ThekkadyPhilippines

www.tourismindia.travel www.tourismindiaonline.com Reg. No. KL/TV (N) 432/2012-2014

Vol. 16 No. 07 Thiruvananthapuram November 2013 Pages 20+4 Price: (India) Rs.50 (Overseas) US $5 £3 Dh10

Royal Caribbean

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Singapore Airlines

Sanjeev Kapoor

Travellers are not criminals but should be treated as customers to a country,

the President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) told a gathering of the world’s tourism ministers recently. Addressing the tourism ministers of the

G20 countries (the “T20”) in London, Mr. David Scowsill called on those present to introduce a “customer-service ethic” into their visa and border processes in order to reap the potential economic and social benefits of Travel & Tourism.

“ E n c o u r a g i n g m o r e Governments to make it easier for people to cross borders has been proven to create jobs and encourage economic growth that it is why it has been at the heart of the efforts right across our industry for so long. Better approaches to visas are a win-win, not just for us in the Travel & Tourism sector but for those concerned

with trade, development and, importantly, security. Travellers who wish to visit a country for a short amount of time, helping to sustain jobs and economic growth, should be encouraged and welcomed,” he said.

T h i s e c o n o m i c i m p o r t a n c e o f ‘ v i s a facilitation’ is underscored by two major pieces of

Kerala Tourism is set to launch a new global campaign to catapult the state’s majestic

backwaters into the league of the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Voted ahead of the Taj Mahal in a National Geographic Traveller survey of top Indian tourism destinations, the backwaters of Kerala are to be unveiled as a self-contained experience in the new campaign shot using advanced aerial photography techniques.

A high profile ad blitz in the national and international media as well as the social network are the highlights of the ‘Great Backwaters’ campaign that will have its inaugural run later this month. The Great Backwaters campaign features the first of its kind, high quality aerial photographs of the backwaters. It is also one among the largest

aerial still photography projects ever undertaken in the state.

“The backwaters of Kerala are not about houseboats alone,” said Mr. A P Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala. “It is about discovering a fascinating water world unlike any other on our planet,” he added.

The ‘Great Backwaters’ campaign is expected to significantly increase the number of both foreign and domestic visitors to Kerala, boosting the state’s development while bringing in valuable foreign exchange to the country.

“Many countries are bestowed with great reserves of water, but there is none as gifted as Kerala where nature’s most amazing resource creates a magical world for the visitor,” Mr. Anilkumar said. “It is a world of astounding visual beauty, abundant flora and fauna and a vibrant cultural life,” he added.

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Managing Editor: Ravisankar K.V. Executive Editor: Rajani A. Art Editor: N. Bhattathiri Sub Editors: Rahul Krishnan, Anoop B. Special Correspontant: James Joseph Correspontant: Ganesh Mohan, Jeeth Thomas Senior Layout Artist: Vijayagopalan G.

Marketing: Ravikumar.K. (AGM) Mob: +919847560531 Director - International Marketing - Theresa Van Den Dool Consultants: Baby Mathew (Hospitality) Ashokan C.V. (Technical) R. Bhadrakumar FCA& D Ravi FCA (Financial) P. Govardhan (Legal) Dr. S. G. Pandalai (Editorial) Business Offices: UK-England: T. Haridas (Advisor) 86 Tooting High St. London SW 17 0RN Mob:+447775833754 New Delhi: D. Anil Kumar Tel: +91 11-24634248, Mob: +91 98681 23311, Mumbai: K.V. Sathyanath Tel: +91 22 29209285

Kolkata: Jayasree Singh Tel: +91 33 24187750 Mob: +91 9433060333 Bangalore: Damodaran K. Nair Mob: +91 9035616040 Hyderabad: Premraj A. Mob: +91 9446514732, Pondichery: K.Ramasubramanian Mob: +91 98949 77161

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Tourism India Publications Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2013

This year’s tourism season in India has started with hope as the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during the month October, 2013 were 5.89 lakh as against 5.56 lakh in October

2012 and 5.60 lakh in October 2011. There has been a growth of 5.8% in October 2013 over October 2012 as compared to a negative growth of 0.6% registered in October 2012 over October 2011. FTAs during the period January to October 2013 were 53.30 lakh with a growth of 4.0%, as compared to FTAs of 51.24 lakh with a growth of 4.5% during January to October 2012 over the corresponding period of 2011.

As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, the Government’s “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) Scheme, which is now available to travellers from eleven countries, has played a vital role in tourist arrivals to the country. During the month of October 2013, a total of 1,911 VoAs were issued under this Scheme as compared to 1,457 VoAs during the month of October 2012, registering a growth of 31.2%.

Considering Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) as a major factor in the growth of earnings from tourism in India, the industry is looking forward to a decent season this year. New

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campaigns by Incredible India and various state tourism departments, are attracting more tourists to the country.

The newly launched global campaign by Kerala Tourism, “The Great Backwaters”, is taking the state to compete with the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The campaign is expected to significantly increase the number of both foreign and domestic visitors to Kerala, boosting the state’s development while bringing in valuable foreign exchange to the country.

According to Kerala Tourism Minister, Mr. A. P. Anilkumar, many countries are be-stowed with great reserves of water, but there is none as gifted as Kerala where nature’s most amazing resource creates a magical world for the visitor. As the campaign hits inter-national media, Kerala Tourism as well as the Indian tourism industry are looking forward to a best season this year.

Royal Car ibbean In terna t iona l a n n o u n c e s s p e c i a l o f f e r s ,

complimentary Upgrades & 50% off on 2nd guest, exclusively for Indian travellers onboard the largest cruise ship sailing from Singapore, Mariner of the Seas. Both these offers are valid on 3 to 5 night sailings from Singapore, between November 2013 and February 2014 and will be applicable on new bookings made by 31st October 2013. With Complimentary Upgrades, guests can upgrade to Junior Suite Category at the price of Superior Balcony Category and to Superior Balcony at the price of an Ocean View Category, on select 3 nights sailings from Singapore in November and December 2013. The 50% saving offer allows guests to avail 50% Off on the 2nd guest booked in the same stateroom on select January and February 2014 sailings.

Commenting on these value offers for the Indian travellers, Ms. Ratna Chadha, Chief Executive, TIRUN Travel Marketing, India Representative of Royal Caribbean International, said “Over time we have seen a substantial increase in demand for cruises from Singapore and by positioning the largest and most innovative cruise ship in the region, we are now pleased to bring more opportunities for WOW! closer to home for our Indian guests. We believe

these offers will offer substantial value to our Indian guests looking for a short and exciting 3, 4 and 5 night sailings from Singapore to popular destinations like Thailand and Malaysia.”

At 138,000 gross registered tons (GRT), Mariner of the Seas can carry 3,807 guests and stretches more than a thousand feet in length. Mariner of the Seas, Designed for WOW, brings 15 decks of activity, first at sea innovations, luxurious staterooms, entertainment and dining options.Mariner of the Seas offers many unique experiences and innovations including:• Ice Skating Rink, An ice skating rink

for guests that doubles as a sensational 900-seat venue for ice show productions with world class figure skaters.

• Eight Dining Venues including Main Dining Room with complimentary, multi course dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. More complimentary options including Windjammer Café, Jade Sushi’s and Asian fusion cuisine,

Café Promenade for coffee and pastries/snacks, and 24 hour room service; Chops Grille Steakhouse and Giovanni’s Table, where for a cover charge you can choose any items off the menu from appetizers to desserts.

• Unparalleled sports facilities including a jogging and inline skating track, Royal Caribbean International’s signature rock climbing wall, a mini golf course, a full sized sports court with a basketball court, four pools and six whirlpools.

• Adventure Ocean Youth Program offers complimentary supervised activities for children of all ages including play areas, a diner, disco and video arcade just for kids.

• E n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d S h o p p i n g , Broadway style entertainment in the main theatre which seats 1,362 guests, Complimentary ice skating shows in Studio B. Vegas style Casino Royale, 17 bars, clubs and lounges, and more.

• Shopping Spree, Variety of name brand, duty free shopping on the Royal Promenade including jewellery, perfumes, apparel and shopping for teens and kids.

• Range of Staterooms, From the Royal Suite to balcony staterooms, ocean view and the unique Promenade staterooms

at price points to meet all budgets.• DreamWorks Experience: Featuring

spectacular shows, 3D screenings, parades , meet and greets and character dining opportunities, this entertainment extravaganza is all about holidaying with characters from Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and more.

• Barbie: The experience starts in your stateroom with a decorated vanity area and special Barbie packages including a Barbie doll, three fashion accessories, blanket, pillowcase and toiletries. There are events throughout the cruise designed exclusively for children in the program that include a tea party, dance class, fashion design experience and fashion show.

• Kids & Family: Complimentary Adventure Ocean® Youth Program, R o y a l B a b i e s a n d R o y a l T o t s programming featuring specially designed Fisher Price activities; Teen lounge areas and disco; Family-friendly activities including games, contests, enrichment classes and lectures; Royal Babies &Tots Nursery.

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Travellers are the Key Players of Tourism Industry

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel celebrated the success of being awarded F1’s

youngest four-time world champion after winning Indian Grand Pix at the cake cutting ceremony at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort Greater Noida. Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort Greater Noida, played a perfect host and prepared a special menu to celebrate the success of Hat-trick by this motor racing hero.

Jaypee Hotels, one of the finest hospitality groups in India was established in 1981. It is a division of the conglomerate, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd. Presently the group has five luxury properties, strategically located to service the needs of

discerning business and leisure travelers. In New Delhi, the group has two hotels: Jaypee Siddharth and Jaypee Vasant Continental.

The largest property is Jaypee Palace Hotel and Convention Centre located at Agra. Jaypee Residency Manor is located at Mussorie. The Newest acquisition is set amidst 450 acres of pristine land at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Greater Noida. The group sets their mission to combine the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality with modern systems to create a competitive and unique Indian hospitality brand. All the five properties are HACCP certified.

Taipei 101’s fireworks show has led Taipei to being chosen by CNN as one

of the top 10 destinations in the world in which to welcome the New Year!

The dazzling fireworks show at Taipei 101 has been the climax of New Year’s Eve countdown parties in Taipei since the skyscraper was completed in 2004. Usually the best place to watch the display is the Sun Yat- Sen Memorial hall, one of the historical palaces nearby. Or venture out to DaAn Park or Maokong, which are further spots to the action, but the number people are less there, so you can have a quiet moment with your loved ones to enjoy the night. Elephant and Tiger Mountain are also good options for a superb aerial view, but it is a bit of a climb and a number of pro and amateur photographers will be giving you company to get good clicks of

the fireworks display.Mr. Noel Saxena began proceedings

with a welcome note which was followed by an extensive presentation on Taiwan where he highlighted various aspects about the destination, especially the easy availability of the Taiwanese visa to the Indian traveler.

The tower changes in vivid colours and the atmosphere in the centre and on the streets is electric. Apart from the exciting fireworks, there are open air concerts, night shopping and many food stalls and gourmet experiences to be enjoyed. The celebrations take place in the Xinyi area that is a one-of-a-kind tourism area in Taiwan. A product of urban planning, it is the center of fashion and a place where you can watch Taipei’s future unfold. The district has convenient transportation links

to other parts of the city and region. The stores here sell the world’s best brands. Four Four South Village (a restored military dependents housing complex), Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, an internationally-renowned Michelin star restaurant, eye-catching buildings and installation art, and the annual Taipei New Year Eve Party all further add to the sparkle of Xinyi District. For shopping, entertainment and delicious cuisine to art, culture and international MICE facilities, Xinyi District is the best Taiwan has to offer.

