MIRRORING THE SPIRIT OF - Travel Scapes

TravelScapesMARCH 2018, PAGES 64, `90

w w w . t r a v e l s c a p e s o n l i n e . c o m

VOL. 6, ISSUE. 3

MIRRORING THE SPIRIT OF

STATES PLAN AHEAD TO BRING SURGE IN NUMBERS

INDIA

Eastern Bhutan awaits you!

Contact our local Tour operators to book your tour at: www.bhutan.travel/tour-operators

Tourism Council of Bhutan | Tel: +975 2 323251/ 52 | Fax: +975 2 323695 | [email protected] | www.bhutan.travel

www.tourism.gov.bt | facebook.com/destinationbhutan | twitter.com/tourismbhutan | instagram.com/tourismbhutan

How to get there?

Traveling to Eastern Bhutan is easy with domestic flights and helicopter services. One can also travel via land.

Where to stay?

You can camp out beneath an ocean of stars or experience the unbridled warmth and hospitality of the locals in a village home stay or stay in tourist standard hotels.

Highlights of the East

• Birdwatching in Yongkola• Gomphu Kora Tshechu• Aja Nye Trek• Cultural trip to Omba Ney • Rafting in Drangmechu• Textile Tour in Lhuntse• Tallest Guru statue in Takila• Authentic Village Homestay

Eastern Bhutan is one of the least explored regions of the kingdom and offers one of most authentic experiences for adventure-oriented tourists. The entire region is awash in unspoiled natural beauty, towering cliffs and pristine forests.

Opportunity now available for visiting eastern Bhutan without having to pay SDF (Sustainable Development Fee)

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Soaring high with new features, India’s leading state tourism boards have unique offerings in platter for the global tourism map during the world’s biggest travel show, ITB Berlin. To match the global needs, TravelScapes, through its special section throws light on a plethora of experiences that the culturally and geographically varied Indian states have in store. On the similar note, the FTA growth rate may see-saw in recent times but foreign tourist inflows in India is predicted to grow at speedy pace.

In the interview section, we roped in Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), who discloses the important details of the 64th TAAI Convention and how the association has set a benchmark

in the tourism industry. In another exclusive section, TravelScapes spoke to Damcho Rinzin, Head, Tourism Council of Bhutan where he talks about how Bhutan has managed to pin itself on the global map as a pure sustainable country.

As the world is thriving over tourism, right from backpackers and trekkers to solo travellers and those travelling in big groups, it looks like everyone is packing their bags to go around the world. Considering this, we have brought a severe issue to the limelight- overtourism, which is also among one of the major topics to be discussed during ITB Berlin. Finding ways to avoid throngs of tourists, we spoke to major industry leaders on how the issue can be dealt with.

There is something about Gujarat that attracts people in large numbers. Peeping through the state, we bring you the best of Gujarat. We are also featuring Maharashtra which is India’s colourful canvas with many of it’s iconic attractions. Highlighting the least known places, we have brought the whole of the state lively on papers.

This issue brings news and reports about trade, hospitality, aviation and the latest in tourism worldwide.

We value your feedback and suggestions so please do write us on [email protected].

Happy reading

ITB BERLIN: A dias to showcase the ‘Real India’

Varun MalhotraPublisher & CEO

PUBLISHER & CEO Varun Malhotra [email protected]

DIRECTOR Pranav Khullar [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT Shelly Chadha [email protected]

DIRECTOR- PR (MIDDLE EAST & SOUTH EAST ASIA) Sanjiv Chopra

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gagneet Kaur

ASST. EDITOR Sayanti Halder

SENIOR REPORTER Ankita Jain

BUSINESS HEAD - MICE Seema Joshi

AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa

SR. MARKETING MANAGER Nidhi Hinduja

CONSULTANT Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann

ART DIRECTOR Rakesh Kumar

Editorial & Marketing Office: Versatile Media: 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008Contact: 011 - 45530380/83 • [email protected] information in TravelScapes is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisement Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publica-tion, error or failure of advertisement to appear.Owned and published by: Varun Malhotra, Editor & Publisher, EB-63, Maya Enclave, Hari Nagar, New Delhi - 110064 and printed on his behalf at Royal Press, B-82, Okhla Industrial Area Phase-I, New Delhi - 110020

TravelScapes

ACCOUNTS Chandan Kumar Jha, Swati Jauhari

ADMIN HEAD R Prem Lata

EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Hari Puri, Sameer Singh

Eastern Bhutan awaits you!

Contact our local Tour operators to book your tour at: www.bhutan.travel/tour-operators

Tourism Council of Bhutan | Tel: +975 2 323251/ 52 | Fax: +975 2 323695 | [email protected] | www.bhutan.travel

www.tourism.gov.bt | facebook.com/destinationbhutan | twitter.com/tourismbhutan | instagram.com/tourismbhutan

How to get there?

Traveling to Eastern Bhutan is easy with domestic flights and helicopter services. One can also travel via land.

Where to stay?

You can camp out beneath an ocean of stars or experience the unbridled warmth and hospitality of the locals in a village home stay or stay in tourist standard hotels.

Highlights of the East

• Birdwatching in Yongkola• Gomphu Kora Tshechu• Aja Nye Trek• Cultural trip to Omba Ney • Rafting in Drangmechu• Textile Tour in Lhuntse• Tallest Guru statue in Takila• Authentic Village Homestay

Eastern Bhutan is one of the least explored regions of the kingdom and offers one of most authentic experiences for adventure-oriented tourists. The entire region is awash in unspoiled natural beauty, towering cliffs and pristine forests.

Opportunity now available for visiting eastern Bhutan without having to pay SDF (Sustainable Development Fee)

4 travelscapesonline.com MARCH 2018

CONTENT

SPOTLIGHT

IN CONVERSATION

HOTEL FEATURE

REPORT

SPECIAL FOCUS OUTBOUNDWHAT’S TRENDING

20 ‘Our Focus On Tourism Must Multiply’In conversation with Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI, we get an insight into the upcoming 64th Convention and Exhibition of TAAI in Srinagar

28 Exploring BhutanWhat is that one thing that pops when someone talks about Bhutan? Well, it is solely the infectious smile that the country brings upon visit

26 Bold, Sensuous And SophisticatedHuvafen Fushi Is A Dreamscape Captivating The Maldivian Charm

36 India’s Mounting Position In The Global Mice Map The recent FICCI-MRSS White Paper suggests a five-point-agenda to boost inbound MICE tourism in India

42 TravelBullz to supplement its customer service in 2018K. D. Singh, Founder & President, TravelBullz shares how the company is growing leaps and bounds by prioritising people and digitalising

6 .........................................................................................................................................................................................MoT18 .................................................................................................................................................................................... Trade22 ..........................................................................................................................................................................Hospitality 38 ...........................................................................................................................................................................Outbound54 ...............................................................................................................................................................................Aviation58 ...................................................................................................................................................................... Photo Story62 ..................................................................................................................................................................... On the Move

REGULAR UPDATES

pg-8

MARCH 2018 VOL. 6, ISSUE. 3

44 Rebelling against tourist invasionINDUSTRY OUTLINES SUGGESTIONS TO REGULATE OVERTOURISM We collated the suggestions from the industry stal-warts on how we can collectively create ‘better places to live’ and ‘good places to visit’



INDIAAt the threshold of the globally renowned ITB Berlin 2018, TravelScapes brings together some of the leading state tourism boards on one platform, highlighting the latest offerings that these culturally and geographically diverse states have to offer

ITB SPECIAL

Special Issue


UPDATE MoT TravelScapes

As per the estimates of second Tourism Satellite Account of India (TSA) – 2009-10, the contribution of tourism

in Employment of the country during 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 was 10.78 per cent , 11.49 per cent and 12.36 per cent , respectively. K. J. Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Government of India informed Rajya Sabha.

Based on the information available with RBI, the estimated share of tourism in generating foreign exchange in the country during 2014, 2015 and 2016 is 3.56 per cent, 4.13 per cent and 4.51 per cent, respectively.

Government of India has taken various steps to boost tourism in the country, which inter-alia include the following- launched Hunar Se Rozgar Tak programme to train youth who are minimum 8th pass and in the age group of 18 to 28 years. The programme is intended to meet the skilled manpower requirement of the sector, as also to reach out the poor in the society to give them employable skills. E- Visa facility was extended to citizens of 163 countries.

Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has set an ambitious target of generating five lakh jobs every year, attracting INR 5,000

crore investment and increasing the foreign tourist arrival of 10 per cent in state’s new tourism policy which was unveiled recently.

The key aspect of ensuring safety of women tourists, in a state where law and order is a major issue, also finds a prominent mention in the policy, which was released by Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Another highlight of the policy is the plan of setting up 50 heritage hotels in the state. “The policy will be applicable for five years and has set a target of increasing the domestic tourist arrivals and foreign tourist arrivals by 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. The sector will generate five lakh direct or indirect jobs and attract an investment of INR 5,000 cr per year,” Joshi said. The new policy targets attracting one lakh additional tourists to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state and also to convert ten heritage building to heritage hotels per year. “The focus will be on promotion of eco-tourism. Efforts will be made to explore local entrepreneurship avenues through execution of fairs and festivals,” Bahuguna said.

Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India recorded 10.66 lakh Foreign

Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in January 2018 as compared to 9.83 lakh FTAs in January 2017 and 8.45 lakh in January 2016. The growth rate in FTAs in January 2018 over January 2017 was 8.4 per cent , compared to 16.4 per cent in January 2017 over January 2016.

The percentage share of FTAs in India during January 2018 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (16.36 per cent) followed by USA (14.10 per cent), UK (10.81 per cent ), Canada (4.63 per cent ), Russian Federation (4.49 per cent ), Australia (3.60 per cent ), France (2.76 per cent ), Germany (2.64 per cent ), Malaysia (2.63 per cent ), Sri Lanka (2.59 per cent ), China (2.27 per cent ), Japan (2.08 per cent ), Republic of Korea (1.93

per cent ), Afghanistan (1.86 per cent ) and Nepal (1.59 per cent ).

The percentage share of FTAs in India during January 2018 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (28.03 per cent) followed by Mumbai Airport (17.47 per cent), Haridaspur Land Check Post (7.63 per cent), Chennai Airport (7.17 per cent), Goa (6.19 per cent), Bengaluru Airport (5.16 per cent), Kolkata Airport (4.81 per cent), Cochin Airport (3.77 per cent), Ahmadabad Airport (3.01 per cent ), Hyderabad Airport (2.56 per cent ), Gede Rail Land Check Post (1.82 per cent ), Trivandrum Airport (1.56 per cent ), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.25 per cent ), Ghojadanga Land Check Post (1.11 per cent ), Amritsar Airport (1.01 per cent).

In January 2018, a total of 2.40 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa.

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) ltd, the public sector undertaking

under the aegis of Ministry of Tourism, posted a noteworthy performance in the third quarter of the current financial year 2017-18. The total turnover in third quarter ending December 2017 stood at INR 108.01 cr and the company registered Profit Before Tax (PBT) at INR 18.30 cr as compared to INR 13.14 cr in the corresponding quarter last year i.e. 2016-17, an increase of 39.27 per cent as compared to the last financial year.

These details were announced in the Board of Directors’ meeting of the company on February 13, 2018 at the Group’s flagship hotel, The Ashok, New Delhi. Marking glorious 51 years of ITDC, the Corporation celebrated magnificently with multiple offers at the flagship property, The Ashok.

Looking back, ITDC had organised a roundtable with state tourism officials to boost tourism. India Tourism Development

Corporation (ITDC) also hosted Vigilance Study Circle (VSC) NCR meet at Hotel The Ashok, New Delhi to discuss various vigilance related issues. It also participated in ‘Paryatan Parv’ announced by Ministry of Tourism.

Ashok Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Management (AIH&TM), the Human Resource Development division under India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), got certified with ISO 9001:2015 certification for imparting quality education in hospitality and tourism management. Ashok International Trade Division (AITD) has steadily cruised into seaports across the country setting up duty-free outlets in Mumbai, New Mangalore, Chennai, Goa, Paradeep, Kolkata, Haldia, Vishakapatnam, Cochin, Kakinada Tuticorin and Krishnapatnam ports.

ATT, A travel solutions unit of ITDC tied up with the “Controller General of Defense Accounts (CGDA)” to provide e-ticketing solutions.

Tourism contribution in employment hits 12.36 per cent

UP’s new tourism policy targets INR 5,000 cr investment

MoT records 8.4 per cent growth in FTAs in January 2018

ITDC posts INR 18.30 cr profit in Q3 2017

K. J. Alphons

Premium Destination Management Company in UAE

Royal Arabian Destination ManagementP.O. Box 117689, Dubai, UAE

00971 4 2999 [email protected] | [email protected]

www.royalarabian.com

We Deliver Experiences.


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India tourism has recently witnessed a visible gush in the flow of foreign tourists into India and earnings therefrom. On that note, at the threshold of the globally renowned ITB Berlin 2018, TravelScapes brings together some of the leading state tourism boards on one platform, highlighting the latest offerings that these culturally and geographically diverse states have to offer

By Gagneet Kaur & Sayanti Halder


INDIA

ITB SPECIAL


MARCH 2018 travelscapesonline.com 9

TravelScapes ITB SPECIAL

AIMS TO SCALE UP HORIZONS KERALA Serene beaches, tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters, exotic wildlife, lush hill stations are just a few of the wonders that await you once you cross over the long intertwining lanes of Kerala. As the tourism sector in the state marches forward with immense growth potential, P. Bala Kiran, IAS, Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala informs about the three-month long international campaign and the other initiatives in the pipeline

Blessed with a unique set of geographical features and silvery stretches of water, Kerala has made it one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Asia. Kerala Tourism has always sought new and innovative marketing avenues to build the state as the top tourism brand and an ideal destination to visit for all kinds of travellers.

“Owing to the immense tourism potential of Kerala to attract adventure enthusiasts, Kerala Tourism has been actively promoting adventure tourism across the state. The aim is to re-brand the state as the ‘Land of Adventure’ in order to entice international travellers to the state. In this segment, the latest development is ‘Adventure Rock Hill’ at the Jatayu Earth Centre, which is now operational for the public in groups. Located at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala, there are few more ventures pending to make the Nature Park fully operational. Currently, Adventure Rock Hill is open for a group of 10-100 people. The attractive tour package for visiting the centre includes 15 challenging adventure activities. From adventure enthusiasts to families, young generation of travellers to couples, this tourist spot caters to a wide audience,” informs Kiran.

Kerala Tourism is also working towards promoting cruise tourism in the state. The tourism board has envisaged a ‘River Cruise Tourism’ project on the model of the Nile Cruise, developing the 450km inland waterways from Hozdurg to Kovalam. Plans are afoot to develop ‘Malanadu cruise’ and premium and non-premium boats. “With an objective to promote tourism in Malabar region through INR 325 crore project, Kannur will be the nerve centre of the new Malabar circuit, which will be linked through ‘Malanadu cruise’,” highlights Kiran.

