Vol. 2 • No. 12 • September 2009
Inside
this issue
p 108
SPECIAL ISSUE
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Caravan Tourism Coming to India
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Assam CM Woos Investors
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Accor Continues Aggressive Expansion in India
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ITB Ties-up with SATTE to Launch Co-branded Show in India
106 Canadian Tourism Comes to India 112 Asia Pacific is Market for Future 124 WLHA Gala Dinner at lebua at State Tower Hotel p 41
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India to Become Leading Spa, Medical Tourism Destination
The global economic downturn not withstanding, India is emerging as a leading spa and medical tourism destination.
10 Celebrating Diversit y World Tourism Day will commemorate this year its 30th anniversary in the vibrant country of Ghana under the theme ‘Tourism - Celebrating Diversity’ on September 27.
12 PATA to Implement Important Changes
Senaka Fernando Regional Manager Indian Sub-Continent and Maldives
Samena Begum, Joint Secretary (BCS Administration), Director (Commercial), Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation
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Itthipol Kunplome Mayor, Pattaya City
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya Director, TAT, India
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PATA has called for an Ex traordinary General Meeting (EGM) as the Association has taken another significant step towards important and necessary changes in its structure and governance.
14 UNWTO Bracing up for the Challenges Ahead In view of the current influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, UNWTO held a twoday review and preparation exercise on 'Travel and Tourism under Pandemic Conditions' in Madrid during the last week of August.
18 WIT, ITB Asia Take Place Against Dynamic Changes in Online Travel The year 2009 is being tipped as the 'Year of the Deal' when online travel in Asia will come into its own. Online Travel Agencies operating in the region are still reporting grow th in transaction volumes albeit yields are down.
Columns 32 As I Travel
38 Flying High
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Chugging And Romancing The Hills
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Australia Bowls Over German Maiden
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Travelling is Beautiful
102 Shadows of a Dark Past 130 They Dwell Among the Untrodden Ways
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Editor & Publisher Group Editor Vice President & CEO Executive Editor Consultant Editor Photo Editor Art Editor Editorial Team
: : : : : : : :
Director (Marketing) Director (Finance) Legal Advisor Financial Advisor G.M-Nor th Sr.Mgr. Tamilnadu
: : : : : :
G. Biju Krishnan G. Gopakumar* M. P. Sreekumar Lerbin T. K. A.G.K. Kumar Retheesh Kariyam Amal Prasad R. Parameswaran Smitha R. Vinu V. Nair K. Harikrishnan Adv. G.S. Prakash B. Prasad Wg. Cdr. V. K. Gangal P. Deenadayalu
Australia Bandana K. Prasad, Tel: 0061-892757447 KSA Sam Mathew, Tel: 00966-505150513 London Abdul Najeeb, Tel: 0044-7769940391 UAE Sanjeev S. L., Tel: 00971 508914709 Kuwait Mariam Titus, Tel: 00965 6638670 New Delhi V. K. Gangal, Tel: 09871180498 Mumbai Mahesh Nair, Tel: 022 32499989 Bangalore Sandeep Viswanath, 09845179243 Chennai Nisha J., Tel: 09841008588 Hyderabad K.S. Johnson, Tel: 09441236010 Dehradun P. Mohandas, Tel: 09719055472 Madurai P. Deenadayalu, Tel: 09843129535 Ernakulam M. P. Sreekumar, Tel: 09447118694 Kolkata Anurag Sinha, Tel: 09830015667 Thiruvananthapuram Vinu V. Nair, Tel: 09745444177 Administration Jaya Rajeshwari, Soniya S., Vidhu Krishna, Jayesh All communications to: Media Steps India, TC-27/1741, PERA-66, Vanchiyoor PO, Thiruvananthapuram–695 035, Kerala State, South India. Tel: +91-471-6540888, 2574411, 09447 555 222 info@mediastepsindia.com, w w w.mediastepsindia.com Regd. Office: Media Steps India, TC-27/1915, MBRRA 70, Mathrubhoomi Rd., Thiruvananthapuram–695 001, Kerala State, South India. Mumbai Of fice: 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 Of fice: 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, Fax: +91 40 27535260 Chennai Of fice: Media Steps India, 6/4, Sangeetha Gardens, 19th Street Ex t, Jai Nagar, Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600 106. Tel: +91 44 42640531 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
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Cover Photo Courtesy: TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND
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 © 2008 *Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
editor ’s note
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he last twelve months have been eventful - for the world economy in general and the tourism industry in particular - especially for the Asia Pacific region. The economic recession, which still lingers like a veil of mist over the world, dampen ing the spirit of economic activities, has af fected tourism industry the most. Travel and tourism companies around the world are struggling hard to cope with the lower demand as consumers cut travel budgets. Meanwhile the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has said international tourism will decline 4-6 per cent this year. So things are still not that bright in the travel and tourism world. Besides there were terrorist attacks, political violence and epidemics to add to the problem. As a recent study pointed out "political violence has done considerable damage to tourism in Asia Pacific region over the past few years". The terrorist at tacks in Mumbai, in which luxury hotels were the prime targets and the political agitation in Thailand, which trapped more than 350,000 travellers in the country for a week were t wo incidents that caused a lot of damage to the tourism sector in these two countries in the last one year. Tourism is important to the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Southeast Asia where it contributes over three per cent to the economic output. In some parts of the region, tourism accounts for 10 per cent of employment and in places like the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Vanuatu, the figure is over 30 per cent. One industry which gets badly af fected by violence and instability is tourism. Each time the normal life in a region or a country gets disrupted the tourism suf fers first and most. Chaos always make people stay away. But with the right responses from the part of government and industry, it is possible to get the visitors back. For example take the case of Bali, where in 2002 more than 200 people were killed (most of them foreigners) when terrorists struck at tourist places. The island, one of the world's most famous and popular tourist destinations, saw arrivals fall by 36 per cent nex t year. But timely and ef fective measures taken by the Indonesian Government succeeded in quashing the terrorist activities. They also ensured better security arrangements for the visitors. And the tourism industry worked hard to woo back visitors. Though the terrorists struck again three years later claiming another 20 lives, a Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) study has reported that tourist arrivals were not af fected. The travel industry in Sri Lanka and Nepal also hope that the end of long-running conflicts would make the visitors return. It will take a collective ef fort from the par t of the government and industry to make the tourism sector to survive these dif ficult times. Proper planning and strategy is the need of the hour. For Asian Traveller too it has been an impor tant period - its second year in print. Despite the slowing down of economy and various other factors that threatened the tourism grow th world over, we managed to stay afloat comfortably- thanks to the support of our readers, advertisers and well-wishers. During the period we became part of a number of national and international travel and tourism trade events in various capacities which not just widened our reach but provided added mileage to our clients. We have charted out a plan to make the magazine more reader friendly with more B2C content - leisure content - to cater to the requirements of 'the traveller'. At the same time we will continue to give comprehensive coverage to all aspects of travel and tourism industry.
G. BIJU KRISHNAN Editor & Publisher
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
over view
India to Become Leading Spa, Medical Tourism Destination
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he global economic downturn not with standing, India is emerging as a leading spa and medical tourism destination. According to a research study conducted by RNCOS, a leading market research and information analysis company, medical tourism has emerged as the fastest growing segment of the Indian tourism industry as India provides ‘first world treatments at third world cost’. Moreover, patients, especially those who are uninsured, are giving preference to the surgical procedures in India as they can save a significant amount of money. Medical costs in India are only one-third or a quarter of the costs at comparable hospitals in the US, Europe or South Africa. Over 3,00,000 patients have so far come to India for medical treatments from over 30 countries this year earning the country over Rs 8,500 crore in revenue, according to a report by Aarex India, a leading medical referrals agency. Medical tourism is expected to generate revenue of Rs 10,000-crore by 2012 and over 3, 50,000 patients from across the world are
expected to come to India for treatment, it said. In addition to the existence of modern medicine, indigenous or traditional medical practitioners are providing their services throughout the country. There are over 3,000 hospitals with over 7,00,000 practitioners catering to the needs of traditional Indian healthcare. Moreover, the size of India’s Ayurveda industry is forecasted to grow at around 22 per cent during 2009-2012 in view of rising demand for Ayurvedic therapy and products. According to the report "Booming Medical Tourism in India", popularity of the Indian spa industry is also increasing every year, making the country one of the most popular spa destinations across the world. The Indian spa industry, with over 2,300 spas, generates revenues around USD 400 Million annually. Moreover, spas can be found in large and small towns across the country. At present, India has around 20-25 major spa centers, most of them spread in the Southern states such as Kerala and Karnataka.
States Told to Constitute Monitoring Cells for Execution of Tourism Projects
U
nion Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has asked the state governments to constitute state level monitoring commit tees to regularly monitor and send quar terly or half yearly reports to the Union Ministry about the status of tourism projects in the states. She was talking at an interstate regional conference of the state tourism ministers of the north and central states which was organized by the Ministry of tourism in New Delhi recently. She urged the states to acknowledge by indicating the name of the ministry on the foundation stone at the projects financed by the Union Ministry of Tourism. The Minister said, tourist flow shall remain poor if the assets created are not only
implemented, the Ministry has announced seven more such projects during the current year out of which two are for Himachal Pradesh, one for Rajasthan and one in Jammu and Kashmir. These states are requested to prepare the detailed project reports and submit them to the Ministry of Tourism for examination and financial support. Tourism ministers from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand and Kumari Selja, Tourism Minister, India Rajasthan were present. Sujit Banerjee, Secretary, Union properly maintained but kept clean Ministry of Tourism, along with and in the hygienic conditions. other senior of ficers, was also Apart from 22 mega projects present on the occasion. The already announced and being Ministry is also making ef forts to
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develop wayside amenities in the identified tourist circuits through National Highways Authority of India and with private sector participation. As a responsible tourism initiative, 142 rural sites are being developed as a rural tourism product. The traditional artisans from these sites have been given exposure to national/international plat forms. Mega shopping festivals are providing an opportunity for sale of art and craf t products. A Visit India Year 2009 Scheme has been announced by the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments, for incentivising travel to India during the period April to December 2009.