To usher in 2013, 22,000 fireworks were set off in 188 seconds, accompanied by the famous 1910 concert piece by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. Orchestrated to an adapted version of “The Firebird,” the fireworks were presented in four acts that resembled different themes of 2012.

After the fireworks, LED light displays of “Time For Taiwan,” “Taiwan – the Heart of Asia” and “Time for Celebration” were

shown on the tower’s walls in English and Mandarin characters. The Tourism Bureau presented the LED show as part of their efforts to promote local tourism.

In its first act, themed “Farewell to the Past,” the fireworks show displayed colors of red and blue to resemble the good and bad endeavors of 2012. The second act, themed “Dancing,” launched bold colors of red, blue, green, purple and gold sparks to resemble the hope of a New Year; the third act, themed “Challenging the Extreme” displayed long streaks of fireworks shot into the skies and the final act was “Salute to the Future.”

Apart from Taipei, other cities of Taiwan as well launch pop concerts and events to enhance people’s enthusiasm. This was also the first time Taiwan provided streaming Internet web-cast for the three major countdown events in Taoyuan, Kaohsiung and Taipei.

This year, too, extravagant celebrations are planned to usher in 2014, with special themes and activities and of course, a spectacular fireworks display!

India’s fastest growing online bus ticket booking

portal, Abhibus.com has i n t r o d u c e d a u n i q u e ‘BusMeal’ for passengers who book tickets on their site for journeys which originate from Hyderabad. The website has partnered with Foody’s, a call center-driven food delivery service that caters from some of the popular restaurant brands in Hyderabad.

Any passenger who books his/her

ticket through Abhibus.com now has the option of booking a meal from a variety of restaurants that are serviced by Foody’s. The pre-packaged meal in leak-proof containers, along with fork, spoon and some tissues, will be hand delivered to the passenger at the boarding point.

Currently this service is only available for journeys

originating from Hyderabad. Passengers can choose from a range of 10 reputed

restaurants like Paradise, Shadab, Sarvi, 4 Seasons, Nanking, Little Italy, Ofen, Beyond Coffee, Vasantha Bhavan and Minerva Coffee Shop which are part of the Foody’s delivery network.

Mr. Sudhakar Reddy Chirra, Founder and CEO of Abhibus, said, “This is another initiative from our end to ensure that the passengers who book through Abhibus.com get the best of services. Sometimes it so happens that when you are in a particular city, you get so busy that you aren’t able to try some of the local delicacies. This is where Abhibus’s Initiative comes in handy.” Elaborating on the service he added, “We have tied up with Foody’s for this service and are launching this in Hyderabad and it will soon be expanded to Bengaluru, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Pune, Mumbai and New Delhi by the end of the year.” This is yet another

unique initiative for bus travelers from Abhibus.com, prior to this they have also introduced bus travel insurance for passengers who book a ticket through their website.

Mr. Naeem Khan, Founder and CEO of Foody’s said, “Our main objective is to ensure that people travelling in long distance buses get to eat the food of their choice from the restaurant of their choice.” He also added that the restaurant network would be added as new cities would be added to the service.

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The unique images of the b a c k w a t e r s were captured f o r t h e domestic and international c a m p a i g n by advanced c a m e r a s s e c u r e d i n a h i g h l y sophisticated and custom

designed eight-rotor helicam. The aerial shoot was controlled from a customized boat equipped with a miniature helipad to facilitate the take off and landing of the helicam. The different shoot locations were identified during a reconnaissance helicopter flight prior to the actual shoot. The print campaign will begin to appear in international and national magazines by the beginning of November.

“Kerala is blessed with 44 rivers and a network of canals and lakes stretching from one end of the state to the other,” said Mr. Suman Billa IAS, Kerala Tourism Secretary . “ Here in our backwaters, the primordial relationship between mankind and water comes alive like nowhere else. Whether it is the canal networks, floating markets, houseboats, snake boat races or a whole way of life that thrives around water, this is a miracle of nature that will captivate the world.” he added.

The idea of the ‘Great Backwaters’ campaign traces its origin to the “fascinating waterworld experience” narrated by the visitors to Kerala, who discovered life and culture in all its different, interesting forms at play in this vast, self-sustaining world. The aerial perspective of the campaign was particularly chosen to capture the planet-like largeness and the diversity of life in the backwaters. The three key geographical features of the backwaters – islands, river networks and lakes – will be highlighted in the campaign through aerial photography.

The 25-member crew which shot across the backwaters was led by renowned aerial

photographer Mr. Ville MJ Hyvönen from Finland’s capital and Mr. Shelton Pinheiro, Creative Director, Stark Communications. Mr. Hyvönen’s team has carried out aerial photography p r o j e c t s i n s e v e r a l international destinations, including the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and South America earlier.

The campaign, the first of its kind for the destination was conceptualized and created by Stark Communications, which handles marketing and communications for the state tourism department.

“As one of the vital elements of brand Kerala, the backwaters deserve a special campaign to showcase their vast potential as a leading international attraction,” said Mr. S Harikishore IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism. “We felt that an innovative perspective like this is definitely needed to draw the attention of the evolved international traveller to this ‘waterworld’,” he added.

The Great Backwaters campaign will include digital marketing activities which will also see the launch of a separate micro-site (www.greatbackwaters.com).

In addition to this, Kerala Tourism has launched the campaign on the Twitter on October 21. The fans of Kerala Tourism on Twitter (@KeralaTourism) have already welcomed the campaign’s launch by enthusiastically tweeting with the hashtag #GreatBackwaters in large numbers.

Kerala Tourism is a pioneer in using the innovative means of technology to promote its destinations. The Kerala Tourism website (www.keralatourism.org), which has won several national and international awards, is considered one of the best tourism websites in the world. The department’s Twitter and Facebook accounts are followed by tens of thousands of fans around the world.

“It is a tribute to the millions of

The Great Backwaters to Rival Other Wonders of the World

travellers across the world who embrace technology everyday in knowing about and visiting their favourite destinations,” said Mr. Billa, referring to the launch of the Great Backwaters campaign on Twitter.

The image f rom the a e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h y o f the backwaters under the campaign is revealed bit by bit with each tweet on hashtag #GreatBackwaters. The entire

image will be revealed once a considerable number of tweets with the hashtag appears.

Kerala Tourism is offering souvenirs of the state as prizes to two winners from the tweets every day. “The Great Backwaters campaign is a product of the use of cutting edge technology. The campaign has used technology, which has never been attempted in Kerala or in the country before for promoting a destination,” said Mr. Billa.

“Kerala Tourism has always been in the forefront in digitally promoting destinations in the state through new and innovative technology,” said Mr. Harikishore. “The launch of the Great Backwaters campaign on the social media before any other medium is yet another demonstration of our commitment to connect with the fans of God’s Own Country wherever they are,” he added.

During the last monsoon, Kerala Tourism had launched a gesture-controlled website (www.when-it-rains.com) showing images of rains captured by the department’s Facebook fans to showcase the imagery of the monsoon season. Earlier, Kerala Tourism had become the first tourism board in the state to webcast a cultural event (Theyyam performance) live for audiences around the world.

The Twitter campaign will be replicated on Facebook and Kerala Tourism will also start a blogger outreach campaign. The social media campaign will also be extended to Kerala Tourism’s official Pinterest

a c c o u n t asking people t o c r e a t e a b a c k w a t e r b o a r d o n their Pinterest profile.

T h e b e s t b a c k w a t e r p r o f i l e o f b o a r d s n o t exceeding 10 photos wi l l earn a f ree holiday in Kerala for its creator. The Great Backwaters campaign’s launch on Twitter will be followed by its release in the traditional media both nationally and internationally during the month-end.

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Mr. A P Anil KumarTourism Minister

Mr. S Harikishore IASTourism Director

Mr. Suman Billa IASTourism Secretary

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has announced its prestigious

61st Annual Convention – Indian Travel Congress, Exhibition & Convention 2013 scheduled to be held from 13th to 16th December 2013, at Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru

This year, TAAI Executive council has decided to combine all three activities of the Association viz. CONVENTION, ITTE and TRAVEL AWARDS at Bengaluru and the theme of the convention will be Connect – Co-operate – Collaborate. Given the present scenario and challenges that the Industry is facing today, TAAI has designed the Theme that is appropriate for the current scenario; the need of the hour is to Connect – Co-operate – Collaborate for the benefit of the businesses.

CONNECT - In today’s time we’re interacting with more people than we were decades ago. Due to the increasing mobility of people, we just keep meeting and creating new relationships every time we attend a function, conference, etc.

Due to the increased use of technology, people can now interact with each other effortlessly. While many companies help

you to just find new people to connect with, the TAAI convention gives you an opportunity to interact and develop your

new relationships.CO-OPERATE: Co-operation leads

to networking, “team morale”, and a

generally congenial atmosphere. Co-operation is necessary for every business to grow. It is needed for the advancement of business opportunities. Team work is important for the growth of the company and its employees.

COLLABORATE: Collaboration refers abstractly to all processes wherein people work together. It also means, To work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual business endeavor. Collaboration is what teams working together inside and/or outside an organization with the purpose to create values by improving innovation, customer relationships and efficiency while leveraging technology for effective interactions in the virtual and physical space.

HIGHLIGHTS of the Convention:The convention will be inaugurated on

13th December 2013, followed by a Gala Dinner. India Travel Trade Expo (ITTE) will inaugurated on Dec 14 along with the announcement of this year’s Travel Awards followed by business sessions. The third day (Dec 15) will present Networking and Business Sessions followed by a farewell dinner.

Mr. Iqbal Mulla, TAAI President and Convention Chairman, said “We desire the entire industry to come together and Connect, Co-operate and Collaborate in a way never before”.

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Barcelona is gearing up to host 15,000 meetings industry professionals for

EIBTM, the global event for the meetings and events industry, taking place 19th-21st November in Fira Gran Via, Spain

EIBTM offers dedicated business, education and networking opportunities to all attendees and is the place to be for international meetings and events planners who want to build their business.The top 10 reasons to attend EIBTM this year are:1. The best three days for your business

– Meet the world with over 3,100

exhibitors representing over 150 countries available to you, all under one roof!

2. Start forward planning for 2014 and discover everything you need to create your meetings and events - From international venues, hotels, and destinations to technology, business travel and events services providers.

3. Make connections that matter with over 100 networking events at EIBTM, provides the perfect opportunity to meet new contacts and strengthen existing relationships in a relaxed

atmosphere.4. D i s c o v e r t h e T o p 1 0

innovations impacting the meetings and events industry today and into the future at the NEW Innovation Zone.

5. Advance your career with our cutting edge EIBTM Knowledge professional education programme.

6. B e i n s p i r e d a t t h e EIBTM Forum opening conference and learn from esteemed speaker James Woudhuysen, Professor of Forecasting and Innovation who will discuss ‘A New Perspective on the Meetings Industry’.

7. Consult a Genius about your event needs at the Innovation Zone and NEW Genius Zones – Event

Genius Zone, Hologram Genius Zone and Sustainability Genius Zone.

8. Save up to 50% on your travel and accommodation with EIBTM’s exclusive travel discounts in collaboration with Pacific World, Iberia, Lufthansa, Renfe, and new this year oneworld!

