Asian Traveller March 2011 by Asian Traveller

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

in this issue VOL. 4

NO. 6

MARCH 2011

Asia will dominate global tourism

The Asian region will continue to lead the global tourism growth in the coming years, with major emerging economies like China and India consolidating their position as the driving force behind it, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Asia-Pacific records 7 per cent growth

Preliminary figures for international visitor arrivals into Asia and the Pacific for January 2011, has shown a seven per cent year-on-year expansion, according to The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) release.

P 21

Subodh Kant Sahay calls for more thrust on domestic tourism

Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay has called for more stress on domestic tourism. He said the huge size of domestic tourism helps to sustain the industry irrespective of the variations in international travel.

MoT to develop quality infrastructure

10 PATAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future role up for debate 19 International Beach Games in Maldives P 16-17

20 Goa to promote Helicopter Tourism Ten Questions

23 Lighthouses to be converted into tourist spots

23 Coastal Karnataka to have special

As I Travel

tourism zone

28 International Travel Expo to boost up Kovalam

P 12

29 Sarathi Sauhridam inaugurated ASIAN TRAVELLER

VISHESHWAR RAJ SINGH

MARCH 2011

Cover Photo Cour tesy: Tourism Australia

EDITOR’S NOTE

atural and man-made calamities have once again created chaos in the world and the first casualty – as always – is tourism. Following a year of global recovery in 2010, growth was expected to continue for the tourism sector in 2011, though at a slower pace. But the earthquake that devastated Japan and the civil unrest in the Middle East (which shows no signs of dying down) are threatening not just the tourism industry, but the well-being, health and lives of all their respective peoples. Though the impact of these events on the long-term prospects of the global travel and tourism industry is yet to be ascertained, they will certainly pose big challenges. And the tourism industry will have to work really hard to get out of this current mess. One should remember that forecasts for the Middle East pointed to strong growth in arrivals in 2011 of between seven and 10 per cent. According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)’s preliminary figures for international visitor arrivals into Asia and the Pacific for January 2011, Japan has registered a growth of 12 per cent compared to the same time last year. But these will be difficult to achieve and sustain now. Tourism is a leisure activity and needs economic stability and progress, and emotional well-being of the societies to prosper. A slight disturbance in any of these areas could adversely affect the prospects of the sector. At the same time tourism has tremendous resilience and the sector has shown this ability on umpteen times in the last one decade. It has survived wars, natural calamities, epidemics, terrorism and economic meltdown. Let us hope this time too it will bounce back – because we need tourism in good shape to help the limping world economy back on its feet.

G. BIJU KRISHNAN Editor & Publisher editor@mediastepsindia.com +91 9447555222

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

Editor & Publisher Group Editor Chief Executive Of ficer Executive Editor Photo Editor Art Editor Senior Sub Editor Editorial Team

: : : : : : : :

Director (Marketing) Financial Advisor Legal Advisor Regional Head-North GM -Tamil Nadu Senior Manager -Marketing

: : : : : :

G. Biju Krishnan G. Gopakumar* M. P. Sreekumar Lerbin T. K. Retheesh Kariyam Anil Kumar R. Krishnadas P. R. Parameswaran Lekshmi P. Smitha R. Vinu V. Nair Jayachandran S. Adv. G.S. Prakash V. Narayanan P. Deenadayalu Shaini B. J.

UK: Abdul Najeeb UAE: Sanjeev S. L. Kuwait: Mariam Titus New Delhi: V. Narayanan Mumbai: Mahesh Nair Bengaluru: Sandeep Viswanath Kolkata: Sobha Joshi Chennai: Nisha J. Coimbatore: Shree K. Hyderabad: K.S. Johnson Indore: Manohar Bhati Madurai: P. Deenadayalu Ernakulam: M. P. Sreekumar Thiruvananthapuram: Shaini B. J.

Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel:

0044-7769940391 00971 508914709 00965 6638670 +91 9810116780 +91 9702493708 +91 9845179243 +91 9477406768 +91 9841008588 +91 9677769919 +91 9441236010 +91 9893559563 +91 9843129535 +91 9447118694 +91 9745444144

Administration Jaya Rajeshwari, Soniya S., Sunil Kumar R. All Communications to: Media Steps India, TC-27/1741, PERA-66, Vanchiyoor PO, Thiruvananthapuram–695 035, Kerala State, South India. Tel: +91-471-2574411, 09447 555 222 info@mediastepsindia.com, w ww.mediastepsindia.com New Delhi Media Steps India, C-4/9 Sahyadri Apartments, Plot No. 5, Sector-12, Dwaraka, New Delhi-110 075. Tel.: +91 9810116780 Mumbai Media Steps India Unit 9 & 10, Sardar Pratap Singh Industrial Estate No. 2, LBS Marg, Bhandup West, Mumbai-400078, India, Tel.: +91 22 32499989 Hyderabad Media Steps India, # B-305 & 309, Vasudha Apartments, Quthbullapur Road, New Jeedimetla, Hyderabad-500 055, AP, India Tel.: +91 40 23080750, +91 40 23176966, +91 40 23176996, Fa x: +91 40 27535260 Chennai Media Steps India, 6/4, Sangeetha Gardens, 19th Street Ex t, Jai Nagar, Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600 106. Tel: +91 44 42640531 Coimbatore Media Steps India, 164/122, Justice Sathyadev Enclave, Race Course, Coimbatore-641018 Tel: +91 422 2234120 Regd. Of fice: Media Steps India, TC-27/1915, MBRRA 70, Mathrubhoomi Rd., Thiruvananthapuram–695 001, Kerala State, South India. Edited, Printed & Published by G. Biju Krishnan and Printed at M/s. Safire Of fset Printers, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu for Cristal Printers, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State, South India. Reg No.: KERENG 01910/11/1/2006-TC New Reg No.: KERENG / 2007 / 28719 RNI Reg. No.: 101276 The news items and Advertisements published herein have been collected from various source, which are considered to be reliable. Readers are however requested to verif y the facts before making business decisions using the same. No par t of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission from the Publisher. All rights reser ved. Copyright © 2009 *Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

OVER VIEW

Asia will dominate global tourism

he Asian region will continue to lead the global tourism growth in the coming years, with major emerging economies like China and India consolidating their position as the driving force behind it, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). “In 2010, world tourism average growth was seven percent, in Asia it was 14 percent, twice as much,” said Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, UNWTO in Berlin. He was talking to a News Agency on the sidelines of ITB Berlin. “When there is no good news coming from many sectors there is always good news coming from tourism,” he said. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer published by UNWTO “World tourism staged a remarkable recovery from the shock it suffered in 2008 and 2009 due to the global economic downturn and primarily the emerging Asian nations were the engine for

the rebound”. The UNWTO forecast that the global tourism is set to grow in 2011, even though at a more moderate pace than in the previous year and emerging destinations, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, will continue to control the growth, “taking advantage of a far from exhausted demand from neighbouring countries”. “The Asia-Pacific region, which was the first to recover from the global tourism decline, recorded 13 per cent growth in international arrivals and hit a new record of 204 million tourists in 2010, much more than enough to make up for the two per cent drop in 2009, the tourism agency said. The UNWTO said that a double-digit growth was a common result for destinations in this region and with 23 million additional visits in 2010, the region has secured a 22 per cent share of the international tourism market.

Ministr y of Tourism to develop qualit y infrastructure

nion Ministry of Tourism,

initiative to interact with other

achieve convergence so that the

to be covered in the first phase of

Government of India has

ministries such as Railways, Food

impact of investment at the

this initiative.

made consistent efforts

Processing and Urban

identified destinations is

to develop quality tourism

Development, and also the

maximized. The Ministry has

overseas offices, engaged

infrastructure at tourist

concerned State Government to

already identified 24 destinations

actively in events like road shows

Ministry of Tourism, through its

destinations and circuits. This has

and joint promotions with major

been disclosed in the annual

international airlines linking India

report of the Ministry of Tourism

to the markets abroad. These road

released in New Delhi. To focus on

shows highlighted various tourism

development of infrastructure at

products and were followed by

places of national and

one-to –one business meetings

international importance, the

between the foreign and Indian

Ministry, through its scheme of

travel trade delegations. India

providing financial assistance to

Tourism Office participated in a

the State Governments and Union

number of travel fairs and

Territory Administrations, has

exhibitions in important tourist

identified 38 mega tourism

generating markets the world over

projects, out of which 26 have

as well as in emerging and

been sanctioned till 4th February,

potential markets to showcase

2011.

and promote tourism products of

The Ministry also took an

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

the country.

OVER VIEW OUTLOOK

Asia-Pacific records 7 per cent growth

reliminary figures for international visitor arrivals into Asia and the Pacific for January 2011, has shown a seven per cent year-on-year expansion, according to The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)

release. South Asia set the pace with the strongest arrivals growth from amongst the four sub-regions covered for January 2011, with a gain of 14 per cent. Sri Lanka (+46 per cent), Nepal (+26 per cent), the Maldives (+18 per

cent) and India (+10 per cent) each set new records for the month (year-on-year). The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which started in mid-February in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, is expected to help maintain the current growth

momentum for this subregion up to and including the final on April 02, 2011. "The year 2011 started strongly for the travel and tourism industry in Asia and the Pacific, maintaining the arrivals growth momentum seen throughout 2010. South Asia and Southeast Asia continued to deliver the stronger results while Northeast Asia and the Pacific posted comparatively slower growth", said Kris Lim, Director, Strategic Intelligence Centre, PATA.