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SEPTEMBER 2009
over view
Hangzhou Ready for PTM 2009 ATA Travel Mart 2009 one of the major travel and tourism events in Asia Pacific will be held Hangzhou, China from September 23. About thousand delegates and VIP visitors from the industry and media including 600 Sellers from 38 destinations and 305 Buyers from 51 source markets is expected to attend the event. All eyes are on the innovative features and business options which will be showcased at the event at a time when the international industry is affected by multiple crises. A PATA Phornsiri Manoharn briefing Chairman, PATA and luncheon for Ministers and VIP guests will hosted by PATA Chairman Phornsiri Manoharn. Some of the main events of PTM 2009 schedule are workshops on
right country at the right time this year. PATA is most grateful for the help, advice and support of the China National Tourism Administration and our hosts, Hangzhou
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China and India outbound tourism markets, Presentation of PATA Award of Distinction to Mr Shao Qiwei, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, Presentation of PATA Gold Awards to all winners and Webinar on 'China Outbound Tourism' broadcast live from PTM, Hangzhou. Spain and South Korea are some of the main markets promoting for the first time in this travel and
tourism industry networking and contracting event. "With China now ranked as the fifth strongest source market globally by UNWTO (when measured by tourismrelated expenditure) there's no doubt that we're in the
People's Municipal Government of China and Hangzhou Tourism Commission, for the outstanding pre-event preparations," says PATA Chairman Phornsiri Manoharn.
Industry focus on 2010 at WTM Vision n unprecedented collection of financial experts and senior travel executives will debate the impact the worldwide
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financial downturn will have on the industry in 2010 in the rebranded WTM Vision The Global Economic Forum.
The Global Economic Forum has been rebranded to WTM Vision - The Global Economic Forum following the successful
inaugural WTM Vision Conference in London this summer. WTM exhibition director Craig Moyes said: "The impressive line up of
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industry and economic experts will give delegates some fresh thinking and innovative business ideas for 2010 and beyond. "Experts agree travel and tourism will be on the rise again next year, just as it has in previous eras. It will not be straight forward, but those companies that have survived the downturn are robust and flexible so should be in a good position to capitalize on a more promising future."
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unwto
Celebrating Diversit y Ghana will host the 30th edition of World Tourism Day on September 27, under the theme 'Tourism Celebrating Diversity'. orld Tourism Day will commemorate this year its 30th anniversary in the vibrant country of Ghana under the theme ‘Tourism -
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Celebrating Diversity’. This year’s theme focuses on the world's cultural wealth and the important role sustainable tourism plays in revitalizing local traditions
and making them flourish as they cross other cultures. A huge variety of local customs co-exist all over the world, be they languages, religions, architecture, food, politics or natural environments. This diverse environment has allowed the travel and tourism industry to thrive and become the largest single export industry and a leading force in the service sector. Every region of the world is distinct and thus has something both to
offer and gain through travel and tourism, particularly less developed nations. It is the responsibility of industry stakeholders to harness these opportunities whilst facing the long term challenges engendered by travel and tourism. ‘Tourism Celebrating Diversity’ highlights this varied environment which is at the very centre of tourism. Diversity has indeed been the motor behind travel and tourism for centuries.
World Tourism Day Message Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO
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orld Tourism Day (WTD) will commemorate its 30th anniversary this year. The celebration will be hosted by one of our first Member States, Ghana, under the theme Tourism: Celebrating Diversity. Diversity is one of the driving forces behind tourism and can allow all nations to share the numerous benefits brought about by building stronger ties with other countries. As such, tourism is an undisputed catalyst for building understanding, fostering social inclusion and promoting higher standards of living. This type of unity and collaboration is increasingly important as the world comes together to face climate change and ensure sustainable development, particularly in the contex t of the current economic crisis. These worldwide partnerships allow for a more ef fective and global response to issues which concern us all. Globalization must be understood as a means to improve economic collaboration and international understanding, but not at the cost of diluting the rich cultural diversity present in our world; in this respect, travel and tourism can and must play a key role. Tourism shares the social responsibility of promoting the positive aspects of globalization and as such must direct these global networks towards balanced and sustainable development. It is against this background that over the years WTD has become a renowned event that has successfully addressed key tourism related global socio-economic, cultural and political issues. I am very pleased to be celebrating this year's World Tourism Day in a continent as diverse as Africa, which has known how to valorize this diversity through tourism and which looks forward to achieving much in the way of sustainable tourism development. UNWTO would like to thank Ghana for hosting this important event. We all look forward to celebrating World Tourism Day with you!
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Taleb Rifai
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
pata
PATA Calls EGM
PATA Embarks on New Adventure
Chairman Looks to Implement P Important Changes acific Asia Travel association (PATA) has called for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) as the Association has taken another significant step towards important and necessary changes in its structure and governance. The EGM is scheduled for 26 September 2009 in Hangzhou, China from September 25 to 27, 2009. Copies of the proposed new Bylaws will be made available to all PATA members prior to the EGM. PATA Chairman Phornsiri Manoharn is emphasising the importance of the proposed changes for the future of the Association and the desire to engage all members in the change process. Board members meeting in Macau (SAR) in April 2009 discussed in detail the proposal to re-balance the Association in line with the current and likely future demands of travel and tourism in the 21st century. It is proposed that PATA Board will comprise up to 80 experienced industry executives representing, principally, the very broad
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cross-section of PATA membership worldwide. The body will be the Association's 'think-tank', offering knowledge, experience and expertise on a wide range of issues affecting Association members and the travel and tourism community as a whole. It is also recommended that all 39 active PATA Chapters worldwide are represented on this body. For management, operational and financial matters there will be an Executive Board of Directors of no more than
The timing of the EGM is significant in that it follows PATA Travel Mart, regarded as Asia Pacific's most important and influential networking and contracting event.
12 members, led by the dulyappointed Chairman, working in tandem with the CEO Phornsiri Manoharn and the PATA Chairman Association's senior management team. The Executive Board of Directors will also play an influential role in shaping PATA policy and strategy. "I stress to all our members the importance of taking part in this vital change process," said Phornsiri Manoharn. "These proposed changes are the result of a very thorough, detailed and exhaustive review. My fellow Directors and I remain convinced that we can deliver to our members an Association that offers drive, purpose, resolution and determination." The timing of the EGM is significant in that it follows PATA Travel Mart, regarded as Asia Pacific's most important and influential networking and contracting event.
KTO, PATA Agree to Boost Partnership
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he Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has agreed to boost its partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) for the promotion of tourism and development of new tourism-related
programmes. The agreement came at a meeting between Sho Jae-Pil, the editor and publisher of Travel Press and lifetime member of PATA, and KTO President Lee Charm at the KTO headquarters in central
Seoul, Tuesday.. They discussed the possibility of bringing key PATA conferences to Korea in the future. Korea hosted the 53rd PATA Annual Conference on Jeju Island in 2004.
Chinese Love to Surf the Net
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ccording to the latest Nielsen China Outbound Travel Monitor, the Internet has become the most popular medium for Chinese travellers seeking information about their trips. The Nielsen survey found that travellers will search for conventional destination information ahead of their trips (61 per cent of leisure trips taken), and then turn to online travel discussion forums (48 per cent) to fine-tune their plans. John Koldowski, PATA's Director, Strategic Intelligence Centre, said, "In today's tough business environment, every dollar, euro or RMB invested needs to have the best possible ROI outcome attached to it. With these results showing that the largest propor tion of China's outbound travellers use the Internet as a pre-trip information tool."
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ATA has received impor tant backing from two influential organisations for its 2010 Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart in Nepal. The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are endorsing this important PATA event, taking place at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu on 1-5 February 2010. "The Conference and Mart will create important plat forms for discussing and promoting environmental protection and social sustainability with our industry," explains PATA Events Director Sheila Leong.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
unwto
UNWTO
Bracing up for the Challenges Ahead n view of the current influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, UNWTO held a two-day review and preparation exercise on 'Travel and Tourism under Pandemic Conditions' in Madrid during the last week of August. The workshop was convened to anticipate the challenges the virus will bring over the next few months and ensure that the travel and tourism sector is fully prepared for the evolving pandemic. The event brought together representatives from 33 public administrations, the private sector and relevant International Organizations to increase preparedness for the second wave of the pandemic, expected to coincide with the beginning of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere this coming fall. The participants discussed actions undertaken by the sector in the context of the general industrial
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response and stressed the need for a transparent, consistent and timely exchange of information and communication among the different stakeholders of the sector. In particular, participants welcomed the regular exchanges within the Tourism Emergency Response Network, managed by UNWTO, and encouraged its consolidation. In order to avoid unnecessary disruptions it was recommended that countries should review and confirm that tourism is appropriately included in overall pandemic preparedness plans. A number of recommendations were made to improve business continuity, including
inclusion of crucial functions in the sector among the priority groups in vaccination plans. This is especially important as tourism is important for the economy of most countries and pivotal for the poorest states. The event included presentations by experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) explaining the status of the spread and impact of the virus. It was underscored that travel limitations would not limit the spread of A(H1N1) because it is already "the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world". "This review was timely and exceptionally helpful to strengthen our sector's preparedness and to ensure that tourism and travel continues to be effectively embedded in the global pandemic response", said UNWTO Assistant Secretary General Geoffrey Lipman.
