• Kathmandu, Kabul ,Islamabad among world’s 10 worst airports

    October 30, 2015
    Kathmandu, Kabul ,Islamabad among world’s 10 worst airports

    TravelBizNews —

    Kathmandu: Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport and Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport feature in the list of world’s 10 worst airports of 2015.

    According to the travel site Sleeping in Airports, the top three worst airports in the world in 2015 are Nigeria’s Port Harcourt international airport, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz international airport at Jeddah, and Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International airport.

    SleepingInAirports conducts a survey asking travellers to rate their airport experiences based on the services and facilities available within the terminal, cleanliness, customer service, comfort and their overall airport experience every year.

    “Looking worldwide, there are a lot of airports that didn’t quite make the grade. Those that top our charts for worst airports in the world collected the most negative feedback from voters over the past year. These airports fall flat in terms of providing any kind of enjoyable overall airport experience. Instead, they’re dirty, uncomfortable, unfriendly and lack the most basic of services and amenities. They elicit passionate critiques from those who visit them, and countless warnings for future travellers to avoid these places at all costs,” the site says.

    The site comments on Nepal’s only international airport – “Though Nepal’s only international airport gathered ample criticism over the past year, it is important to remember that the country itself has been under considerable pressure. In March 2015, a Turkish Airlines flight overshot the runway and skidded off the tarmac, closing the runway for several days. ‘

    More severely, in April 2015 a devastating earthquake hit the country. The airport struggled to repair their sole runway and restore a flight schedule amidst a national emergency in an already struggling nation.

    “Given this, voters had understandably poor experiences at the airport, particularly within the domestic terminal. Said to resemble a bus station, the terminal is most remembered for the poor state of its restrooms. The good news is that Kathmandu is currently re-building the much-loathed domestic terminal. “

    Uzbekistan’s Tashkent international airport, Simon Bolivar international airport of Caracas, Venezuela and Toussaint Louverture international airport at Port au Prince, Haiti are the fourth , fifth and sixth worst airports respectively..

    Kabul’s Hamid Karzai international airport , Vietnam’s Tan Son Nhat international airport in Ho Chi Minh City , Islamabad airport and Beauvais-Tille international airport of Paris are among the world’s worst airports in 2015.

    This year’s survey, which asked fliers to identify the world’s worst and best aviation terminals, attracted 26,297 qualifying responses.

    Worst airports of 2015

    1. Port Harcourt International Airport (Nigeria)

    2. King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

    3. Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu, Nepal)

    4. Tashkent International Airport (Uzbekistan)

    5. Simon Bolivar International Airport (Caracas, Venezuela)

    6. Toussaint Louverture International Airport (Port au Prince, Haiti)

    7. Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul, Afghanistan)

    8. Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

    9. Benazir Bhutto International Airport (Islamabad, Pakistan)

    10. Beauvais-Tille International Airport (Paris)

    Oct.2015

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      The city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year.

      Smart Travel Asia highlighted Bangkok’s strengths as its 24-hour vibrancy and diverse experiences, including food, culture, shopping, and the friendliness of its people, describing it as a “city full of energy and colour, day and night.”

      The city’s dominance stems from several compelling factors. Bangkok has emerged as a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering everything from legendary street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and panoramic 360-degree rooftop bars. Its cultural and heritage sites, including the iconic Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho temples, remain major attractions to international tourists.

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      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

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      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

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      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
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      investment)