9. WIN a luxury trip to Budapest –Pre-register online and attend EIBTM 2013 and you could be the winner!

10. Experience the beautiful and vibrant city of Barcelona, the perfect destination to combine business and pleasure.

Raj Hospitality Management wins the World Luxury Hotel Award 2013 for

The Best Hotel Management Company in Asia Continent. On the 1st of November the red-carpet was once again rolled out by the World Luxury Hotel Awards which offer hoteliers with a unique o p p o r t u n i t y to savour and celebrate their achievements o f t h e p a s t year with their industry peers.

M r . R a j a G o p a a l I y e r , C E O , R a j H o s p i t a l i t y M a n a g e m e n t sa id , “I t was really a treasured Moment for us to receive the most prestigious World Luxury Hote l Award 2 0 1 3 f o r t h e Best Hospitality M a n a g e m e n t Company in Asia Continent.”

Raj Hospitality Management Consultant is a pioneering entrepreneurial Venture in the field of Tourism and Hospitality Industry since 2009. Their objective is to create a unique brand value and also enhance business strategies in achieving the desired results. Their aim is to ensure that each hospitality business project stands out from the already competitive crowded market.

“We comprehend fully the expectations and requirements of the investor in eradicating the element of risks in their venture. Raj Hospitality is managing 4 properties in India, namely “Hotel LA Classic” at Bangalore; Spice Grove

by Mandharaa at Thekkady, K e r a l a ; Peppermints at Tamilnadu and Rain Forest at Athirapally, Kerala,” added Mr. Iyer.

LA Classic Luxury Hotel, B a n g a l o r e b e i n g recognised as t h e L u x u r y Boutique Hotel in India and T h e L u x u r y D a y S p a i n India in 2012 has retained t h e s a m e recogni t ions in 2013. The

excellent service and superior facilities make for an unforgettable stay. For the comfort & convenience of the guests, the hotel offers fantastic facilities including sauna, Steam, Jaccuzzi, Fitness Centre, Thai Spa to help you to unwind after an action packed day in the city. LA Classic is the ldeal place to stay for travellers seeking charm, comfort and convenience in Bangalore.

Lonely Planet has named Kerala as one among the world’s 10 best destinations

for taking the family along for a holiday in 2014. The Lonely Planet award for the Best Family Destination was bestowed on ‘God’s Own Country’ at the World Travel Mart (WTM) in London, the world’s leading travel trade event attended by industry representatives from around the world.

Kerala joined the likes of New York City, Denmark, Prague, Iceland, Italy and Hawaii in being described by the travel expert as a child-friendly destination ideal for the family. “The intensity of travel in India could put you off taking a trip here en famille, but Kerala is a family-friendly version: more laid-back than other regions, greener, slower paced. There are also lots of national parks for elephant spotting, palm-fringed beaches and boat trips along the lush canals of the backwaters,” it said.

Kerala Tourism Director Mr. S Harikishore IAS , who led the state delegation to the WTM, received the award from Lonely Planet. Former South African cricketer Mr. Jonty Rhodes was among those who visited the Kerala pavilion at the WTM, themed on the Ayurveda. Rhodes, who retired from international cricket

in 2003 after a spectacular career during which he became best fielder in world cricket, is a brand ambassador for South African Tourism.

“With the British economy registering the fastest growth in the last three years in the previous quarter, the mood at the World Travel Mart hosted by London was upbeat,” said Mr. Harikishore.

The United Kingdom is the most important market for Kerala, recording nearly 1.5 lakh tourist arrivals in the state last year.

“The WTM presented us with a significant opportunity to target higher growth figures for Kerala Tourism, as far as foreign tourist arrivals are concerned, in the coming years as there are signs of recovery also in the rest of Europe after a severe debt crisis,” Mr. Harikishore added. “We are also very honoured to have received such a prestigious award from Lonely Planet and being named among the best destinations for family travel.”

The Kerala delegation included 12 co-exhibitors representing the hospitality industry from the state. The co-exhibitors were Abad Hotels & Resorts, Carnoustie Beach Resort and Ayurveda Spa, Intersight Tours & Travels, Jayasree Travels and Tours, Joy’s Resorts & Hotels, KTDC Hotels & Resorts, Kumarakom Lake Resort, Lake Palace Resort, Spiceland Holidays, Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa, Vythiri Resort, and Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala.

Several key members of the world’s travel trade industry visited the Kerala pavilion, which showcased the state as the ‘Home of Ayurveda’. The pavilion received thousands of visitors during the four-day event.

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Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji, and Embassy Suites – Waikiki

Beach Walk hailed among the best family resorts in their destination by the readers of Holidays with Kids, a leading Australian travel and lifestyle magazine.

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort has been voted “Best Family Resort” in Thailand, Outrigger on the Lagoon -- Fiji cracked the Top 10 Family Resorts in Fiji, and the Outrigger-managed Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk has also been voted one of the Top 10 Family Resorts in the United States.

“As a family owned and operated company, it’s especially gratifying for Outrigger to be recognized as an elite member of the family-vacation category - both in Hawaii, where it all began, as well as with our Asia-Pacific accommodations in Fiji and Thailand,” said Mr. Sean Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Outrigger Enterprises Group. “This award delivers further inspiration for us to continue providing families from around the globe with outstanding service, top-notch accommodations, and lasting memories.”

Earning the number one spot as Thailand’s “Best Family Resort,” the all-new Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort offers an exquisite Phuket hotel experience on beautiful Bangtao Bay. Holidays with Kids says the property offers great amenities for mom and dad to enjoy while the kids are entertained with special programs at Koh Kids. They’ll also love the extensive water park, featuring waterfalls and a waterslide, for watery family fun. Outrigger’s stylish new rooms combine the best of

contemporary décor with Thai accents for a truly unique beachside holiday.

One of the most enchanting resorts in the South Pacific, Outrigger on the Lagoon -- Fiji also earned its spot in the Top 10 Family Resorts in Fiji for its Vahavu pool and bistro area that caters to parents, while kid-friendly programs like the resort’s Meimei nanny service, ‘Little Riggers,’ ‘Beach Riggers,’ and teen activities keep kids entertained all day. Holidays with Kids says of the resort: “Outrigger on the Lagoon actively encourages teens to get involved in the community with trips to a local Fijian school, hikes to Bebe Hill and Enchanted Pool, tours of Tavuni Hill Fort and other cultural activities.”

Also earning a coveted spot in Holiday with Kids’ Top 10 Family Resorts in the United States is Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk. The hotel was recognized for the host of family-friendly amenities it provides, including spacious suites for families to spread out and relax, complimentary Full, Cooked-to-Order Breakfast in the morning and a lively Evening Poolside Reception with snacks, refreshments, and live music weekly. With a central location close to Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium, as well as Pearl Harbor, Embassy Suites on Waikiki Beach Walk is in the middle of all the action.

Holidays with Kids awards were based on more than 4,000 reader surveys. Winning “holidaymakers” were recognized for exceeding the expectations of their guests in just about every area – customer service, exceptional facilities, family-friendly activities, and providing memorable experiences.

research jointly undertaken by WTTC and UNWTO in the last 18 months. Research published at last year’s T20 in Mexico showed that five million additional jobs could be gained from improved visa processes in G20 countries; while research undertaken for last month’s APEC High Level Meeting in Indonesia showed that there is a potential gain in international tourism arrivals of up to 57 million tourists by 2016. This would in turn generate up to $89 billion in visitor exports and 1.4 million additional jobs.

Addressing the T20, Mr. Scowsill continued: “I am delighted to note that since the G20 World Leaders addressed this issue in Mexico last year, we have seen positive visa changes in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Mexico, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, the UK, and the USA, among others. This is an issue which has been taken up across our industry and where we are seeing real change.”

“We need to build on this momentum. I call upon all countries which are members of the G20 to assess their visa policies and procedures, to identify where

the opportunities for improvement lie and to develop a cross-government approach to ensure change happens,” he added.

Mr. Scowsill identified five basic principles for Governments to consider as they review their visa policies:1. Travellers are customers not criminals. A customer

service ethic needs to penetrate through all parts of the process.2. Technology is the answer. Investment in smart systems which can enhance security and improve customer service, a win-win situation.3. Industry can be a facilitator. Travel & Tourism companies know their customers, and they have developed the expertise and solutions to manage them.4. S m a l l s t e p s a r e g o o d . Incremental change covering specific

sectors or countries can be refined and scaled up and should be heralded when accomplished.

5. Transparency and timeliness are key. Processes need to be clear and non- bureaucratic and timeframes must be definitive and reasonable.

Contd. from Page 01

November 2 0 13

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“Travellers are Customers Not Criminals”, Tells WTTC

Singapore Airlines announced the revised baggage allowance for its

customers to enjoy more free checked-in baggage allowance from 15 November 2013, for all SIA and SilkAir flights.

Checked-in baggage allowances will increase by 10kg for all classes of travel. Customers will be entitled to free baggage

allowances of 50kg in Suites and First Class, 40kg in Business Class and 30kg in Economy class.

For flights to and from the United States, where a per-piece allowance applies, customers travelling in Suites, First Class and Business Class will be entitled to check in two pieces of luggage of

All flights, except to/from US & Brazil (weight concept)Class of Travel Free Baggage Allowance KrisFlyer Elite Gold/Star Alliance Gold PPS Club Suites/First Class 50kg 70kg 100kgBusiness Class 40kg 60kg 80kgEconomy Class 30kg 50kg 60kgFrom 15 November 2013 - Flights to/from US (piece concept)Class of Travel Free BaggageAllowance KrisFlyer Elite Gold/Star Alliance Gold PPS Club Suites/First Class 2 pcs x 32kg 3 pcs x 32kg 4 pcs x 32kgBusiness Class 2 pcs x 32kg 3 pcs x 32kg 4 pcs x 32kgEconomy Class 2 pcs x 23kg 3 pcs x 23kg 4 pcs x 23kgFrom 15 November 2013 - Flights to/from Brazil (piece concept)Class of Travel Free BaggageAllowance KrisFlyer Elite Gold/Star Alliance Gold PPS Club Suites/First Class 2 pc x 32kg 3 pcs x 32kg 4 pcs x 32kgBusiness Class 2 pcs x 32kg 3 pcs x 32kg 4 pcs x 32kgEconomy Class 2 pcs x 32kg 3 pcs x 32kg 4 pcs x 32kgNo change in checked-in baggage allowance

up to 32kg each, up from 23kg previously.“Increasing baggage allowances across

all classes of travel is in response to feedback from our customers and reaffirms our commitment to constantly enhancing customer service,” said SIA Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Mr. Chin Yau Seng.

KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold members will continue to enjoy an additional 20kg of baggage allowance across all travel classes, or one extra piece of checked-in baggage when travelling to or from the United States and Brazil.

PPS Club members will also continue to be entitled to double the checked-in baggage allowance in their respective class of travel.

Malaysia Airlines is now offering daily flights on the Kuala Lumpur to

Auckland route all year round, due to strong demand in this sector. The announcement will see the 5-star airline commence the year-round daily service on 30 March, when the number of flights on the Kuala Lumpur to Auckland route will increase from six to

seven per week, meaning an additional 52 flights in total each year.

Mr. Glenn Wedlock, General Manager of Auckland Airport’s aeronautical commercial, says this is a fantastic result that reflects the success that Malaysia Airlines has seen over the last 12 months on their Auckland services.

“As part of our Ambition 2020 Asia strategy, we have been working very hard to secure growth from the High Opportunity Target, ‘HOT’, markets of Malaysia, India and emerging South East Asia,” says Mr. Wedlock. “These markets offer the potential for annual double digit growth. We believe Malaysia and India alone could deliver over 120,000 arrivals and over $300 million of value to the New Zealand tourism industry by 2020.”