"We particularly appreciate the involvement and leadership of the World Geoffrey Lipman Health Asst. Secretary General Organization". UNWTO In line with WHO recommendations, the event stressed that travellers should be vigilant about their own health, stay informed and follow fundamental hygiene precautionary measures such as frequent hand washing and proper cough etiquette. It was also emphasised that travellers should ensure that their travel insurance will cover unforeseen flu related costs in the event they fall sick away from home and should take medical advice should they experience flu symptoms immediately before, during or after travel.
forecast
WTTC Says India to Witness Big Tourism Boom
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orld Travel and Tourism Council has predicted that the tourism industry is poised for a stupendous grow th in India. While the high influx of foreign tourists has ensured huge footfalls for the sector over the years, domestic tourism too has, off late, begun of fering great potential. With travellers taking new interest in the country, players in the hospitalit y sector have had to of fer the best of services, at af fordable prices. Also, with the USD 23 billion sof tware services sector pushing the Indian economy sky wards, more and more IT professionals are flocking to Indian metro cities, thus signalling a boomtime for the hotel and hospitality segment. Several other factors such as Commonwealth Games in Delhi are fuelling the need further. The Indian hospitality industry is projected to grow at a rate of 8.8 per cent bet ween 2007 and 2016, placing India as the secondfastest growing tourism market in the world. Initiatives like massive investment in hotel infrastructure and open sky policies made by the government are all aimed at propelling grow th in the hospitality sector. The government's decision to substantially upgrade 28 regional airports in smaller towns and privatisation and expansion of Delhi and Mumbai airports has improved the business prospects of hotel industry in India. Also, the upgrading of National Highways connecting various parts of India has opened new avenues for the development of budget hotels in India. Couple this with the availability of qualified human resources and the hospitality sector has already got great grow th prospects.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
face to face
SriLankan Airlines Plans Aggressive Promotion in Asian Markets SriLankan Airlines, which has completed three decades of flying, has re-invented itself in the recent past, winning numerous global awards and establishing a firm reputation as a leader among Asian airlines. It is a network carrier, with rapid connections that link Europe and the Middle East on one side with Southeast Asia and the Far East on the other and also one of the largest foreign carriers operating to India and the largest carrier into the Maldives with direct flights from Europe. SriLankan Airlines now serves 45 destinations in 25 countries in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Far East. Senaka Fernando, Regional Manager, Indian Sub-Continent and Maldives, SriLankan Airlines spoke to Asian Traveller about the present and future of aviation sector in general and SriLankan Airlines in particular. Excerpts: from IATA has said that they are expecting the airline industry to loose USD11 billion in 2009. This is USD 2 billion more than the previously projected figure of USD 9 billion loss due to rise in fuel prices, global economic down turn and exceptionally weak yields. Our marketing strategy is to of fer value for money products to passengers backed by superior customer care. What are other plans and strategies? Do you have plans to introduce any new packages? What are the main issues that We are expanding our distribuneed to be addressed to make tion net work by signing up more these plans work? code share alliances with major There are no major constraints airlines in dif ferent parts of the for us to launch this project. It is a mat ter of acquiring the air craf t and world. Innovation is very much a key marketing the inventory. tool in SriLankan Airlines' ef for ts to In the recent times the financial enhance its revenue. The airline performance of SriLankan worked to optimise revenue Airlines has not been up to the through innovative of fers. A multi mark. What is your marketing pronged approach was carried out strategy to overcome this? which involved SriLankan holidays, Almost all airlines are going Flysmiles ( our frequent flyer through a dif ficult period. It is not unique to Srilankan Airlines. This is programme ) and the airline's on line sales channel. the global reality faced by all We are currently running a airlines. A recent communiqué With peace retuning to the island nation, the SriLankan Airlines has announced few plans regarding domestic aviation. It has been talking about floatplanes and flights to the nor th of the country also. Could you please elaborate on these? Few years back we operated float planes and it was successful. With many small and medium size luxury boutique hotels coming up in various parts of Sri Lanka, we expect an increase in upmarket tourists. There will be a demand for faster access to these properties. So we feel there is a good demand for a float plane operation.
Senaka Fernando
campaign in the Indian market under the theme "double delights". The response for this has been very good. The number of Indian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka increased by 51 per cent in August 2009 in comparison to August 2008. We are planning to introduce few more packages targeting student travellers and pilgrim travellers in the Indian market. As you know "Ramayana Tours" to Sri Lanka are fast gaining popularity in the northern and western parts of India. Do you have any plans to fly to new international destinations or increase the flight frequencies in the near future? Yes. We will be introducing Milan to our net work on the
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December this year. We will also increase frequencies to Trichy, Bangalore, Karachi, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. SriLankan Airlines has always played a huge role in supporting the tourism industry of the country. What new plans do you have in this regard? We are looking at markets that have the potential to grow and introducing more capacity. We are also working closely with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau to market Sri Lanka as a preferred destination. We will be launching aggressive advertising and promotional activities in major markets like India, China and Japan.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
itb asia
WIT, ITB Asia Take Place Against Dynamic Changes in Online Travel he year 2009 is being tipped as the 'Year of the Deal' when online travel in Asia will come into its own. Online Travel Agencies operating in the region are still reporting growth in transaction volumes albeit yields are down. Low cost carriers taking advantage of the
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economic downturn and trading down of consumers are expanding and aggressively promoting cheap fares on their websites. Premium airlines such as Singapore Airlines are also pushing special fares online. It is against this background that WIT-Web In Travel 2009 will be held in partnership with ITB Asia, October from 20 to 23 at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre. Leaders in the travel distribution, marketing and technology industry will gather to discuss the latest trends and debate the hottest topics that are driving
change in this dynamic environment. Hotel groups, for example, are changing their strategies by introducing exclusive online sales, groupwide discounts and value offers on their branded websites. The depressed market conditions are forcing
suppliers to become more creative and adventurous in their distribution and marketing, and all are seeking to increase their presence in the electronic channels while maintaining traditional ones. "It will be the highest profile and most diverse gathering of experts in this field," said Yeoh Siew Hoon, Producer of WIT. "To date, we have gathered an impressive list of speakers from Japan's Rakuten Travel and Australia's Webjet to regional names such as Wotif, Agoda and Asiarooms and global brands like Expedia and Travelocity. "We also have CEOs of
global companies such as Banyan Tree, Accor Asia Pacific, Travelport, Abacus and Sabre represented. If you've got an interest in what's new in the online travel space, WIT's the event to be at this year." Held in conjunction with ITB Asia, WIT, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, will bring a touch of "Tough Love" to its programme which will cover issues such as management and leadership in difficult times and branding and marketing in the digital age and hotbutton topics such as social media, search, rate parity, content, branding and
ITB Asia will take place at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre, 21-23 October, 2009. It is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and suppor ted by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The event will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel. ITB Asia 2009 will include exhibiDr. Martin Buck Whey Whey Ng tion pavilions and tabletop Director of Messe General Manager presence for small and Berlin (Singapore) ITB Asia medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) providing travel ser vices. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and at tractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, venues, other meeting facilities and travel technology companies are all expected to attend.
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mobile. Following its tradition of being innovative and interactive, Yeoh Siew Hoon, WIT will Producer of WIT embrace new technology and tools to ensure the dialogue is not one-way but multi-way. A ticket to WIT, The Main Event, also represents real value - it includes free admission to the WIT Ideas Lab at ITB Asia; ITB Asia itself; "Asia Connect" workshops by HSMAI Asia Pacific and a Business Events Forum.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
e-travel
iViaWorld Launched ne of the innovative products for the tourism industry by VIA, iViaWorld.com was launched recently at Kochi. Dr. V Venu IAS, Secretary Kerala Tourism inaugurated the product in the presence of various tourism stake holders and dignitaries from different parts of India. The portal is the world's first and only travel marketplace which will allow stakeholders in the global tourism industry including agents, hoteliers, tour operators, guides, cab operators, forex, ticketing players. They can connect to one another and do business with ease, transparency and the comfort of trust that VIA brings to both parties, knowing them on a one on one basis. The global landscape in travel has been about large companies trying to consolidate the hotel and holiday space by various means. They are still fairly unsuccessful in solving the large problem, about perishable goods, experts, choice, and linking people together. There has always
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been a veil between the supplier, the pricing, the product or experts in the transaction. Via is attempting for the first time
to bring a 100% solution together with many innovative features added to the product iviaworld.com. The platform will allow travel agents, tour operators and other stake holders in the tourism industry to monitor and respond to live queries, talk to the suppliers directly, negotiate prices directly, understand what they need, to deliver a great holiday for their clients. Agents would have immense choice, backed by rating from VIA, and a robust supplier screening process. All suppliers on the platform will be screened in person, with past record of their services, before they can enter the platform. For agents for first time there is
Dr. V Venu IAS, Secretary - Tourism Government of Kerala formally launches iViaWorld. Also seen are A G K Kumar -Vice President Corporate VIA; Yogesh Mehta – Head of Hotels and Holidays, VIA; Sharafuddin, Chairman –TAAI , Travel Agents Association of India Kerala Chapter; Johnny Abraham, Chairman ADTOI Kerala Chapter and MD Intersight Tours & Travels and Biju Krishnan –Editor & MD Asian Traveller, at Le Meridien, Cochin
tourism such as tour operators, homestay's, house boats, single location hotels, service apartments, cabs and guides is hard. They have to depend on someone else marketing them all the time.