While the Kerala Tourism Department had received an overwhelming response to the Phase I campaign, at international trade fairs and B2B meets, it is now all set for a three-month-long international campaign in its bid to lure more foreign tourists to the state. “The Tourism Department has listed out as many as 12 trade fairs and 24 roadshows under this triumphant promotional campaign for the FY 2017-18 with an enhanced budget allocation of INR 11.5 crore. In order to reach out to the domestic market, a string of partnership meets is being organised in key potential markets in the first quarter of 2018. Through this, we aim to scale up the trade and tourism business of the state, while establishing new trade connections in the high-potential markets,” shares Kiran.

He further shares that Kerala Tourism has been working with various agencies and District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs) in order to execute the development plans across the state. “The northern region of Kerala, which includes Vaikom, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malabar and Kasaragod, has immense untapped tourism potential. We have added destinations like Bekal, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram to the promotion and marketing campaigns for the ongoing year. Kerala Tourism has been constantly working towards positioning the state as one of the most sought-after destinations across the globe,” concludes Kiran.

P. Bala Kiran


TravelScapes

A heady cocktail of history, pilgrimage, beaches and mountains in one single state, Andhra Pradesh (AP) provides an enticing blend of tradition and modernity that would bowl its travellers over in the land of fresh tourism. Himanshu Shukla, Director, Department of Tourism-Govt. of Andhra Pradesh shares his insights of transforming AP into a never-seen-before mode

While Old Delhi is a labyrinth of cryptic narrow lanes and imposing mosques, the regal city of New Delhi is composed of tree-lined avenues, picturesque locations and historical monuments that make for a remarkable backdrop for movie shootings. C. Arvind, General Manager, Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation Ltd. (DTTDC) throws a light on the promotional agendas for 2018

To attract more tourists and promote renewed tourism in the state, the Andhra

Pradesh Tourism Authority has started taking multiple initiatives to reach the top of the preferred tourist destinations of India by 2022. To begin with, AP Tourism plans to introduce water sports activities such as hovercraft, scuba diving and cruise ship offerings in the beaches of Visakhapatnam.Currently, in terms of domestic tourism, Andhra Pradesh ranks third in the country after Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

“Visakhapatnam popularly known as Vizag, has a magical charm flanked by the enchanting Eastern Ghats on one side and Bay of Bengal on the other. A fabulous place surrounded with beaches, hills, valleys and parks, one can treasure every moment spent in Visakhapatnam as the city is that captivating. For more water

sports experiences, tourist can visit R K Beach, Thotlakonda Beach, Rushikonda Beach, Bheemili to relish the roaring sound of the sea in the state.In recent times, Visakhapatnam set a whole new threshold of attraction with the launch of TU 142 Aircraft Museum.Other attractions of Vizag are its heritage Buddhist sites namely Bojjannakonda, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, which we would want to showcase on the international forum. With the new offerings, we aim to increase the length of stay of tourists that can be done by developing favourable infrastructure and making their stay more enjoyable,” informs Shukla. Another attraction of Visakhapatnam, which travellers can visit for an unconventional tour, is the small village of Lambasingi, located in the Chintapalli Mandal and often referred as the ‘Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh’.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority has been aggressively initiating several innovative methods to promote tourism in the state for 2018. “We have planned for mega events and festivals across the state, covering traditional and heritage legacy to preserve and provide livelihood to craftsman through showcasing the culture, art & crafts of AP at national and international fairs and exhibitions. Through this, we aim to provide more attractive amenities to our tourists visiting Andhra Pradesh,” Shukla highlights.

Almost all of us are confused to pick one out of best places to visit in Delhi, as this

vibrant city is known for providing tourist’s exactly what they are looking for. “As the capital city of the country, Delhi has a lot to offer to the international tourists. From three UNESCO World Heritage Monuments to historic sites that define this city’s rich culture, there are several options that find their way into a traveller’s itinerary. Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar, Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple among others has always been the tourist’s favorite that deciding on one is just not enough,” Arvind starts off on a positive note.

“Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation Ltd.

(DTTDC) also has many locations that offer a complete experience to the foreign tourist. The Garden of Five Senses and Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial are each unique to their own and offer a one of a kind experience. Our three Dilli Haats are always hosting cultural events and have become a hub of crafts, cuisine and culture for the visitors,” he highlights.

Today, Delhi has not just emerged as a tourist-friendly destination but is over-shadowing those which are probably considered as one of the best places for film shooting. “Delhi has already emerged as Bollywood’s favorite film shooing destination with major films being shot in the city. Several steps are being taken to introduce a smooth system for granting permission to the film producers, to provide them consolidated information on the guidelines issued by various departments of Delhi and Government Ministries and to make film shooting a hassle-free experience,” Arvind accentuates.

Apart from this, social media engagement is also one of the promotional agendas for DTTDC and continues to be the medium of highlighting city’s unique and authentic offerings. For instance, the Garden Tourism Festival recently held in the capital was actively promoted through social media channels and received an overwhelming response.

SURFACING WATER SPORTS ACTIVITIES

A RENDEZVOUS WITH THE MOVIE BUFFS

ANDHRA PRADESH DELHIC. ArvindHimanshu Shukla

ITB SPECIAL




Home to pristine ghats and magnificent monuments, Maharashtra allows its travellers to look forward to some breathtaking architectural and scenic marvels. With a plethora of tourism offerings, Ashutosh Rathod, Joint Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) promises easier communication for their FIT segment of tourists

From snow-clad mountains, verdant valleys, over pouring rivers to thriving lakes, the versatile state of Uttarakhand is a special addition to India’s natural exquisiteness. Endorsing the state’s uniqueness for the travellers, Poonam Chand, Joint Director, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDC) gives an insight into fresh product offerings

To cope up with communication challenges of the visiting foreign tourists in

the state, MTDC plans to conduct a tour-guide training program for 2018 and 2019 in Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Sindhudurg, Pune, Nasik, Amravati, Solapur and Kolhapur. “We propose to get on board more than 900 guides for the tourist at various destinations across the state and generate employment opportunities. MTDC has recently conducted guide training programme successfully in Mumbai in association with Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) Gwalior and generated 60 quality guides available for tourists visiting to Mumbai city,” informs Rathod.

Aiming to promote new avenues of tourism in 2018, MTDC plans to endorse a ‘360 degree tourism’ experience for its visitors by eyeing for cruise, mine and wellness tourism. Additionally, MTDC has

recently associated with Nashik Valley Wine Cluster and aims to promote both wine and agro tourism to its domestic and foreign tourists. Through this initiative, tourists may witness the farm-to-glass process of wine making.

“Heritage tourism is also gaining a lot of importance in the state. MTDC will soon prepare a QR code for all heritage structures in south Mumbai that will deliver detailed information and images on the phone. The visitors will now get an opportunity to use their smartphone’s camera to get appropriate information of the heritage building in town. Considering the historic significance of the forts, the state government has taken special measures to maintain the reputation of these monuments by renovating them. A tourist guidance centre will also be set up and history of the forts will be translated and communicated to the foreign tourists in their languages,” Rathod shares.

To pull in more foreign travellers besides the domestic market, UTDC

plans to promote rural tourism in the state. “We have been getting a good number of footfalls but FIT is still less. Since the inception of our new state, we have received over 26 million of Indian tourists and around one lakh of foreigners. To tap the international market, we are creating more experiential offerings in Uttarakhand. With cuisine and handicraft, we want to promote rural tourism, in a big way, along with our homestays in 2018. We are aggressively promoting this aspect of new tourism, diverting tourists from the saturated and popular places in the state. Also, we would be organising the International Yoga Fest in Rishikesh, which is a major attraction for foreign travellers,” informs Chand.

Speaking about UTDC’s projects in the pipeline, Chand shares, “We have signed a MoU with the Government

of India to promote heritage tourism and develop the heritage properties of Uttarakhand. Moreover, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), we have signed a MoU to develop the Gangotri region and Gomukh trail. The first heritage property that we have taken, to begin with, would be Gartangli. The George Everest Estate in Mussoorie and Raj Rajeshwari Temple in Pauri Garhwal district are also in the pipeline for further infrastructural development.” She further adds, “Connectivity due to bad roads and drastic weather conditions remain major challenges in attracting more travellers to Uttarakhand. Under the UDAAN scheme, many airports have been established and we are hopeful that we would have more connectivity that will change the total scenario of inbound tourism in the state.”

SEEKS TO EASE FOREIGNERS’ STAY

TAPS ‘RURAL TOURISM’ TO ATTRACT FOREIGNERS

MAHARASHTRA UTTARAKHANDPoonam ChandAshutosh Rathod

ITB SPECIAL


Tourism Authority of ThailandNew Delhi: (91 11) 46741111, [email protected] | www.facebook.com/tat.newdelhi | www.tourismthailand.in



Centrally located, Madhya Pradesh has proved to be the ‘heart of India’ with its various tourism offerings to its travellers. With a diverse platter of products, Yuvraj Padole, Deputy Director (Events & Marketing), Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board seems confident about state’s positioning for the international platform

Rolling mountains, azure seas, sandy beaches, swaying fields, high cascading waterfalls, architectural marvels, there is, in fact, nothing that Tamil Nadu lacks. Thiru V. Palanikumar, I.A.S, Commissioner of Tourism and Chairman & Managing Director, TTDC seems equally confident about the fact that the state has something for everyone

Witnessing an increasing influx to the state, each year, Madhya

Pradesh (MP) aims to enhance its strength of both adventure and wildlife tourism, which has always attracted a good number of both foreign and domestic arrivals. “For ITB Berlin 2018, we aim to endorse our adventure tourism in Madhya Pradesh and attract more of the family and adventure travellers’ market from all corners of the world. Also, with developed infrastructure and sufficient facilities, we aim to promote Kuno-Palpur for wildlife tourism as well as adventure tourism in 2018. Moreover, we have recently established the Sailani Island Resort located in the backwaters of Omkareshwar dam for the up-market tourists with a vast range of water sports activities on the Narmada. Observing a promising growth each year, in 2018, we expect around 15 to 20 percent increase from last year’s incoming arrivals,” informs Padole.

With the famed Jal Mahotsav, Satpura cycle safaris and heritage walks in Khajuraho last year, MP Tourism plans to increasingly promote varied experiences, with time, to engage a huge number of travellers visiting or even crossing Madhya Pradesh. “Domestic being our major market, we are participating in more global exhibitions and fairs, such as ITB, WTM, AIME Australia and more, to encourage added footfalls of FITs in MP. For 2018, another aim is to create product awareness and knowledge to the travel trade platform. We are training the travel agents at different levels and cities in association with the Thomas Cook Learning Center and are also eyeing to connect with more suppliers through destination exhibitions for promotional schemes, this year and beyond. With a prominent presence in the digital platform, we are aggressively using the social media to reach out to more people,” Padole shares.

We all know how refined and beautiful the southern part of our

country is. And if there had to be one state that would describe the grandeur of South India, it surely has to be Tamil Nadu. Giving a glimpse into the major attractions in the state, Palanikumar shares, “Tamil Nadu has all segments of tourism attractions. The Tourism Department actively promotes the segments such as heritage tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism and more in an impressive manner to attract the tourists of all categories, especially, the foreign tourists. Tamil Nadu has five UNESCO World Heritage monuments such as Mamallapuram, Brihadeeswara Temple, Brihadeeswara Temple, Airavateswara Temple and Nilgiri Mountain Railway.”

The state already has tourism friendly policies with a focus on the development of high-priority tourism infrastructure and that is the reason why Tamil Nadu has topped the list of

states with the most tourist arrivals, consecutively for three years. To absorb the excess traffic, the Tourism Department is actively involved in marketing promotions and has already made a blueprint for the initiatives planned for 2018.

“The marketing and promotional agenda of Tamil Nadu Tourism is participating in domestic and international travel marts and encouraging tourism stakeholders to participate in the Tamil Nadu pavilion which will boost the tourist footfall. Tamil Nadu Tourism is also planning to introduce new tourism circuits and operate new tour packages covering the tourism wealth of Tamil Nadu. Another reason for which the state is famous among tourists is due to its active presence on the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram. We have incorporated these channels in Tamil Nadu Tourism website to share current information and events to the public,” concludes Palanikumar.

WHERE TOURISM GETS WILDER PLANS FOR NEW CIRCUITS

MADHYA PRADESH TAMIL NADU Thiru V. PalanikumarYuvraj Padole

ITB SPECIAL


PLANS FOR NEW CIRCUITS



The colourful turbans jostling with beautiful phulkaris, the beats of lively songs, the rarely visited historical towns show that Punjab is deep rooted in tradition and rich history. Making sure the true essence of Punjab is imbibed in tourists’ hearts, Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Special Secretary-cum-Director- Tourism, Govt. of Punjab shares that the recent initiatives majorly aim at attracting visitors to experience the real Punjab

From the captivating history to the vast local cuisine, Rajasthan delivers almost everything travellers and shopaholics may seek. With gradual introduction of new places and attractions, Pawan Kumar Jain, Joint Director, Department of Tourism- Government of Rajasthan provides a new reason of revisiting the ‘Land of Maharajas’

There is no denying the fact that the amazing beauty along with golden yellow

fields offering a magnificent picturesque view has always drawn several people to Punjab. Having won the best state performance award, based on statistical data compiled by the Indian Government, Punjab under the supreme patronage of its state tourism board is forging ahead confidently as the latest initiatives are like jewels in a crown for the state.

Quite positive about the state’s growth in the forthcoming years, Dhillon shares, “Punjab has a rich heritage and magnificent culture. We have various historical conservation projects and heritage monuments that are under way. The famous Gobindgarh Fort of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Amritsar has been thrown open to the public with a 3-D show,

a 7-D experience and a Light & Sound show is already developed and running. In times to come, this fort is going to come up as a major tourist attraction, in itself.”

Speaking further on the key focus areas, Dhillon enlightens, “We have added farm tourism as an attraction and are hopeful for its developments in 2018. A special focus is being made to target the NRIs of the Punjabi community. Especially, the second and third generation of NRIs, having roots in Punjab, are being sought to be attracted to visiting their roots for an authentic Punjabi experience. In 2017, we had a daily footfall of over one lakh people visiting the Golden Temple and simultaneously populating other spots too. For 2018, we expect an overall increase to 4.5 crores.”

The state tourism board’s key focus for this month is Patiala heritage fest which is back after a decade-long hiatus. The week-long event is said to be inaugurated by the Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh at Quila Mubarak on February 21. The main aim is to raise funds for the restoration of Quila Mubarak and make Patiala prominently visible on the country’s tourist map. The festival will feature everything from dance forms, the vibrant crafts mela to classical music and performances by qawwals.