WTM 2010 generates deals worth £1,425 million

members the remaining three days of the event to continue negotiations and agree deals. The impressive scale of business conducted at WTM led to 96 per cent of exhibitors stating WTM is important to their business. Exhibitor satisfaction rose to 94 per cent with 66 per cent either completely or very satisfied, compared to 59 per cent in 2009. Visitor satisfaction of WTM stood at an impressive 93 per cent . More than seven out of ten figures show a 25 per cent exhibitors (71 per cent ) said increase on WTM 2009. WTM is the best or better than Independent research of most events compared to 67 World Travel Market’s exhibitors and Meridian Club per cent in 2009 and 65 per cent in 2008. members shows WTM will World Travel Market generate £1,424,844 million of deals, either through contracts Exhibition Director Simon Press said, “World Travel signed at the event or from Market 2010 has seen, and negotiations at WTM 2010, which will lead to deals before will lead to, a phenomenal amount of travel and tourism WTM 2011. WTM 2009 industry business being generated £1,139 million in agreed. The expanded Speed business deals, either on the Networking program played exhibition floor or in the an important role in the following 12 months. success of WTM for both The increase in business exhibitors and Meridian Club can, in part, be attributed to members, offering both the expanded Speed stakeholders increased Networking session on the opportunities to meet new first day of WTM, giving exhibitors and Meridian Club contacts and sign contracts.” orld Travel Market, one of the leading events in the travel industry has released the statistics of the past event which recorded a whooping £1,425 million (approximately US$2.3 billion) in travel and tourism industry deals. The

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

ITB

Record attendance at ITB Berlin

he 45th ITB Berlin came to

growing numbers of international

a close after attracting a

decision-makers. Nowadays over

significantly larger number

40 per cent of buyers come from

of buyers from abroad and the

abroad. As a result ITB Berlin can

best exhibitor figures ever. Despite

not only claim the most balanced

the rail strike the leading

and international range of

international trade show for the

exhibitors but it is also the industry’s most international event in terms of its trade visitors.” The two high level meetings of ministers ensured that international

Dr. Marek Prawda, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Germany; Lech Walesa; H.E. Adam Giersz, Minister of Sport and Tourism, Republic of Poland and Klaus Wowereit, The Governing Major of Berlin at the opening ceremony of ITB Berlin 2011

politics and

countries again presented the

destinations. As we welcomed the

diplomacy were

entire spectrum of the

new Egypt and Tunisia at ITB 2011

strongly

international travel industry from 9

I was struck by the remarkable

represented at this

to 13 March. The presentations

demonstrations of solidarity

year’s ITB Berlin.

and seminars at the “eTravel

shown by the international tourism

travel industry reported that trade

The “UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’

World”, a new feature this year,

community to these two

visitor numbers remained stable

Summit” played a decisive part in

attracted several thousand

destinations.”

at last year’s level. The good

efforts to promote the long term

interested participants and proved

volume of business at the trade

tourism development of the Silk

to be a complete success.

show provided an additional boost

Road region. This year’s ITB

to the current upturn in the

Berlin also hosted the first

of the UNWTO said “ITB Berlin

diplomats. In addition to the

tourism sector.

“Ministers’ Summit on Climate

had a special relevance this year,

national delegations from 97

Change in Asia-Pacific”.

coming on the tail of the recent

countries this event was also

developments in Egypt and

attended by Princess Ubolratana

Tunisia, two important tourism

Mahidol of Thailand and the

Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin, said “Each year ITB Berlin attracts

11,163 exhibiting companies and organisations from 188

Taleb Rifai, Secretary General

Egypt partner country of ITB Berlin 2012

Once again this trade show provided a meeting place for international politicians and

former President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Walesa. Meetings took place involving 70

gypt is to be the partner country of ITB Berlin

ambassadors from all over the

2012. Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, the Egyptian

world, as well as 49 government

Minister of Tourism, and Raimund Hosch, CEO of

ministers and numerous state

Messe Berlin, have signed an agreement to this

secretaries from many countries.

effect at ITB Berlin. The peaceful revolution has been the theme

The next ITB Berlin will take place from 7 to 11 March 2012.

dominating the participation of this popular

The partner country will be

tourism destination in this year’s ITB Berlin.

Egypt.

Having taken up his post two weeks ago, the new minister of tourism expressed his delight that ITB Berlin was the destination of his first trip abroad. “This is extremely important for us”, said Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour. He noted that as the sector contributing most to the Egyptian economy, tourism would continue to remain important. “The livelihood of one in seven Egyptians depends directly or indirectly upon tourism.” The tourism authorities have reacted quickly and adjusted their promotional campaigns to accommodate recent events. Taking as its slogan “Welcome to the country of the peaceful revolution”, a campaign has been launched focusing on a peaceful new beginning.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

INCREDIBLE INDIA

Subodh Kant Sahay calls for more thrust on domestic tourism

nion Tourism Minister

The Minister said the lesser

Subodh Kant Sahay

known destinations in the country

has called for more

need to be developed so that the

stress on domestic tourism. He

benefits of tourism activities reach

said the huge size of domestic

far and wide, and contribute in

tourism helps to sustain the

balanced regional growth of the

industry irrespective of the

country. States need to be

variations in international travel.

pro-actively engaged in

He was chairing the first

sensitizing them to the huge

meeting of the reconstituted

untapped potential which tourism

National Tourism Advisory Council

holds for employment generation

(NTAC) in New Delhi recently. He

and economic development, he

was of the opinion that there was

added.

a need to enhance facilities at

Underlining the need to Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay chairing the meeting of the National Tourism Advisory Council, in New Delhi

major pilgrimage centres which

maintain quality of tourism

receive a large number of visitors,

facilities and services offered so

since the majority of the domestic

that they are at par with the best

keep pace with changing trends

Ministry as well as the hospitality

travel was for pilgrimages.

in the world, Sahay said “We must

and requirements of the overseas

and travel industry to take longer

and domestic travellers, who are

strides in achieving our common

increasingly becoming more

goal of positioning tourism as an

demanding.

engine of economic growth.

Statement about the ownership and other particulars about ASIAN TRAVELLER Forum IV (See Rule 6)

NTAC is a ‘Think Tank’

1. Place of Publication : Thiruvananthapuram 2. Periodicity of Publication : Monthly 3. Printers Name : G Biju Krishnan Whether Citizen of India : Yes (If foreigner, state the country of origin) Address : TC- 27/1915, MBRRA-70, Mathrubhoomi Road, Thiruvananthapuram-695001, Kerala State, South India. 4. Publisher’s Name : G. Biju Krishnan Whether Citizen of India : Yes Address : TC- 27/1915, MBRRA-70, Mathrubhoomi Road, Thiruvananthapuram-695001, Kerala State, South India. 5. Editor’s name : G. Biju Krishnan Whether Citizen of India : Yes Address : TC- 27/1915, MBRRA-70, Mathrubhoomi Road, Thiruvananthapuram-695001, Kerala State, South India. 6. Owner’s Name and Address : G. Biju Krishnan TC- 27/1915, MBRRA-70, Mathrubhoomi Road, Thiruvananthapuram-695001, Kerala State, South India. 7. Name and address of individuals who own the newspaper and shareholders holding more than one percent of the total capital as given below : G. Biju Krishnan TC- 27/1915, MBRRA-70, Mathrubhoomi Road, Thiruvananthapuram-695001, Kerala State, South India.

with the growth of the tourism

constituted by the Government

sector seen in the last decade. We

and comprises experts from

have to improve our products,

various fields, representatives of

plan carefully, refine our

industry associations like CII,

marketing strategies and bolster

FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI,

our efforts for sustainable growth

FHRAI, HAI, IATO, TAAI, ITTA,

of this vital industry.”

ADTOI, ATOI, IHHA, ICPB as well

I, G Biju Krishnan, hereby declare that the particular given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief Sd/Thiruvananthapuram G. Biju Krishnan

plans within one and a half months.

Date: 01.03.2011

We can ill-afford to be satisfied

Printer and Publisher

RH Khwaja, Secretary

as Ministries of Finance, Culture,

(Tourism) who was also present

External Affairs, Urban

on the occasion said that his

Development, Road Transport and

Ministry had been working in

Highways and Planning

close cooperation with the private

Commission and advises the

sector for development of tourism

Government on various aspects of

in India. He expressed the hope

tourism with the objective of

that views emerging out of the

promoting domestic and foreign

discussions would help the

tourism in the country.