suppliers' brand global and giving credit where it truly belongs. The platform also offers suppliers with features to watch the market and tune their offerings so that they cannot only grow their business with reach but also by expanding their product portfolio. Suppliers can pretty much do business with any buyer without worrying about their Now they can come to the payments and choice, transparency, iviaworld.com platform and communication hassles". communication tools, market themselves directly to In less than 3 years VIA technology, marketing and the world. has become India's largest direct communication with For large suppliers travel distribution company. suppliers. The suppliers are globally and in India it is a With iviaworld.com, VIA has allowed to set up their enabled its 17000 partner virtual shop on iviaworld, to huge opportunity to reach beyond the metros, where agents in 800 cities of India VIA has tremendous to do business with each presence, in 800 cities in other. Many more India. These TMCs-Travel international tourism bodies, Management companies and state departments , Airline MNCs can benefit from holiday companies, Inbound VIA's reach and go to the tour operators into India, Indian heartland, where Tourism product suppliers there is huge spending from India and overseas are power. With the launch of in the process of signing up www.iviaworld.com, there is with VIA for promoting a huge opportunity for their tourism products and display their own logo and suppliers to grow their services through VIA's contact details for direct business and take their brand global market place business transactions with www.iviaworld.com. the buyers online. The plight to the world. For the first time globally, Via is taking of small stakeholders in Also see page - 142
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personality Prema Ram, who started her career as a college lecturer, joined the travel industry quite by chance. Now she is working as GM, Sales (Karnataka & Kerala), Air France.
PREMA RAM GM, Sales (Karnataka & Kerala) Air France
How did you become interested in hospitality business? It may sound strange. I was a college lecturer for the MA- Sociology course and had simultaneously registered for M Phil degree (prior to a PhD) in Bangalore University. I chanced upon an advertisement calling for a professional to start up a travel agency. Since the Managing Director of the agency was a well known motorbike racer (Sherif Dayan) whom I had a fancy to meet. I applied for it purely with the objective of meeting him for an autograph. He offered me a job, I stepped in. And, there began my tryst with the travel industry. What is your current role at your company? I am currently with AF/ KL as General Manager Sales for Karnataka and Kerala; responsible for selling AF, an online service from gateway BLR; AF/KL product services from other gateways, i.e. BOM and DEL and offline sales from Kerala. What plans - immediate
and long term - do you have? In the challenging environment that the aviation industry is currently in, one needs to look for quick-fix strategies and reorient the way we engage with customers. My immediate plan is to work on a canvas impinging on these objectives. As a travel industry professional what is your ambition? Where would you like to see yourself ten years from now? I have had the good fortune of working in the Industry for three decades, and can go on till eternity. The learning opportunities are enormous in this industry and the organisation I work in. I plan to combine my work experience and qualifications and go back to teaching at some future date. Perhaps a second innings in the teaching profession. Who or what has been the greatest influence in your professional life? My peers at work have influenced me greatly. Team members have had an impact on me at every stage of my career. My perspectives on relationship, customerengagements and professionalism are derived from the people I work with. A truly enriching experience! As woman, what were the challenges you had to face in your professional life? What is your advice to young girls who enter the sector? My advice is that one should work towards maintaining a work-life balance. This is essential and well accepted in the
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corporate world, so one needs to carry no guilt about demonstrating it. What matters in a meritocracy is alignment with the organisational goals and that deliverables are met. In short, work smart, not hard. What is the secret of your success? I have this intrinsic belief that only three ingredients are required to produce a high-performance team simple ideas, simple people and simple tools. What is your proudest moment (till date) in your job? In my previous assignment, I was responsible for the launch of KU Cargo freighter in 1991, followed by 9W in 1993. But undoubtedly, the highlight of my career was the launch of AF operations in BLR in 2005. Tell us about your family. My husband Ram is a CA and has been doing private practice. We have a daughter Sharanya, a linguist, an Honours Graduate from the School of Foreign Languages, JNU, New Delhi; and a son, Sumant who qualified with a dual MS from Ann Arbor, Michigan and is an Oral Surgeon in the US. What are your hobbies? Learning new stuff. To this end, I have successfully completed a three-year MBA programme from The Open University Business School, UK. In addition I hold a Six Sigma green belt certification from KPMG for which I qualified in 2005. The stress busters are crafts like embroidery, painting and gardening.
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personality
Deepak Ohri, has nearly two decades experience in hospitality industry and has handled projects in different countries. He is the CEO of lebua at State Tower in Bangkok now.
DEEPAK OHRI CEO, lebua at State Tower Tell us about your hotel and its USPs. lebua at State Tower, an allsuite hotel with breathtaking views of Bangkok from every unit, is managed by lebua Hotels & Resor ts Co., Ltd. and a member of Preferred Hotels® & Resorts. Sitting atop lebua on the 51st 65thfloors is the multi-awardwinning The Dome at lebua, where an ex travaganza of culinary destinations convene, namely Sirocco, Mezzaluna, Breeze, and Distil. Sirocco, Mezzaluna, and Distil were selected under all three entries from Thailand and declared the exclusive winners of the Condé Nast Traveler's 2005 Hot List, with Breeze joining the list in 2007. In addition to a myriad of other prestigious accolades, Sirocco was also recently awarded the HAPA Thailand Restaurant of The Year and HAPA Destination Restaurant of The Year by The Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2008 - 2010. The combination of Exclusivity, Luxury, and Quality is what enables lebua to outshine the competition. Everything about lebua spells exclusive, including the only rights in Thailand to sell Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V, Waiwera 1875 water from New Zealand and the Green Island rum from Mauritius. Luxury is also a theme that runs throughout every suite and facility in the hotel, from Bvlagari toiletries and super fine 350-thread count Egyptian cot ton sheets. Lastly, we pride ourselves on Quality, and this is applicable to all details in every single products and service that we are of fer. How do you position the Hotel in the market? What is your marketing strategy? We are definitely in the 5-Star
luxury category, but rather than comparing ourselves to other hotels, we benchmark ourselves with the likes of LVMH and other luxury brands. Our marketing strategy aligns with 2 of our main core values: understanding consumer motivations and innovating. It is essential in our business to understand why a consumer comes, or returns, to us so we may bet ter tailor our of ferings to match their needs. Innovation, on the other hand, is the dif ferentiating factor that sets us apart from competing brands. We focus a majority of our ef forts in reactivating clients, encouraging them to return for the second-to-none experiences we of fer. How important is a Hotel in developing a destination? A hotel with quality restaurants and exceptional guest service can serve as a destination in itself. With our vision of creating luxury leisure destinations in Thailand and elsewhere, we strive for all our properties to become 'destination hotels'. Our restaurants & bars will always be trendsetters with exquisite food, ex traordinary wine selections and of course warm attentive service. All of our properties will be all-suite hotels as space has become one of the most coveted luxuries nowadays. As we are continuously learning and innovating, we are able to give our customers a new experience every time. Could you tell us about your background and how did you come to the industry? I've been in the hospitality industry for just over 2 decades now, having star ted my career with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in 1988 before joining the Kempinski Group in
India. In 1992, the entrepreneur in me and foreign shores beckoned, and I moved to Singapore to open my first restaurant. Since then there was no looking back. I handled several projects in other countries before moving home to India and join the Taj Group of Hotels, India, where I discovered my particular at traction to the challenges of opening new hotels and restaurants. By the end of my stint at Taj, I had opened close to 20 outlets in 6 countries. In 2003 I joined Challenge Hospitality Co., Ltd. as the first employee, and took on responsibility for opening the Dome restaurants including Sirocco, Mezzaluna, and Distil Bar, all of which were consequently
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aviation selected and chosen as the only triple winner in the CondĂŠ Nast Traveler's 2005 'Hot List' awards. In early 2006, we took over the running of the hotel at State Tower from the Meritus group that. A year later, Challenge Hospitality was rebranded to lebua Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd. and I was appointed the CEO which I remain until this day. Tell us about your experience so far. My experience has been a great learning experience so far, and I'd like to thank our owner Khun Rat tawadee Bualert for the freedom and trust she bestowed on me. Amongst the highlights of my career to date include lebua being voted six th out of the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Asia and CNBC Asia-Pacific's Best Hotel. We are repeatedly listed among the top 100 suites of the world, but our biggest reward is seeing customers coming back to us. Our rate of return customers is 65 per cent, already the highest in this industry, but we are always aiming for higher. What immediate and long term plans do you have? Well, in October 2009, we are launching Tower Club, upgrading 222 of our suites in lebua at State Tower further to add even more value and exclusivity to our customers. Facilities and amenities will be superior, and guests will enjoy perks such as complimentary mini bar, enhanced in-room television sets, an upgrade of the already-existing Bvalgari toiletries, as well as a multitude of other special privileges. We're also on the lookout for the right kind of par tner to bring the lebua brand to India, as well as plans to expand into the luxury cruise industry in the year 2012. In the long run, we will continue to strive to achieve our perpetual goal of increasing customer satisfaction and thus the rate of return customers. We will also endeavor to realize our vision of creating luxury leisure destinations, and the lebua brand will become a brand trusted for its exceptional
luxury, innovation, and at tentiveness to our customers. Where would you like to see yourself, say, 10 years from now? In 10 years time, I'd like to see myself doing the exact thing I'm doing now, thriving of f the challenges of opening new hotels and restaurants and having the patience and capability to see it through, and just continue to do what I love doing the most. Please tell us about your family? My father was my main influence and strongest supporter since I was young. His guidance, coupled with my brother's pressure, were what motivated me to join the hotel industry in the first place. They taught me to never look down, that I should always look up, and to always find the silver lining in every cloud. However, everything that I have accomplished in the last 5 or so years I owe to my wife. I work long hours and my partner has always been very supportive, bringing stability and maturity to my life. I have been very fortunate to have had the full support of my family, and the love and understanding of my wife. Tell us about your hobbies and other interests? In my time of f, I enjoy golf and watching Bolly wood movies. I also like to keep myself updated on developments in the industry, traveling, and lecturing in international forum. Which is your favorite destination? I'd have to say Thailand, and namely lebua at State Tower as my favorite destination. Thai people in general are lovely, and the country as a whole has numerous charming locations each appealing in their own ways, but I feel that our establishment epitomizes the genuine hospitality and sincere respect that is representative of Thai culture and values. As I mentioned earlier, the experience of fers at lebua are ever-evolving so there's always a sense of excitement and never a dull moment.