Garnering its frequently growing arrivals of both domestic and foreign

tourists, Rajasthan Tourism is urging more visitors to head to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur to witness its latest ‘night tourism’. “We have recently launched the night tourism in certain monuments of Jaipur including the Amer Fort and Albert Hall Museum. Further in Jaipur, we have opened the Johari and Tripolia Bazar including an interactive elephant village, accessible till late night. We have also launched a three-day Palace On Wheels heritage tour in order to attract more foreign as well as Indian travellers. Almost in all parts of Rajasthan, we try and regularly organise private events and festivals to sustain our increasing number of influx and reputation,” says Jain.

According to Jain, Rajasthan has been amongst the top five preferred Indian destinations for both domestic and international market. Increase in the number of direct interstate and intercontinental air connectivity would be an added advantage for Rajasthan along with developed rail connectivity. “Annually, Rajasthan receives a total of roughly 3.5 crore tourists out of which around only 15 lakhs are foreigners. Our main priority market remains the domestic segment however, with a growth rate of around 17 per cent in FTA segment last year, we hope to achieve more foreign footfalls and continue to maintain bigger number of arrivals in 2018,” he adds and says that Germany is an important market for Rajasthan Tourism due to which they are hopeful about ITB Berlin 2018.

TO HOLD ON TO ITS ROOTS PLANS TO STAY AWAKE AFTER SUNSET

PUNJAB RAJASTHANPawan Kumar JainShivdular Singh Dhillon

ITB SPECIAL


TravelScapesUPDATE TRADE

Where everything is changing in the tune with tourism, Nijhawan Group takes a step ahead

and enters into a Joint Venture with Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi. This collaboration has launched a new certificate course in Heritage and Tourism Management with an aim to promote the conservation and management of the invaluable heritage of India.

Mapping the heritage studies, the certificate course is a unique programme, founded on two key pillars: heritage studies and tourism management approach. It emphasises on a collaborative learning model where students, faculty and professionals from travel trade industry, become key contributors in creating knowledge, innovatively managing heritage and participate in rethinking public discourse and policy around it.

Dr. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Principal, Ram Lal Anand College commented, “It is first of its kind in

Delhi University. It has been framed in the spirit of Government of India’s emphasis on skilling the youth for better employability. Signing MoU with Nijhawan Group of Companies is in sync with present Prime Minister’s insistence on Public-Private Partnership in the process of skilling our youth.”

Bubbling with ideas, Ankush Nijhawan, Managing Director, Nijhawan Group elaborated, “This certificate course will bring key industry partners together to promote tourism as a rewarding and exciting career opportunity and encourage more youngsters to explore the options and career paths in travel and tourism sector. It’s a long-term vision wherein we will convert this Certificate course into Diploma Course to further encourage more and more youth to embrace a career in this sector.”

The Certificate Course in Heritage and Tourism Management is a new six months certificate programme, the first of its kind in the University of Delhi.

The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is taking its Exhibiz in Market campaign

on the road in India, showcasing its global significance in New Delhi. The bureau staged its business forum in New Delhi in an effort to boost Thailand’s international trade with one of the world’s fastest growing economies. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, two-way trade between Thailand and India totalled USD 7.72 billion in 2016, with about 5.15 billion in Thai exports to India and 2.57 billion in Indian exports to Thailand.

TCEB plans to boost business through its campaign Exhibiz in Market, an initiative specifically dedicated to increasing exhibition space at international exhibitions in Thailand.

Visitors from India accounted for 7.8 per cent of total overseas visitors who according to a recent TCEB

audit, paid greatest interest to the Food & Agriculture sector (37.97 per cent ), Automotive (25.26 per cent ) and Health & Wellness (12.40 per cent ). The top Thai exhibitions for the Indian market, in terms of attendance, are currently VIV Asia, PackPrint International and Wire & Tube Southeast Asia, which account for more than 40 per cent of India’s total visitors.

“International exhibition professionals looking to expand their business opportunity in Thailand will find the support of TCEB – a bureau specifically dedicated to growing their business – fundamentally helpful in helping them to achieve their goals. We expect to welcome an increasing number of Indian participants to Thai trade shows by 10 per cent from 2017, and to draw the interest of business parties based here in Thailand” said Kanokporn Damrongkul, Director, TCEB’s Exhibition Department.

A drive to the past through the curriculum

TCEB Business Forum to strengthen exhibition ties with India

Residents of Goa planning a visit to Cyprus can now apply for their

visas at the new VFS Global Cyprus Visa Application Centre in the city of Panjim. The centre brings Cyprus visa services closer to home, eliminating the need for applicants from Goa to travel to a neighbouring state to submit their applications.

The centre in Goa was inaugurated by His Excellency Demetrios A. Theophylactou, High Commissioner of Cyprus to India, in a ceremony held on February 16, 2018.

His Excellency said, “It is a pleasure to inaugurate the Cyprus Visa Application Centre in Goa, operated by VFS Global. This is one out of 16 VFS Global centres serving Cyprus in India, and the 15th Centre that is being formally inaugurated. The opening also signifies a steady increase in visa related queries. Consequently, this centre would further expand and enhance visa services and promote people-to-people contacts, thus contributing to our bilateral relations. Goa, like Cyprus, is a major tourist destination; therefore, the centre fulfills a vital service with respect to the provision of information and guidelines to applicants who intend on visiting Cyprus, not only for tourism but also for business or study purposes. The centre would work in close cooperation with the Consular Section of the High Commission to achieve the goal of timely and efficient issuance of visas.”

Vinay Malhotra, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global said, “VFS Global has served the Government of Cyprus in India since 2015, and the expansion of our services on their behalf to 16 cities in India is a testament of their faith in our ability to offer applicants best in class visa services. We are pleased to be bringing this expertise to the residents of Goa, and offering the applicants here, a smooth and seamless visa application experience.”

VFS Global opens Cyprus Visa Application Centre in Goa

Nijhawan Group enters into a joint venture with Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi and launches a “Certificate Course in Heritage and Tourism Management”

Ankush Nijhawan

Dr. Rakesh Gupta

By Ankita Jain

UPDATETravelScapes

Commenting on this appointment, Dr. Jukka Holappa, Trade

Commissioner for Business Finland India, shares that, “Sara brings wealth of her hospitality and tourism experience to this important strategic role and we are delighted to welcome her to head Visit Finland in India. India has become one of the fastest growing outbound tourism industries given its favorable economic conditions and further growth is expected as a total of 32.3 million outbound trips are forecasted in 2020. Aligning with the growing potential of India market and our global expansion strategy, Visit Finland has decided to foray again into the India market”.

Juneja shares, “I am delighted to be onboard Visit Finland and am looking forward to establishing Finland in India. The destination offers once in

a lifetime experiences and wonders such as Aurora Borealis, Midnight Sun, Finnish Saunas, Untouched Nature, Ski resorts and the official hometown of Santa Claus.” Finland was also recently chosen by Indian celebrity couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli as their honeymoon destination. This clearly highlights the evolving Indian mind set to discover new destinations

and experiences and the tourism board will focus on promoting Finland as a year round destination for Indians. Finland is a land of stark contrasts; in the summer months, the sun does not set at all in the northernmost parts of the country – hence Finland’s nickname “The Land of the Midnight Sun”. In the winter, the opposite happens: the sun disappears for

months. This time is called “kaamos”. During kaamos it is not completely dark, however the bright snow, the moon and the stars, create magical surroundings to view Northern Lights.

Juneja further elaborated, “My role will focus on developing our strategy devised for the Indian market and strengthening relationships with the travel trade to increase visitation and length of stay by Indians in Finland. In parallel, we will also work in close collaboration with the Indian media as communication is an integral part of our strategy. The key focus for 2018 is to encourage the Indian travel trade to increase their knowledge of Finland and for the same we will organise roadshows and FAM Trips throughout the year to give the Indian travel trade and media a first-hand experience of the destination and its unique once in a life time must do experiences.”

Visit Finland re-enters the India market

TRADE

The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2018 began on February 21,

2018 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 180 delegates from 33 countries in attendance for the three-day niche event.

The event, which was organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and hosted by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, brought together international experts at the forefront of the adventure travel industry from both the private and public sectors to discuss the issues and opportunities in travel and tourism.

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy said, “The event aims to be a catalyst for generating new ideas and improving collaboration between public and private sector organisations. PATA is honoured to work with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi in organising this event, which highlights their commitment to the responsible and sustainable development of the travel and tourism industry.”

On Thursday, February 22, delegates heard from a diverse line-up of international speakers at the one-day conference under the theme ‘Adventure in a New Era’. The 15 pioneers, thought leaders and change-drivers who are shaping the emerging landscape of the adventure travel industry, examined various conference

topics that covered ‘2018 Adventure Travel Trends – looking ahead to 2021’, ‘Partnerships for a New Era’, ‘New Operators for a New Era’, ‘The Middle Eastern Adventure Traveller’, ‘Micro Moments: The secret to always winning in an era of Facebook and Instagram’, ‘Stimulating Innovation in a New Era’, ‘LocalHood: The end of tourism’, and ‘OverTourism: Loving Destinations to Death’.

PATA seeks adventure in a new era in Al Ain, UAE

Global Tourism Council (GTC) announced its maiden convention

at Cairo, Egypt at Hotel Hilton Ramses from April 29 to May 2, 2018 with “Innovate & Invest” as its theme. The theme of convention has been chosen to deliberate on new challenges in tourism industry, Investment sector and film archives (Bollywood).

Iqbal Mulla, Chief Council, GTC said, “With new challenges emerging every day in our industry we need to innovate and create new ideas and opportunities. One needs to undertake new challenges, tap untouched areas, and bring newer elements to the existing arena to attract the ever growing market of new generation travellers for greater returns. We need to invest in Digital marketing to reach out and connect better with our customers which largely comprises of young, upbeat tech friendly travellers.”

Global Tourism Council to host its maiden convention in Cairo

Having witnessed a robust growth of 42 per cent in tourist arrivals and overnights from the Indian market in 2017, Visit Finland has reinstated their focus in India through the appointment of Sara Sodhi Juneja to head Visit Finland activities in India based in New Delhi

Sara Sodhi Juneja Dr. Jukka Holappa


TravelScapesSPOTLIGHT

‘OUR FOCUS ON

As the upcoming 64th Convention and Exhibition of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) happening in Srinagar ignites new hopes and promises to bring positive outcomes, Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI seems confident that the convention will act as a boon for the tourism sector in Srinagar

TOURISM MUST MULTIPLY’

Year-on-year, TAAI Conventions have set a benchmark in the Tourism industry. How do you think that this year’s Convention will be different from the previous conventions? The TAAI Convention at Srinagar is a different convention from the past large conventions TAAI is known for, due to the smaller size we anticipate. We have chosen Srinagar on the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism, J&K, who have a great belief that TAAI Convention at Srinagar will be a positive happening for their tourism initiatives. Over 30 years ago, the TAAI Convention at Srinagar saw the emergence of SKICC, Srinagar’s International Convention Centre. The 2018 Convention at Srinagar will focus on tourism, which is the strength of TAAI and its membership. We have a large membership of TAAI who are actively involved in tourism – domestic, inbound and outbound and we would like to use this opportunity to reflect our active connection with tourism.

What are your views on J&K as a tourism destination and its untapped potential? J&K has an immense potential. The valley is truly astounding. Nature has gifted this valley, state attractions, that are absolutely fabulous and very rare. The people in the valley are very kind and ready to extend hospitality to guests. Though, the infrastructure in J&K has not grown much over the years. The air connectivity from Delhi is fantastic and the flights are well occupied. We believe this can be an excellent gateway for tourists looking forward to spending time on tourism.

To what extent, do you think this convention will boost tourism/ local footfalls to J&K? We are confident that this Convention will attract many delegates who have not visited Srinagar yet or have visited a long time ago. The initial

response to our registrations announcement has been extremely positive. We are of the firm opinion that the efforts of the tourism ministry in putting up a great show will get a huge visibility across the country that will boost tourism to J&K. Historically, wherever there is a TAAI Convention, there has been a huge growth of tourism and we believe this will repeat in case of J&K.

Kindly share the concept behind the theme of the convention. The theme for the convention is Incredible Tourism with action points as “Integration - Inspiration - Innovation” asking stakeholders to integrate their approaches in order to respond to the demanding markets; consider tourism as an important activity every stakeholder must be passionate about and be ready to innovate and upgrade their capabilities in order to successfully encounter the complexity of the fast-changing marketplace and its demands.

We are also working on pre and post tours for nights at Gulmarg and Pahalgam. We also are offered a free night stay at the Deluxe Houseboats of Srinagar to spend the night of March 26 or 30, for those delegates who are staying at their hotels. We are keen that they experience the unique hospitality that the houseboats boast of.

2016 Convention was a huge success witnessing a good number of footfalls. What are your expectations this year? As mentioned earlier, this is a convention at a venue where our focus is on greater visibility for the destination and encouraging our stakeholders to connect more aggressively on tourism. Surely and undoubtedly, this will be a huge success.

Any message you would like to convey to the industry or anything important you would like to highlight?Travel and Tourism as an industry is the aptest and illustrious connect between the vast landscape - India and the Travel & Tourism industry. People, places, cultures, choices, history, diversity, cuisines, nature, seasons and more have bountifully blessed India to be the most outstanding tourism location in the world. When one takes a deeper look at most of the countries, there’s a few that belong to the category; class and choice that India offers. The passion to drive travel and tourism as an industry must get deeply driven in our national leadership. Their actions; aggressive approaches and newer reforms can powerfully impact the stakeholders and all the people involved. Our focus on tourism must multiply. Our approaches must be a rare model to reflect our capabilities. Our upgrades must be affordable. Our potential can get rewarded, if we as industry stakeholders can experience a shift in favour of the industry in India. It will surpass the usual numbers we always keep talking about, beyond comprehension. We need to overcome inhibitions and go beyond limitations. What we need is an eagle’s vision. It surely must start from the top and turn into an unstoppable velocity. As TAAI, we are ready to lead and support. It is tourism that can integrate the country, the industry, the associations and most importantly the people towards a paradigm beating all tunneled visions because the best, is yet to be.

By Gagneet KaurSunil Kumar

AKQUASUN HOLIDAYS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED AKQUASUN MALAYSIA

Terms and Condition Apply | Rate are subject to change without prior noticePackage is subject to availability | The rates are nett and non comissionable | Contact us for customised packages


UPDATE TravelScapes

Lords Hotels & Resorts is now also the biggest chain of hotels in the mid-

market segment in the state of Gujarat. The chain has recently added a new property in Jamnagar, Gujarat making it its 15th hotel property in the state and overall, its 28th. To be launched under the ‘Eco Inn’ branding, the property is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year. Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar will have 65 keys with modern amenities and full-services at friendly prices as is the hotels chain’s forte in offering ‘true value’. The property will offer guests an elegant banquet hall attached to sprawling green lawns and will also have its trademark multicuisine restaurant – Blue Coriander.

Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar is a partnership venture with entrepreneurs Sunil Lodaya and

Kuldeep Sinh, “We are pleased to officially announce the sign-up of Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar and congratulate our partners for their new venture with us. From our first hotel Lords Plaza in Surat back in the year 2007 to the latest, Lords Hotels & Resorts has created a niche for itself in the region and is Gujarat’s ‘numero uno’

hospitality brand today,” says P R Bansal, Chairman and Managing Director, Lords Hotels & Resorts.

“Our presence dots the western coast of Gujarat roughly at intervals of 130 km of each other. Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar will be our seventh property in the region and with it, we will have created a complete beach circuit in Gujarat. All properties in the circuit cater to a mix of business, leisure, pilgrimage and adventure tourism and Lords Hotels & Resorts enjoys a lion’s share in the region. Once launched, we are expecting Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar to capture a significant part of business tourists visiting the city,” adds Rishi Puri, Vice President, Lords Hotels & Resorts.

Lords Hotels & Resorts signs up a new property In Jamnagar

Sunrise Representations, a sales and marketing company

for International hotels and destinations, has been appointed as the official representative for Nilamani hotels in India. The appointment supports Nilamani hotels’ strategy to harness the potential of the Indian outbound market.

Nilamani Hotels comprises one five-star property and two four-star properties situated in the

legendary and mysterious island of Bali. The hotel chain strength lies in continuous commitment in creating happy guests and delivering them remarkably uncommon experiences,” said Nisha Shrivastava, Director Sunrise Representations. “We would be engaging with travel trade on a regular basis and also be engaging with MICE agents and wedding planners as The Sakala Resort Bali and The Tanjung Benoa Beach Resort Bali offers meetings and events area. Sunrise Representation’s highly experienced team is all set to enter the market and tap the target segments that each of the hotels caters to leading to increase in market share of Nilamani Hotels,” she added.

Banyan Tree Bangkok is proud to announce the opening of Bangkok’s newest outdoor garden lounge: Saffron Sky Garden.

Located on the hotel’s 52nd floor, Saffron Sky Garden provides stunning panoramic views of Bangkok within a tranquil, leafy setting.

Saffron Sky Garden’s plentiful green ambiance offers a one-of-a-kind experience in central Bangkok. While basking in sky-high serenity, patrons can enjoy an expansive selection of craft beers, cocktails, spirits and locally-infused beverages accompanied by modern Thai street food creations from the award-winning kitchens of Saffron.

This blooming-paradise-in-the-sky is designed for relaxation and the dress code is accordingly casual. The venue is open 7 days per week from 17:00 until 01:00. Dinner is served between 18:00 and 22:30 from a specially-created menu designed by internationally-acclaimed Banyan Tree chef Renu Homsombat.

This intimate venue is ideal for after-work drinks as well as special occasions and private parties.

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s foremost hotel and property

development companies, recently organised the India Roadshow 2018 as part of its newly acquired focus on India as a source market for its hotels and resorts.

Designed to present Dusit’s ever-growing global portfolio of distinctive properties to the Indian travel trade fraternity, the roadshow featured one-day workshops held in both Mumbai and Bangalore. B2B sessions were held in the morning, while sessions for wedding planners were held in the afternoon.

On both occasions, Dusit executives presented the company’s award-winning properties in Thailand, Maldives and Dubai, as well as key openings in 2018 across Bahrain, Bhutan, China, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. They also revealed how they are exploring options to open Dusit-branded properties, under hotel management or franchise models, in India within the next three to five years.

Historically, Dusit Hotels & Resorts in Thailand have proved a popular choice for Indian Weddings. Last year they recorded 21 per cent more business in this segment

compared to 2016 and they expect to achieve even more in 2018.

With outbound travel in India increasing by about 25 per cent a year and expected to reach 50 million travellers by 2020, this offers huge potential for hospitality companies such as Dusit International, which is well positioned to capitalise on this growth. Dusit International is represented in India by its Global Sales Office in Mumbai headed by Keshwar Bhagat, Director of Sales.

Nilamani Hotels Bali appoints Sunrise Representations as its rep. office in India

Banyan Tree Bangkok launches Saffron Sky Garden

Dusit Intl showcases impressive portfolio at the India Roadshow

HOSPITALITY

Nisha Shrivastava


UPDATETravelScapes

Strategically located approximately ten minutes (1.5kms) away from the

Khajuraho Airport and around 200kms from Gwalior, the Ramada Khajuraho boasts great hospitality, scrumptious range of vegetarian food and a one-stop solution for destination events such as weddings, conferences and business meetings. Situated in Khajuraho, the hub of art and history, this luxury five-star hotel delivers a turn-of-the-century style complemented by rich fabrics and classical art. From its glass window, Ramada Khajuraho offers stunning view of their garden and swimming pool

whilst its white marbled interiors reflect elegance and ethnic décor.

Creating a new benchmark for class and comfort, the property offers a vast range of lodging preferences, including recreational amenities such as swimming pool, gymnasium, spa, jogging track, table and lawn tennis arena and a mini cricket ground, for both its leisure and business segment of travellers. Ramada Khajuraho houses a total of 97 rooms including six suites, namely the Super Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Superior Rooms allowing its guests to bask amidst the

natural beauty that surrounds the property. The spacious suites feature a foyer and sitting room, in addition to a luxurious bedroom. With a hoard of amenities ranging from the necessities to the luxuries, each of these rooms is well-resourced and becomes one’s very own comfy nook during a visitor’s stay.

For business meetings and gatherings, the property houses a conference hall and business center with state-of-the-art telecommunication and on-call secretarial services together with “Gautam Rishi”, the biggest banquet hall in town and a meeting room named “Amantrana” with a capacity of 50 to 100. Redefining exceptional hospitality, Ramada Khajuraho guarantees to give its guests a tranquil break from their day-to-day lives.

Ramada Khajuraho Redefining hospitality

HOSPITALITY


TravelScapesUPDATE

In 2017, AccorHotels benefited from strong business in the majority of its key markets,

significantly increasing its operating margins and results on the back of tight cost control, the synergies resulting from its acquisition of FRHI and the careful management of digital expenses. The consolidated 2017 revenue amounted to Euro 1,937 million, up 7.9 per cent at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates (like-for-like) and 17.7 per cent, as reported, compared with 2016. The difference between the like-for-like and reported changes stems primarily from the consolidation of FRHI and from the new businesses (+12.9 per cent).

Capitalising on record development with the opening of 51,413 rooms (301 hotels), of which 94 per cent operated under management and franchise contracts (including 10,000 rooms for Rixos Hotels and BHG), the Group ended 2017 with a hotel portfolio of 616,181 rooms (4,283 hotels) and a pipeline of 161,000 rooms (874 hotels), 78 per cent of which in emerging markets and 47 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region.

Kempinski Hotels represented by Nijhawan Group in India organised the India roadshow 2018 in three cities in New Delhi on February 21, Bangalore on

February 22 and Mumbai on February 23 presented worldwide properties ideal for weddings, honeymoons, business and leisure and explored opportunities to introduce its brands in India. These roadshows were part of Kempinski Hotels’ newly enhanced focus on India as the source market for its hotels worldwide.

According to Ankush Nijhawan, Managing Director, Nijhawan Group, “The Indian market is constantly evolving. With the volume of outbound travel increasing every year, India is one of the fastest growing outbound travel markets in the world. The outbound Indian travellers will reach 50 million by 2020; it is the perfect time for Kempinski Hotels to establish its foothold in India.”

“We see India market growing and Indian travellers are highly potential to us. To enhance the growth, Kempinski Hotels is being represented by Nijhawan Group in India. Through the three-day road show, we are promoting the historic grand hotels,

superb city hotels, outstanding resorts and superior residences of the hotel chain. Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates attracts the most Indian traffic among all other Kempinski hotels worldwide,” added Theo Ocks, Vice President Sales, Kempinski Hotels.

India is one of the fastest growing travel markets in the world. Indians are willing to explore the world for unique travel experiences. The roadshows focused on asserting Kempinski Hotels’ position in the Indian tourist market as the ultimate family entertainment destination. Kempinski Hotels has hotels that cater to diverse segments, be it FIT travellers, honeymooners, families travelling in small groups, MICE or weddings.

The event witnessed an active participation from several trade partners, travel consultants, major tour operators, wedding planners and media in each city. The guests were invited to participate in a lucky draw, to win several stay vouchers at various Kempinski Hotels worldwide.

Park Plaza Kolkata Ballygunge recently announced its rebranding to Radisson Kolkata Ballygunge –

a brand synonymous with outstanding service and comfort.

Strategically located in the heart of upscale South Kolkata neighbourhood Ballygunge, the hotel is within proximity of the international airport and railway station. Tourist landmarks such as Kalighat temple, the Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial are within five-kilometer radius of the hotel. Radisson Kolkata Ballygunge has been revitalized with a new look in several areas of the hotels and features upgraded amenities to better serve its discerning guests with its signature Yes I Can!SM service philosophy.

“I am glad to welcome our first Radisson hotel in the heart of Kolkata. West Bengal is a key market

for us and Kolkata remains a promising destination due to its thriving leisure and business footprint. We appreciate the investment that Mukti Group has made in upgrading this hotel and the trust they have demonstrated in the Radisson brand”, said Raj Rana, chief executive officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

Radisson Kolkata Ballygunge features 92 well-appointed, spacious and modern rooms across Superior, Business Class, Junior and Executive Suites categories. Equipped with modern amenities, new upholstery, superior bath amenities and colorful art work, the hotel assures a comfortable and enjoyable stay for guests. Upgraded Business Class rooms on higher floors offer business class amenities and wooden floorings.

AccorHotels’ consolidated 2017 revenue up by Euro 1,937 million

Kempinski highlights worldwide properties at the roadshow

Park Plaza Kolkata Ballygunge is now Radisson Kolkata Ballygunge

HOSPITALITY

AJMAN CORNICHE HAS A NEW LANDMARKWalk in,drop your bags and relax. It’s time to unwind, surrounded by the calm blue waters of the Arabian Gulf. With 179 luxurious rooms, we look forward to your stay with us.

Experience some of the best cuisines in Ajman with our all-day dinning restaurant and our speciality seafood restaurant. Indulge yourself with our pool bar, jacuzzi and spa.

Welcome to Wyndham Garden. It’s your new address in Ajman Corniche.

wyndhamgardenajman.com

Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche is operated by R hotels under a franchiseagreement with Wyndham Hotel Group

[email protected]


TravelScapes

HUVAFEN FUSHI IS A DREAMSCAPE CAPTIVATING THE MALDIVIAN CHARM

LocationOpened over a decade ago, Huvafen Fushi is situated in the North Malé Atoll, Maldives boasting world’s first underwater spa rooms. For a lavish experience, the allure begins with the hotel sending a thakuru (personal butler) to wait for their guests at the Malé International Airport. Once received, the guests would then be whisked into a speedboat to the plush Huvafen Fushi which resonates pure richness and exudes relaxing vibes.

By Sayanti Halder

BOLD, SENSUOUS AND SOPHISTICATED

HOTEL FEATURE

Set amidst the white sand islets and the luxurious environs is the boutique hotel, Huvafen Fushi that is all set to offer a whole new range of lavish recreation. An ideal destination for honeymooners and plush weddings, this ‘adults only’ resort redefines what bold and vibrant looks like!


TravelScapes

Live with Luxury With eight Beach Bungalows, another eight Deluxe Beach Bungalows and Lagoon Bungalows, having split-level layout and a private deck with sala along with a separate sunbathing deck, this plush property offers a panoramic view from all its rooms. Furthermore, the hotel offers 12 Ocean Bungalows and two rooms with sunset facing pavilions that are the last word in pampered luxe. One may also experience a two-storey pavilion consisting of two bedrooms, one on the top floor and another on the ground, covering luxurious living and redefining iconic opulence with its avant-garde design and a private beach. Guests looking for something over water may try the Lagoon Bungalow with private pool. The new elegant levels of style in each room have refreshed interior designs.

Located close by is the VINUM, a true haven for wine connoisseurs. A cellar eight meters below the ground, it is an inimitable place to dine with its collection of around 7,000 bottles of perhaps the highest quality wines in South East Asia. Tempting the palate, VINUM is a truly magnificent yet somewhat secretive bubble of leisure.

Dip into ReposeSurrounded by cutting-edge design in a most elegant yet simple manner, the guests may dip their toes in the warm, ridiculously clear lagoon, snorkel one of the Maldives’ best house reefs and flop out on their private stretch of powdery-sand perfection. And just when one thinks that it can’t possibly get any better, one can sink into a deep bed of relaxation in the Huvafen Fushi while enticing their experience with the utmost dreamlike amenities and a magnificent view.

Tantalise the SensesWith HUVAFEN SPA, the world’s first underwater spa, the resort promises to serve its guests with indulgent rituals, all the time surrounded by the abundant tropical fish and marine, dancing over the clusters of coral. The pampering continues with the PURE massage by the celebrated Beata Aleksandrowicz together with Teresa Tarmey, who brings her exclusive world-class treatments, including signature ‘T T Facial’ and best treatments for skin rejuvenation and anti-aging.

HOTEL FEATURE


TravelScapesIN CONVERSATION

What is that one thing that pops when someone talks about Bhutan? Well, it is solely the infectious smile that the country brings upon the first visit. The country best known to the world for propagating ‘Gross National Happiness’, has so much to learn from. In a detailed conversation with Damcho Rinzin, Head, Tourism Council of Bhutan, TravelScapes finds more about the country

EXPLORING BHUTAN

Bhutan has made to the list of the exclusivity numerous times. One of them being the only country in the world without any traffic lights.

Grandiose mountains, colourful dzongs, serene monasteries and pristine surroundings, this tiny country looks like Mother Nature’s canvas on earth. “Bhutan is one of the smallest countries sandwiched between two of the world’s biggest powers. The rugged, steep and high mountainous landscape, crisscrossed by a network of rivers flowing through the deep valleys, the amazingly beautiful Buddhist monasteries and fortresses (or dzongs) make Bhutan among the bucket list of every traveller,” asserts Damcho Rinzin, Head, Tourism Council of Bhutan, grinning from ear-to-ear while talking about his homeland.