NTAC to formulate action plans

ational Tourism Advisory Council will set up five subgroups to formulate action plans in various fields of tourism. Union Tourism

Minister Subodh Kant Sahay announced this after the first meeting of the reconstituted National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC) in New Delhi. These groups will be on: promotion and marketing; infrastructure; taxation and facilitation; human resource development and heritage, rural and eco tourism. It was also decided that these groups will work in mission mode and submit their respective action He also informed that he had already taken up the issue of service tax on hotel tariffs above Rs.1000 with the Finance Minister and would again speak to him on this. He said the tourism circuits in the country should be developed on the pattern of JNNURM.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

PATA

PATA reveals tourism forecast for 2011-13

John Koldowski, Deputy CEO

he Pacific Asia Travel

sub-region will be Southeast Asia

Northeast Asia and the Americas

Association (PATA) has

with just over 8 per cent, followed

that will generate most additional

and Head, Office of Strategy

recently announced its

by South Asia with around 7.5 per

traffic to Asia Pacific. Northeast

Management, PATA says, “This is

forecasts of travel demand for 42

cent and Northeast Asia at just

Asia will add an

not surprising,

destinations within the Asia Pacific

over 7 per cent per annum.

additional 65 million

particularly given the

arrivals to Asia Pacific

enormous rise in air

region, predicting an annual

Around 15 source regions will

average rate of growth in arrivals

generate double-digit growth into

destinations by 2013,

seat capacity on the

to these destinations of just under

Asia Pacific over the period to

while North America

intra-Asia routes,

seven per cent between 2009 and

2013, with intra-Asia traffic alone

will add close to 18 million more

especially from the low-cost

2013. The PATA “Asia Pacific

fueling annual gains of around 7.5

than in 2009.

carriers. This shift in source

Tourism Forecasts 2011-13 will be

per cent and adding more than 76

This will all be largely intra-

markets carries a significant

officially launched at PATA’s 60th

million

regional growth, however, with

number of issues for

anniversary celebrations and

additional

around 83 per cent of the

operators in the region. Many of

conference to be held in Beijing,

arrivals to Asia

additional arrivals from North

the long-haul markets have

China, between April 10-12. The

by 2013. The

America heading to destinations

relatively longer lengths of stay,

next few years look promising for

ones to watch

within the Americas, while just

therefore, any decrease in arrivals

out for are

under 80 per cent of the additional

from these sources, even though

South and

growth from Northeast Asia will be

relative, will be felt in terms of

Central Asia

to destinations within Northeast

nights booked and of quite

into Northeast

Asia.

possibly yield.”

the Asia Pacific region, with arrivals growth expected to be close to double that of the world average. Asia is expected to receive

John Koldowski, Deputy CEO and Head, Office of Strategy Management, PATA

Asia (17 per cent and 14 per cent

Long-haul traffic from Europe

“However, it must also be

much of this growth, with an

gains per annum respectively), as

to Asia Pacific will still be

recognized that the new wave of

average increase of around 7.5

well as the Middle East markets,

significant, adding more than 8.7

Asian travelers are surprising

per cent per annum. North

which are also tipped to show

million arrivals to the Asia Pacific

many operators in terms of their

America will average around 5 per

substantial growth with gains in

region by 2013, nevertheless

increasingly sophisticated

cent, and the Pacific between 4 to

excess of 10 per cent per annum

continuing its contraction of

demands and their ability to

5 per cent, over that period.

to 2013. In terms of generating the

relative market share as Asian

expect and pay for the very best,”

Within Asia, the fastest-growing,

most physical arrivals, it is

source markets rise in dominance.

concluded Koldowski.

PATA’s future role up for debate

ATA’s role as a membership Association will be the

to a lesser extent, India. Taking part in the panel

officer, Hotelplan Holding AG, who will represent the industry

Tomorrow’s Tourism finalists announced

discussion that follows will be

sector, said that while he believed

first plenary session of the 60th

representatives of different

PATA was still relevant today, there

Anniversary and Conference, April

sectors within the travel and

was always a critical need to keep

9-12, 2011, at the China World

tourism industry, such as

reviewing this relevancy. He

the 2011 “Tomorrow’s Tourism”

Hotel, Beijing. Taking the

government, carrier, hospitality

recalled a period in the mid-

competition. Launched last

anniversary theme ‘Building

and industry, as well as the PATA

1990s, when PATA’s influence was

September, undergraduate

Tourism: Past. Present.

2011 ‘Face of the Future’ winner

second-to-none.

students from PATA member

Progressive’, Plenary 1 will

and a PATA Life member. The

As for its role now, he said

consider PATA’s impact over the

session will be moderated by

PATA must put itself forward as the

ways of measuring tourism

past 60-years, its relevance today,

TIME magazine’s Liam Fitzpatrick.

foremost authority of travel and

accounting its impact on the

and its commitment to the future.

Each of the representatives

tourism in Asia Pacific by, for

environment and community. They

will discuss the challenges faced

example, showing a strong

are required to create a five-

presenter Robert Broadfoot,

by their own particular sector, as

reaction to what had happened in

minute video presentation and

managing director, Political and

well as their relationship with PATA

Japan.

written synopsis. The three

Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd,

over the years.

focus of discussions at the

Introducing the session, lead

will provide an overview of some

Jon Hutchison, chief executive

The PATA 60th Anniversary and

acific Asia Travel Association has announced the finalists of

schools have to come up with new

finalists announced are Yunliang

Conference marks the return,

Zhao, Yichen Yan, and Rui Qian,

of the key factors influencing the

officer of Business Events,

after a five-year hiatus, of the PATA

representing the Shanghai

changing landscape of the

Sydney, will join the discussion as

Annual Conference. Focusing on

Institute of Tourism; Fiona Huang

region’s travel and tourism

the representative PATA Life

some of the biggest issues facing

Hao, Institute for Tourism Studies,

industry. His presentation will

member.

travel and tourism executives, the

Macau; and Mridu Sahgal and

programme will feature high

Vinay Kumar from the Heritage

as well as the rapid growth of

debate, Hans Lerch, vice

profile speakers from within and

Institute of Hotel and Tourism,

outbound tourism from China and,

chairman and chief executive

outside the industry.

Agra.

consider rising incomes in Asia,

Also participating in the

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

Q&A It was quite by chance that Visheshwar Raj Singh joined hospitality industry, but he enjoyed every moment since. How did you come to join the

company where people treat

hotel, and I have truly relished

hospitality sector? Could you tell

others as they wish to be treated

being involved in the various

us about your early days?

themselves.

stages of this hotel’s

Choosing hospitality as my

Visheshwar Raj Singh General Manager, Trident, Bandra Kurla, Mumbai

development.

career was actually something of

on the opening team for The

What plans do you have for

an accident. I always wanted to be

Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur as

Trident, Bandra Kurla?

a veterinarian, but while I spent

Assistant Manager - F&B. I still

long hours preparing for rigorous

look back on my days there with

General Manager was to ensure a

medical entrance tests, my

gratitude for all I learned. F&B

seamless opening, and I’d like to

brother (who obviously had

was my passion at the time, but

think that my team and I met with

stronger instincts about me than I

Jaipur soon started to feel like a

significant success in that regard.

had about myself) collected the

small canvas, and I was keen to

Now that the property is open, we

entrance forms for IHM, Pusa,

shift to a larger city hotel. Soon

are in a phase of consolidation

New Delhi on

after Rajvilas opened, I moved to

where the focus is on developing

my behalf.

Bengaluru in the Front Office

guest loyalty, increasing market

One thing

department, and absolutely loved

share, maximizing revenue, and

led to

it! Front Office has regular timings

increasing team engagement.

another, and

and shifts leaving a lot of time for

before I

oneself, but at the same time it

of hard work that have gone into

knew it, my

forms the very heart of the hotel.

the hotel bear fruit in terms of

roots in the

My next shift was to The Oberoi

continuously delivering an

hospitality

Amarvilas, Agra as Rooms

exceptional guest experience,

industry

Division Manager in 2002, and this

increased revenue, and market

were firmly

was followed by my first posting

share. Room inventories in North

planted.

as General Manager at the Trident,

Mumbai are already quite high

What

Cochin in 2004. The hotel is a

and increasing every year, so our

convinced

lovely property, but my real

key differentiator must be service.

me to stick

challenge (and much of my job

Increasingly, our guests are

to the hotel

satisfaction) came from

becoming savvier about defining

business

overseeing the operations on

‘good service’ and are orienting

was my

Motor Vessel Vrinda – a luxury

their loyalty to a hotel or a

industrial

backwater cruiser that The Oberoi

hospitality chain based on it. This

training at

Group operates in Kerala. It is a

factor is the real game changer

the Taj Mahal

small catamaran with eight

that we hope to leverage in taking

hotel on Man

cabins, but I truly believe that one

the ‘battle for beds’ to our

Singh Road,

can never forget “the Vrinda

competitors’ doorsteps. In my

New Delhi in

experience”. It conspires with the

opinion, the answer lies in

1994, under the then G.M. Ronnie

natural beauty of its location to

genuinely happy smiles and

Lobo and the E.A.M. Patu

create a memory that is nothing

engaged employees. The

Keswani, both dynamic and well

less than magical!

challenge would be to sustain the

respected hoteliers even today. I

Tell us about your latest

intensity of this kinetic energy that

truly enjoyed and loved the whole

assignment.

is palpable the minute you walk

buzz in the hotel.

Following a very enjoyable

My primary responsibility as

I’d like to ensure that the years

through the lobby entrance or

stint in Cochin, I moved back to

service doors.

management from IHM Pusa, I

The Oberoi Amarvilas, this time as

How important is a hotel in

moved to the Oberoi Centre for

General Manager in 2005. Two

developing a destination?