In the Red, Despite Demand Improvements ccording to The International Air Transport Association's (IATA) international scheduled traffic results for July, passenger demand has declined 2.9 per cent this year compared to the same month in the previous year while freight demand was down 11.3 per cent. The international passenger load factors stood at 80.3 per cent. The July passenger demand fall of 2.9 per cent was a relative improvement over the 7.2 per cent drop in June and the 6.8 per cent decline recorded over the first seven months of the year. July capacity was more in line with reduced demand than in previous months and load factors are similar to those recorded in July 2008. These positive developments, however, have come at the expense of yields which continue to fall sharply. "Demand may look better, but the bottom line has not improved. We have seen little change to the unprecedented fall in yields and revenues. The months
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ahead are marked by many uncertainties, including the price of oil. The Giovanni Bisignani road to Director General recovery will and CEO, IATA be both slow and volatile. In the meantime, the industry remains in intensive care," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO. Asia-Pacific carriers are experiencing the extremes of this recession. The 7.6 per cent fall in passenger demand compared to July 2008, was the largest decline of any region. The July improvement in travel demand was more the result of deep discounting than stronger incomes or greater economic confidence. The stabilization of air freight demand in the first quarter and its improvement in the second quarter has helped reduce the rate at which excess capacity has been growing. But load factors are still lower than levels seen at the same time last year.
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incredible india
Guidelines for Wellness and Heliport Tourism Unveiled s part of the 100 days Agenda, Union Ministry of Tourism has issued guidelines for development and promotion of Wellness and Heliport tourism. Heliport Tourism With a view to promote tourist destinations in hilly and remote areas of the Kumari Selja country, the Minister for Tourism Ministry of Tourism has also issued guidelines to extend financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for construction of heliports under the Scheme of Product and Infrastructure Development for
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Destinations and Circuits. The projects for construction of heliports will have to conform to the technical requirements prescribed by the Director General of Civil Aviation. Financial assistance will be provided for construction of heliports as a component of destination development projects. The upper limit of financial assistance for heliports has been fixed at Rs. 75 lakhs. Two projects for construction of heliports at Mangan and Geetang Khola in Sikkim have also been sanctioned under this new initiative of the Ministry of Tourism. Both the projects are likely to be completed within two years. Wellness Tourism India has a vast potential
Facilitators (Travel Agents/ Tour Operators approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) are qualified for financial assistance under MDA Scheme for participation in to promote its traditional approved Wellness Tourism Fairs/Wellness Conferences system of healings i.e Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and and allied Road shows Siddha. In order to promote abroad. A new set of the Wellness Tourism in the guidelines for accreditation Overseas Market, Ministry of wellness centers are being finalized by AYUSH in of Tourism has revised the partnership with National guidelines of Marketing Development Assistance Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH). Once (MDA) to include the these guidelines are finalized Wellness Tourism Service Providers and Facilitators in and operationalised then Wellness Centers accredited its purview. Under the revised guidelines the eligible as per these new guidelines will be considered under Wellness Tourism Service MDA Scheme for Providers i.e representative of the Wellness Centers undertaking the tourism accredited by the State promotional activities Governments and abroad.
Sikkim Gets Central Assistance for Heliport Tourism
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or the first time any where in the country, the State of Sikkim has been granted Central Financial Assistance for t wo destination projects that include development of Heliport viz. Destination Development of Mangan Tourist A xis including Heliport in North Sikkim for Rs. 3.29 crore and Destination Development of Geetang Khola waterfall including Heliport in West Sikkim for Rs. 3.25 crore. These would facilitate easy access to the destination mentioned above which are of immense tourism potential, where the tourists are otherwise discouraged due to long and taxing travel through hilly roads. The Mangan Tourist A xis offers multiple options for the visitors as it envelops many places that attract the interest of tourists, scholars and nature lovers. The lower altitude zone showcase the beautiful green countryside set ting with River Teesta meandering bet ween the mountains whereas the higher altitude takes one to the snow y peaks, vast glaciers and rugged
hills. There are places still unexplored and amazing splendors outside the scale of human intervention that displays the true color of Mother Nature. Destination Development of Geetang Khola waterfall Geetang Khola waterfall is located amidst the very serene environs with awe-inspiring natural beauty and razor-edged cliffs. The existence of a voluminous waterfall cascading down the mountain about 300 feet high makes this place more significant in term of tourist interest. A large numbers of tourists also visit this place to witness the variety of rhododendrons that blossoms during April to May. This is a stopover tourist spot for visitors to onward destinations like Soreng, Daramdin, Hilley and Barsey. The place Hilley where the Heliport has been proposed is the Base camp for Barsay Rhododendron Park, which is frequented by trekkers and nature lovers
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incredible india
Caravan Tourism Coming to India aravan tour packages popular in Europe and USA, will soon be launched in India to attract the high-end tourist particularly foreigners. Caravan Tourism, a new concept in India is being envisaged as a niche tourism product will be launched in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh in the first phase.States including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh have shown interest in the Caravan scheme. Under the Caravan or a 'home on wheel' packages, tourists will be provided airconditioned vehicles with all modern facilities such as WiFi connectivity, mini bar, TV besides bed and toilets.
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Considering the diverse tourism products and the multitude of landscapes in India, Caravans and Caravan Parks have a potential to add an exciting new facet to
tourism in Incredible India and would attract a wide range of market segments including young people, families, senior citizens and international tourists.
Under the guidelines, the Caravans would be popularized and promoted by developing Caravan Parks in public private and PPP mode. The Caravan Parks would be approved by the Ministry of Tourism once they develop the minimum required facilities such as parking bays, tourist amenities centre, landscaping, toilets and adequate measures for safety and security of tourists.
The caravan parks will also provide electricity, water and sewerage disposal facilities to the Caravans which are parked. The caravan parks shall maintain environmental friendly and responsible practices. Ministry of Tourism shall provide central assistance, which could be up to Rs five crore per destination to State Governments and Union Territories Administration under its existing scheme of product infrastructure development of destination/ circuits for development of caravan parks in Government sector. Assistance to the level of 25 per cent of the cost can also be provided for procurement of caravans in public sector corporations.
Incredible India Road Shows in Northern Europe
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he Ministry of Tourism, in association with the PATA India Chapter and the local PATA Chapters in Scandinavia organised a series of Road Shows recently in Helsinki (Finland),
and a total of 22 trade representatives comprising tour operators, hoteliers and airline representatives in Oslo. The objective of the Road Shows was to promote India as a preferred tourist destination and to
Union Minister for Tourism, Kumari Selja led the delegation for the Scandinavia Road Show, in Oslo, Norway
Stockholm (Sweden) and Oslo (Norway). The Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja led the delegation for the Road Show comprised of ficials from the Ministry of Tourism, Gov t. of India and the PATA India Chapter
increase tourism from Scandinavia to India. At the Road Show, the Minister focused on the varied tourism products that the country has to of fer, including cultural and
heritage tourism, adventure tourism, rural tourism, medical & wellness tourism. The Minister urged the Norwegian tour operators to visit India for an "incredible" experience and to also encourage their clients to visit the country. The Road Shows included presentations on India by the Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Gov t. of India highlighting the initiatives taken by the Ministry towards product development as well as tourism promotion in the face of the global economic slowdown and on the diverse tourism products of India, by the PATA India Chapter. One of the focus areas during the presentations was "Wellness Tourism", covering Ayurveda and holistic healing systems which received a very enthusiastic response from the participants. The Presentations were followed by one-to-one business
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meetings bet ween the seller delegates from India and buyer delegates from the respective countries. The interest in India as a tourist destination in the Scandinavian countries could be seen from the good response received from the local tour operators in all three cities. A total of 49 Tour Operators participated in the Road Show in Helsinki, 54 in Stockholm and 45 in Oslo. Following the Business Sessions, the participants were given a glimpse of Indian culture and cuisine, by way of a short cultural programme of classical and folk dances and Indian cuisine. The Road Shows were accompanied by an integrated outdoor advertising campaign, covering hoardings and banners at the airports and main streets in the three cities, as well as "Incredible India" branding on buses, bus shelters, trams and ta xis in Helsinki, Stockholm and Oslo.