“The markets have responded incredibly well to our initial partnership work and capacity growth programmes with Malaysia Airlines and Tourism New Zealand. In September, Malaysian visitors on holiday

to New Zealand increased by 50% and holidaying Indian visitors also increased by 19%,” says Mr. Wedlock.

“This latest increase from Malaysia Airlines will not only drive additional visitor spend in the tourism sector by at least $10 million per annum but also provide New Zealand travellers and exporters even greater access to these important destinations for travel and trade.”

“The trade relationship between New Zealand and Malaysia is worth around $3 billion per annum and the number of Kiwi travellers visiting Malaysia and India in July increased by over 80% when compared to the same period the year before. This highlights the importance of the growth of Malaysia Airlines and the Kuala Lumpur hub,” concludes Mr. Wedlock.

Mr. Justin Watson, Director of Trade, PR and Major Events of Tourism New Zealand says the continuation of a daily service beyond the traditional high season is a significant boost for the industry and will support Tourism New Zealand’s efforts to boost arrivals out of Malaysia.

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The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) has announced its plan to

foray into the tourism market in India with incentives and MICE centric tourism products. As part of CTO’s strategic plan to attract more tourists from the Indian subcontinent, the organization will hold a two-city road show in Delhi and Mumbai on October 23 and 25 respectively. The road shows will be a direct Return of Investment for the suppliers who know the market is a great compensation for the

slower European markets.Cyprus considers India as a very

important market and the country plans to roll out a series of promotional activities post its roadshows. During the initial phase of its plan, CTO will focus on targeting the conference and incentive markets in India besides encouraging affluent Indian consumers to experience Cyprus with affordable international holiday packages.

Announcing the plans, Mr. Vassilis Theocharides, Director, Dubai Office said,

Qatar Airways becomes part of “Oneworld” from Oct 30, 2013,

adding one of the world’s fastest growing and most highly rated airlines to the world’s fastest growing and most highly rated global airline alliance. From its first flights QR633 which leaves Dhaka for Doha and the QR1166 from Doha for Riyadh, Qatar Airways will be offering Oneworld’s full range of services and benefits.

The airline joins Oneworld just one year after receiving the invitation to join, which makes its induction into Oneworld one of the fastest in the alliance’s history. A more typical timeline for an airline to comply with the many membership requirements of Oneworld is 18-24 months.

For Qatar Airways, joining Oneworld marks the latest achievement in its 16-year history. One of just seven carriers worldwide rated f ive-star by the Skytrax airline quality agency and the organisation’s Airline of the Year 2011 and 2012 and runner-up 2013, Qatar Airways is the only one of the major Gulf carriers to join any of the global airline alliances.

Becoming part of Oneworld, which

holds more “best alliance” awards than any of its competitors, will strengthen Qatar Airways’ competitiveness, enabling it to offer customers an unrivalled alliance global network served by partners that include leading airlines from every region.

“Alliances are playing an increasingly important role in the airline industry today – and that will continue long into the future. Becoming a member of Oneworld is one of the most significant landmarks in Qatar Airways’ history. It will strengthen our competitive offering and give our customers what they fully deserve – more choice across a truly global network served together with airline partners who include some of the best and biggest in the world said Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive of Qatar Airways. He also added that “In Qatar Airways’ relatively short history, we have quickly established a reputation for innovation, quality and excellence in everything we do. We are pleased to build on that by becoming the only major airline from the Gulf to join any of the global airline alliances – and we are proud to become part of what is clearly the world’s top quality airline alliance, Oneworld.”

Mr. Willie Walsh, IAG Chief Executive added: “In Qatar Airways, Oneworld is pleased to welcome another great airline that enhances the alliance’s network and product offerings in one of the world’s fastest growing regions for air travel demand. Qatar Airways’ excellent reputation for customer service mirrors Oneworld’s own focus. British Airways is delighted to have supported Qatar Airways throughout its Oneworld joining process and we wish it, its customers and employees a warm welcome on board.”

Mr. Bruce Ashby, Chief Executive of Oneworld stated: “Oneworld aims to be the first choice alliance for the world’s frequent international travellers – with an unrivaled collection of quality carriers, delivering unmatched benefits to customers and to member airlines alike. Qatar Airways’ addition as our second member airline in the Middle East makes Oneworld the leading alliance in what is one of the world’s fastest growing regions for air travel demand.

The 3 million members of Qatar Airways ’ Pr iv i l ege Club loya l ty programme will enjoy the full range of

Oneworld frequent flyer benefits when travelling with any Oneworld member airline worldwide – AirBerlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and their 30 affiliated airlines.

Privilege members will be able to earn and redeem Qmiles on any Oneworld flight. In celebration of the airline’s addition to the alliance, they will receive double Qmiles award miles when flying on Qatar Airways’ Oneworld partners between 15 November and 31 January (except between 20 December and 5 January). Privilege Club members will also receive Qpoints for tier status when flying with all these airlines.

Privilege Club Platinum cardholders will have Emerald status in the Oneworld programme. Privilege Club Gold will be equivalent to Oneworld Sapphire and Privilege Club Silver will be Oneworld Ruby. Privilege Club Platinum and Gold members will be able to access more than 550 airport lounges worldwide offered by Oneworld member airlines when they fly with one of the alliance’s carriers – five times more than they can use up until now. Qatar Airways’ First and Business Class passengers will also be able to use Oneworld partner airline lounges.

As Oneworld Emeralds, Privilege Club Platinum cardholders will be able to use First Class lounges, where available – and receive an additional baggage allowance and access fast tracks through departure security at selected airports.

“We are constantly on the lookout for new business activities in newer growth markets with high potential for growth. As a new destination with well developed infrastructure for MICE activities, we can assist corporates with business solutions for their conference and event needs.”

Cyprus has an expansive coastline that supports a wide range of activities, be it beach activities at locations ranging from secluded bays, to lively resorts, sandy beaches and rocky coves; the island has something for everyone. There are a myriad of activities that one can indulge in while visiting Cyprus. Starting with snorkeling and diving in the warm crystal clear seas to windsurfing, sailing, coastal cruising and even extreme adventures like deep-water fishing; visitors are just spoilt for choices.

The island has a well developed physical and social infrastructure. Efficient dual carriage motorways link all towns and resorts, keeping travel time low and giving visitors the freedom to indulge in their pursuits. Indians travelling to Cyprus can bank on any of the mid-eastern carriers which connect many Indian cities with the island.

Cyprus plans to engage the two major hubs - Delhi and Mumbai, as these cities

generate a big chunk of outbound travellers from India. “We will be actively engaged in promotional activities once our tourism products have been launched in the Indian market,” added Mr. Vassilis.

Cyprus has been analysing the Indian market for some years now. It has been participating in major travel industry events in India. It took part in the first IBTM (Incentives, Business, Travel and Meetings Expo) in early September this year and organized an exclusive workshop for the MICE market in India. It will highlight its business tourism products at the upcoming roadshows in Delhi and Mumbai. The roadshows will help identify the demands of Indian travellers and ensure that the island’s diverse leisure tourism offering is communicated effectively to help increase Indian visitor arrivals to Cyprus.

Cyprus Tourism Organisation is responsible for the promotion and marketing of tourism, planning, regulations and development. It provides comprehensive information on the major attractions of Cyprus – including maps, calendar of events, full hotel and accommodation guides, image banks as well as a list of tour operators selling Cyprus including Conferences and Incentives.

November 2 0 13

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Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced

that it would be resuming its flights to Thiruvananthapuram in India with 5 weekly flights to Trivandrum International Airport starting on the 15th December. Gulf Air’s decision to resume flights to the Kerala capital reinforces the airline’s strategy of strengthening its core network and maximizing convenience for its customers while providing business links to Bahrain that support economic growth.

Mr. Maher Salman Al Musallam, Acting CEO of Gulf Air commented, “As Gulf Air’s emergence from the restructuring process fast approaches, our focus is now firmly fixed on the future as we transition from a period of restructuring to one of development. Our decision to resume flights to Thiruvananthapuram emphasizes the importance we attach to India, one of our key markets, and our business strategy to concentrate on high-demand point-to-point routes to ensure our core customer base is served effectively and efficiently.”

Commenting on the advantages for the airline’s passengers, Mr. Ahmed Janahi , Acting Chief Commercial Officer of Gulf Air, said, “We are delighted to be resuming operations to Thiruvananthapuram in India. I am sure this will be welcomed by the Indian community living and working in Bahrain and the surrounding GCC countries as well as the business community for whom the direct flights will provide a great advantage.”

Gulf Air has been flying to India since 1960 and Thiruvananthapuram is the fifth destination in India to be added to the airline’s existing network, increasing Gulf Air’s capacity to the country by 10% from 45 to 50 weekly flights from Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi and now Thiruvananthapuram.

As one of the Middle East’s largest network carriers, Gulf Air is well-positioned to connect India to several key destinations in the Middle East and Europe with excellent connectivity within 3 hours through its efficient hub in Bahrain.

Improving air connectivity through a closer coordination of tourism and aviation

policies to ensure the sustained growth of the tourism sector and of air transport was the commitment stemming from the recently concluded annual UNWTO & World Travel Market (WTM) Ministers´ Summit at London, United Kingdom.

Critical issues related to bridging air transport and tourism policies, including the current regulatory framework, taxation and the way forward in facilitating the all travel process were discussed in a panel debate that gathered Tourism Ministers and private sector representatives from around the world.

“It is clear that in spite of the interdependent relationship between aviation and tourism, greater efforts must be exerted by both sectors to achieve an integrated policy position to ensure a more sustainable and competitive growth,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Mr. Taleb Rifai.

Speakers highlighted technology, public-public partnerships across government, regional cooperation and investment in soft infrastructure – technology and human resources - as keys to bridge the gap between tourism and air transport policies and promote travel facilitation.

Taxation and a regulatory framework still limited in most cases by reciprocity in air transport agreements were pointed as two of the main barriers to the sustained growth of tourism and air transport. The impact of increasingly high taxes on air transport was identified as a particular impediment to the development of destinations with a significant tourism sector and which are

highly depended on air lift such as the Caribbean.

The panel, moderated by Mr. Charles Hodson, anchor of CNN International´s flagship business programme, “World Business Today”, brought together H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President & Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministers and Secretaries of State for Tourism of Indonesia, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and Spain as well as the President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Vice President of Government Affairs of Amadeus, the Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Vice President for Europe of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Director of the Air Transport Bureau of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The discussion was enriched by the participation of over 80 Ministers attending the event.

Currently, over half of the one billion tourists traveling the world arrive at their destination by air, and according to UNWTO´s long-term forecast, by 2030, air transport will be the principal means of travel by 52% of all international tourists.

UNWTO announced the holding of an Africa Conference of Ministers of Tourism and Transport to be held next year in the Seychelles in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to continue promoting the important link between tourism and air transport.

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The Ministry of Tourism has added three more services on its website, www.incredibleindia.org to provide more comprehensive information to tourists at one place. The objective of the new changes is to put the entire gamut of tourism services online, from the initial planning of the trip to the final visit to the places of interest.1. Travel Planner: Prospective tourists begin their vacation process by planning their visit. Google has devised a unique travel planner for Incredibleindia.org making it perhaps the only national

tourism website to offer this facility. Prospective tourists are asked to

choose:-(i) Season(ii) One out of six regions of India

at a time (or a specific city)(iii) One out of 13 areas of interest

(e.g. adventure, beaches, wildlife, spirituality, etc.)