Learning and Development

years later, in late 2007, I found

I think the right kind of hotels

(OCLD) in 1995. Joining the

myself in Mumbai, preparing to

can play a huge role in impacting

Oberoi Group was an easy choice

open Trident, Bandra Kurla – a

the way destinations are

for me; and even today, I view my

436-room property in the heart of

perceived and their subsequent

approach to life as an extension of

Mumbai’s new commercial

development. I’ve seen it first

the Oberoi philosophy. The

district.

hand on two different occasions in

After my degree in hospitality

company’s core values reflect my

My first posting - in 1997, was

The day-to-day content of what

my career. The first was at The

personal beliefs, and that

one does as an opening team

Oberoi Rajvilas. The property was

probably explains why I have

member is completely different

a landmark opening for the

never thought of leaving. This is a

from working in an operational

ASIAN TRAVELLER

Page 26

MARCH 2011

COLUMN

V DURAIKKANNAN

hile the name Einstein is now synonymous with the brains (interestingly and deservingly enough ALBERT EISNTEIN = TEN ELITE BRAINS!), what does Einstein himself have to say of him? In the year 1952, Einstein was writing to his biographer, Carl Seelig: ‘I have no special gifts – I am only passionately curious’! ‘Passionately Curious’ are the key words to define the genius. Day in and day out from Monday to Friday comes out ‘the Finance Chronicle’ newspaper (a treasure house of information for a piddling Rs 2) and it has a small note on the world markets on the left bottom corner of the first page. It is listing ten prominent markets in the world starting from NYSE, NASDAQ etc. How many of us go down beyond them and read the names like FTSE, NIKKEI, HANG SENG, SHANGHAI, KOSPI, BOVESPA, DAX, and STI? Up to SHANGHAI it makes some sense for us and beyond that the names are foreign and are not intelligible. Not intelligible mainly because we are not interested in knowing them. Why so? That we are neither stock brokers nor are share investors need not obtrude our learning curve. It is where the Einstein factor comes in – being passionately curious! Ignorance is a sin and selfdenial. While the first five names are fairly known to all, the second half of the list is like this: KOSPI is Korean Stock Price Index,

BOVESPA is Brazil’s stock market (Bolsa Da Valores de Sao Paulo – Portuguese for ‘Sao Paulo Stock Exchange’), DAX is German stock exchange (Deutscher Aktien IndeX), and STI is Singapore Stock Market (Strait Times Index). I am always at a loss to accept or understand how we are all so very insensitive to what is going on around us and how we take things for granted. Day in and day out we talk about the kids going to their KG class (LKG and UKG). But 9 out of 10 people including the very teachers of the so-called KG classes do not know what KG stands for. They have their own guesses saying that it is Kinder Garden and further explaining that it is a garden- like place

It was Friedrich Fröbel (1782–1852), the German educator who opened the first institute of preschool education outside Hungary (where the first ever kindergarten was opened in 1828) on June 28, 1840 to mark the four-hundredth anniversary of Gutenberg’s invention of movable type. Fröbel created the name Kindergarten (Children’s Garden) for the Play and Activity Institute, which he had founded in 1837 in the village of Bad Blankenburg in the small, former principality of Schwarzburg Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany. The success of the school was so huge that it caught where the teachers are more up with the Europe and the caring ( ‘kinder’ ) to the young rest of the world soon. kids. But is it so? KG in fact is Prefixes ‘Lower’ and ‘Upper’ a German abbreviation for were later added without Kinder Garten. ‘Kind’ in changing the original German German is ‘child’ and ‘kinder’ when they had to show the is just the plural word for it grades within KG as LKG and meaning UKG! ‘children’. We The name for have the phrase the symbol is ‘&’ is ‘wunderkind’ ampersand and in which stands for turn ‘ampersand’ ‘wonder child’ or is just a a child prodigy. contraction of ‘and Of course, per se and’! The ‘garten’ is tiny dot on the German for ‘garden’ which letter ‘i’ is called tittle. How will now make the come we are not curious relationship to the word about knowing all these ‘nursery’ common for both the things? The word ‘curious’ place for pre-school kids and comes from the Latin word the place for growing plants. Page26

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

GUJARAT TRAVELLER

Enchanting fair of ethnic hues

hitra Vichitra Fair is held every year

called the Triveni Sangam, the sacred

dancing and drumming continue for hours

during the month of March-April on

confluence of the three rivers Sabarmati, Akul

until everyone is left exhausted.

the eve of the new moon (called

and Vyakul, amid the foothills of the Aravalis.

It attracts about 60,000 people from the

On the eve of the new moon, women

Garasia and Bhil tribal communities and

ready for harvest. The fair limits itself within

gather at the river and mourn for their dead

people from many far away and distant

the village Gunbhakhari in the border area of

through the night, next day the fair sets off

villages come in advance in large groups in

the Sabarkantha district in Gujarat adjoining

with a generous splashing of dazzling colors

Rajasthan. This year it’s celebrated on 18th

and drumming.

Amavas), the time when the wheat crop is

April. The fair is derived from two brothers

The men’s costume generally consists of a

Chitravirya and Vichitravirya, sons of King

blue shirt, dhoti and a red or saffron fenta or

Shantanu, and step brothers of Bhishma, from

turban. The women don ghagharas which have a circumference of as much as 20 yards, and are covered from head to feet with ornate and heavy silver jewellery, and beautifully knitted rafia jewellery made from pale yellow or dyed crimson grass. They also use liquid kumkum or vermilion to color their cheeks and lip a brilliant red, while their eyes are outlined vibrantly with kajal. The atmosphere comes alive with a nonstop beat of drumming and women sing

jeeps and camel carts, encamp under the

the story of the Mahabharata. The belief goes

folk songs in shrill choruses, and everyone

banyan trees on the riverside and spend the

that they had settled here, and obtained cure

dances near the main temple. Over a hundred

night under the sky by the side of small

from the diseases by the waters of this site.

stalls hold food and drink, and sweets of

bonfires.

It is just 32 kms away from the nearest

various kinds. Silver ornaments and

The fair also provides a great opportunity

railway station of Khed Brahma. The main

household items are out for sale. There is also

for the conglomeration of tribal men to meet

temple fair is situated on a picturesque site

a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. The

prospective partners for marriage.

Where Royalt y plays a host amidst the Queen of Hills

weekend escape from

period. His Highness Wadiyar , is

WH Fernhills Palace has an

bay windows, bedroom, dressing

Bengaluru or for that

the proud owner of this palace

imposing entrance with the most

room and a luxuriant bathroom

matter from any part of the

and the first Indian Royal to buy

beautiful lobby which has elegant

with a private Jaccuzi. Victorian

country to the Queen of Hills

an English holding in Ooty, which

passageways decorated with

furniture and its colonial

“Ooty” could bring in the much

he had bought in the year 1873,

Sepia tinted frame pictures of

furnishings still exude an eloquent

vaunted respite to the senses of

which is history laden with

royalty who had made it their

charm while its interiors are an

the visitors from the hustle and

romance and chivalry, an epoch

home. It has 19 exquisite suites

attractive blend of Gothic

bustle of city lives with a sojourn at WelcomHeritage Fernhills Palace Ooty where the “past comes alive”. Ooty which is situated at 7,500 feet above the sea level is just the right

renaissance. A delectable feast is

destination to feel the touch of

on the cards at the Curry and Rice

nature. This quaint hill station

restaurant with delightful fusion of

beckons all the nature lovers away

Western and Anglo-Indian cuisine

from the sweltering heat of the

served. Indian, Chinese

city and spend leisure time in the

Continental and Nilgiri cuisine is

lap of nature.

also served for the culinary

WelcomHeritage Fernhills

delights of the visitor. If one

Palace, Ooty spread over 40 acres

happens to be a history lover the

of picturesque beauty, surrounded

“Fox Hunts Bar with paraphernalia

by lush greenwoods of the Nilgiris

of hunting such as saddles,

exemplifies true beauty of Ooty

harnesses etc are a vivid reminder

which used be the favorite

that began at the height of the

having an elaborate setting

of the Fox hunting meets which

summer getaway retreat for the

British Raj, a legacy that is vibrant

designed in teakwood panels,

began in 1894 which continue to

Britishers even during the colonial

and alive even today.

comprising of a large lounge with

be held annually even today.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