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personality
Maytas Jiwalai, Sales Manager, Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok have been working in the hospitality industry for the last seven years. If you ask me what I like most about the hospitality industry and my profession I would say. for now, "living Four Seasons life". Working with Four Seasons people get you to know what exceptional services are. We treat each other the way we treat our guests at the hotel. I' m lucky enough to have full support from my family. My dad is a real estate businessman investing in condominiums, hotels and resorts in Thailand. He was the Deputy Governor, Bangkok, and was in-charge of city planning and construction around 20 years ago. My mom is a full time housewife. My elder brother is a stock broker and invests in my dad's real state business as well. My younger brother is a car columnist and racer. I spend my free time watching movies. My favourite movie is Love Actually, a 2003 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis with Bill Nighy, Gregor Fisher and Rory MacGregor in the lead roles. The movie follows the lives of eight very different couples dealing with their love in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London. I also love the atmosphere in the movie, Christmas time!! I like romantic comedies and definitely fantasy and action films. And at times I go to a spa and get a Thai massage which is very refreshing My favourite holiday destination is New Zealand. When you are in New Zealand, you Maytas Jiwalai can just cut all links with the outside world and be with the nature. My dream holiday idea is to go to a remote tourist village with lots of snow and romantic places. My favourite sport is Basketball, which I have played for over 20 years and my favourite team is Houston Rockets from NBA. I always look at people who have less than us, work harder than us, suffer more than us and still move on - for inspiration. In my professional life my role model is Pipat Patthananusorn, my immediate boss at Four Seasons. He has always been a source of inspiration ever since I met him one-and-half year ago. He has a clear vision and goal for his career. Many things I have learned from him and still learning. The most challenging moment in my professional career was when I had to explain to the outside world the situation in Bangkok after the airport closure and protests early this year. I'm a BBA graduate from Kasetsart University in Bangkok and did my MA in International Tourism and Hospitality Management, Joint Programme offered by Southern Cross University, Australia and Naresuan University, Thailand.
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he Incredible India campaign, showcasing India as a destination of choice for global tourists, has won a rare UK award for the most creative media campaign using ethnic imagery. The 'GG2 Campaign of the Year' award was presented to Jagdish Chander, Director, India tourist Of fice, UK and Ireland, by Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair last night. The incredible India campaign launched in 2002 was aimed at drawing the discerning tourist to India. Since then the eye-catching imagery has won awards and helped boost tourist arrivals to the country, the citation said. "The worldwide campaign showcased India as a destination of choice for art aficionados, culture vultures, film buf fs and thrill seekers and spa lovers," it said.
MOT to Train Drivers
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o train tourist drivers for Commonwealth Games, Kumari Selja, Indian Minister for Tourism, said that training would be imparted to auto-rickshaw and ta xi drivers in Delhi. The training curriculum is being finalised. Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA) has been requested to assist the ministry of tourism in achieving this goal. An estimated 5,000 tourist drivers will be provided training before July 2010 in order to improve the overall service standards and tourist experience in the run up to the Commonwealth Games 2010.
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Incredible India Campaign Gets UK Award
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family
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Moushumi Chakraborty
Behind every successful professional there is a family which stands by him or her. With out an understanding spouse and a supportive family it is difficult to succeed in today's highly competitive professional world which demands a lot of time energy and attention. But this support seldom comes to the limelight. In this section ASIAN TRAVELLER introduces the families behind successful persons who work in the travel and tourism industry.
oushumi Chakraborty, wife of Biswajit Chakraborty (General Manager, The Leela Kempinski, Kovalam Beach, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram), like to call herself a homemaker rather than a house wife. "Because usually women convert a house into a home for the rest of the family", she adds. An Economics graduate who has worked in the travel industry for eight years, Moushumi met Biswajit Chakraborty during a Goan Food Festival held at Taj West End in Bangalore. Biswajit was the Product Manager there. One year later, in 1989, they got married in Bangalore. They have a daughter, Riddhi, who is 16 years old and a son, Riheek, who is 11 years old. They are in Kerala for the last four years. She loves the greenery of the state and the slow paced life in Thiruvananthapuram. But "People in Thiruvananthapuram are very hesitant to accept you socially. It takes a long time to make friends, especially with the local Malayalis who have always lived here". What are the qualities you admire in your husband? He is much disciplined in his daily activities. Biswajit never sulks or holds a grudge. He is ver y tenacious and always strives for excellence in his work. "But here is no such thing as working hours", she complains "Biswajit is on call 24x7. There are guests and clients who do not think twice before calling him at 7.00 am on a Sunday morning!" At the same time there are a lot of things she love about his 24x7 job. Living in the hotel, the opportunity to meet new people and the chance to live in dif ferent cities are some of them. "We have lived in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Kathmandu. Every move has brought new experiences. Although my children
have had to change schools a countless times, it has given them life experiences that cannot be taught in a classroom", she quips. How do you suppor t him in his profession? I tr y to suppor t Biswajit on the work front in any way I can. This ranges from keeping my eyes and ears open for any sales leads, ideas for food and beverage promotions and of course managing the home front. I usually look af ter ever ything to do with the children's schooling, family obligations etc. so that Biswajit can concentrate on his work. Thankfully, living in Kovalam has allowed Biswajit more time with the family compared to some of the other cities we have lived in. Biswajit has more time for the family during low season. It is a dif ferent stor y during the high season ofcourse. Living on the proper t y makes a dif ference too. He manages to drop in during the day, sometimes he has dinner with us and then goes back to work so life is good! How do you spend your holidays?
Moushumi Chakraborty with husband Biswajit Chakraborty, daughter Riddhi and son Riheek
All four of us share a love for travelling. Bangalore being our hometown, we make sure we are there during some of the summer holidays. We also tr y and travel to an international destination ever y year if we can manage it. Earlier when the children were much
English and Hindi movies. She has just started practising Yoga. She used to love cooking and still makes a couple of her 'signature dishes' like Andhra biryani , Rajma chawal, paneer mutter and Bengali style prawn malai curry but "only when her family blackmails her".
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smaller, we would leave the children with our parents but now that the children are older, they travel with us. We all have different favourite spots. My son loves the food in Malaysia, my daughter loves the water and beach so Maldives is a favourite of hers. Although Biswajit and I have travelled to diverse places such as Europe, USA, Egypt etc, my personal favourite holiday destination is London. London offers you something new with ever y visit. It has something for ever yone - ar t, culture, enter tainment and histor y. For her the unforgettable moments are the birth of our t wo children. "Our daughter very agreeably arrived on a Sunday making sure Biswajit did not have to take a day of f from work! Our son, on the other hand announced his arrival by making sure we all ran around in panic for days! We all have a good laugh about it now although it wasn't all that funny at the time." Moushumi loves reading fiction and also watching movies - mostly
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mice
IT&CMA to Project Asian MICE Sector he 17th edition of Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and 12th Corporate Travel World (CTW) will be held at the Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand. The mega event is a one-stop business platform in Asia Pacific for both Meetings, Incentives, Darren Ng Managing Director Conventions TTG Asia and Exhibitions (MICE) and corporate travel professionals to showcase their products and services to international buyers and corporate travel managers under one roof. IT&CMA, Themed "Feast on Asia!", is one of the premier trade exhibitions promotes the region as a destination for MICE and CTW helps the destination to be a leading conference and exhibition on travel and entertainment management in the Asia-Pacific. It aims to offer a world of new opportunities and experiences for both buyers and sellers. More than 2,000 leading industry professionals from AsiaPacific are expected to attend the event. The Double-bill event cover all the dream destinations and itineraries, inspiring products and services from India to Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Australia and New
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Zealand. The Asia-Pacific is expected to receive more than 100 million MICE tourists by 2015, up from 40 million in 2002. Corporate travel in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to make up about a third of a global market worth USD900 billion with China, Japan and India leading the way. The targeted visitors at IT & CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2009 Bangkok include Corporate Travel Managers and Planners, HR / Administration Managers, Procurement Managers, Training Managers, Travel Management Companies. While the exhibitors are Adventure & Incentive Travel Suppliers, Airlines and Airline Alliances, Airports, Audio Visual Companies, Catering Companies, Coach, Car and Railway Operators, Convention & Exhibition Venues, Convention & Meeting Bureaus, Credit/ Charge Card Companies, Cruise Lines, Destination Management Companies
(Inbound), Event Staging & Entertainment Suppliers, Gifts and Premiums Suppliers, Global Distribution Systems, Golf Courses, Green Product and Service Providers, Hotel Reservation Systems, Hotels & Resorts, Luxury Trains, National/State Tourism Organisations, Professional Conference Organisers, Registration Companies, Service Apartments, Spas, Speaker Bureaus, Team Building Companies, Theme Parks, Theming & Decorative Specialists, Trade Associations, Travel Management Companies, Trade Publications/Media, Travel/Meetings Technology Companies, Travel-related Suppliers. Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia the organizer of the event says, "The 2008 show was a huge success for us, having received more than 2,000 delegates. We are committed to growing IT&CMA and CTW as the leading business and education platform in
Bangkok Convention Centre, CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand
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Asia-Pacific, which showcase MICE destinations, source for products and services and enhance knowledge for all participants." "Delegates can look forward to savouring a banquet of events, from the business, education, social and networking aspects. The newest, hottest and best destinations, products and services in the Asia-Pacific region's meetings and business travel sectors will be served up in the highlyanticipated 2009 doublebill event. More than 350 companies and organisations from 35 countries are expected to exhibit at the event." IT&CMA and CTW is partnered by different institutions in Thailand including TCEB, TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand), TICA (Thailand Incentive and Convention Association), TCT (Thailand Tourism Council), AOT (Airports of Thailand) and national carrier THAI (Thai Airways International) as well as different international media including Asian Traveller.