Bhutan’s only international airport lies in the deep Paro valley (2200m) on the bank of Paro Chhu surrounded by hills with an elevation of up to 5500m. The cool crisp mountain air and the beauty of the traditional Bhutanese architecture of the terminal building make it one of the most beautiful airports in the world. If you have missed the sight of the Himalayan range from the flight due to a veil of mist, Rinzin virtually takes one to the beautiful valley of Paro through his words, “Paro valley is like a child’s

painting. And the valley is extremely famous for the picturesque trek to Tiger’s Nest. This trek further leads to Taktsang Palphug Monastery, also known as the Paro Taktsang. It is a Buddhist temple complex which clings to a cliff, 10,240 feet above sea level. The only way to reach the temple is by trekking. The path, which begins with a small incline, gradually leads trekkers to a pine forest. The roots of these trees are spread out like a network and offer the only grip on the smooth mud terrain. The sights and sounds here are to die for.”

The kingdom highly believes in sustainable tourism and lives by it. “To understand responsible tourism in Bhutan is to get the most out of your experience travelling here. It’s an entirely different world and our behaviour in their comparisons will be the image that they keep of us. It costs nothing to be patient, ask questions and show as much support for the local culture as you can, so travel with respect and the Bhutanese will return it by the bucket load,” he enumerates. Citing an example, he adds, “The rare Black-Necked Crane can be spotted in Phobjikha Valley in Western Bhutan and to protect these birds from being endangered, we have fixed the electricity wires beneath the soil.” Further, Bhutan does not allow mountaineering beyond 6000 meters and is a

true model for sustainable tourism development. “We respect nature and animals, the way we respect our neighbours,” he smiles.

Whether it is husking rice or textiles weaving, there is joy in everything here and to sustain this happiness, the tourism board regulates footfalls. “One important idea of sovereignty for any nation is its ability to control its borders. Bhutan is in an unenviable position with a population of around 700,000 surrounded by much larger countries and demographics. Bhutan does not want to lose its tourism brand value and become just another overcrowded country. The country wants tourists to enjoy and on the other hand, even the locals should be happy about the guests. It should be a win-win scenario for both of us,” he states.

Explaining further about their tourism policy, he asserts, “Except for Indians, Bangladeshis and Maldivians, we charge a certain amount to tourists which help in controlling the number of tourist footfalls. Addressing the ‘High Value- Low impact’ tourism policy, the carrying capacity is filtered through the airlines as well. Also, any tourist who enters the land should book at least a three-star hotel or resort.” These initiatives help in scanning tourists to this kingdom. The country participates in all major travel shows across the world.

Damcho Rinzin

By Ankita Jain

30 travelscapesonline.com FEBRUARY 2018


GET SPOILED INTO THE NEWNESS

Gujarat is a state of surplus experiences when it comes to cultural, historical, gastronomy and wildlife offerings. Reputed for its vibrancy and an attitude of celebrating life through the picturesque beauty and magnificent amenities, Gujarat

casts a spell that is hard to break. The state, with its tinge of vibrancy, promises all its travellers to proffer breath-taking attractions and never-to-forget memories

FEBRUARY 2018 travelscapesonline.com 31

UPDATEMoTTravelScapes

REMINISCE THE GLORY OF GANDHIBeing the birthplace of the ‘Father of Nation’, Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat is reputed for conserving such a great personality through his ashrams, statues and museums. The Gandhi Tourism Circuit helps the tourist to know about the life of the Mahatma.

To begin with, the birthplace of Gandhi, Porbandar, is a must-see. Popularly known as Kirti Mandir, the Mahatma was born in this blue haveli, which has been made into a museum displaying old memoirs of his. The Gandhi Ashram, located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad and on the Sabarmati riverbanks. Hand-written letters of Gandhi, literature and paintings that have reflections of his life can be seen at the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya.

Kochrab Ashram that lies near Paldi, close to Ahmedabad, was founded by Mahatma Gandhi himself. He had set up Rashtriyashala in Rajkot while another place to visit in Rajkot is the Kaba Gandhi no Delo. Next in the list is Bhavnagar boasting the Gandhi Smriti, a memorial that was constructed in the remembrance of Gandhi. Dandi, near Surat, is a historically important site that witnessed the famous Namak Satyagraha or Dandi March while Bardoli also holds historical significance.



WITNESS THE BEST GOLF-COURSES IN GUJARATGujarat is set to woo all golf enthusiasts, in India and abroad, with its verdant haven of golfing options ranging from a royal palace to a backdrop to an adventurous fairway through rugged landscape. The state offers the best of modern amenities set against a rich cultural heritage to become a world-class golf destination to reckon with. With world-class facilities, signature golf courses, luxurious golf clubs, plush resorts and even swanky residential complexes set around golf courses, any golfing enthusiasts vouch that

one of the best ways to experience Gujarat is through its golf tourism. Apart from the many operational golf courses, leading players serving the state-of-the art golf courses are unarguably the state’s best golf ones. The 18-hole championship golf course at Kensville Golf and Country Club situated about 40 km from Ahmedabad is the most maintained and illustrious golf course, which golf lovers can enjoy their stay in. From Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Geet Sethi, Jeev Milkha Singh to spiritual guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, and other celebrities flock to Gujarat to test their swing.

MUSTVISIT

Aalloa Hills Resort

Cambay Spa & Golf Resort, Gandhinagar

Gulmohar Greens Golf & Country Club Ltd.

Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club

The Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club

The Belvedere Golf and Country Club

Kensville Golf and Country Club



Roar along with lionsThe Gir Forest in Gujarat is known as the last abode of Asiatic Lions, also known as the Indian Lions, is second largest species of big cat found in India. The Indian lion listed as endangered and currently lives as a single population in and around Gir Forest National Park of Gujarat. Gir Forest National Park, part of ecoregion of Kathiawar, houses over 500 lions, including 109 adult lions, 201 adult lioness and around 213 sub-adults and cubs. A dry deciduous forest with a total area of 1,412 sqkm, the park is located 60 km from Junagadh and offers some of the best possible wildlife safari and adventure experiences. Under the guidance of expert guides, travellers will have surely a life-time experience across one of most renowned wildlife sanctuary of India, by enjoying Gujarat’s Wildlife or Jeep Safaris in Gir.

Junagadh District

Amreli District

Gir Somnath

Bhavnagar

Devalia Safari Park

GO WILD IN GUJARAT!

MUSTVISIT

Gujarat offers a plethora of wildlife experiences, bringing the travellers closest to the nature, possible. Amongst the other offering that this state has to offer, Gujarat presents the best-of-the-best from the varied lot. The state of Gujarat offers a great diversity of habitats and has a lot to offer to those who love wildlife. Rainfall in the state increases from the plains to the mountains or from north to south. Therefore, the forests are concentrated in hilly regions of the state. Wildlife in Gujarat is seen to be flourishing in these dense forests. The deep forests at Dang and the Gir give shelter to various species of animals, including some of the rarest species that can only be found in Gujarat. Explore this incredible wildlife in Gujarat vacations by taking the jungle tours at the various destinations of the state.



‘Hippity Hop’ with deersA journey through Saurashtra may help quench one’s wanderlust of experiencing the Savanah. The nearest town, Valabhaipur, is 32 km away, and Ahmedabad 145 km away, at the Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary and National Park, formerly the private grassland of the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, one would find a land of wide-spreading golden grasslands, where spiral-horned antelope or the Black Bucks, with its largest population, can be seen bounding up out of the grasses. The blackbuck, for which the park was created, lives mostly in the grasslands on the northern side. The Black Buck National Park is entered from Valabhaipur on the old highway or Adhelai on the Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad highway. Otherwise, the park is accessed by bus from Bhavnagar (72 km away). Lodging is available at the park headquarters, but reservations are necessary.

Witness a rare breedSome places in the world are known for lush greenery, others for steep cliffs and snowy glaciers but of all the landscapes in the world, harsh deserts are perhaps the one that fewest people have experienced. Precisely because there are very few people, visiting deserts like the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) which gives a traveller the chance to ponder a world before there were so many of us around. Located in LRK, the Wild Ass Sanctuary is the only home to wild ass in India. Built with a purpose to protect the endangered Indian wild ass, the sanctuary sprawls over an area of 5000sqkm of LRK. This wild ass sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat and around 3000 wild asses in the sanctuary and can be best seen in and around October and November.



Indulge in bird-watching experienceGujarat is paradise for bird- watchers and wildlife enthusiasts. For an excursion into nature, the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary—a Ramsar site, an extensive wetland attracts thousands of migratory birds during winter. Nal Sarovar attracts numerous varieties of waterfowls, waders, cranes and other winter migrant species. It is one of the most important birding areas in Gujarat with over 350 species of birds recorded in this area. Tourists may also eye for Houbara bustard, Greater hoopoe-lark, Pallid scops owl, Falcons, Aquilas,

Gyps vultures, Sociable Lapwing, Short-eared owl, Indian eagle-owl and Sykes’ nightjar. Clouds upon clouds of more than 200 types of birds land in this lake having made an equally long journey to escape the harsh winter of their nesting areas. These migrant birds visit Nal Sarovar every year from November to February. During these four months, water is plentiful and fish, insects and aquatic plants abound in the lake—an ideal environment for the birds. Nal Sarovar at this time is a birdwatcher’s delight.

For further information, please visit www.gujarattourism.com

TravelScapes


REPORT

GLOBAL MICE MAPINDIA’S MOUNTING POSITION IN THE

The recent FICCI-MRSS White Paper, launched by The Ministry of Tourism,

Government of India and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and

Industry (FICCI), suggests a five-point-agenda to boost inbound MICE tourism in India. Furthermore, the report showcases

India’s relative position as an inbound MICE destination and the initiatives taken up by the Central Govt. to encash this high

potential growth engine



REPORT

Of the various forms of tourism that exist in the world, the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibition (MICE) tourism

is the one, which has shown the utmost potential across the globe. Ever since the inception of the concept in Europe and America, almost a century back, the MICE industry has grown from strength-to-strength and has an ineradicable impact in developing a destination and its economy. Globally, the MICE segment, with a 54 per cent market share, has overtaken the traditional business trips segment. Conferences/Meetings/Seminars (41 per cent) and Trade Fairs/Exhibitions (29 per cent) are the two largest MICE sub-segments, says a 2014 to 15’s ITB World Travel Trends report. Alternatively, the recent FICCI-MRSS report highlights India’s relative position in the inbound MICE map of the world and with a focus on the central and state governments’ plans respectively across the country to monetise the elevating growth of the MICE segment of tourism in India.

India, already, has a host of locations that are well acclaimed MICE destinations. The physical and peripheral infrastructure has already geared up or is in the final stage of completion. A few more destinations have also been conceived off, signifies the report. Looking at this potential, the Ministry of Tourism has established the India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) under its’ guidance along with well-known industry experts. This is employed with an aim to promote India as a destination for MICE Tourism and boost its business for more revenue generation. The Bureau participates in travel conferences and also organises roadshows both at domestic as well as international locations to formalise the concept.

Released at the Global MICE Travel Mart last year, the FICCI-MMRS report recommends a five-point agenda to heighten MICE tourism, namely “to promote concept of sustainable tourism; maintain co-ordination and align with the central agency; create

a market intelligence system to track competition;

create experiences,

not just tourist spots and sell MICE tourism exclusively”. This will

involve all stakeholders right from the community to

active participants in the value chain and enable them to proactively serve and interact with the inbound tourists so that they feel more at home in India. Also, it will enable them to return to India on a regular basis. With a view of maintaining co-ordination and coalition with the central agency’s MICE Promotion Bureau with that of industry, representation has been set up at national as well as the state levels. They need to work in close co-ordination, take time-bound actions and also create a market intelligence system to track competition, as the White Paper proposes.

The centres which have gained maximum prominence in terms of attracting more MICE tourists are Delhi NCR (Delhi and NOIDA), Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin, Bhubaneshwar. It can be observed from the depiction above that India already has a host of locations which are well acclaimed MICE destinations. The estimated contribution of MICE to GDP is 0.22 per cent, while that to Tourism is approximately 3.26 per cent with an age group of 35 to 44 is the predominant traveller category in this group.

Initiated by both the central and state governments respectively, the policy emphasises upon maximising synergies between leisure and MICE Tourism to

enable pre/ post leisure for MICE visitors with an aim to extend their stay, motivate

them to visit other locations and earn more foreign exchange from them.

What is encouraging is the fact that the New Tourism Policy identifies MICE as an important product to boost the tourism revenue along with Heritage and Culture, Spirituality, Yoga,

Ayurveda, Medical Tourism, Agritourism, Beaches, River,

Cruises, Adventure, Wildlife, Cuisine, Shopping, Cinemas. There needs to be

an intelligence system to track the product offerings by the competition states and pass

on this information to the states so that they can amend/ modify/ value add their offerings in order to stay competitive amongst MICE travellers.

THE WAY AHEADAccording to the report, India’s MICE tourism has

shown exponential prospective over the past few

years. Besides, the report expresses that revalence of high tax structure in India is a major contributor for India’s destinations to lose out on a global scale while bidding for events. The Convention Visa has been addressed somewhat in the New Tourism Policy whilst the introduction of e-Tourist Visa has kicked off a new regime. Speaking of roadblocks, availability of trained manpower and a carrying capacity of a MICE destination and compliance to international standards are needs of the hour. As the agenda suggests, a visitor should go back enriched in knowledge and with a sense of great experience. New tourist destinations may be identified and further developed for offering innovative tourism products or experiences.

Moreover, the White Paper insists that there are a few issues in relation to MICE tourism in India which can be perceived as possible bottlenecks to the industry as a whole. The MICE industry in India, though well equipped to take on its immediate neighbours and in certain cases the global warhorses, has to trudge a long path before it comes up as a “top of the mind” destination amongst global MICE organisers. As per ICCA, India occupies 35th position in the world, with a total of 116 Global conferences organised in the year 2016 and 2017. In this category, the global leaders include USA (831 meetings), Germany (659 meetings), Spain (578 meetings), United Kingdom (543 meetings) and France (533 meetings). Only China (332) leads at the world stage while other competitors like Taipei (145), Singapore (142), Malaysia (133) and Thailand (118) are within the striking range. In terms of the number of participants attending a conference however, India occupies a better position ranking 25 with 60 participants per meeting.

The report points out of selling of MICE tourism exclusively customised travel experiences, what the foreign travellers believe in specifically luxury spa sessions, rare animal sanctuaries, religious pilgrimage tours. There is enough opportunity in India to promote medical, wellness and spiritual tourism in the state and MICE destinations should be encouraged as tourism for the purpose of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions are no longer limited to big cities. A visitor should go back enriched in knowledge and experience and thus, more MICE business and footfalls in India.