DESTINATION

Discovering Australia’s nature Marc Llewellyn

connects up to the Nambucca River, just west of Macksville, hen it comes to on the scenic New South natural wonders, Wales mid-north coast. Australia has more “My grandfather spent than its fair share. For a start most of his life trying to drain there’s the Great Barrier Reef, it, to make this area more Australia’s Red Centre with European,” Dennis says, as Uluru – or Ayers Rock – as its the canoe paddle dips into the centrepiece. shallow, tannin-stained water. Elsewhere there is dra“He used a matic coastal wilderness and shovel and islands teaming with wildlife. an axe to Inland there are the snowmake capped Australian Alps and floodgates Outback areas of raw natural and miles of beauty, like the craggy drains, but Flinders Ranges in South luckily for me Australia and The Kimberley and the in Western Australia. wildlife he Australia is blessed with failed.” huge areas of ancient Today, the rainforest and world famous 180-acre wetlands like Kakadu Nawaterway is tional Park. There is even a home to some World Heritage-listed area on 117 species of bird, including Sydney’s doorstep, in the jabirus, egrets, flycatchers and shape of the Greater Blue azure kingfishers. More than Mountains, a vast stretch of 400 black swans nest here, ferns, canyons, waterfalls and ospreys keep watch from a forest, as well as cosy villages. giant ironbark tree and the While there are major areas water teems with prawns and of natural significance all native fish. over Australia, there are “An Aboriginal friend of smaller pockets scattered mine talked me into doing everywhere too. canoe tours,” Dennis says. One memorable place you “He reckoned I had to show might come across as you people if I wanted to save the drive north from Sydney place.” along the coast is Hundred Dennis and his wife Acre Swamp. People tend to Marilyn bought the former make a lot of claims that don’t stand up but when Dennis Ryan tells you he has the “best backyard in Australia” you can easily believe him. His 110-acre property backs onto one of the most important wetlands in Australia. This once remote area of tidal marshland and estuary

cattle farm from his uncle in 1989, and renamed it Valley of the Mist. “Some afternoons, when it finishes raining, a cloud forms over the wetlands beneath the trees,” Dennis continues. The Ryans abandoned the cows and crop chemicals and

started growing native Australian fruits using sustainable methods. He now runs bush tucker tasting tours, as well as canoe trips. “There are just seven canoe trips a week,” he says. “I don’t want it to turn into simply tourism. I want it to remain special. We use the wildlife and the wetlands as much as they use us.” A typical journey sees you paddling past tiny islands of reeds and stunted saplings. Some islands are so small that they can only support a single bush. The wetland is so shallow that the canoe’s hull cuts through the pondweed. Birds call from all directions and dozens of ducks take off in a noisy flurry of beating wings. At one point you might see eighty black swans glide

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

DESTINATION by and later hundreds of flycatchers darting across the surface, picking insects out of the air. Back on dry land Dennis shows visitors around the wetland’s swampy edge, pointing out various trees and shrubs and stopping occasionally to crush a leaf or inspect a seed head. “My mum spoke the local Aboriginal dialect,” says Denis. “She learnt it as a kid. Years ago, in autumn, the Aboriginal women would come when the paperbark trees were in flower. It was the time of the mullet run. My grandmother traded with them for bush medicine. We’ve been using it ever since.” He still boils up tea tree leaves for coughs and colds, and uses native leaves on abrasions and ulcers. A cork wood tree grabs his attention. “The Aborigines used to grind up the bark and put it in the water,” he says. “It made the fish unconscious. It was used in eye surgery as well, to collapse the muscles in the face. I made pocket money collecting it as a kid. The leaves were sent to France for the chemist to extract the chemicals, until it was synthesised in the 60’s.” He moves on to a clump of sedge. The local Aboriginal women used to collect the tiny brown seeds and grind them up to make bread. Then there is the lilly pilly tree. Aborigines would crush the leaves and boil them along with the seeds and bark “to prevent diabetes” Dennis says. Of the many pockets of natural significance along the south coast of New South Wales is Montague Island,

ASIAN TRAVELLER

Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent – in Western Australia – a trip from Perth in spring means you have the chance to see one of the most amazing wild flower spectacles on the planet. Western Australia’s wildflowers are legendary. In some years, after a good season of rain, vast swathes of everlasting daisies colour the arid lands. But for more predictable wildflower displays, you Island each year on their don’t have to travel far out of migration route between the city. Antarctica and the warmer On the first day of your northern Australian waters. coastal journey north from Sometimes you can spot Perth you can dip into three killer whales, minke whales, national parks. Off the main fin whales, sei whales and pilot whales around here too. road the country is clouded Whale-watching boat trips with feathery-white smoke bush. Emus dart past with are popular around here, as flurries of chicks, cockatoos they are up and down both squawk overhead, kangaroos the New South Wales and Western Australian coastlines. graze sleepily, and giant wedge-tailed eagles sit on You can even stay in the passing fence posts. island’s lighthouse. The sand plains are choked More than 1,000 Australian fur seals live around its rocky with wildflowers, an intricate palate of reds, blues, yellows shore along with a small and whites. Western colony of New Zealand fur Australia’s wildflowers are seals. Thousands of pairs of usually at their best from late little penguins make their July to early November and include miniscule everlasting daisies, carnivorous sundews that feed on ants and trigger plants – tiny things that flick a package of pollen onto the back of a fleeing insect. Whether it’s the big things or the small things, this remarkhome in burrows on the able continent will amaze you island. Other species of sea at every turn. birds and song birds nest here too. Article & Photos: Courtesy Tourism Australia near the pleasant town of Narooma. Thousands of Humpback and Southern Right whales pass Montague

MARCH 2011

NEWSLINE

IT&CM China 2011 joins inaugural Shanghai Business Events Week Line-Up

T&CM China will anchor the

ExpertSM Certification Course,

opportunities, IT&CM China 2011

ICCA. The session is structured to

first-ever Shanghai Business

ICCA’s Association Database

will shine the spotlight on the

engage and benefit more than

Events Week launched by

Workshop, IMEX-MPI–IT&CM

possibilities and

2,000 IT&CM China

Shanghai Municipal Tourism

China’s Future Leaders Forum and

potentials of

international and

Administration (SMTA). Taking

the TTG China Travel Awards, in

“China’s Next MICE

Chinese exhibitors,

place from the 11to 15 April 2011,

this MICE extravaganza.

Wave” during the

buyers and media.

this initiative to theme leading

SMTA’s timely launch of the

event’s keynote

On the networking

MICE industry highlights under

Shanghai Business Events Week

panel discussion on

line-up, IT&CM China

one brand, will see six exciting

reflects the bountiful business

13 April 2011. The

will boast a host of

business, education and

outlook in China. This presents a

speaking panel

dinners, luncheons

networking events come together

wealth of opportunities for the

includes three

and coffee-breaks

in cosmopolitan Shanghai. IT&CM

international and domestic MICE

respected industry veterans:

including the Opening Ceremony

China 2011 joins other leading

industry. Delegates to IT&CM

Jacques Arnoux, Managing

and Welcome Dinner at Sofitel

events such as SMTA’s China

China 2011 – appropriately

Director - Asia of Pacific World

Shanghai Sheshan Oriental,

(Shanghai) International Meetings

themed “Leading China’s Next

Asia, China, Ni Hui, Vice-President

Hosted lunch by Meetings &

& Conferences Forum, Global

MICE Wave” – mirror these

of Grand China Express

Exhibitions Hong Kong and Coffee

Business Travel Association

sentiments.

International Travel, China and

Break Reception by Macau

Arnaldo Nardone, President of

Government Tourist Office.

(GBTA)’s Corporate Travel

Delving further into MICE

Air India switches over to a single code

he flight codes and IATA

agents. At the airports all the

passengers can check-in

check-in window opens 48 hours

ticket codes of Air India

Flight Information Display boards

themselves for Air India flights at

before the scheduled time of

(098) and erstwhile Indian

will show both Old and new flight

their convenience from their

departure for Domestic and

Airlines (058) are merged together

numbers and floor-walkers will

homes, offices or any other

International flights originating

and all Air India domestic and

take care of passengers requiring

location. All they need is a PC/

from the six metros. For flights

international flights will operate as

any assistance.

Laptop having net connectivity

originating from non-metro

and a printer. This is one of the

stations, the check-in window will

a single airline with AI (098) ticket

Web Check-in facility (WCI) is

code. Being one of the historical

now made for Air India

salient features of the new SITA

be open 24 hours prior to

moments in Indian aviation and a

passengers, where the

PSS Air India has migrated to. The

scheduled departure of flights.

strategic pat of the merger

The passenger can avail the

between the two state owned

facility through www.airindia.in.

airliners, Air India is gearing up

Air India Central Europe

for more. It has also plans for

regional manager Ratan Bali says

expansion and will also be adding

that the airline’s impending

innovative products and services

membership into the Star Alliance

so that it could strengthen itself

will expand its global reach and

for the competition in the sector.

boost revenue. The airline’s

Air India has made

international services would also

arrangements to inform the

thrive when the first batch of

passengers about their revised

Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’ aircraft

flight numbers through SMS

begins operation later this year.

messages, telephone calls to

The airline has ordered 27

individuals and through travel

‘Dreamliners’.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

SOUTH ASIA

International Beach Games in Maldives

he Maldives will play host to the first ever international beach games tournament from 18th to 25th September 2011. The Maldives Olympic Committee is currently in negotiations with 92 countries for the event that includes 10 disciplines: Beach volleyball, Beach Soccer, Body Building, Surfing, Open Water Swimming, Kabaddi, Beach Cricket,

Triathlon, Rowing and Wind Surfing. The slogan for the event is appropriately, ‘Beat the Beach!’ The events will take place at 9 different beautiful beach venues across the country bringing together resorts, the local community, competitors from around the world and thousands of visitors and spectators in this inaugural event. With its natural pristine beauty, the unique combination of turquoise water, white powder like sand, lush tropical islands and excellent facilities The Maldives has the best environment in the world for this event.