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SEPTEMBER 2009
column e all know who Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin are. But how many of us have even heard of these names James Lovell, William Anders, and Fred Haise? The latter triad was the backup crew for the Apollo 11 Mission. They would have been the heroes had for some reason the Neil Armstrong & Co could not make it to the moon as scheduled. Lovell, Anders, and Haise had undergone the same kinds of tests, trainings, and drills just as
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world looks upon Armstrong as the Man of the Moon. I personally feel the real hero of the mission was Michael Collins. He went all the way from the earth to the moon some 384401 kms (the orbital radius), roughly equivalent to a quarter million miles but held himself aloof in the Command Module just 105 kms away from the moon only to let his other two space mates land on the moon! Orbiting all alone and for two revolutions over the dark side of the moon with no communication links to
Seven Wonders of the World today. It was built to commemorate his love for his wife and to eternalize his grief for her loss when she died in labour. Shah Jahan himself is supposed to have composed these lines about the Taj: ‘The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs, And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes’ But then there is another greater love story lying beneath. As the grand edifice was nearing completion
Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin (at right) and James Lovell, William Anders, and Fred Haise (at left)
Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin had gone through. Only thing is that they are now not known and not remembered even as NASA celebrated the fortieth year of man's success over moon last July and felicitated the other trio. All the same these men did a tremendous job without really bothering about name or fame. That is the mark of true professionalism! Even among the more fortunate three, the whole
his mates or the earth, he was the true hero for his courageous deed and his magnanimous act of letting the other men have the glory! We will be able to deliver a great job as long as we do not worry about who gets the credit for the same. Taj Mahal is known for its epic beauty. The mausoleum built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan at Agra for his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal is one of the
(1653), one day the Emperor announced that he would visit the tomb next day. He decreed the architect who was doing the tomb that the marble work should exhibit all his anguish and grief in deep pathos. The architect went home and was restlessly mulling over the critical execution. Seeing him sleepless and anxious, his wife asked what his worry was. He mentioned about the royal order. His wife told 'You don't worry! You would
Emperor Shah Jahan (L) and Mumtaz Mahal (R)
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column make it for sure!' and then she went away. Wondering what she meant by that and not hearing anything from her further, he got up and went to see her in her room. There to his utter shock and horror, his wife was already hanging herself and dead. The man was totally devastated and woebegone. He was crying his heart out the entire night. Despite the tragedy at home, he had to go for his work the next day because of the king's visit and the deadline. Bottling up all his emotions, he let all his grief and agony pour out onto his work, the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal! Folklore says that the standing edifice is not the Emperor's feel for his loving Queen but a poor, nameless architect's deep grief for his wife, again nameless! Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC in
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his bid to conquer Central Asia. King Porus of India despite his smaller army as compared with Alexander's gave a tough fight back. So unyielding was he that Alexander feared for the first time in his life that he would be a loser. According to the lesser known legend, it was Alexander's wife Roxanne who engineered his success over Porus.The eve of the decisive day of the ongoing war was the day of the Indian festival Rakhsa Bhandan - the day a sister would tie a thread over the wrist of her brother or any adopted male for the day who in turn becomes her brother and by way of reciprocation the brother offers her protection and gifts. To help her husband win the war, Roxanne devised a strategy. In the middle of night, as the day turned the
Alexander and Porus - a Painting
Alexander and Porus - in coins
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Rakhsa Bhandan Day, she stole across to the camp of Porus. A surprised Porus welcomed his opponent's wife in all decorum befitting a royalty. Even before he could say anything, Roxanne took his wrist into her hand and tied the Rakhi, the thread of bond. Accepting her as his sister, King Porus asked her what kind of gift he should get for her. A smart Roxanne just made the plea that the next day, in the final battle, her husband should emerge the winner. The majestic king acceded to her request as his Rakhsa Bhandan gift and willingly gave in the fight. The rest is history! For every winner known, there is another real winner behind. Perhaps the phrase 'Unsung, Unknown, Unheard' was invented for them!
SEPTEMBER 2009
indian panorama
Maharashtra Plans Scuba Diving Training Centre at Tarkali
Jammu & Kashmir to Develop Tourism Spots in Banihal
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n association with international training organisation, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) plans to open a scuba diving training centre at Tarkali in Sindhudurg by year-end. The scuba diving centre is the next step to promote water sport in the district. The approximate amount of investment for setting up the centre is Rs ten crore. Instructors from PADI will impart training and on completion of the one month training programme, trainees will be provided with an international certification. Each batch will comprise of 20 people.
ammu and Kashmir government has announced plans to develop virgin spots in Banihal, located 125 km from Srinagar, on the Srinagar-Jammu National highway as tourist destinations. The state government will explore all possibilities to connect the previously inaccessible Mahumangat area with the National Highway. Forest clearance for completing the under construction road in this regard will be expeditiously taken up with the concerned authorities.
Assam Chief Minister Woos Investors MD. SABIR NISHAT
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ata group will set up a fivestar hotel in Guwahati. This was revealed by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He added that the group has also proposed to set up Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Guwahati. Tata Housing has also suggested building a new "eco-city" in Assam. The group also wants to take up development of commercial, enter tainment real estate in the State. Gogoi who was in Mumbai recently held discussions with several top honchos of Indian business. The Chief Minister asked Chairman of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata to be part of the investment council which the Assam Government has proposed to set up. The Chief Minister informed that business tycoon Ratan Tata will be visiting the State soon. "A team from the Tata's BPO arm will be visiting the State to explore the possibilities of starting a 150-200 BPO/call centre at Guwahati. The
Japanese tourists was also discussed. The group has evinced keen interest in infrastructure sector and of fered to invest in construction of roads under Build Operate Transfer (BOT). The Chief Minister has sought proposal and assured that he will approve as it will be the first such proposal. The group has also shown interest in investing in the proposed bridge between Guwahati and North Guwahati. The Chief Minister also had Tarun Gogoi Chief Minister, Assam discussion with Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing group has agreed in principal to Director of Mahindra and Mahindra invest in IT enabled industries," group. He added, "We have Gogoi said. requested the group to explore the The proposal of starting a hotel possibility of projecting the management institute by Tata Pabitora wildlife sanctuary as a group was also discussed. Mr possible tourist hub under the Gogoi informed that the group has "Club Mahindra", as this sanctuary sought land adjacent to the has the highest density of one proposed hotel project in Guwahati horned Rhino population. The for the purpose. Development of a group has promised to send a series of golf courses to attract team to assess the feasibility."
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According to Gogoi, "Mahindra group has also shown interest in putting up an assembling unit in Assam," He further said that J.N. Godrej of Godrej & Boyce has shown interests in the educational sector. "Mr Godrej emphasized on projecting Assam as an educational hub in the Northeast and of fered help in organizing an international conference on education in Guwahati. The group will also make a baseline study on the health sector. We have informed him about the decision to set up state investment council and have sought support for that by accepting its membership." The Chief Minister also met Ravi Kastia, Business Head and Group Executive President, Aditya Birla Group. "We have requested the group to establish cement plant and send proposal on partnership with the State Government in seeking coal blocks."
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trends
Travel Communities
An Effective Way of Evaluating Holidays bout 30.8 million Germans now rely on the internet as a source of information when making their travel plans. Of this figure, around seven million use travel communities as a basis for making a final decision about their journey. A further five million intend to rely on these virtual communities for making their travel decisions in the future. These are the findings of a special survey by the Internet Travel Marketing Federation (VIR) as part of its representative survey "RA online". Questions targeted exclusively at online users on the subject of travel communities reveal that it is above all the genuineness of the evaluations and entries
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that is of vital importance within these communities and evaluation platforms. Making a choice from many different opinions in order to form one's own view ranks second in importance. Especially among 45 to 55year old internet users more than half regard it as extremely important for the person making the evaluation to have actually been to the location, whereas the majority of younger users (16 to 24), i.e. more than 60 per cent, are quite "relaxed" about this particular criterion. When dealing with travel community websites women are definitely more critical than men. Of the women who were questioned, 48 per cent stated that they attach major
importance to the quality and authenticity of the individual evaluations. It is also evident that it is predominantly those people in lower income groups who make use of travel communities and whose decisions are more likely to be influenced by them than is the case with middle and upper income groups. Claudia BrĂśzel, Member of the Managing Committee of VIR: "Authenticity and a wide range of opinions are major criteria in assessing trustworthiness, especially in travel communities. Operators should therefore concentrate on ensuring that entries are of the required quality. VIR members' portals have already achieved considerable success with their communities on this
One third of all online users obtain information about travel from the internet. Travel communities exert a growing influence on holiday decision-making. The main criterion is the genuineness of the evaluations, according to a representative poll by the Internet Travel Marketing Federation (VIR).
exciting market." There is no doubt about the growing importance of travel communities. Travel tips, hotel evaluations, reports by restaurant critics, travel diaries and travel pictures taken by members all provide greater clarity, offer inspiration to other travellers and encourage people to compare their
travel experiences. "In particular the discussions about the influence and power of travel communities in tourism taking place at this year's ITB Berlin Convention reveal the vast potential offered by such platforms", according to Dr. Martin Buck, Director of ITB Berlin.
awards
WTTC Invites Entries for Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
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he World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has invited tourism companies and organisations from around the world that can demonstrate best practice in sustainable tourism development to submit their applications for the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The deadline for applications is December 2, 2009. Destination Stewardship Award: This award goes to a destination country, region, state, or town - which comprises a net work of tourism enterprises and organisations that show dedication to, and success in, maintaining a programme of sustainable tourism management at the destination level, incorporating social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects as well as multistakeholder engagement. Conservation Award: Open to any tourism
business, organisation or attraction, including lodges, hotels, or tour operators, able to demonstrate that their tourism development and operations have made a tangible contribution to the conservation of natural heritage. Community Benefit Award: This award is for a tourism initiative that has ef fectively demonstrated direct benefits to local people, including capacity building, the transfer of industry skills, and support for community development. Global Tourism Business Award: Open to any large company from any sector of Travel & Tourism - cruise lines, hotel groups, airlines, tour operators, etc - with at least 200 full-time employees and operating in more than one country or in more than one destination in a single country, this award recognises best practices in sustainable tourism at a large company level.