After that, when the potential tourist clicks the enter button, the map of India gives a choice of places related to that interest. When a specific red dot is clicked,

five kinds of information will appear on the screen:(i) A video showing what the location

looks like(ii) Still photographs of that location(iii) A short write-up about the location(iv) The current temperature of that

location(v) How to get there.2. Visas: The second thing the prospective planner wants is information about Indian visas. Incredibleindia.org already has the “India Visa Online Button” as well as a button leading to information about “Tourist Visas on Arrival” for selected countries.3. International Flights to and from India: International tourists may need to plan their flight to an international airport in India. At present they can plan journeys to three international airports namely, Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi.4. Flights within India: International as well as domestic tourists may need to book tickets between one airport and another within India. They can do so on all five domestic airlines through the site.5. Trains: Travellers can book train tickets through the IRCTC by clicking a button on the site.6. Buses: Travellers within India can now book bus tickets within selected States through a facility devised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.7. Hotels: The site allows travellers to go to the sites of the three major hotel

associations, which in turn direct the traveller to individual hotels and hotel groups.8. Directions within a city: The website offers directions within a State not only through a map but also through virtual walking tours. This facility is being provided by WoNoBo.com. It has launched 12 walking tours in five cities earlier this month.9. 3600 views: Google has already put short 3600 views of several sites on the Travel Planner mentioned above. WoNoBo.Com is working on 3600 views and virtual tours within another 100 monuments. Both projects have been made possible by the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).10. Sound and Light Shows: Incredibleindia.org is the only website in the world to offer complete audios of upto 60 minutes each of 15 Indian Sound and Light Shows in stereophonic sound.11. Audio Guides within monuments: Free audio guides shall be provided on most kinds of smart phones through an alliance with Audio Compass. Google, WoNoBo.com, and Audio Compass have entered into Memorandums of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism in response to an Expression of Interest (EOI) floated by the Ministry earlier this year. All three are providing their services free of charge to Incredibleindia.org and, thus, to the consumers.

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Indian celebrity masterchef, entrepreneur and social media phenomenon Sanjeev

Kapoor is bringing his ‘Signature’ super fine dining restaurant concept to the United Arab Emirates’ capital.

Speaking during a visit to the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he was hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the ‘Food Food’ TV channel pioneer revealed a ‘Signature by SanjeevKapoor’ restaurant will open in the prestigious Nations Tower on the city’s Corniche early next year.

Tucked away on Beach no 5 Vijaynagar Beach is Silver Sands in Havelock,

having its own slice of the beach and lagoon, 36 rooms tastefully done in timber is idealic, laid back, and absolutely relaxing. Silver Sand Resort, Havelock is 15 minutes drive from the Jetty and is divided by a village road. The larger and wider part of the resort is besides the lagoon and vast stretches of beach. The multi cuisine restaurant Zola and the bar lounge Kamasutra forms the central hub to

both sides of the resort. The Lagoon suites fan out amidst the palm decked garden and lawn and some of the cottages have reed mat interiors that merge with the natural surroundings.

Facing the hillock opposite the multi-cuisine restaurant entrance of Zola is the quaint village road and the reception desk of Silver Sand Beach Resort, this side of the resort houses Duplex Villas and Cottages. Zola is centralized within the property but is also central focus to tourists visiting

“This will be the only Indian restaurant in this particular area of Nations Tower and I hope to have it open in time for the Gourmet Abu Dhabi festival in February,” said Sanjeev who fronted the KhanaKhazana food programme – the longest-running show of its type in Asia which was broadcast in 120 countries.

“The restaurant will serve the authentic Indian and signature dishes now associated with Signature by SanjeevKapoor and we expect it to attract both tourists and residents,” said the host of Sony India’s

SanjeevKapoorKe Kitchen Khiladi show. “We have seen growing numbers of Abu Dhabi residents travelling to Dubai to dine at our restaurant there, so we decided the market in the UAE capital was promising. This trend, complemented by the vibrant Abu Dhabi dining scene and the increasing number of Indians now visiting the city promptedthe decision to open here.”

Indian travellers now make up Abu Dhabi’s largest overseas source market for hotel guests with 14,540 Indians staying in the emirate’s hotels in the first nine months of this year – a 31% uplift on the same period in 2012.

Masterchef Kapoor, whose website clocks up 25 million hits a month, also revealed he is in discussions with TCA Abu Dhabi for a starring role in its annual

Gourmet Abu Dhabi culinary festival which runs February 4-19 next year.

“I certainly would love to be a part of the festival which has made quite a name for itself on the international culinary circuit,” said Sanjeev who was a judge on Masterchef India and has carved out a career as masterchef, host, cookbook authority and restaurant consultant.

“Festivals like this highlight the fact that food is synonymous with entertainment and educational; people meet and bond over food the world over. I look forward to joining in Gourmet Abu Dhabi, meeting its followers, who I understand come from a wide range of nationalities, networking with the international masterchefs who take part and, of course, exploring more of the emirate’s own culinary traditions.”

Havelock, much of its fame is attached to the excellent cuisine served here, great service and the sprawling lawns of the resort that faces the sea.

Zola as the name suggests is a restaurant with a lot of panache, it’s always buzzing with activities, events, and food promotions especially when the season demands. This festive season, Silver Sands is gearing up for the, grand Sea Food Fest fresh from the ocean starting October all through December. Zola will

be dressed up with the Food fest theme, cutouts of large Lobsters, Squids, Fish that is local here, shrimps, mussels etc, will be a tempting fare.

There will be live counters, pick the Fish of your choice, and the local sea food menu. Much of Sea Food choice will be Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean, the menu selection is wide and varied. Biriyani will have all the combination and flavour of Sea Food extravaganza and so also the Salads. Except for the dessert its an all Sea Food fare and for sea food aficionados’ nothing will be more overwhelming than fresh Sea Food straight from the net.

To match with Zola’s fervour the Bar Lounge nearby will have cocktails that go well with Sea Food, Kamasutra Bar will have Indian and International brand wines, cheese bites and great cocktails and mock tails. Zola is a 70 seater restaurant, with partial outdoor ambience, the sea food fare will be a la carte and buffet.

The property is owned by Singhotel , a family run Hotel chain since decades, from a humble beginning with just one hotel in Port Blair, Shompen, the Singh brothers have five prominent Hotels in the Andamans presently. Singhotel Hospitality group brand today is prominent and well known in the Industry. It was Patriarch Mr Avtar Singh who started the hotel chain and then his sons D P Singh and Kulmohan Singh took the initiative to run the chain of Hotels under the banner Singhotel Hospitality Group. Rightfully alluding to all this and more in their by-line “Hospitality By Nature” the group is ambitious and rearing to add more such quality Hotels and Resorts in the future.

www.tourismindiaonline.com

www.keralatourismmagazine.com

www.brandkerala.biz

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The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, has partnered with Genesys International to create a ‘Walking

Tours’ platform, one of the first such initiatives to be undertaken in any country. ‘Walking Tours’ is a unique and exciting product that will enable users to navigate and route their way through cities based on a number of interesting themes.

The service was launched at a function at New Delhi in which the representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Genesys International were present. The website WoNoBo.com launched as part of this initiative is projected to be India’s first location-based service to offer ‘walkthroughs’ of streets across 54 Indian cities. The website supports user generated content (UGC), offers unique social media capabilities and facilitates creation of ‘local communities’ online.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism said that this new initiative aims to empower the tourist by facilitating him/her to plan to plan his/her tour. He

stated that the Ministry of Tourism has set the target of having one ‘Walking Tour’ of each State within 2 years. He added that the Indian Tourism Ministry was the first in the world to launch such a service.

Genesys International highlighted the features of the new service that would be available initially about the roads of 5 major Indian cities and will soon be expanded to the top 54 cities within a few weeks. They stated that it would have mapped panoramic imagery of thousands of square kilometres and close to 10 million places of interest across the country. The five cities whose tours were launched today were Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Coastal Goa and Ahmedabad.

As part of the website, users get full blown 360-degree views of destinations and much more. They can access, tag and review ‘points of interests’ i.e., locations, hotels, retail outlets, monuments, parks, etc and also view the interiors of several key locations, all powered by a database of millions of places.

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Maroon Migrates has been developing and promoting Responsible Tourism

in Gujarat since 2006. Now they have initiated an innovative travel experiences in the Narmada district of Gujarat. Mr. Nischalavalamb Barot, a qualified environmentalist and the founder of Maroon Migrates, is a resident of the tribal district of Narmada. After his post graduation in Environmental Sciences, he decided to work for his people, the forest and natural resources of Narmada. His zest for developing innovative ways of livelihood and connecting local community in his activity, converted him as a social entrepreneur and a pioneer in eco-tourism in Narmada.

After many innovations in tourism in Gujarat, Maroon Migrates is stepping forward to a new era of Tourism. The Kochrab Ashram, established by Mahatma Gandhi, which is today managed by the Gujarat Vidyapith still preserves

the values of Mahatma even today. In a tete-a-tete with the Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, Dr. Sudarshan Iyengar, Mr. Nischal requested his support in developing tourism on Gandhian values. After a technical & detailed discussion with the Registrar of Gujarat Vidyapith, Dr. Rajendra Khimani, they agreed to support the programme; and, “Live GANDHI for a While” was born.

The programme is a great opportunity for the tourists to experience the richness of Gandhian values. The guests will be accommodated in the Kochrab Ashram, and they have follow the rules of the Ashram defined by Mahatma Gandhi himself. The guests have to take Vrat (vow) of Satya (Truth), Bramhacharya (Chastity), Ahimsa (Non Violence), Shram (Physical Labour), etc. They get the chance to enact certain special activities of Gandhi like Spinning Wheel, Correspondence/Writing, Community Visit, and Cooking

etc. They will also wear the Khadi t h r o u g h o u t t h e program.

T h e s t a f f a t Maroon Migrates b e l i e v e t h a t Mahatma Gandhi was probably the first Responsible T r a v e l e r w h o travel led across t h e c o u n t r y , c o n n e c t e d w i t h many communities, walked down many villages, stayed in their homes, tried helping them, solving their problems and also with a minimal impact on the environment. That’s what Responsible Tourism is all about.

The objective of this programmme is to allow people to find various ways of sustainable lifestyle, enjoy the simplicity of Gandhi, experience the virtue of Mahatma. This might change perceptions of the tourist towards life, society and our natural resources. This might also help tourist to find peace and satisfaction within. This is a unique programme, which will actually bring change to the society.

‘Charity begins at home’ likewise Sustainability also begins at home. Maroon Migrates is equipped to promote this programme worldwide.

In order to stay at Kochrab Ashram, guests must observe Gandhi’s 11 rules:1. Ahimsa – non-violence2. Satya – truthfulness3. Asteya – no stealing4. Brahmacharya – self-restraint, including

chastity5. Aparigraha – no possessions6. Sharirshrama – working for daily food7. Aswada – control of diet8. Sarvatra Bhayavarjana – fearlessness9. Sarva Dharma Samantva – equality of

faiths10. Swadeshi – use of local goods11. Sparshbhavana – against notion of

untouchabilityFor more details, please contact:

Mr. Nischalavalamb BarotMaroon Migrates

Mob.: +91 9998 070606contact@maroonmigrates.com

www.facebook.com/LiveGANDHIforaWhile

www.maroonmigrates.com

Travel & Tourism, together constitutes one of the largest industries in the

world. The total impact of the industry means that, in 2011, it contributed 9% of global GDP or a value of over US$6 trillion, and accounted for 255 million jobs. (WTTC, 2012). This persistent growth in the tourism sector has resulted in changing needs, expectations and demands of tourists. Tourists were becoming increasingly aware and began to seek more unique and personalised experiences while on travel. Niche tourism segments focussing on nature, culture, history, adventure, etc. started evolving in the tourism sphere marking a revolution in travel industry.