Sri Lanka expects its 700,000th visitor in 2011

ast December Sri Lanka Tourism officials personally welcomed their 600,000th

guest to the island when he touched down at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport and gave him a six-night, seven-day package for two which includes hotel accommodation, ground transport and entrance tickets to historical tourist sites on the island. Sri Lanka Tourism says it will offer similar complimentary surprise packages to the 250,000th, 500,000th, 600,000th and 700,000th tourists who arrive on the island in 2011. That would be good news, not just for the recipients, but also for the tourism industry which had been plagued by a persistent on-off civil war that eventually ended in May 2009. In 2011, Sri Lanka Tourism has in place its ‘Refreshingly Sri Lanka Visit 2011’ campaign with 12 events spread across the year.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

INDIAN PANORAMA

Nine monuments in J&K become ‘state protected’

J&K Tourism organises Travel Mart in September

ammu & Kashmir Tour ism will organise a threeday travel mart- Jammu & Kashmir Travel Mart - in the first week of September this year. This will be an annual affair and will be organised on the lines of other leading travel marts in the country. The first edition of the Mart will be held in Srinagar. The Mart will showcase the state and it’s attractions to the travel and tourism world.

he Jammu & Kashmir government has declared nine monuments of historical significance as State Protected Monuments (SPMs), in a move to preserve the cultural heritage of the state. This was announced by Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Jammu & Kashmir. The Minister said the state has a distinction of having one of the oldest archival repositories in the country with its record holdings dating to 1742

AD. The famous Mubarak Mandi Palace at Jammu is being conserved as an important heritage complex for which an amount of Rs 50 crore is being incurred in the first phase.

Jora said that a project was also being formulated for digitization of books in the libraries department and Rs 17.34 crore project for construction of a library has been taken up for execution.

Goa to promote Helicopter Tourism

oa is planning to

The Chief Minister said that

introduce and promote

Heli Tourism could also be cross

Helicopter tourism to

utilised, by using the same

attract visitors to the state. Heli

infrastructure for setting up a

Tourism might soon be the next

network of emergency services

big thing in Goa. Digambar Kamat,

and air ambulances. “It has a

Chief Minister, Goa has said in his

huge potential for revenue

budget speech in the state

generation,” said Kamat, adding

assembly recently that Heli

that, the proposed helicopter

tourism would be ideal for

service would be started in

development of tourism in the

partnership with private operators.

hinterlands, as this was a need of

Kamat said that a central

tourists and also demand of high

government grant of Rs 75 lakh

various strategic places

attracts nearly 2.5 million tourists

net-worth individuals for faster

would be utilised for construction

throughout the state. Tourism is a

annually, which includes half a

and speedy transport.

of heliports and helipads at

major industry in Goa. The state

million foreign tourists.

Scottish Uty, YES Bank tie-up for tourism projects in rural India

rivate sector YES Bank has been appointed as Country ManagerIndia by Queen Margaret University (QMU) of Scotland for the development of a cooperative tourism project in rural India. The pilot project is aimed at showcasing the potential of tourism in achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development and the need to

introduce an innovative scalable business model with involvement of cooperatives, a press release issued here today stated. YES Bank is the only Indian bank in this partnership, which will demonstrate a first-of-its-kind knowledge exchange platform between academic and business tourism specialists, international NGOs and a

bank with the objective to achieve development in rural India. The project has initially identified two states Uttarakhand and West Bengal - to undertake this initiative. The project, which is being funded from the Scottish

government’s International Development Fund, will establish a cooperative tourism development project in rural India that will run over a period of two years and nine months.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

DESTINATION

Mekong River cruise

Journeys up river and back in time amu Lodge, a unique

this country, to what makes the

but also from the other

hand at planting rice, fishing and

adventure camp perched

people tick. It’s not just a religion,

distractions (TV, wireless internet)

archery in a field shared with the

on the banks of the

it’s a whole way of life.”

that so often intrude into nature.

neighboring village. The next

Mekong River, has launched a

After the caves, guests will

two-day journey deep into the

enjoy a traditional lunch at a local

local ingredients is served

returns to Luang Prabang, making

heart of Lao culture and a

restaurant on the opposite bank

overlooking the Mekong, and

leisurely progress downriver so

Buddhist way of life that has

of the river, before re-boarding

guests spend the night in soundly

guests can enjoy the sight of the

remained almost unchanged for

and visiting two more villages,

constructed safari tents that come

tangled jungle banked against the

centuries.

populated by the Hmong and

with en suite bathrooms,

flowing waters.

Kamu people.

balconies, hot water and

The traditional Lao long boat embarks at 9 am from Luang

The Hmong are Christian and

A gourmet dinner made from

electricity (from solar panels). “Kamu Lodge is fully

morning after breakfast, the boat

The package prices starts at USD 237net/person, based on twin occupancy and includes

Prabang and journeys upstream

believe in shamanism, while the

to Dan Village, a secluded place

Kamu are animists and pray to the

committed to a low-impact

accommodation, full board, river

where locals are working to

souls of the forests. Guests will

experience, but that doesn’t mean

and shore excursion, as well as

rebuild a Buddhist pagoda.

have the opportunity to visit local

we skimp on comfort, whether

guide fees.

homes and schools, and engage

with our excellent mattresses,

the private shrine of King

with the locals, whose friendliness

fully stocked bar, or the fixtures

Sisavangwatana, the last king of

and hospitality are well-known.

we’ve added to the long boat to

The next stop is Doun Khoune,

Laos. This is followed by a visit to

In late afternoon, the boat

the Pak Ou Caves, where

docks at Kamu Lodge, a one-of-a-

devotees have left thousands of

kind base camp that combines

Buddhist icons over the years - a

the comforts of a hotel with the

must-see for Luang Prabang

cultural traditions of Laos and a

visitors.

finely tuned environmental

“Buddhism is as much a part

Article & Photo courtesy: mandarinmedia.net

make sure you travel the Mekong in style,” said Walter. Those still curious about the local way of life can also try their

sensibility. Two hours north of

of Lao history and tradition as

Luang Prabang, the lodge is

sticky rice and fish sauce,” said

secluded, not only from the city,

Kurt Walter, group general manager of Apple Tree Group Hospitality. “Seeing these shrines and holy places up close is as near as you can get to the soul of

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

SOUTHERN SPLENDOUR

Lighthouses to be converted into tourist spots

he Department of Lighthouse and Lightship (DLL) under the Union Ministry of Shipping has decided to convert 14 lighthouses across the country into tourist spots in the first phase of the “development of lighthouses for tourism” project. The lighthouses which will be converted into tourist spots in the first phase are Gopalpur, Chandrabahaga, False Point (Orissa ), Dwraka Point and Verval in Gujarat, Aguada (Goa), Minicoy Island (Lakshadweep), Muttam, Rameswaram, Mahabalipuram and Madras (Tamilnadu), Dolphin’s Nose (Andhra Pradesh), Kodalur Point and Vizhinjan (Kerala). According the Deputy Director General (DDG),

directorate of lighthouse and lightships (Mumbai), J.S.Chauhan has said that the project was expected to be completed in the next four years. Besides utilising the tourism potential of the places where the lighthouses are located, the ministry also proposed to provide hospitality facilities to the tourists in public private partnership (PPP) mode. The detail modalities in this regard are being worked out by the ministry. The department would set up heritage museum in some of the selected lighthouses in the country. Under the National Maritime Heritage Museum (NMHM) project, the lighthouses will showcase the rich tradition of sea navigation in the country.

Coastal Karnataka to have special tourism zone

APTDC appoints IHR as tour, hotel & ticketing operator

proposal to establish special tourism economic zones in

development of Aqua Marine Park at Tannirbhavi near Mangalore and

one of the coastal regions is on

evinced keen interest in the aqua

the cards. Decision in this regard

project. The delegation urged

will be finalized once the new

Sahay to provide relaxation in

tourism policy is streamlined,

CRZ norms to enable

according to Union minister for

development of tourism projects.

tourism Subodh Kant Sahay. He

They also sought subsidy for

gave the assurance to a

upgrading existing homes to home stay, and marinas be built

he online travel agency, India Hotel Review (IHR) has been appointed as the authorised tour, hotels and ticketing operator by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC). Now IHR will sell all the key hotels and tours operated under the aegis of APTDC as its approved agency. This was announced by Ankit Rastogi, business head and co-founder of IHR said. According to, Rastogi, the company is looking to forging tie ups with other states in the future.

Steps to promote tourism in Kodagu

coast for

chartered yachts.

tourism in a big way in Kodagu

A ropeway across

district which is known as ‘Coffee

the Gurupur River

Land’, which has shown

between Sultan

tremendous increase in the

Bathery and

number of tourists in recent times.

all along the

Tannirbhavi beach,

arnataka Tourism Department

has been earmarked for the

has taken steps to promote

adventure academy. Madkeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu, is

A proposal has been prepared for the various projects and Rs

developing beaches to

seven crore is expected to be

situated at 1,525 m above sea

District Youth Congress

international standards and

spent in Kodagu district to

level. Termed as the Scotland of

Committee from Mangalore who

developing water theme park,

promote various tourism-related

India, the town has several

visited him in New Delhi recently.

river banks, and jetties at different

activities in the current year,

attractions including undulating

delegation of Dakshina Kannada

river basins in coastal Karnataka

which includes a project to set up

hills, verdant forests and endless

statement stated Sahay inquired

were some of their other major

an academy to boost adventure

expanses of tea and coffee

about the proposal for

demands.

tourism. A sum of Rs one crore

plantations.