UPDATE TravelScapesOUTBOUND

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announced the launch of its new digital presence with three distinct websites – FlyLAX.com, iFlyVNY.com and LAWA.

org. The three sites replace the previous version of LAWA.org.The new clean and easy-to-navigate sites allow for enhanced content and

improved search functionality. The sites are designed to provide a superior experience on all mobile devices and conform to any type of screen. Whether viewing on a desktop computer, or any smart device, the content will adjust to fit.

“The modernisation of LAX is about more than just new construction, it’s about creating an intuitive, seamless, safe and efficient guest experience from the beginning to the end of a passenger journey, and our new websites are a big part of these efforts,” said Justin Erbacci, LAWA Chief Innovation and Commercial Strategy Officer. “The new FlyLAX.comand its sister websites are mobile-friendly, and allow users to create customizable experiences that provide real-time travel data - one more step forward in our efforts to create a world-class, industry-leading guest experience at our airport.”

LAWA has also unveiled the newly revamped LAWA.org, which is the business-facing side of the organisation. This new site highlights the airport’s focus on business, environment, employment and governance.

In order to regain the traction that Hong Kong as a destination lost marginally after the introduction of pre-arrival registration regime introduced from

January 2017, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the national agency for the promotion of tourism, will be launching multiple campaigns all year round in 2018 in the India market. These will include some big campaigns as well as some smaller ones to “keep the interest going and sustain” towards Hong Kong in the market. This was informed by Puneet Kumar, Senior Manager – Market Development – India, HKTB.

While conceding there has been some dip in arrival numbers from India last year, Kumar said that they have been able to regain ground towards the last quarter of 2017 after activating the training and education of the trade through webinars and other platforms.

He said that some of these campaigns will be rolled out in partnerships with leading tour operators and online travel companies for summer, while some others will be launched to target value-conscious young and mid-career travellers for the low-season months.

He added that India is considered as a major source market by HKTB and therefore HKTB has strategy in place which is largely to target mainly four key segments. They are family travellers, young career professionals, fly cruise segment and meetings and incentives. Apart from the popular seasons for family travellers i.e. winters and summers, Kumar said that the tourism board is directing its efforts to entice young mid-career travellers during the low season by offering attractive packages by working with airlines. He said that the tourism board will also try and work out packages to target fly-cruise segment by working with both airlines and cruise companies like Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean which have sailings from Hong Kong.

As part of reaching out to the young Indian travellers who are heavily into consuming online digital content, HKTB is also in the process of producing four-episode web series specially designed for the India market. These web series will capture the new elements of Hong Kong like culture, nightlife, outdoors, etc., and will be presented in a fictional story format, he said.

British visas issued to Indian nationals in 2017 increased sharply over the previous twelve months, according to the latest quarterly report from the UK’s Office for National Statistics.

Over 526,000 UK visas were issued to Indian nationals between January and December 2017, a jump of nearly 10 per cent from 2016.

The increase was driven by a surge in visitors and students with visitors increasing by 11 per cent to 427,000 and students 28 per cent to 14,500.

Indian nationals still receive more employment visas for than all other nationalities combined, with 59,000 Indians choosing the UK to further their careers.

The British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, said, “These statistics illustrate the continuing strength of the UK and India’s relationship. I am delighted that more Indians than ever before are choosing the UK for work, study, tourism and business travel. Particularly welcome is the 28 per cent increase in Indian students, showing that our world-class universities are again attracting more of India’s brightest and best young people.”

“Our visa service for Indians is as good as any other. Almost 90 per cent of applicants are issued visa, in line with global norms. Some 99 per cent of Indian applicants get their visa within our 15-day service standard and we have more visa application centres across India than we do in any other country.”

LAWA announces launch of new mobile-friendly websites

Hong Kong Tourism Board to roll out multiple campaigns in India

Sharp increase in Indians visiting and studying in the UK


UPDATE TravelScapes

Situated at the eastern part of central China, Henan Province is the cradle of ancient

Chinese civilisation. It is the birthplace of China’s great historic figures, and the origin of the unique Chinese inventions and martial arts. Among eight ancient capitals in China, four are located in Henan province, namely Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang and Anyang. Emperors of 20 dynasties chose to build their capitals there. China’s long history and rich culture have bestowed Henan province an array of world-renowned historic and cultural heritage and variety of famous tourist attractions. The historical heritage sites, such as the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng, Longmen Grottoes and Anyang Yinxu are world-famous. To take the Longmen Grottoes as an example, it embodies the profound mutual influence of cultures between our two countries. It has already attracted many Indians to visit it. The White Horse Temple in Luoyang, the Indian-style Buddhist Hall of which was inaugurated by India’s past President Pratibha Patil, is also a key draw for Indian visitors.

With rich historical and cultural heritages and attractive scenery, Henan Province has already become a very popular tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Regularly tourist events, such as the International Mayors Forum on Tourism (IMFT), Luoyang Peony Fair, and International Yellow River Festival in

Sanmenxia, are organised which serves as useful platform to promote cooperation between China and other countries, including India.

Henan’s vast history, ethnic and cultural diversity presents the traveller with many possibilities on how to spend their time in the province. For the first time visitor to this region, the must-see cultural icons and spectacular landscapes include the Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes and the scenic area of the Yellow River.

Henan Province, China participated for the first time in the 25th edition of SATTE 2018, South Asia’s largest travel and tourism exhibition. SATTE served as a platform for Henan Tourism to engage with the biggest and most influential B2B and B2C partners in India and globally. At the recently concluded SATTE 2018, Henan Tourism along with its partners highlighted the destination’s growing portfolio of bespoke and affordable experiences, whether travelling for business or leisure.

Hundreds of visitors were entertained by the center stage with Taichi performance hosted by Henan Tourism. The Tourism board’s booth saw much traffic as vendors and buyers showed increased interest in learning the history and culture of the ‘Cradle of Civilisation.’

“We are very proud to bring Henan to India for all to see”, says Tian Xin, Director, China National Tourism Administration-New Delhi.

HENAN PROVINCEBANKING ON RELIGIOUS ATTRACTIONS TO DRAW IN MORE INDIAN TRAVELLERS

OUTBOUND


TravelScapes

TravelBullz

In its eighth year of class-apart service and unbeaten operations, TravelBullz continues to work closely with its customers, giving uttermost priority to their requirements, K. D. Singh, Founder & President, TravelBullz shares how the company is growing leaps and bounds by prioritising people and digitalising the entire platform of the company. He also shares his insights on the ongoing travelling trends and the way forward for TravelBullz

With a sole aim to revolutionise and redefine the wholesale business in the travel trade, TravelBullz offers state-of-

the-art and interactive technology with over 150,000 hotels in more than 100 countries worldwide. In 2016, TravelBullz had over 70,000 guests travelling on their network, marking a turnover of over USD15 million. According to K.D. Singh, 2017 was phenomenal and path-breaking year for TravelBullz in growth of business and reputation. For 2018, the company is eyeballing on more extensive customer services, adding a personal touch to enhance the company’s reputation and business.

“We recently launched a revolutionary product called the ‘Escorted Group Departures’ which aims at delivering quality service to all our FIT guests in a fully guided package tour, starting from their pick up at airport to drop back at the airport upon completion of their tour. It gives all our partners a unique opportunity to upgrade their existing guests onto Escorted Tour for a hassle free holiday with a guided service throughout the journey,” informs Singh.

He further adds, “This year, our main focus is to improvise service quality and On-Tour experience for our guests and also ensure that the SIC and FIT customers’ do not face challenge with language or food during their trips with us in Hong Kong, Macao and Thailand. The new product ensures that the guests are taken care of and do not have to worry about anything and make the most out of their holiday.”

Moreover, Singh shares, “In the destinations that we represent, we want to strengthen our MICE segment of customers, which we categorise in four categories, Incentives and Conference which is also majority of our business, ‘Socials & Special Events’ that include 40th birthday celebrations, 10th anniversary and weddings, ‘Group Series’ and

‘Ad-Hoc Leisure Groups’. We successfully operated around 650 groups in 2017. We expect to grow this business substantially in 2018 with a very focussed approach to increase this business share. With guaranteed daily flights between India and Thailand and frequent connectivity of Macao and Hong Kong, respectively, with India, we may ensure more business this year.”

Talking about the current travel trends that Singh has noticed, he is of the opinion that travellers are more focused on experiential travelling, nowadays. Tourists are eyeing more for niche experiences and destinations deflecting from the conventional spots. Another aspect that has benefited TravelBullz is the fact that luxury travelling has picked up quite well in the recent past and experiential properties such as Anantara, Alila Diva, St. Regis, Banyan Tree are receiving more prominence due to this. He further adds that the luxury segment has been strongly and rapidly growing over the past few years. The discerning travellers have now started to look for varied experiences including spa, family gathering and water sports activities. Moving away from the conventional destinations of Phuket and Krabi, the industry is observing a huge increase in demand in unconventional destinations such as Koh-Phangan and Koh-Samui in Thailand. TravelBullz’s service quality with a personal touch is the key ingredient

in customising their customers’ trip and tactfully choosing the properties for them.

Speaking of TravelBullz’s major strengths, Singh opines that the most important contributing factor in his company is the people. “The value addition that I, as a leader, bring in to the company is by choosing the right people with the right attitude. This has allowed TravelBullz in ascending to the desired direction of success. The people are the face of the company and I take pride in assembling some of the best of human resource and talents, across the country, which differentiates our company in the competitive market. When it comes to training and building knowledge, we invest a lot of attention and resources in delivering the correct product and destination training to the travel agents, ensuring that the expectation gap between the customers and the travel partners are minimised,” he highlights.

By the end of 2018, Singh expects a digital conversion of the entire platform of his company for both pre and post sales operations, allocating this aspect as his core priority in terms of infrastructure and technological expansion. “We are the pioneers of technological services and operations that have allowed us to stay ahead in the game. We are the only company in the global B2B business to offer Hong Kong and Macao packages, available online with real time confirmations and vouchers made available, without having to call anybody on phone or send emails. Being tech-oriented has been an important contributing factor to our success. Prime initiatives for this year are to focus on customer service and experiences on ground and also upgrade SIC and FIT clientele to our newly launched ‘Escorted Tours’. We will continue our efforts to grow this business from India, China, Middle East and rest of Asia, which grew around 600 per cent from last year,” Singh shares with a smile.

to supplement its customer service in 2018

SPECIAL FOCUS OUTBOUND

By Sayanti Halder

We are the first DMC, to have come up with such a personalised service for our FIT guests travelling to Thailand, Hong Kong , Macao

K. D. Singh

http://www.german

yspe

cialist.c

om


TravelScapesWHAT’S TRENDING

Industry outlines suggestions to regulate overtourism

Rebelling against tourist invasion

Overtourism has unacceptably deteriorated the quality of a touristy experience and has miserably affected the local way of life in India and Worldwide. While UNESCO threatened to remove

Dubrovnik’s World Heritage Site status unless it curbed tourist numbers, the local people in Venice organised angry protests against overtourism. This issue is not going away anytime soon until we realise that the tourism can and must be better managed. We collated suggestions from the

industry stalwarts on how we can collectively create ‘better places to live’ and ‘good places to visit’

By Gagneet Kaur


TravelScapes WHAT’S TRENDING

PROMOTING NEW DESTINATIONS, THE WAY FORWARDOvertourism is either at monuments or at hill stations and religious places. I feel that at the monuments, especially, for the Indian traffic, there should be time restrictions. For instance, three to four hours visit should be implemented and the cost of entry tickets should be increased. To overcome the rush at hill stations, new destinations should be developed by the government so that in the next couple of years the rush from the usual hill stations may shift to these new places. The government should invest a lot of money to reduce the rush at the hill station. The new destinations

should be planned with better connectivity and with a view that no alternative needs to be searched for the next 75 years at least.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM TO REMOVE THE ROADBLOCKS Many locations including monuments have the problem of tourist inflow beyond their facilities to carry the arrival. The location of Taj Mahal itself faces problems such as pollution, loss of open space, degradation of historic sites, cultural degeneration and irritation due to the behaviour of the large tourist crowd. Ladakh is another example of the influence of the exceeding tourist inflow into their peaceful serene location. Government forecasted arrival of 313,000 tourists in 2017, to the region which is much more than the region’s resident population numbering only 280,000. They face problems of strain on resources, vehicles clogging on narrow roads and receding of glaciers.

Kerala is a typical example of how a state can ensure sustainable tourism considering the carrying capacity of the state as an important parameter. The government has a tourism policy

that stresses on a ‘sustainable tourism’ model. Also, the state promotes ‘qualitative tourism’. To remove the problems of tourism inflow beyond the carrying capacity, there should be proper planning by the government, the local community and the stakeholders of the industry together and they should evolve policies for a sustainable model of tourism for the location.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMSThe exact meaning of overtourism is vaguely unclear as tourism is a sector which celebrates rapid and seemingly endless growth in tourism arrivals figures yet, the over pouring numbers have plagued the good touristy destinations in India and worldwide. In the recent years, we have collectively failed to control tourism numbers and maintain the sustainability in a destination, be it a tourist visiting a place, destination management offices marketing the destination or the sleeping local authorities who avoid working closely with the other authorities. At some places, the tourist arrivals are even exceeding the region’s resident numbers. For instance, in Ladakh, arrivals were forecasted to hit 313,000 in 2017, exceeding the region’s 280,000 residents and ten times the number of visitors in 2002.

We need to understand that tourism is not just an economic phenomenon but it also involves social, cultural and environmental aspects and we, especially as the tourists, should understand this. Local and state governments can play a significant role by involving locals to bring active solutions and putting a cap on tourist numbers can also address the issues.

MONITORING THE TOURIST INFLOW IS VERY IMPORTANTOvertourism is a critical issue in the Indian travel industry mainly because the domestic tourism industry in India has grown tremendously over the years. As a piece of fact, the estimated domestic tourists travelling across the country on pilgrim, leisure, social trips, MICE has touched 1.63 billion. Out of this figure 60 to 70 per cent constitutes pilgrim tourists and the rest exploring destinations on pleasure, business trips and more.

Tourism is not an organised sector now. Neither the centre nor the states have enacted any act to monitor the growth of tourism in the country. While most of the destinations may be overcrowded during the season, few starve for tourist inflow. States are doing their best to publicise the tourism potential to market their product. There is a threat to local

culture as well due to ‘overtourism’. State government should enforce laws to restrict the development of infrastructure that may lead to degradation of local habitat. Swachh Bharat campaign should be undertaken to educate people to keep the premises as well as the destinations clean.

PP Khanna, President, ADTOI

Rajiv Mehra, Vice President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)

Kishore K.V., President, South India Global Tour Operators Association (SIGTOA)

E. M. Najeeb, Managing Director, Air Travel Enterprises (ATE) Group of Companies


TravelScapes

TOUR OPERATORS CAN PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLECiting an example of the Taj Mahal, ASI thought of putting a cap on its daily visitors and even increased the entry ticket cost and special tariff for visiting the tomb area inside Taj Mahal. This initiative was otherwise inundated with quick hitting tourists on a daily basis including a large number of students.

