly 34,000 sq. m. Spread over two basements, a ground floor and four upper floors, the complex will rise up to 23 metres. Once clearances are finalized, the hotel is expected to come under a global five-star brand such as Marriott, Hilton or Intercontinental.

This city-side facility is part of the larger terminal expansion plan, "Project Anantha" The project faced delays after the state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA) sought changes in the basement design, citing environmental risks. The revised proposal has now cleared hurdles, and with pending cases moved to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the project is finally back on track.

Construction could begin within three months. Alongside enhancing airport facilities, the project is expected to generate around 300 direct jobs and nearly 900 indirect employment opportunities. “The project will not just address rising accommodation needs but also give a strong push to Kerala’s hospitality sector,” said a source close to the airport.

The EAC has attached strict environmental safeguards. Construction will rely on recycled water and rainwater harvesting. Once operational, the complex will need 318 KLD of water, with nearly half supplied by an in-house sewage treatment plant. Solid waste, expected at 418 kg daily, will be processed sustainably—biodegradable waste will be converted on-site while non-biodegradable material will be handed over to authorized vendors.

Other eco-measures include rooftop rainwater harvesting tanks, a 20% reduction target in energy use, and transplantation of 40 trees within the airport boundary. The land, currently serving as open parking, was allocated to AAHL under a 50-year concession agreement signed in 2021 with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The EAC has clarified that the site is free from ecologically sensitive zones, coastal regulation restrictions or protected habitats.

Thiruvananthapuram airport is already handling record traffic, with nearly 4.9 million passengers between April 2024 and March 2025, and this new city-side development is expected to further elevate the airport’s standing as a gateway to Kerala.


Air India Group Adopts SITA Tech to Boost Efficiency and Cut Emissions

Air India Group Adopts SITA Tech to Boost Efficiency and Cut Emissions

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 15, 2025

Air India Group has taken a major step in its modernization journey by deploying SITA OptiFlight and eWAS, two advanced data-driven digital solutions designed to improve flight efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The rollout is aimed at tackling rising fuel costs and the growing need to reduce carbon emissions, challenges faced by airlines worldwide.

The new technology is now active across the Air India Airbus A320 fleet and the Air India Express Boeing 737 fleet, covering both domestic and international routes. Deployment on Air India’s widebody fleet is set to follow. Together, the solutions are expected to help the group cut carbon emissions by 35,000 tons annually.

“As the aviation industry navigates growing regulatory and environmental pressure, the need for intelligent, predictive solutions has never been more critical,” said Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific at SITA. “Air India’s deployment of SITA OptiFlight® and eWAS is a strong example of how smart digital technologies can cut emissions, save fuel, and unlock real operational value across every flight.”

Basil Kwauk, Chief Operations Officer, Air India, added: “Sustainability and efficiency are core to our transformation into a world-class airline. With SITA OptiFlight and SITA eWAS, we’re taking meaningful steps to modernize our operations, reduce our carbon footprint.”

SITA OptiFlight® uses historical flight data, aircraft-specific performance models, and 4D weather forecasts to optimize key flight phases. At its core is OptiClimb, which provides pilots with customized climb-out schedules tailored to each aircraft. This reduces fuel burn during one of the most energy-intensive stages of flight while maintaining safety and performance.

SITA eWAS complements this by providing real-time weather updates and predictive forecasting, enabling pilots to avoid turbulence, reroute efficiently, and make informed in-flight decisions. Together, these solutions strengthen operational performance while supporting Air India’s sustainability goals.

With these tools, SITA continues to expand its footprint in Indian aviation, helping carriers achieve operational resilience, cost efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.


Historic Moment: Mizoram Joins India’s Railway Map with Bairabi–Sairang Line

Historic Moment: Mizoram Joins India’s Railway Map with Bairabi–Sairang Line

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 13, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the 51.28 km-long Bairabi–Sairang railway line in Mizoram on September 13, marking a historic moment for the northeastern state. With this, Mizoram will be connected to Kolkata by train for the first time, significantly improving accessibility and connectivity.

The Kolkata–Sairang–Kolkata express train will operate three times a week, providing a vital link between the state capital and West Bengal. In addition, the Prime Minister will also flag off two more services, a weekly Rajdhani Express to Anand Vihar and a daily express train to Guwahati, officially bringing Aizawl onto the Indian railway map through its nearest station, Sairang.

Constructed at an estimated cost of ₹8,071 crore, the Bairabi–Sairang rail line is a feat of engineering that navigates Mizoram’s challenging hilly terrain. The route passes through 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges, and six road underbridges. Among the engineering highlights is a bridge that rises to a height of 114 metres, taller than Delhi’s iconic Qutub Minar by 42 metres. Adding cultural significance, the tunnels are adorned with local artworks that reflect Mizo heritage and traditions.

Officials emphasized that the project, part of the Central government’s Act East policy, is more than just an infrastructure development. It is expected to bring multiple benefits, including enhanced trade opportunities, improved inter-state travel, and a major boost to tourism in the region. “Through this project, Mizoram, long deprived of railway service due to its difficult geographical conditions, has now been gifted with direct connectivity close to Aizawl,” a railway official said.

Experts believe that this rail link will not only make travel easier but also spur socio-economic development. Raj Basu, convenor of the Association for Conservation of Tourism, noted that increased accessibility will attract more visitors from West Bengal and beyond. He highlighted Mizoram’s reputation as a safe, welcoming destination with strong women-led entrepreneurship, especially in homestays, which is drawing all-women tourist groups to the state.

Currently, Mizoram is connected to Kolkata only by air and road. With this new railway line, the “Land of Blue Mountains” is poised to emerge as a more accessible and attractive destination, paving the way for stronger tourism and cross-border opportunities.

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