A Youth Congress Committee

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

TAMIL NADU TRAVELLER

For cool vacations in summer Dr. S. Bakthavatchalam

muddy walkways are some of the common expectations of he scorching summers these places. of the subcontinent has Nilgiri which literally always driven people means the Blue Mountains is to hill stations of various home to many hill stations as kinds spread over the country. it is in the area of concurrence The characteristics of these of the Eastern and Western places vary in accordance of Ghats. The altitude range here the geographic location, varies between 2,280 and altitude, vegetation patterns 2,290 metres, the highest peak etc. which brings in some being Doddabetta at a height uniqueness to each of them. of 2,623 metres. Hill stations kissed by clouds, Udhagamandalam, also clean air, misty mornings, known as Ooty, Coonoor, grass lands and thick bushes, Yercaud, Elagiri, Velliangiri winding roadways and Hills and Kotagiri are the major hill stations in the area. Ooty is the most popular among them in terms attractions and is called the ‘Queen of

hill stations’. The Nilgiris houses innumerable varieties of flora and fauna for the nature enthusiasts among which the highlight is the Kurinji plant which blossoms every 12 years and turns all the mountain sides blue. The Nilgiris is usually enveloped by the blue haze of the clouds. Kodaikanal on the enchanting Palani hills, 120 km from Madurai is another major attraction among the summer retreats. Located 2100m above

sea level it houses many attractions for the visitors. Tamil Nadu hill stations also promotes many activities especially adventure and leisure. Trekking, gliding, boating, fishing, safaris, golf etc are some of them. Accommodation is available at various hotels, guesthouses and lodges in these hill stations in all price ranges. These stations can be easily accessed as they are well connected by roads and rail.

The Residency Group

Elevated group of hotels

he Residency Group of Hotels properties are located at business destinations of Tamil Nadu and caters to the needs of the discerning business travellers offering warm, effective and personalized services. The chain of hotels is renowned for highly popular restaurants in their respective cities and is well known for its tasty and sumptuous food. Above all the hotels have repeatedly won the prestigious H&FS awards, the most coveted awards in India. The hotel offers “24 hours check-in – check-out” facility which besides being truly convenient

is also great value for money. Established in 1992, The Residency, Chennai has 112 stylish rooms that offer a

in the business district has 174 stylishly designed rooms of Suites, Executive and Standard rooms catering to all segments of the business

the famed English Pub recommended by Lonely Planet is extremely popular for both the residents and tourists alike to relax and enjoy the magnificent outdoor pool and the comprehensive Fitness Centre. The Residency, Coimbatore is a magnificent 4 star hotel that boasts of travellers. unique and memorable 133 tastefully furnished The thematic restaurants experience. The restaurant has Suites, Executive and Stana loyal clientele and is known offer both international and dard rooms is a preferred national cuisine. The Crown at destination for corporate for its signature dishes. the roof top is the city’s most The luxurious four star honchos and the ‘Afghan hotel ‘The Residency Towers’ preferred destination for al Grill’ is the only pool side Chennai, strategically located fresco dining. Bike & Barrel, barbeque in the city to relax.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

KARNATAKA TRAVELLER

Heralding the spring season

ugadi or Ugadi marks the

Chaitra month. The Satavahansa

day also marks the beginning of

beginning of the New Year

king Shalivahan started this era

Sri Khara nama Samvatsara in

in Karnataka and Andhra

called Shalivahana (Saka era) and

Hindu Panchangam or the

Pradesh and this year it falls on

the day is supposed to be the

beginning of an era.

April 4. Derived from the Sanskrit

founding date of the Salivahana

word 'Yugadi', meaning the

Empire. The era starts from the

Ugadi day as the starting of

beginning of the New Year or era,

year starting from 78 AD of the

Kaliyuga. It is believed that Kali

and these should be accepted

it is normally celebrated in the

Gregorian calendar. In

Yuga began in the year 3102 BC.

with equality. In Andhra Pradesh,

During the Yugadi festival,

this special recipe is called 'Ugadi

second half of March

Sage Veda Vyasa described

or early April

people of these states celebrate

Pachchadi' and it signifies the

throughout these

with great fanfare. Family

combination of every aspect of

states with traditional

members and friends gather and

life.

fervor. It starts with

there are feasts with preparation

the beginning of

of different dishes. People start

delicacy, people listen to the

spring season during

the day with the usual ritual of

religious almanac or Panchangam

which Mother Nature

taking morning showers. Then

of the New Year. 'Panchanga

blooms at her best.

prayers are made after which

Sravanam', a social function

The vast tracts of

there is a specific dish to be

wherein Astrology predictions and

greenery with paddy

taken. This dish is a mixture or a

yearly horoscopes and general

fields and flowers

recipe of six different food items

forecasts of the coming year are

everywhere, filled the

to give six tastes of salty, sweet,

made by the elderly and learned

people with joy and

sour and bitter items. In

people. After opening the new

correspondence to that, the year

Karnataka, this mixture is called

almanac, the elderly propose a

2000 AD is equivalent to the year

'Bevu Bella' to symbolize that life

general blessing to every one

1922 of the Salivahana Era. The

is a blend of pleasure and pain

present at the meeting.

contentment. Yugadi falls on Chaitra Sudha Paadyami, the first day of the

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

After relishing this special

Q&A Page 12

associations guests experience

hill town in north India, so my

when they see your hotel or think

instinct is always to return to the

company, and a watershed for the

about it.

mountains. Unfortunately, there

hotel industry as we knew it in

What is the proudest moment in

are currently no world-class hotels

India. Cynics didn’t believe it

your professional life?

in the Kumaon region, so it looks

could succeed given its cost of

I like to think that my proudest

like I will have to build my own

construction and location, but the

moment is always just around the

‘hotel on the hill’ sometime in the

hotel has set benchmarks for the

corner – in my next achievement.

future!

meant that I had the good fortune

business and repeatedly been

One special incident that has

What are your views on the future

to live close to nature and indulge

ranked amongst the top 10 hotels

stayed with me occurred during

of the hospitality industry, in

my love of it. I’m very fond of bird

worldwide. The second example

my tenure at The Oberoi

general?

watching with a keen interest in

in my career has been The Oberoi

Amarvilas. The well-known author,

We live in interesting times

Amarvilas – another hotel that has

Salman Rushdie had come to stay

where the only constant in any

amateur photographer and a huge

been on the global top-ten list

with us for a few days while

business environment in change.

fan of the movies. I like to think of

repeatedly since it opened. Today,

researching for his new novel, The

The one thing I’m sure of is that

myself as an ‘amateur

the property is almost as

Enchantress of Florence. Being a

the markets we operate in today

connoisseur’ of good cinema, and

synonymous with Agra as the Taj

huge fan of his writing, I had

will not be what they are a few

the term ‘unwind’ for me, would

itself – and has definitely put the

naturally met up with him and in

years from now. Whatever the

definitely include cola and

city on the global tourist map in a

the course of our conversation,

future may hold, I believe that

popcorn.

manner that no other property

discovered that he had not read

lasting success can only come to

Which is your favorite

could have done.

the Babarnama, a fascinating first-

hospitality businesses that are

destination?

person account of Emperor

compulsive about detailing and

My wife and I both love the

any hotels performance lies in

Babar’s life. Unfortunately, the

obsessive about quality. In the

jungles and try to take at least one

what its guests have to say about

bookshops in Agra did not have a

end, the trick lies in ensuring that

‘wildlife holiday’ at a different

their experiences. Creating a

copy, so I dispatched my driver to

you have processes in place to

game park every year. For the last

remarkable hotel stay whose sum

Delhi first thing in the morning

make sure you are constantly

few years we’ve been discovering

is greater than its constituent

(it’s a 3-4 hour drive) to purchase

performing at the top of your

the reserves in Central India

parts begins with absolute clarity

a copy and handed it to Mr.

game – regardless of where you

staying at the wonderful jungle

about who you are and what you

Rushdie over lunch, much to his

choose to position your product

that have opened there.

stand for as a service provider.

surprise and joy. He thanked me

on the luxury scale.

Internationally, we’re partial to

The second element is a

profusely and then proceeded to

Please tell us about your family?

San Francisco, Washington and

I believe the true measure of

Growing up in the mountains

ornithology. I’m also a passionate

profound understanding of your

inscribe each and every one of his

consumer’s expectations; and

books in my collection, which now

Sanaya, and the centre of our

thirdly, you have to develop

enjoy pride of place on my

universe today is our 4-and-a-half

parameters that not only describe

bookshelf!

month old son Jahaan. We also

into our lives, we’re both looking

the ideal guest experience, but

Where would you like to see

have two cocker spaniels -

forward to travelling with him

also incorporate your brand

yourself, say, 10 years from now?

Schlomo and Blunder who have

whenever we can – I’m sure

travelled the length and breadth of

everything we’ve seen and done

values and your consumer’s

I would hate to limit my

I was married in 2000 to

New York in the US, and Sanaya love Europe. Now that Jahaan has come

hopes. What makes a hotel great

options by setting my career on a

the sub-continent accompanying

will be completely fresh and new

is the excellence of its product

defined timeline or naming any

us on our various postings around

when we experience it through his

and service. What makes it

one corner of the global village

the country.

eyes!

remarkable is the inexplicable

where I’d like to work. However, I

Please tell us about your hobbies

combination of feelings and

grew up in Nainital - a beautiful

and other interests?