The only way is to emphasise the need for tour and activity operators is to use data to predict the flow and minimise flow of tourists. All tour operators must make their tour packages as sustainable as possible as this benefit their customers as well as the destination that surround them. By making use of proper planning tools and problem-solving attitude, state governments can bring the difference. They must see common good of the

locals and best conservation methods looking into carrying capacity. Team members to be formed who can carry out the execution of work on the synergised way with professional responsibilities and not as armed chair decision makers.

COLLECTIVE EFFORT IS ALL THAT WE NEEDIt’s easy to understand why the amount of travellers is growing. There are more and more economical flight offers, especially in Europe from where a lot of travellers start their journey. Additionally, the global middle class is growing and has more income to spend for leisure. This is especially true for markets like China and India but also in many other places in the world. To tackle the issue of Overtourism, the local and state government along with trade bodies will need to work collectively to lead the people to different attractions, away from the biggest POIs that tend to be overcrowded.

Further, involving the locals, creating attractions that are worth visiting at off-peak times and promoting remote attractions to

tourists seem to be the way forward. Weekend-cation is one of the few examples of how tourism bodies are promoting destination apart from main attractions. While the youngsters from metros are itching with wanderlust looking for options, new horizons have opened up for tourism departments.

RESPONSIBLE MARKETING, THE NEED OF THE HOURThere may be a single or two destinations that need immediate attention in our country. To avoid the impact of overtourism on these cities, we need to promote and market other destinations within the country by building better infrastructure. The government certainly needs to play a pivotal role in monitoring tourism so it doesn’t change into overtourism. Local governments must insist on limitations on tourism, which can be accomplished through taxation, tourist caps and fines. Government-backed tourism boards and travel companies should be able to influence policy-making. While promoting a destination, the government should increase workforce, tourist police and environment officers to review the area on a regular basis.

Responsible marketing and

education will play a very important role. The expansion of competing low-cost carriers makes it cheaper and easier to reach cities. Further, travel companies, hotel chains, airlines, room sharing services and other tourism aggregators should each play a role of not creating a hostile environment for locals in the destinations they serve.

WE NEED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH A POSITIVE APPROACHDue to overtourism and non-updation to the travellers, tourists are leaving behind a lot of trash and non-recyclable waste not only in tourist spots such as Ladakh but also spoiling tourist attractions like serene lake Pangong which is a natural wonder. As part of our Educational program, we recently conducted EDWIN in Ladakh where around 50 travel professionals took a pledge to promote responsible, green and clean tourism in the region of Ladakh. Similarly, I personally believe that the local authorities, government, local suppliers and also the travel professionals promoting destinations can definitely play a major role in addressing the challenges in not only Ladakh but also at any other destinations within India or

overseas. As long as we consider earth our home, we will definitely have a positive attitude to keep it neat and tidy as we would do with our own household and surroundings.

Raj Bajaj, Head of Railway Committee & Executive Committee Member, Indian Association of Tour Operators

Rajiv Anand, General Manager, Corporate Marketing & Sales/ Public Relations, ITDC

Jyoti Mayal, Hon. Secretary General, Travel Agents Association Of India (TAAI)

Harmandeep Singh Anand - Managing Director / Global Panorama Showcase Pvt. Ltd. & Jagsons Travels Pvt. Ltd

WHAT’S TRENDING


EXOTIC INDIA TravelScapes

MaharashtraThe best kept secrets of

A bombardment of beauty, a kaleidoscope of colours and an embodiment of nature’s wonder. Well, Maharashtra has all in its platter. With a good mix of scenic places, architectural monuments, wildlife sanctuaries and religious places, there lay many hidden gems tucked away in this coolest state


TravelScapes EXOTIC INDIA

We truly doubt if the popular state, Maharashtra needs any introduction. The state located in

central India is the center point for various activities in the country. It takes center stage on various topics ranging from politics and business to religion and travel. The state comprises of many well known destinations from the blur of lights that is Mumbai to the historic city that is Kolhapur. Maharashtra has much to offer its travellers, both domestic and foreign. You can easily spend many months exploring the charming nooks and corners of this stunning state. Be it on the road or by rail or sometimes even by flight, you will get to see, taste and live experiences that are unique to Maharashtra.

While the state may be primarily known for Mumbai by most – there is much more to this place than what meets the eye. Right from the beautiful hill stations to the vast bays on the west coast of the state, Maharashtra is considered to be among the richest states in the whole of India. Maharashtra surely is rich – in culture, music, museums, beaches and a great standard of living. Famous and the most revered rulers of India such as Shivaji the great, are Maharashtra’s sons and have left a whole of lot of their legacy in forms of famous structures and beautiful heritage in Maharashtra. It is an enjoyable journey exploring through the vast cultures, the ethnicity of clothes, the mouth-watering food, the massive landscapes and the astonishing hill stations among other things.

Extremely flexible by air, the state has numerous domestic and international airports. Chattarpati

Shivaji International Airport, Aurangabad Airport, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Shri

Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport and several others. From these airports there are major flights operating to

and fro, and thus connecting Maharashtra to various parts of India and abroad. In terms of rail and road,

Maharashtra has a well knit network which connects all the corners.

AdventureLonavala (Rajmachi Fort)

Sayahadri HillsNagpur (Waki Woods)

Nagpir (Tadoba National Park)

WellnessThane (Shahapur)

VishwanandIgatpuri

SpiritualityPune(Osho Ashram)

Mumbai (Haji Ali, Mahalaxmi Temple)

Romance Raigad (Matheran)

MumbaiPune (Konkan Beaches)

NashikMahabaleshwar

HeritageAurangabad (Ajanta, Ellora)

Mumbai (Elephanta, Kanheri Caves)

Cities famous

for

Connectivity


TravelScapesEXOTIC INDIA

A turtle walk at RatnagiriLocated 335 kms from Mumbai, Ratnagiri has hills on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. Close to town, there are undisturbed and underrated beaches such as Velas, Diveagar, and Guhagar that offer an insight into the Konkan lifestyle. You can witness the mass hatching of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles at the Velas Turtle Hatching Festival in the month of March every year. The festival starts and goes on as long as the emergence of hatchlings continues. Velas is a small eco-village in Ratnagiri district which is famous for the Olive Ridley turtle population that visits the Velas beach every year and lays their eggs. At Velas, turtle conservation movement is undertaken by the villagers. An NGO named Sahyadri Nisargmitra started the conservation and now the Regional Forest Officers (RFO), Velas Grampanchayat and villagers’ committee have taken the initiative to conserve Olive Ridley Turtles by providing protection to their eggs. Witnessing a baby turtle coming out of the egg and then finding its way to the sea by those baby steps is an unforgettable moment. We welcome all the nature lovers to join for this unforgettable journey of tiny olive ridley turtles.

February to May

September and October

When to go

The flowery carpets of Kaas PlateauBetter known as Maharashtra’s valley of flowers, Kaas near Satara has exotic flower species that bloom in delightful colors. UNESCO has declared the Western Ghats (in which Kaas is tucked) one of the most biodiversity-rich spots in the world. Monsoon is when the plateau attracts hundreds of visitors with smiles on their faces and cameras in their hands. More than 200 varieties of wild flowers, herbs, orchids, shrubs and insectivorous plants, including 30 endangered species, grow here. You can get to see in Kaas 16 kinds of butterflies, 42 local bird species, 29 migratory bird families, six reptile species and 12 mammal species.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Kaas Pathar or Kaas plateau located in the Koyana Wildlife Sanctuary, is an ideal weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune. It brims with beauty from August till October, rains permitting. The basalt plateau sees a plethora of wild flowering species take birth, live a brief life and then perish. More than 850 species of flowering plants call this sanctuary home during these months. Many of these are priceless, thanks to their medicinal and healing properties and the shelter they offer to the micro-fauna, insects, amphibians and reptiles. Monsoon mania seems to engulf even the plants and animals in its refreshing throes, and they burst into activity every step of the way.

EXOTIC INDIA

February

January

When to go

An essence of paradise in NashikIn India, where whiskey is the alcoholic drink of choice and teetotalers exist by the legions, a wine culture has been almost non-existent. A picturesque area with deep green rolling hills known as India’s wine valley, Nashik (also Nasik) is finally changing that perception of drinking. More than a half-dozen wineries with attractive tasting rooms and in some cases, restaurants and accommodations have been introduced in the last few years turning this fertile valley into a popular oenophile destination for trendsetting Indians.

Sula Fest organised here has a fascinating line up. This wine and music festival is equal parts familiar, fun and intriguing. While most of the wine we sample across the country comes from grapes harvested at Sula’s nearby Dindori property, this smaller centre is the winemaker’s tourism hotspot. Visitors get a crash course in winemaking during the tour of the winery, where the guide explains how red wine gets its colour from the skin being left in during the crushing process, and how imported wooden barrels (mostly oak) are used to age the wine a little before sale. The long main building set in the middle of the vineyard is where all the activity is, with music pumping and tourists milling about the tasting room on the first floor, standing at the rail overlooking the estate as they figure out their own tastes in wine.

Beauty set in rock at Ellora FestivalOne of the great historical sites in the state is the Ellora caves, which also have a UNESCO world heritage status. Ellora festival is the celebration of culture, classical music and dance, organised on the backdrop of the majestic Ellora caves. Hosted by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, the performances at this grand event are sure to leave you mesmerised. The Ellora festival celebrates the grandeur of Indian art and cultural forms at one of the most picturesque and historical sites in the country.

Ellora festival of dance and music held in the splendid surroundings of the world-heritage listed cave temple of Ellora, about 30 km from Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Ellora festival of dance and music held in January at the magnificent Soneri Mahal in Aurangabad. Dating back to 17th century, this architectural marvel was built by Pahadsing, an Orchha chieftain. Ellora comprises of about 34 caves cut out of the sloping side of the Chamadri hills. Excavated between 600-1000 AD, the caves belong to Buddhists, Jain and Hindu faiths. Ellora represents some 300 years of experiments carried out by different faiths with their very different iconography and structural compulsions. Another 28 caves have been discovered later by the Archeological Survey of India. The masterpiece of Ellora is the Kailash Temple. It is the world’s largest monolithic sculpture, sculpted out of a rock by 7000 labourers over a 150 year period.


TravelScapes

Lakeside camping at BhandardaraIndulge yourself in an adventure of camping in Bhandardara and carry back memories of an exciting and unforgettable experience. The reservoir of Bhandaradara is located at an ideal and easy drive away from Mumbai, near Igatpuri. The beauty of Igatpuri itself is legendary, since it is full of the beauteous charms of hills, lakes and dense forests. The sparkling waters of Bhandardara that reflects the lush green mountains around also lives up to the repute! Camping on the edge of this lake is a truly pleasurable pursuit that will land you right in the lap of stunning scenery and relaxing environs.

While in Bhandardara you can enjoy the Ratangarh Fort trek which is a renowned trek in the trekker’s fraternity. Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, the trek is ideal for both beginners and pro. The sightseeing while you trek on the trail is simply mesmerising and assures to leave its imprints on your memory.

Besides, there are many tourist places in Bhandardara that make a perfect spot for a day picnic. You can go near the falls or to the surroundings of the dam to find a perfect place where you can splurge with your family and have a gala time.

The longest uninterrupted beach-TarkarliFor the beach bums out there, Maharashtra has a treasure chest full of surprises and goodies and the most sparkling among them is the eight km long undeterred coast of Tarkarli. The place where the Karli River meets the Arabian Sea marks the start of the beach. A truly spectacular coastline, the waters of Tarkarli are clearer than any other beach and you can see to a depth of almost 20ft! Emerging as a hotspot for water sport and adventure activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling and even jet skiing, Tarkarli is a gorgeous destination that is a delight for every beach lover and solace seeker!

The crystal clear tropical waters of Tarkarli are the gateway to a vibrant underwater world teeming with marine life. Swim alongside placid turtles, curious schools of colourful fish and the occasional wary shark as you explore Tarkarli’s thriving coral reefs. India’s first integrated and biggest scuba diving center, the Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports (IISDA), is also located in Tarkarli. For adventure junkies, Tarkali is a paradise, from jet-skiing, water scooter, banana boat rides and bumper rides, to kayaking and parasailing, it offers all of it. Experience the sheer exhilaration of parasailing as you enjoy a bird’s eye view of the pristine coastline or feel the adrenaline pump in your veins as you ride a jet-ski on a rushing wave.

Between June and March

Between October and March

When to go

EXOTIC INDIA


TravelScapes

In the fine company of nature at AmboliIn Amboli, when it rains, it pours nothing but happiness. Located in south Maharashtra in the Sahyadri hills of the Western Ghats near Goa, Amboli stands tall at 2,500 feet above sea level. Although it is comparatively unexplored and less visited, it is one of the world’s biodiversity hot-spots. A winding road through forested Ghats, high waterfalls and brash local traffic, takes you to the village of Amboli, also known as the Cherrapunji of Maharashtra due to the high rainfall received per annum. In monsoons, the hilly rainforests are cloaked in thick mist. At the mouth of River Hiranyakeshi stands the ancient Shiva temple, Hiranyakeshwar. Water emerges from an adjoining cave and passes from a kund.

There are possibly also numerous undiscovered species of insects and amphibians in this mythical region. As you walk through one of the many trails that lead you in and around the rainforests (the whole area is declared protected) you come across myriads of insects, frogs, birds, snakes, wildflowers, medicinal plants, caecilians and even scorpions, many of which are unique to the region. Through the diffused glow of the sun, a scarlet minivet might glare at you for imposing; a Malabar pit viper may play statue till you pass by or a butterfly may sit nonchalantly, rubbing its wings to confuse a probable predator. Through the diffused glow of the sun, a scarlet minivet might glare at you for imposing; a Malabar pit viper may play statue till you pass by, or a butterfly may sit nonchalantly, rubbing its wings to confuse a probable predator.

Going off-the-grid in MumbaiNo matter how much you know about Mumbai, there is always something new that you encounter every time you visit this place. When it comes to exploring a new place, cycling is probably the best option that gives you close view of the Mumbai city. Hop onto your ride and start exploring Mumbai like never before. Admire the iconic architecture and spell bounding attractions such as Gateway of India, Nariman Point and more Ride through unexplored streets, wide roads and amazing lanes of this city of dreams.