Ecotourism is def ined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) as ‘Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people’. Ecotourism involves travel for the discovery of and learning about wild natural environments. One ecotourism activity that can be done almost anywhere, as long as there is a presence of avian wildlife, is bird-watching. Bird-watching is the activity of viewing or watching birds either through the naked eye or by view-enhancing devices, such as binoculars and telescopes, for the purpose of recreation (American Birding Association, 2010). The activity is often challenging, as it involves searching for elusive, rare and endemic species, but the rewards of finding such creatures is at the same time is very satisfying.

Arguably, Birdwatching constitutes one of the biggest sources of ecotourism income since they form the largest single group of ecotourists possessing high educational qualification and falls in the higher income groups. Because of the zeal of many birdwatchers and the resources they are willing to invest in this activity, bird watching is becoming the most rapidly growing and most environmentally conscious segment of ecotourism and provides economic hope for many threatened natural areas around the world. Bird Watching in India

With the presence of 1,168 bird species recorded in the country, India has been

ranked 9 in the global list of bird wealth. Land birds formed the majority (1,094 species) of the avian species found in the country and 50 were endemic to India. The country is regularly visited by 460 species of migratory birds, which spend around six months of a year in India. Water birds (202 species) and seabirds (50 species) also formed part of the rich avian fauna. (Sudhi K S, 2012)

It is indicated that, amongst all the species present in India, 14 are critically endangered, 13 are endangered and 51 vulnerable species. The status assessment lists that 64 species belonged to the near-threatened category and 1,025 to Least Concerned. The critically endangered species like White-bellied Heron, Great Indian Bustard, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Siberian Crane and Forest Owlet are there in the list of globally threatened species.

Bird watching or observing birds in India have a long history having the oldest references in the Rigveda and Yajurveda and historical records of the Mughal era enumerate instances of rulers observing local birds and maintaining records of it. However during the British era, some serious attempts were made to scientifically document Indian birds and this has resulted in the publication of Hugh Whistler’s ‘Popular Handbook of Indian Birds’ during the year 1928. This was followed by the legendary Salim Ali’s book on ‘The Book of Indian Birds’ which was published in 1941 and since then the trend continues to flourish.

As argued by Sumit Sen (2010), the interest in bird-watching in India began to change from the turn of the 20th century as there happened improvements in supporting infrastructure, popularising efforts by organisations and individuals and more importantly the emergence of internet and digital photography. Like in the case of many sectors, the coming of internet has revolutionised bird watching in India as more and more internet based birding groups started proliferating across the country.

An assessment carried out during 2010 estimates there are approximately 45,000

bird watchers in India. (SumitSen, 2010). Although in the Indian scenario, bird watching has evolved as a serious pastime only recently, the popularity seems to be growing at a faster pace.Bird watching in Gujarat:

Gujarat, in extreme north western India, is ornithologically one of the subcontinent’s richest areas—and one of its least well known. The avifauna of this region is arguably on a par with any of India’s other famous birding locations. The fascinating mosaic of landscapes comprising of rolling hills, flatlands, forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, shore lands, agriculture areas etc. coupled with the cultural traditions of local people has imparted avian diversity to Gujarat. The state has 520 species of birds against around 1200 species found in India. (Wild Destinations in Gujarat). However, Arpit Deomurari, an ornithologist from the state maintains a list of over 550 species of birds in the state.

There are four national parks and 21 wildlife sanctuaries covering an area of 47,967 ha 16,42,271 ha respectively, totalling 1.69 million ha. It constitutes

8.62% of the geographical area. Gir National Park in Saurashtra is the abode of the world famous Asiatic lions and also is home to around 300 birds. The maximum number of PAs are in the forest ecosystem (13), followed by wetland and grassland (4 each), desert and coastal ecosystem (2 each).

There are five sanctuaries created in the state for bird protection–Nalsarovar, Thol, Porbandar, Lala and Khijidia. Gujarat is the only state in India where both the species of flamingos breed and the Great White Pelican, a winter visitor in north India, occasionally breeds in the Great Rann of Kutch whereas the Dalmatian Pelicans can be seen in the Little Rann of Kutch (Zainabad), Wild Ass Sanctuary, Thol Lake Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Wildlife Sanctuary and Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary. For the two migratory species of cranes, Common and Demoiselle, Gujarat can be considered as the number one State of India, both in numbers and in regularity and duration of the stay.

The grasslands of the Velavadar National Park (IBA) and the surrounding

areas host the largest known harrier roost in the world (Clarke 1993) with about 4,000 individuals of four species: Western Marsh (Circus aeruginosus), Montagu’s (C. Pygargus),Hen (C.cyaneus), and Pallid (C. Macrourus) harriers. The desert (rann) of Gujarat, represented by the Little and Great Rann represents unique ecosystem, not found elsewhere in India. When the right conditions are present, a very large number of flamingos breed in the Great Rann. Nalsarovar (8000 ha) a RAMSAR site, is one of the largest bird sanctuaries of the country, surpassed only by the Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan and Chilika in Orissa in the number and diversity of birds. Gir National Park and Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest compact forest block in Gujarat, and perhaps the largest dry deciduous and thorn Forest left in northwest India. Beside the official bird and wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat, there are a large number of wetlands, grasslands and private areas where any sort of hunting or shooting of birds is totally prohibited as most of the people are vegetarian.

Gujarat is recognized as a preferred birding destination by many of the birding

associations and tour companies across the world. The Global Bird watchers Conference – an annual event organized by state tourism department is considered as a concrete step towards strengthening the birding tourism potentials of Gujarat. The next edition of the conference is being scheduled during January 2014. In its present form bird watching tourism industry is receiving fillip from private tourism operators who owns accommodation units or owning tour companies. In its pursuit to develop sustainable tourism in the state, the state tourism department is actively considering many initiatives for the development of Birdwatching tourism in the state. Author Details

Muhammed Nahar is a Sustainable Tourism Professional engaged in the area for more than a decade. He is currently working as the National Ecotourism expert with The Louis Berger Group INC. in their JICA assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project.

He can be reached at naharj@gmail.com.

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Boracay, located at the northern tip of Panay Island in the Philippines is not

only a favourite amongst beach lovers but also for those couples who wish to tie the knot at an island paradise. The island is replete with picture perfect locations that make it an absolute fit for a dream wedding. The country’s natural terrain, landscape and scenery has charmed vacationers with its powder white sand, crystal blue waters through the years.

The island has been recognized several times as a top beach destination by different magazines and polls across the globe. In the annual survey conducted by a leading Travel magazine, Boracay was voted World’s Best Island Overall for beating such famous holiday destinations like Bali in Indonesia, Hawaii and Santorini. On the same magazine issue, Discovery Shores, Boracay was voted fifth best hotel in the world. With modern boutique hotel amenities, attentive staff and delicious food, Discovery Shores is the place to get married on Boracay.Aside from Discovery Shores, here are other reasons why Boracay is the best place to get married:1. Different beaches to suit your taste2. A two kilometer stretch white beach

with every cuisine in the world and accommodations perfect for any budget, from $50 to $500 a night.

3. A laid back Bulabog beach perfect for kite surfing and a haven for westerners living the backpacker lifestyle.

4. A secluded beach called Puka beach which is barely touched by commerce.

5. A luxury resort beach in Shangri-la Boracay.Guests can enjoy every type of activity

before, during and after the wedding. The options varies from water sports like Jet ski, scuba dive, stand up paddle board, kite surfing, parasailing, banana boat rides, snorkeling and helmet diving to adventures such as Golf, trekking Mount Luho, GoKarts, Segway explorations, Mountain bike rentals and going down the hill in a Zorb ball. Boracay has it all and at reasonable rates.

The Phi l ippines have the best wedding suppliers on the planet, be it the photographers, videographers or florists. The experienced Filipino wedding photographers and videographers regularly travel the world to cover weddings in a lot of countries. While the Florists in the Philippines can make drop dead beautiful bouquets at low rates.

Besides, walking on the most powdery white sand your feet will ever touch, facing the sun as it sets off the Sulu sea, reciting your heartfelt vows to the love of your life while friends and family watch is what it makes one of the best places to get married.

Crescent-shaped beaches dusted with talcum powder-like sand; uninhabited tropical islands, lush impenetrable jungles bristling with unique wildlife, the thrusting soaring capital of Manila, historic cities, a diverse local cuisine and culture… the Philippines has all this and more. Go there and discover some of the 7,107 islands of this vibrant archipelago where English is widely spoken, the people are fun loving and life moves to a lilting beat.

www.visitmyphilippines.com www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com

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Nestled in the southern western Ghats Mountain ranges of Peninsular India,

Periyar Tiger Reserve is the oldest and largest protected area of Kerala

(777 sq.km). Predominantly an evergreen biotope with great scenic beauty and rich assemblage of flora and fauna, Periyar epitomizes the opulent ecological and cultural diversity typical of tropical rain forests. Surrounded by picturesque mountain, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary’s environ is like canvas of many shades. The fresh air of the moist deciduous forest induces a sense of peace and serenity in the visitor’s mind. It can be said that one visit to this sanctuary is just not enough and a visitor often ends up coming back to soak in the splendour of the wilderness here. On a visit to periyar, one can take in the growing town of Kumilly just 4 kilometres away. Tourism is growing rapidly in this town and it is well equipped with excellent hotels and resorts for accommodation. Periyar and Kumilly are most convenient points from where visitors can easily explore Kerala’s beautiful Cardamom Hills.Community based Ecotourism Programmes

What make Thekkady a unique destination on the tourism map are its climate, landscape and possibility of watching wildlife closely on the lakeshore while taking a boat cruise. The success of the Eco-development project in the Periyar Tiger Reserve reflects the concern for achieving a balance between conservation of the sanctuary and livelihood of people living in and around it. The involvement of local communities in Ecotourism activities is a step in the right direction. It provides alternative sources of income to local communities, which live in and around protected areas, thus decreasing their dependence on forest resources and increasing their commitment to keeping the forests intact.