Page 14

him ‘buzzer’ while trying to say ‘brother’ and the name stuck to him. He subsequently made it legal as well. The

most curious thing about Buzz Aldrin is that his mother’s name was Moon! Her full name was Marion Moon. Be always curious because curiosity pays! Bernard Baruch, Economic advisor to United States Presidents (1870-1965) would endorse the fact: ‘Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.’ Eleanor Roosevelt said the

‘cura’ which means ‘to care’. Being curious is nothing but being caring, caring for the world, its knowledge, its purpose, and its meaning. Edwin Aldrin was the second human to walk the moon after Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969. Edwin Aldrin was always known as ‘Buzz’ Aldrin. Why Buzz? It was a nickname from his childhood when the younger of his two elder sisters started calling

For a full version of this interview visit www.mediastepsindia.com/at

most beautiful words on curiosity ‘I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity!’ Here is a curious question for the reader: ‘Price’ and ‘worth’ are synonyms but ‘priceless’ and ‘worthless’ are antonyms. Why...?

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

ALBUM / ITB BERLIN

India promotes tourism at ITB Berlin

n a bid to attract holiday makers from abroad, India has launched a major tourism promotion campaign at the ITB Berlin. About 80 travel agents, tour operators and hoteliers along with half-adozen state governments, the national carrier Air India, the Indian Railways and the Ministry of Tourism participated in the show to showcase the country as one of the most promising holiday destinations in the coming years. Under the banner of the highly successful â&#x20AC;&#x153;incredible Indiaâ&#x20AC;? campaign, the Indian stakeholders presented the latest tourism products from across the country to a global gathering of travel trade professionals and top decision- makers in tourism business.

KERALA TRAVELLER

International Travel Expo to boost up Kovalam

due to the rise of many other destinations. Different attractions within the radius of 90 km like Ponmudi, Varkala, Neyyar, Kanyakumari will also be highlighted. Travel trade professionals from various places will be invited and various attractions of South Kerala will be showcased to them. The B2B part of the event will enable the domestic and international travel agents Samudra, Kovalam on and tour operators to get August this year. Organised by the South Kerala Hoteliers awareness of the destination and improve the tourist Forum, (SKHF) the prime traffic. About 150 sellers are motive is to reinstate expected to showcase their Kovalam as a complete products and properties at destination as the growth in the expo. arrivals here has lessened nternational Travel Expo (ITE) 2011, an event aiming to promote the renowned destination of Kovalam is scheduled to be held at the Convention Centre, Hotel

ATTOI organises B2B meet in Singapore

ssociation of Tourism Trade Organisation. India (ATTOI) has organised a B2B meet in Singapore, on February 21. With Tiger Airways starting direct flights between Singapore and Kerala the meet was organised to meet up with the potential buyers and sellers from Singapore. 20 tour operators (both inbound and outbound) took part in the meeting. The venue was Suntec Singapore.

Standing (L to R): Ramesh Nair - The Explore Holidays, Anu Sabestian - Travel Veda Holidays Pvt Ltd, Nishaad M - Peacock Holidays, Jude Joseph - Freedom Holidays Pvt Ltd, Zacharia George - Liz Travel Solutions, Jayan - Sagara Beach Resort, Manu - Discover Kerala Holidays, Neyas - Southgate Tours & Travels, Shibu - Sagara Beach Resort, Shailesh Nair - Mystikal IndiaSitting (L to R): Binu Prasad- Abad Hotels, Varghese Oommen - Destnation Indus, Vinod - ITP Tourism Managers Pvt Ltd, Sreekumara Menon - Chalukya Grace Tours Pvt Ltd, Chandrasenan - Cosmos Tours & Travels, Subhash Ghosh Kerala Greenery, Janeesh - TETCS, Travel Explorer.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

KERALA TRVAVELLER

Sarathi Sauhridam inaugurated

arathi Sauhridam, a

Tourism Initiative; is invited to

candidates will be given required

Travels, thus providing an

Corporate Social

apply to be a part of the Intersight

training. On September 27, 2011

opportunity to earn a regular monthly income.

Responsibility (CSR)

While speaking on the

initiative was inaugurated by M Sivasankar IAS, Director,

occasion, Sivasankar pointed out

Department of Tourism, in Kochi

that the contribution of tourist taxi

recently. Sarathi Sauhridam, a

drivers to the tourism industry is

project promoted by Intersight

immense. He pointed out that the

Foundation, the corporate social

new project would contribute to

responsibility partner of Intersight

the development that the tourism

Group of Companies, aims at

sector can bring about in the

graduating the simple cab driver

state. Abraham George, Managing

into a combo of professional

Director of Intersight said that

Driver-Guide who will be

Sarathi Sauhridam might help

responsible in making a traveller

usher in a new culture of Corporate Social Responsibility in

experience the most experiential responsible travel activity in an

Kerala Tourism Director M Sivasankar IAS inaugurates Sarathi Sauhridam, the CSR initiative of Intersight. Also seen are Riyaz Ahmed, President, KTM Society and Abraham George, Managing Director, Intersight.

alien land. As part of the project,

Kerala Riyaz Ahmed, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society; R

persons with required experience in driving cabs hailing from poorer

Sarathi Sauhridam drive. Selected

The World Responsible Travel Day

Balachandran, SB Global Group of

families of Kovalam, Kumarakom,

applicants will be invited for a

20 successful candidates

Education; Shailendran, Vice-

Thekkady and Wayanad; the

personal interview with the

completing the training

President-Sales, CGH Earth and

destinations where Department of

Responsible Travel Consulting

programme will be handed over

Prasad Manjali, Vice-President -

Tourism, Government of Kerala is

Expert Committee of Intersight

with own cabs which will be

Udaya Samudra Resorts were also

organizing its Responsible

Foundation. Shortlisted

attached to Intersight Tours and

present on the occasion.

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

VARIETY

Rathan Kelkar takes over as GKSF Director

Rathan Kelkar, a 2003-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service, has taken over as Director of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF). He succeeds K.N. Satheesh who had been posted as District Collector, Kasaragod.

Name the country that has another country’s capital’s name in it

The predictive text on mobile messaging is called T9. What does it stand for?

3. U V Jose has taken charge as Director of Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), Thiruvanantha-puram, Kerala

What does the car brand name ‘Etios’ 9 (from Toyota) mean?

Gangadhar Panikker, has joined Le Royal Meridien, Chennai as Associate Director Food & Beverage

Which is the oldest parliament in continuous existence in the world? 5.

What is the meaning of the city name Las Vegas?

When is International Men’s Day celebrated?

What does the word ‘tsunami’ mean?

The French renamed the country

What is the name for the area lying

Lao as Laos. Why?

MARCH 2011

beyond the suburb of a city?

Goa Carnival, Goa

5-8

Global Tourism Forum (GTF), Andorra

6-7

ITB Berlin

in the United Nation?

9-13

MITT Moscow

16-19

Asia Pacific Business Outlook 2011, Melbourne, Australia

17-18

Elephant Festival, Jaipur, Rajasthan

ASEAN e-Travel Mart,Bangkok,Thailand

23-25

TUR Gothenburg, Sweden

24-27

Guangzhou International Travel Fair(GITF),Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Centre

24- 26

Routes Asia 2011,Korea

27-29

GIBTM, ADNEC, UAE

28-30

APRIL 2011 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2011, Sydeny National Seminar on “Emerging Trends in Hospitality & Tourism” Rohtak, India

9-10

IT&CM China

13-15

China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market (COTTM), Beijing

13-15

The Great Indian Travel Bazaar’11, Jaipur, Rajasthan

17-19

Answers to TYKC 41 1. Ringo Starr 2. Seoul, South Korea 3. Meryl Streep (16 nominations) 4. They are ditto 5. August 19 (the photography process was made public in Paris on Aug 19, 1839). 6. Little Frog ( Latin) 7. Oman Air / Legendary sailor Sindbad was born in Sohar, the ancient capital of Oman 8. Labour 9. Gold 10. Elle ( Fr. ‘she’)

We haven’t received any all-correct entries for TYKC 41

One all-correct entry will get

Free Stay at Le-Meridien, Kochi 20-22

MAY 2011 Arabian Travel Market, Dubai, UAE

Send in your answers to info@mediastepsindia.com with TYKC 42 in the the subject line. Answers should reach us before the 30th of this month.

4-8 9-12

Kazakhstan International Tourism Fair (KITF) 2011,Almaty, Kazakhstan

Compiled by DEEKAY

TYKC 41

PATA 60th Anniversary & Conference, Beijing, China

2-5

Thrissur Pooram, Thrissur, Kerala

12-13

Summer Festival, Mount Abu, India

15-17

World Travel Fair (WTF), Shanghai

12- 15

IMEX, Frankfurt Germany

24-26

10. How many member states are there

[ 2 nights and 3 days for two ]* Nestled amongst 25 acres of coconut groves and backwater rivers, Le Méridien Cochin Resort & Convention Centre sits at the heart of one of India's most naturally beautiful cities, Kochi. This prestigious landmark houses 5 floors of luxurious accommodation for international business and leisure travelers. The 151 spacious rooms and suites, most with breathtaking views over the manicured gardens and the backwaters. * Conditions apply

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011

ASIAN TRAVELLER

MARCH 2011