Mumbai is quite a holiday destination for all who are searching for some fun time. Not to forget the beaches here adds an extra happiness to the lives of the people here. While you are in this stunning city you can likewise visit the Kanheri Caves, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mount Mary Church, Banganga Tank and so forth. Snap a portion of the best pictures alongside your friends and family as you investigate the city. Have a tryst with the recorded heritage of the place, chill by the Arabian Sea as you crunch on some luscious road sustenance, learn about some amazing expressions, ride on the most epic event congregation, escape away to curious little hill stations, investigate the universe of Bollywood, the rundown is perpetual.

Between the months of June and August

round the year

When to go

EXOTIC INDIA


UPDATE TravelScapesAVIATION

The Delhi-Vancouver – Delhi direct and non-stop flight which was launched in

October 2016 as a seasonal flight will now be a four times weekly year round flight. “Customer response to our nonstop Delhi – Vancouver - Delhi seasonal flight has been extremely positive, and we are very pleased to extend the this flight to year round beginning June 2018”, said Ben Smith, President, Passenger Airlines , Air Canada.

“Our flights on this route are serviced by our state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner and offer not only the only direct and non-stop service on this route but also a streamlined and seamless connections process at Vancouver to key destinations in North America.”

He added, “These flights together with our direct and non-stop Delhi to Toronto and Mumbai flights represent three year-round routes to India launched within the last two and a half years.”

Alitalia has been ranked as the most punctual airline in the world in

January 2018 with 91.89 per cent of flights landed on schedule, according to the report published by the authoritative US independent data services society FlightStats which every month drafts the list of the most punctual airlines.

The data related to the month of January follows the success registered during 2017, confirming the Italian airline’s excellent on-time performance: with 82.78 per cent of flights arrived on time, Alitalia was ranked third most punctual airline among European Major Airlines and sixth among Major International Airlines in Year 2017.

Alitalia continues in its efforts to improve its operational performances.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for urgent attention to address

infrastructure challenges in order to secure the industry’s future.

“Having the infrastructure to grow is vital to our industry’s future. But in many key places, it is not being built fast enough to meet growing demand. And there are worrying trends which are increasing costs. One of these is airport privatizations. We have not found the correct regulatory framework to balance the interests of the investors to turn a profit, with the public interest for the airport to be a catalyst for economic growth. All the optimism supporting strong aircraft orders will mean nothing if we don’t have the capability to manage traffic in the air and at airports,” said Alexandre de Juniac in his keynote address to the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS). The theme of the Summit is ‘Reimagining Aviation’s Future’.

De Juniac highlighted the lack of airport capacity in

Jakarta, Bangkok and Manila as his top concerns in the Asia-Pacific region. “At the other end of the spectrum, we have Seoul’s Incheon Airport. They recently added runway and terminal capacity without raising charges for airlines and passengers. And, Incheon has extended an airport charges discount introduced two years ago. This sets a very positive example for other airports to follow. It also demonstrates great understanding of the role aviation plays in linking the Korean economy to economic opportunities globally,” said de Juniac.

“The Singapore government is also showing great foresight with its expansion plans for Changi Airport, including Terminal 5 (T5). But there are challenges. We must ensure the plans for T5 are robust enough to meet the high standards of airline operations and passenger convenience users of Changi Airport have come to expect. And we need to get the funding model right to avoid burdening the industry with extra costs. The prize to keep in sight is the airport’s contribution to Singapore’s overall economy,” said de Juniac.

Full-service carrier Vistara plans to launch its international

operations during the second half of 2018 and would achieve the mandatory 20 aircraft flying norm by the May of this year.

“There are plans to begin flying on routes abroad that can be covered in four hours. We may pick destinations in Southeast Asia,” said Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara.

Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, would also launch service connecting Chennai with Port Blair starting from March 1, 2018 with introductory fares of INR3,699. He further said the airliner would also

launch daily direct flights between Chennai-Kochi and would double the daily flights between Chennai and Kolkata from March 25.

The airline also plans to unveil three wide body aircraft for

long-haul, which will fly for eight to nine hours by next year. “We are expecting our 20th plane in May and we plan to add two more taking the total number to 22 by June 2018,” Kapoor added.

Address infrastructure crisis to secure aviation’s future- IATA

Vistara launches Chennai-Delhi service, to connect Port Blair

Air Canada to resume Delhi-Vancouver direct flight

Alitalia, the most punctual airline in the world


UPDATE TravelScapesUPDATE

Domestic airlines flew 1.14 crore passengers in January registering a growth of close to 20 per cent over the 95.97-

lakh passengers flown during the same period in the previous year.The latest data released by the Directorate General of Civil

Aviation show that IndiGo remained the market leader having flown 45.57 lakh passengers in January, while Jet Airways took the second spot with 16.37 lakh passengers.

Air India managed to edge out SpiceJet, with the state-owned airline having flown 15.29 lakh passengers compared with 14.48 lakh passengers flown by the Gurugram-headquartered low-cost airline, the data showed. GoAir carried 10.95 lakh passengers, AirAsia (4.89 lakh) and Vistara (4.10 lakh). SpiceJet, however, reported the highest Passenger Load Factor of 95 per cent among all the domestic airlines followed by IndiGo and JetLite (both 89.7

Air India launched a direct flight from Amritsar to Birmingham recently. The flight will operate twice a week on

Tuesday and Thursday with Boeing 787 aircraft. According to an Air India official, this is the first direct flight to be operated by any airline between Punjab and the UK.

The flight AI 117 will take off from Delhi at 11:20 am and reach Amritsar at 12.25 pm. The flight will then depart from Amritsar at 1:55 pm and reach Birmingham at 5:15 pm local time, Air India said in a statement. The return flight AI 118 will take off from Birmingham at 6:45 pm and reach Amritsar the following day at 7:45 am. For its onward journey to Delhi, the flight will leave from Amritsar at 9:15 am and arrive in Delhi at 10:30 am. The inaugural flight was flagged off from Amritsar by Vijay Sampla, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha recently said four places

in the state would get airports as part of the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. “Work on airports (airstrips) in Ambikapur, Bilaspur, Jagdalpur and Raigarh is currently on under the UDAN scheme and is expected to get completed in the next six to eight months possibly,” Sinha said. He informed that, as soon as the work was completed, Air Deccan and Air Odisha had consented to deploy 19-seater aircrafts on

these routes. “These cities will be connected to Raipur, Ranchi (Jharkhand), Jharsuguda and Rourkela (Odisha) and will ensure better air connectivity in the eastern zone with Jharkhand, Odisha and Raipur getting connected by small planes,” the minister said.

Stating that the aviation scenario was set to change in the next 15 to 20 years, he said that passenger trips, currently at 20 crore, would rise to 100 crores during this period. “Right now airlines fly 500 airplanes, which will increase to 1500-2000 planes as airlines operators have already placed firm orders for 950 planes. Presently there are 200 helicopters in the country which is expected increase to 400-500,” Sinha said.

Stating that airspace management required focus, Sinha said, “In the past 70 years (before BJP led NDA government), only 75 airports were built in the country. The current government is building 56 airports and 31 helipads over the past two years and the number of airports will soon reach 131.”

SriLankan Airlines has been focusing on the Indian market to strategically expand

its operations in the country. During the past years, SriLankan Airlines has established a strong market presence and lasting relationship with the travel partners and industry stakeholders of India.

India has been a vital partner in SriLankan Airlines’ route network from the early days. The Airlines hold the widest coverage in India, and India is Sri Lanka’s no. one source of inbound tourist traffic. Today, it directly operates to 14 Indian destinations with a total of 135 flights a week.

According to Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Country Manager, Srilankan Airlines, “We are keen on increasing the destinations and flight frequencies in India as the

demand is constantly on the rise. With the new development ventures, we anticipate significant passenger numbers from our key contributors to inbound tourism traffic- India, China, Europe, Australia and Maldives. We have already introduced three new destinations in 2017 namely Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Coimbatore commenced operations with four frequencies a week.”

Adding to this, he said, “The Indian government authorities and related state institutions have always been a firm supporter to all SriLankan Airlines and Sri Lanka Tourism projects. We hope that this bond between the two nations will be strengthened through the evolving business structure of Srilankan Airlines.”

Domestic airlines carry 1.14 cr passengers in January

Air India launches direct flight from Amritsar to Birmingham

Four cities in Chhattisgarh to get airports under UDAN

SriLankan Airlines strategically expands footprints in India

AVIATION


TravelScapes

All of us who love to travel and believe in bucket lists probably have listed South Africa among the most desired of all destinations. In

survey after survey, people who love exploring the world mention South Africa as a must-see place. And this year they are promoting adventure tourism all in all. From kayak with hippos and crocodiles in KwaZulu-

Natal to snorkel with seahorses in Knysna and bungee jump from Bloukrans Bridge, there are literally hundreds of unique and exciting

things to see and do in South Africa.South African Tourism begins 2018 with the 15th edition of its biggest

travel trade initiative in India. South African Tourism’s Roadshow travelled to five Indian cities; Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi and

Ahmedabad which started from February 12 to 19, 2018. The roadshow capitalised on the growing demand and align efforts to meet the

evolving demands of the Indian traveller. Nearly 450 travel agents from Delhi met up with 60 South African suppliers to better align efforts and

address the ever-evolving demands of the Indian traveller.Commenting on the roadshow, Hanneli Slabber, Regional General

Manager, Asia/Australasia/Middle East, South African Tourism, stated, “The Indian market has not just grown considerably since our entry in 2005, demands of Indian travellers are in a constant and rapid state of evolution even today. This makes cross sharing of insights, trends and

observations between our Indian and South African partners extremely crucial. We have had South African products being tailored to suit these

specific needs as a testament to the value proposition we see in the market.”

Syncing with Slabber, Alpa Jani, Acting Hub-Head, Middle East/India/South East Asia, South Africa Tourism added, “We have always

recorded an outstanding response from the Indian travel trade. We are also focusing on customising our engagements and product offerings

to suit the unique requirements from each of our target regions within India.”

South Africa Tourism roadshow focuses on adventure

PHOTO STORY


TravelScapes

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently launched its new marketing concept ‘Open to the New Shades of Amazing Thailand’ in

India. Yuthasak Supasorn, the TAT Governor, headed the Thai tourism team at the launch event held at JW Marriott Aerocity in New Delhi.

“The Open to the New Shades concept is about asking visitors to ‘open’ their minds and hearts to deepen and widen their experiences

into a new perception of attractions and variety of experiences in Thailand,” says Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing

Communication.

TAT launches new marketing campaign in India

PHOTO STORY


TravelScapesON THE MOVE

PROMOTED AT: Eros Hotel Nehru PlaceTO: General Manager

Eros Hotel Nehru Place has appointed Davinder Juj as the new General Manager. Juj took over as Executive Assistant Manager three years back and from then there was no looking back. Juj brings with him 23 years of operational excellence and complete business development experience. Prior to this, Juj has been associated with several other brands such as InterContinental, Hilton and Hyatt.

PROMOTED AT: Oriental Hotels TO: Chairman

Oriental Hotels appoints Puneet Chhatwal as the Chairman. The board has recently approved the appointment of Chhatwal as a non-independent, non-executive director of the company in the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rakesh Kumar Sarna, Oriental Hotels said in a BSE filing. He has also been elected as Chairman of the board. Chhatwal is the CEO and MD of Indian Hotels Company Ltd.

PROMOTED AT: The Gateway Hotel Hinjawadi TO: General Manager

Jayanta Das will helm The Gateway Hotel Hinjawadi, Pune as the General Manager. Das moves to Pune from his role as the General Manager at the Taj Kumarakom Resort & Spa, Kerala where the hotel under his leadership won two National Tourism Awards. He began his career with the Taj in 1993 at Taj Bengal, Kolkata.

PROMOTED AT: Four Points By Sheraton Hotel & Serviced Apartments, PuneTO: General Manager

Sanjay Keswani has been appointed as General Manager at Four Points By Sheraton Hotel & Serviced Apartments, Pune. Keswani will be spearheading various specialised functions of the hotel and will be responsible for steering the management team. A seasoned hotelier with an experience of over three decades, Keswani started his career with Taj Hotels.

PROMOTED AT: Wyndham Hotel Group TO: President and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA)

Wyndham Hotel Group appoints Dimitris Manikis to the role of President and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA). A 27-year veteran of RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with more than 4,300 affiliated resorts in nearly 110 countries, Manikis possesses deep knowledge of the hospitality industry.

PROMOTED AT: The Andaz Delhi TO: General Manager

Madhav Sehgal has been appointed as the General Manager at The Andaz Delhi. Sehgal’s hospitality journey began in the year 2000. Prior to joining the Andaz, his last assignment was in the capacity of a General Manager at Hyatt Regency Chennai, before having donned several executive roles within the brand with properties like Hyatt Bangalore and the Hyatt Regency Delhi.

PROMOTED AT: Marriott TO: General Manager

Marriott has appointed Shiv Bose as the General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal. Bose has a decade and a half of hospitality experience and possesses vast knowledge in hospitality management. In his new role, he will be responsible for the entire hotel operations and will focus on contributing strategic input to achieve the long term goals for the hotel.

PROMOTED AT: Vivanta by Taj – Blue Diamond, PuneTO: General Manager

Suju Krishnan has taken charge of Vivanta by Taj – Blue Diamond, Pune as the General Manager. Krishnan is a Taj loyalist, having spent 24 years with the company. His journey with the Taj began in 1994 when he joined the organisation in Front Office as part of the Taj Graduate Training Programme at Taj Bengal, Kolkata.

PROMOTED AT: The Board of Directors of Switzerland TourismTO: CEO

The Board of Directors of Switzerland Tourism appointed Martin Nydegger as the new CEO in January 2018. Nydegger’ s breadth of tourism experience and profound knowledge of Switzerland Tourism will in addition ensure a seamless transition. Prior to joining ST, he already held a number of positions in the tourism sector.

DAVINDER JUJ

PUNEET CHHATWAL

JAYANTA DAS

SANJAY KESWANI

DIMITRIS MANIKIS

MADHAV SEHGAL

SHIV BOSE

SUJU KRISHNAN

MARTIN NYDEGGER

RNI No. - DELENG/2013/48401 • Licence No. : F.2(T-3) 2013 • Posting Dt. 9-10/03/2018Place of Posting: NIEHOND 110028 • Reg. No. - DL(W)10/2208/2016-2018 • Date of publication 3-4/03/2018

For reservations call +971 4 341 0000 or [email protected]

Live the European sophisticated lifestyle at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.

A Luxurious European Experience

Benefits you can enjoy while you stay with us:

· Direct connectivity to the award winning Mall of the Emirates with more than 700 shops and services· Book a suite and above and get free access to Snow park in Ski Dubai per stay· 20% off in our truly levantine restaurant, Olea· Experience our signature restaurants: Aspen, Olea, Salero Tapas & Bodega and Noir Lounge & Bar· Complimentary WiFi access

www.kempinski.com/dubai

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MIRRORING THE SPIRIT OF - Travel Scapes

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