Hence, as a visitor, when you join them any of these programmes, you are directly contributing towards forest conservation and community welfare.The Periyar Tiger Trail –Adventure Trekking and Camping

It is an adventurous trekking and camping programme in dense forest. The programme is unique in being conducted by a team of poachers who tuned protectors of the forests. The team members are hardly and dependable with an intimate

knowledge of the forest terrain. It is offered in two packages, one- night and two-night stays, depending upon the preference and wallet of guests. Trekking in the Thekkady Tiger Trail is in reality participation in forest patrols within Periyar Sanctuary and National Park. Trekking with tourists during peak season is normally limited to two times a week. Each trekking is unique in the sense that different paths are chosen randomly. The physical condition of the trekking tourist determines to some degree the difficulty of the path chosen. As the terrain is undulating, every trekking program demands that each participant is in good physical condition. From the beginning, the trekking follows an easy footpath, but then the team enters terrain and vegetation of varying difficulty to penetrate, in an untouched landscape without tracks. There are no facilities within the Sanctuary, so everything needed has to be carried along. Under the scheme, a maximum number of five tourists will be accompanied by five guides and one armed forest guard. The guides are very knowledgeable on e v e r y n o o k a n d cranny of Thekkady forest, and on wildlife behaviour. During the night, the guests are put up in temporary erected tents right in the interior. Guests feel at the lap of Mother Nature and can have a close-up view of wildlife and observe their behaviour. Considering the vulnerability of biodiversity the number of slots has been limited. Visitors who are mentally fit and aged between 15 – 65 are advised to take the tiger trail. Visitors should be serious lovers willing to sacrifices some of the luxuries and comforts of a hotel.Bamboo Rafting: Dawn to dusk range hiking

A full day nature trail package is offered to nature lovers to enjoy the panoramic beauty of Periyar Lake and undulating surroundings. It’s starting at 8 am from the boat landing; a maximum of ten tourists can be accommodated in one slot. They will be accompanied by five guides and one armed guard. Only one slot will be allotted per day. Under this package the guests can enjoy two-hour long trekking, one and half hours long rafting upwards and then after lunch break the party returns in the same manner. The forests are rich in bird life and arboreal animals like Giant Squirrel and NilgiriLangur. Animals like Elephant, Guar and Sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of lake.Green Walk –The guided day trek:

Trekking programme, of fers a

possibility to know the richness of an ideal tropical evergreen forest within a short span of time. The programme is offered between 7 am and 10.30 am and between 2 pm and 3 pm and last for 3 hours. Five guests will be accommodated in one

slot and they will be accompanied by one tribal youth. Born and brought up right in the lap of forests, the guides are well famil iar with the forest life. The guest will be taken through selected nature trails. The programme is also ideal for bird

enthusiasts as it starts early morning.Jungle Inn: Jungle in night

A well-furnished forest cottage at Kokkara right inside the forest is open to the tourists for night-stay. Two tourists will be accommodated and one guide will accompany them. During the stay in the inn they can have a close watch of the movement of wildlife and if it is a full moon day their experience in the jungle will be unforgettable. The guests will complete short duration trekking to and from their destination. The accompanying guide will serve light food during the stay in the inn.Bamboo Grove: Eco lodge & Centre for experiential learning

Typical tribal like huts and tents erected right in a vast bamboo grove in the middle of Anavachalvayal are offered to serious nature lovers for their experiential learning programme. In addition to the huts and tents, a seminar hall also exists for conducting sensitization programs. These programs include interactive lectures by topic specific faculties/ professionals, simple food, accommodation in the tent etc.Tribal Heritage: A peep into the past

Under this programme tribal life and culture of 50 years ago has been recreated

in an exhibition centre right in the tribal hamlet. It is a 2-hour program and includes an exhibition and interpretation of the heritage and a nature trail in the hamlet. The guest can get acquainted with their traditional life, such as medicinal herbs, weapons, musical instrument, household articles etc.The jungle camp: Under the stars

Jungle camp is envisaged as a programme where the visitors get an opportunity to camp outdoors in tent in the sylvan surrounding of the forest .The whole programme is planned with the active participation of local communities and members of Eco development committees. The site is located at the river viewpoint or the bank of Periyar at Vallakkadavu in Periyar.Border Hiking: Protection oriented range hiking

This is a conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day. The trekking starts at 8 o’clock in the morning and ends in the evening .The route passes through undulating terrains. Altitudinal ranges of 900 meters to 1300 meters will be covered and the trekkers could glimpse the lofty escarpment bordering the park watershed and the vast plains down below. Gaur, Sloth Bear, Elephant, etc. are often sighted along this route apart from birds and butterflies. Maximum of 10 tourists can take the programme in two different groups. The trekkers will go with two guides and an armed forest guard. Vegetarian refreshments can have en route.

For more information and advance booking contact:

The Ecotourism CentreAmbadiJunction,Thekkady,Idukki.

Tel: 04869224571, 8547603066Email: info@periyartigerreserve.org

www.periyartigerreserve.org

How to ReachBy Air: Kochi (200 km.) and Madurai in Tamil Nadu (140 km.) are the nearest airports.By Road: Buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu ply regularly to Kumily, the nearest town.By Rail: Kottayam (114 km.) is the nearest Railway Station.

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Kumarakom, the world famous backwater destination is situated

o n t h e b a n k s o f t h e v e m b a n a d kayal(Backawater),10 km west of Kottayam District in Kerala , located 9037’ N and 76025 E. The destination is blessed with lush green paddy fields and is famous for it’s calm and widespread lakes and migrating birds. Recently Kumarakom, is noticed internationally for it’s Responsible Tourism practice and Village life experience tour package.

Kumarakom started it’s responsible tourism activities during the year 2008. In 2009 the enchanting” village life experience @ Kumarakom”as a package was lanuched in destination as part of Responsible Tourism programme. Kumarakom village life tour package is the first package in Kerala which focused on the experience of the simple life of a village. When the package started at Kumarakom, it was focused to eradicate the strong gap between industry and community in the destination like all other RT activites. All other village life tour packages by Kerala RT initiative have been developed on the same manner as that of these packages with the same brand name.

Currently three VLE Packages are operating in Kumarakom, namely A Day with Farmers, Beyond the Backwaters and A Day with fisherman. As the name suggests these packages mainly focuses on village life activites which includes traditional labour. Earlier in Kumarakom the major issue suffered by any Tourist was the scarcity of tourism activities besides a backwater cruise. Now, the Kumarakom VLE packages offers the guest to experience the chance to enjoy the real life of a rural village beyond the backwaters.A Day with Farmers

The Time Schedule of this package is normally 9am-5PM. The package starts from Kavanattinkara. After a short briefing session by the VLE Escort(the Guide), the guest is welcomed to the country craft of operated by a farmer. The farmer may be Sabu, Rajappan, Thankappan, Georgekutty etc. Eventhough he is a country craft operator, he is a farmer and also a trained voluntary life guard. The craft operator will definitely ask the guest to wear life jacket & head umbrella. The life buoys will also present the country craft before the guest. The farmer(craft operator) will lead the guest to a beautiful remote village named Manchira. The farmers/ craft operators is living there. After a 45 minutes journey through the canal the guest will reach the beautiful village of Manchira. There the guest will get a warm welcome with flower garlands’ by farmers and housewives.

Now it is the time for coconut tree

climbing. The Guest have the chance to experience traditional and mechanized form of coconut tree climbing. If the guest is ready, he can also try for the coconut tree climbing with safety belt. Coconut tree climbing is not just an activity but also for the guest’s tender coconut experiencing. After this, the guest will be led to Gouri’s house, there the 80 year old Gouri will teach them the technique of coconut leaf weaving. She will introduce them about her small homestead farming, which includes various plantains, pepper, ginger, long beans, green chilly etc.

Then the guest will be taken to Nalini’s house. There Nalini describes about how the poor’s bed (screw pane mat) is made from screw pane. She will show the magic of screw pane weaving. Guest have the chance to study the screw pane weaving.

Then the guest is taken to a beautiful paddy field near by the farmer’s house. They can go through the flourishing paddy fields and experience the majestic music of paddy. They will be blessed with the scenes of thousands of birds including migrating birds in the paddy field. After the paddy field walk, the visitor will have the unique experience of Toddy tapping. Rejeesh, the experienced toddy tapper will explain about Todday tapping with the help of VLE Escort and the toddy tapper will show you the magic of toddy tapping from the tapping to toddy collection. The traveler will get the chance to experience the nature fresh toddy.

Now the guest is returns back to the country craft and will go through the interior canals. During the journey through the narrow canals,the traveler have the chance to enjoy various types of mango trees, different types of race boats like snake boats, veppu, iruttukuthy, churulan etc. The tourist can enjoy variety of fishing techniques like Bow and arrow and net fishing in between the canal cruise. They will have the beautiful scenes of the farmer and ducks. After this cruise the journey will reach to a farmer’s house where the guest can enjoy the typical Kerala meals with Kumarakom Karimeen(Pearl spot) in plantain leaf.

The journey continues after the lunch through narrow canals to Antony’s dairy farm. The guest have the chance for milking the cow and taste various kinds of local fruits. They can experience the organic farming techniques and biogas plants. Antony will introduce his farm yard to the guest where long beans, elephant foot yam, little guard, turmeric, ginger , tapioca etc are grown. Later Antony will show the tourist the process of coconut oil making. They have the chance to taste tea and local fruits from the farm.

The journey leads to the last stopover- Latha’s house. Latha is a house wife

and she is the real example for how the Responsible Tourism activities and the VLE Packages supports a small & poor family to earn their livelihood. Latha teaches the guest about the techniques of coirmaking. She will teach them three types of coir making, the hand made coir(the ancient type), mechanized coir making and electrified coir making. She will get Rs:150/- for 1-3 pax from the VLE package for her half an hour work. She will get Rs: 300/- for 4-6 pax and more money for more pax. But she will get only Rs: 150/- for her eight hours coirmaking work as a coir worker. Besides this she is engaged with the RT Cultural group and performing Thiruvathira & Kolkali in the Resorts with her women group every day . This cultural programme is also included in the package based on guest’s need.Beyond the Back waters & A day with fisher man

“Beyond the Backwaters” is a half day package which is operating in a remote village named Kannadichal. The Kannnadichal is the name of a small canal which literary means the canal like a mirror. The package is also a country craft journey through this remote village. This is a 100% women operating package where the craft operators are two women, VLE Escorts are women, and other activites are also women centric like Broom stick making, coconut leaf weaving, home stead farming, plantain farm visit, paddy field walk, Anganwadi visit, Net fishing etc. It’s time schedule is 2pm-5.30pmA day with fisherman

Like it’s name this packages introduces all types of fishing activities. It’s time schedule is 9am-5.30pm. The package exclusively deals with the fishermen community. The guest have the chance to enjoy a journey with a fisherman in his country craft. The fisherman will give them traditional angling equipments for fishing. During the journey each and every stopover will introduce the guest to traditional fishing techniques of Kumarakom like Net fishing, Bow and Arrow, Vellavali(Vellaveeshal), Fishing

from fishing ponds, Thappipidutham etc. Guest can prepare the cached fishes with the fisherman and enjoy it’s unique taste. Besides the fishing activities the visitor have the chance to see the techniques of shell collection from the backwaters and all it’s processes.

These packages contributes money to 75 families for their livelihood. Like other VLE Packages each package have it’s own cost and the cost directly goes to the VLE Community partners. These packages earned Rs: 2,40,000/- during the 2012-2013 tourism season. UNWTO team also visited the package and commented positively about these packages. These packages won the award for the Best Rural Tourism project in India for 2011-2012.This season these packages have already covered 50 tours.

Kumarakom Vil lage Li fe Tour Packages proves that a tour package can protect traditional labor and life style of a community, and Kumarakom welcomes you to experience the real life of a simple village and it’s charm. Of course it will lead you to memorize about your past, tradition and culture.K.Rupeshkumar,State Level Responsible

Tourism Field Coordinator

At a press conference held at Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi, the Taiwan Tourism

Bureau Representative Office in India, announced the success of its activities and plans through 2012-2013. The conference was addressed by Mr. Chung Kwang Tien, Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India, who took charge of his new post earlier this year. This was followed by a presentation by Mr. Noel Saxena, Country Head, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Representative Office in India.

Mr. Noel Saxena began proceedings with a welcome note which was followed by an extensive presentation on Taiwan where he highlighted various aspects about the destination, especially the easy availability of the Taiwanese visa to the Indian traveler.

“We are delighted that our company Think Strawberries has been chosen as the India representative office for TTB the second time,” said Mr. Saxena.

Mr. Chung Kwang Tien then spoke of Taiwan as a technological marvel. “Taiwan once created an economic miracle that aroused the admiration of the world, and now 3C products like HTC, Acer, Asus are sold throughout the globe including India.”

Taiwan is known as Ilha Formosa or Beautiful Island. “Taiwan has world-class natural landscapes such as the awesome Taroko Gorge; it is the repository of true Chinese culture; its National Palace Museum is listed as one of the five top museums in the world,’ he said. Further, the ambassador added: “Taiwan

also offers a year-long series of exciting festivals such as Lantern Festival, the Mazu (Goddess of the Sea) Culture Festival, Ghost Festival, Aborigine Harvest Festival and countless others. These events provide many opportunities for joyful participation, and infinite chances to learn about Taiwan’s religious observances and living practices. If you like culture then Taiwan is the perfect destination for you,” he said.

Talking about gourmet experiences in Taiwan, he said, “Taiwan offers the finest Chinese cuisine, the booming development of foreign restaurants, and unique dining opportunities in establishments serving local Taiwanese snacks.”

In the coming months, TTB will plan a number of educational seminars for the travel trade and other corporate entities to further disseminate the knowledge to the consumers in India. Taiwan has become an important and exciting MICE destination for the Indians. TTB is currently working on a number of MICE Incentive Plans with increased benefits which will facilitate MICE movement to Taiwan. These include Exclusive FAM trips for MICE publication and MICE organizers and Unique Itineraries for FAM trips.

“Our plan is to educate the travel media fraternity on how to promote Taiwan in India to the individual holidaymaker as well as group movements (MICE). We want to reach out to the B2B segment and the B2C market this year with outdoor advertising and aggressive promotion in mainline newspapers to educate the potential Indian traveler. We are also reaching out to the Tier 2 markets such as Kolkata through roadshows which are planned for later this year. The destinations in Taiwan which we are promoting

from the MICE point of view are Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung city. Taiwan is a year around MICE destination thanks to its temperate climate, excellent infrastructure, convenient transport and high quality communication services. Also Taiwan has a large MICE infrastructure, hotel inventory, Indian restaurants and much more to welcome the different segment of MICE groups to the country,” pointed out Mr. Saxena.

TTB has noticed a steady increase in MICE traffic from India to Taiwan, a trend that will continue on the upward trajectory in the coming years. Taiwan is expecting large movements in MICE traffic from India as awareness about the destination increases. With the motive to increase the Indian visitors to Taiwan, TTB has come up with a special incentive plan that will facilitate MICE operators in India in organizing MICE groups to Taiwan.

It is the ‘Time for Celebration’ in Taiwan with a profusion of events built around various themes such as Love, Food, Culture, Shopping, Eco-Tourism and Nature being promoted by Taiwan Tourism Bureau for the Indian market. All these special tours and themes are built upon keeping the vast plethora of offerings that Taiwan boasts of – each segment of tourist whether it is FIT, an incentive group, a family holiday or a honeymoon – Taiwan has something for everyone!

“We have established Taiwan as a year round destination with top of the mind recall for Indian travelers as it is a destination that caters to all segments of Indian traveler. There is a growing interest in Taiwan thanks to its close proximity to India; value for money offerings and hassle free visa regulations,” said Mr. Saxena.

Abu Dhabi has won the ‘Best Family Destination Award’ from India’s

prestigious International Tourism Conclave & Travel Awards (ITCTA). The accolades are awarded on the basis of industry feedback and market visibility of the destination.

“This is progress indeed within this high potential market,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which has been driving destination awareness building within India.

“Since opening our representative office in India at the beginning of this year, Abu Dhabi has steadily built on its popularity as an emerging family destination among Indian consumers and its travel trade,” said Al Darmaki. “With increased airlift from India coming from Etihad Airways and Jet Airways and stronger engagement with the Indian travel trade, the country has become our largest international source market for hotel guests.”

TCA Abu Dhabi is extensively promoting family attractions within India including the big ticket attractions on Yas Island - Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld – as well as family activities such as desert safaris and dune bashing; the Arabian Wildlife Park of Sir Bani Yas Island as well as the virtue of being in one of the world’s safest holiday destinations.

In the first eight months of this year, 107,223 Indians checked into Abu Dhabi hotels in the first eight months of this year – a 23% hike over the same period of 2012. Indian arrivals delivered 434,554 guest nights which are up 34% year-on-year with

the Indian visitor staying, on an average, just over four nights.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The authority manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The authority supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

Emirates, which normally makes the headlines for buying aircraft, has

decided to build one its own and recently unveiled the light sport aircraft to the world. The two-seater RV 12 is six metres long and is the result of thousands of hours of dedication by a group of Emirates’ engineering trainees, working in their spare time. Over a two year period, the group of 40 trainees rose to the challenge of assembling 11,000 parts of the aircraft.

“The trainees’ first task was to unpack the crates, check the components against the inventory and create a storage system

where items could be easily retrieved,” said Mr. Adel Al Redha, Emirates Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.

The build process started with the aircraft’s tailfin and rudder. Along the way, students learnt about the alignment of different sections, anti-corrosive treatments, painting, drilling, wiring, testing and approval processes.

“The canopy and rear window proved to be a huge challenge as the thermoplastic glass had to be drilled without cracking.

This required extreme patience and was fortunately completed without any mishaps,” continued Mr. Al Redha.

Not surprisingly, the project has already drawn quite a bit of attention and visitors to Emirates Engineering Centre in Dubai. The propeller-driven aircraft, weighing in at 335 kilogrammes and with a wingspan of 8.1 metres, is a far cry from its larger relatives in the Emirates’ fleet. The RV 12 has a range of around 900 kilometres, a top speed of 217 kilometres per hour, and would just about make it to

Doha in Qatar, Salalah in Oman or Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Constructing this aircraft from scratch is a tremendous achievement for our trainees whose knowledge and hands on technical experience have now been significantly enhanced,” said Mr. Al Redha.

The aircraft will be used to promote Emirates ’ UAE National training programmes. It will also be on display at the Dubai Air Show, running between 17-21st November at Al Maktoum International, Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali.

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Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar K.V. for Tourism India Publications Pvt. Ltd., Printed at Arsha Offset Graphix Sreehari, TC 9/2519-1, Janvilla Lane, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram 695 019 and Published from TC 9/1785, Anandam, Pattanikkunnu Lane, Sasthamangalam P.O,Thiruvananthapuram-695010. Editor: Ravisankar K.V.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., has officially opened the doors of its

first hotel in India. Located on Residency Road in the heart of downtown Bengaluru, the hotel is part of a destination renowned for its world-class shopping, dining and entertainment.

Bengaluru is India’s third largest city and best known as the Silicon Valley of India, though vast expanses of lush greenery have also earned it the name of The Garden City. Bengaluru is home to 400 of the Top Fortune 500 companies and is the fastest growing major metropolis in India. The city also enjoys a rich cultural heritage

with a thriving theatre and arts scene.The 277 room contemporary Ritz-

Carlton hotel embraces tradition with the Jaali (lattice screen) design from the Mughal era and many architectural and interior design features, including pointed archways and ample white marble reminiscent of the Taj Mahal.

Jaali screens offer a sense of privacy while allowing light to flow through them. An impressive marble staircase is the center piece of the hotel interior and decorative paintings and sculptures, coupled with intricate Jaali patterns, are all carefully blended to form an essential part of the

hotel’s character. With 1,280 pieces of contemporary art from prominent artists, The Ritz-Carlton, Bengaluru is home to the largest collection inside a hotel.

“We are redefining the international standard for luxury hospitality in India with a truly unique property in Bengaluru,” said Mr. Herve Humler, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

“The hotel will bring our Ritz-Carlton service philosophy to life in this magical country, and blend it with traditional Indian hospitality to create memorable experiences for our guests. Our first hotel in India underlines our commitment to the Indian people who have long been supporters of our hotels overseas” Mr. Humler added.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bengaluru introduces seven dining venues to the city, which are to be run by Michelin Star chef Anupam Banerjee. A Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, the first managed Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA in Bengaluru, a Rossano Ferretti salon, and the city’s largest no-pillar ballroom also take center stage.

The Lantern, designed by Japanese interior designers, Super Potato, is Bengaluru’s stunning three-level restaurant, shaped like a glass Lantern. Authentic Chinese dim sum and cuisine from different provinces of China will be served. The Market all-day dining room, also created by Super Potato, is Bengaluru’s only culinary theatre which also includes a unique wine room and private dining spaces for guests. And the signature fine dining restaurant

Riwaz, designed by Peter Silling, literally translates tradition by serving authentic dishes from India’s North West Frontier in a contemporary space.

The city’s highest rooftop bar and sky lounge, Bang, designed by Imagination, is the platform from which to view the best sunsets and panoramic views of Bengaluru over cocktails and Jaali inspired dishes. The Lobby Lounge brings legendary Ritz-Carlton Afternoon Tea service and cocktails to Bengaluru and The Ritz-Carlton Bar completes the distinctive variety of bars and restaurants with the widest selection of cocktails and fine wines in the city.

Business facilities offered at the hotel include a range of meeting rooms featuring the stunning 600 square meter Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, one permanent boardroom and three function rooms with natural light.

An urban resort oasis can be found on Level 5. The sanctuary includes The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA, an experience with native Ayurvedic and internationally-acclaimed treatments. The holistic wellness enclave features an expansive state-of-the-art fitness facility with a fully-equipped Technogym, and an outdoor swimming pool with poolside lounge and bar surrounded by lush foliage. Guests can relax in private cabanas with inviting daybeds and cocoons that offer privacy and comfort.

Prince Charles , the heir apparent, Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son, celebrated his

65th birthday in Kerala, the southernmost state of India. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, were commenced their four-day Kerala visit on November 11, 2013 and the royal couple thoroughly enjoyed the rains and beauty of God’s Own Country during their four day visit. After the function they flew to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo to attend Commonwealths Head of Government meeting (CHOGM). The

birthday celebrations began when the prince was presented with a homemade chocolate cake, decorated with the number 65, by schoolchildren from Govindpuri, one of Delhi’s largest slums.

They started the state visit at Kerala Folklore Museum and Theatre, Cochin and strolled down the rich cultural heritage of Kerala. The Kerala Tourism department has organized a Kathakali performance at the museum as part of the royal visit. Two Kathakali artistes performed the slaying of demon Narakasura in Narakasura

Vadham leaving the audience mesmerised. This was followed by Kalaripayattu and Bharathanatyam performances. They also met Head of the Travancore Royal family, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma at Cochin.

On the second day the royal couple visited the Vazhachal Forest Division in Thrissur and spent time with Forest Department officials and conservation organisations including WWF India to understand issues and challenges related to conservation in the Western Ghats.

The prince and his wife on Wednesday enjoyed a rest day on their nine-day Indian tour, giving them time for private celebrations and the couple relaxed at Kumarakom Lake Resor.

Kumarakom Lake Resort has welcomed the heir apparent of Bristish monarchy with traditional style including ‘Thalappoli and Panchavadyam’. The royal couple were garlanded by Mr. Paul John, Chairman and his wife along with Mr. Shelly Thayyil, Director- Operations of The Paul Hotels & Resorts and Mr. Neelakantan, General Manager of the resort.

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