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Identif ying the
Distressed State Airline Syndrome R Pran S. Dasan
eams and reams of newsprint and truck-loads of A4 sized paper have already been published, recycled, re-published and re-recycled on business plans, revival strategies, privatization time-lines and what have you‌ even as our Government in its glorious impassivity pushes our national carrier to choose its manner of demise either swing on a worn noose made out of red-tape or drown in a sea of red ink! Actually this is not just typical of Air India. Indeed if there is one industry in which the state needs to keep itself farthest, it's the airline business. Yet historically, airlines by virtue of the international nature of their business - have been among the most regulated industries globally. Over Prof. Rigas Doganis the past half a century, observation suggests that irrespective of their global location or stature, a vast majority of stateowned airlines have endured and succumbed to economic and organizational distress. So I decided to take a closer look at symptoms that tend to commonly af flict state owned airlines. Typical of these airlines are the fact that they all invariably have serious financial tribulations. In most cases the real losses of these carriers are masked by the fact that they have received (or continue to receive) indirect subsidies from
their governments which artificially reduced their costs. These could come about through reduced or heavily subsidized fuel, landing and parking charges, unpaid invoices to other government agencies and government guarantees for loans on aircraf t purchase or other capital acquisitions. Furthermore, these obsolete models of airline business from a more socialistic age are also usually undercapitalized with huge debts and debt to equity ratios that are far too high. To quote Professor Rigas Doganis, former Chairman of a classic state owned distressed
comes in, sets back any progress that may have been made under the earlier regime. It allows other centres of power such as employee unions to gain the upper hand. Overstaf fing, power ful unions usually several, form yet another critical point of pressure for the typical state owned carrier. The fact that union leaders, (usually from amongst staf f) change far less of ten than the Chairman/Managing Director and other top management of the airline (who especially in India of ten come from the IAS or other industries), of ten means that
carrier Olympic Airways, "distressed state airlines are of ten overpoliticized". In return for providing direct and indirect support such as guarantees for capital purchases and covering annual deficits, governments expect to be able to influence the airline's management and impose various obligations on the airline. Frequent changes in management for no logical reason by Governments are one of the ways of expressing this power and retaining control. Frequent returns to the drawing boards at regular inter vals whenever a new management
management - relatively less erudite on airline issues, have to deal with well informed and more knowledgeable union representatives, thereby giving the lat ter a distinct edge during negotiations which may not always be in the interests of the carrier. Unions have over the years used their power to negotiate working conditions that drastically reduce labour productivity and force the airline to take on ex tra staf f to cover the gaps. Once granted it's ex tremely dif ficult for airline management to take back concessions that their predecessors have granted and to renegoti-
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ate improved work practices. Lack of a clear and explicit development strategy - itself a product of discontinuity in management, fur ther creates a bureaucratic structure in distressed state carriers. Inter ference in aircraf t selection, bias towards manufacturers from a friendly country, operations on unprofitable routes purely for geo-political considerations are all unnecessary deadweights that stymie any move towards a professional and well run air transport system. The pyramidal management structure which is
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very common in these airlines, breeds a culture where managers fear taking decisions and bureaucracy stifles initiative. While centralized management may well have been the order of the day during a more regulated regime, it comes across as an anachronistic relic of a bygone era in today's deregulated and highly competitive environment where decisions have to be taken quickly by the person most closely involved with the process. Finally most distressed state airlines of fer relatively poor service quality both in the air and
on the ground. This is usually due to a combination of factors - both cultural and institutional such as inability to replace non-performing staf f, poor management and strong unions who are of ten unwilling to rela x outdated work rules and conditions in order to improve customer services. In case of our national carrier, besides the problems stated above, they have the added concern of two completely dif ferent and diverse work cultures (one from the erstwhile Indian Airlines and one from Air India) now very visibly clashing, as a simmering lack of distrust for management from either side becomes very apparent. So is there a solution or do state owned carriers just curl up and die…? Actually state owned carriers never die… they just continue to lead a long, unhappy and tortured existence on a state sponsored ventilator that will be funded by the ta xpayer. The solutions for the transformation of state owned carriers including our
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very own Air India do not lie in mere business plans or in restructuring models that globally renowned consultants draw up. Nor will salvation be at tained by joining a global alliance. Change - permanent and lasting will not come till such time that somebody in the Government has - besides the chutzpah - the inclination to let go of the carrier to professionals who know how the business should be run. It's not simply about privatization full or partial, but about an Nandan Nilekani unselfish understanding by the Government that the aviation sector is one of the key verticals for India to realize its dreams of being an economic powerhouse and AI - its global brand ambassador. Maybe Nandan Nilekani should work on giving AI a new identity…
SEPTEMBER 2009
indian panorama
Ladakh Festival
Celebrating Culture and Heritage
nion Minister for Tourism, Kumari Selja has recently inaugurated the fortnight long Ladakh Festival recently in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir. Nawang Rigzin, Minister for Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir and Chering Dorjay, Chairman CEC, LAHDC along with other dignitaries were also present at the function. Speaking at the inaugural function, Kumari Selja said the festival will help further in showcasing its culture, heritage and way of life, depicting different ethnic race all over Ladakh. The colourful Ladakh Festival is now becoming an important event in the tourism calendar of the
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country and will attract tourists from all over the globe. The Ladakh festival held from first to 15th September 2009 has many attractions including polo matches, music concerts, mask dance, motorbike-cycle expedition to Khardung-la (YHAI), Thanka Exhibition, Archery, Tsomori-ri Festival, River Rafting, Nubra Festival and Folk Songs. The minister also announced that the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned several projects to states and encouraged dialogue between the Adventure Tour Operators' Association and State Governments. The vibrant heritage, culture and cuisine are the main
attractions of Ladakh which was the center of trade. Adventure tourism is another product that has potential for growth. The Ladakh Region is ideally suited for different forms of adventure tourism like rock climbing, river rafting, para gliding, mountaineering etc. Apart from Tented Accommodation the Ministry of Tourism has recently announced guidelines for Caravan and
put on the infrastructure development at the important, existing and potential tourist sites in Leh and Ladakh. Ministry of Tourism has a scheme called Infrastructure Development of destinations and circuits under which the financial support for developing public amenities like toilets, budget accommodation, parking facilities etc., Ministry of Tourism has also
Caravan Parks which could provide the impetus for creating infrastructure required for encouraging adventure tourism. Responsible Tourism is another tourism product being promoted by the ministry. More thrust will be
sanctioned one Food Craft Institute at Leh to train the local youth for providing trained and skilled manpower to the hotel and hospitality industry in Ladakh region and Rs. two crore has been released to the state.
Apple Festival in Himachal
Manali Gets More Tourists
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imachal Pradesh government in collaboration with the Confedera tion of Indian Industry (CII) will organise Apple Festival- 09 in Shimla on October 3 and 4. Asha Swaroop, Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh said that the t wo-day Festival would be organised to promote the fruit for which the state is famous. The Festival will also promote tourism as people from outside the state will participate in the Festival and this will help to promote tourism.
ourist arrivals in Manali have increased by 25 per cent this year. The number of tourists visiting Kullu district and Manali has increased by 25 per cent compared to last year. Thousands of tourists visit the place every year generating business and employment for local people. More than ten million tourists visit Himachal Pradesh every year and most of them visit Kullu-Manali region.
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thailand Thailand, a land with numerous attractions has been drawing visitors from all around the world even from ancient times. The traditional Thai hospitality is some thing that has to be experienced. Being a long stretch of land surrounded by the azure seas and a rich climate prevailing, there is no wonder the country has become a popular destination in the global tourism map. The natural attractions of the place are well complemented by the historical, cultural and the innovative tourism products offered by Thailand. It is also a place that offers a wide range of activities for the visitors.
thailand
Pattaya to be Developed as a Family Destination Pattaya is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand - famous for its pubs and entertainment tourism. Once a fishing town, Pattaya first boomed as a 'rest and recreation" destination during the Vietnam War and developed into a family-orientated seaside destination in later years. Now Pattaya attracts not just local families but holidaymakers from far and wide. Efforts by the local authorities over the past few years have improved the facilities and infrastructure. In an attempt to change the profile of the destination the authorities have recently come up with a 'Restore Pattaya Tourism Campaign'. Itthipol Kunplome, Mayor of Pattaya City spoke to Asian Traveller about his vision to make Pattaya a complete tourist destination. Excerpts: What are the main initiatives that are taken to recreate the image of Pat taya as a complete tourist destination? We have just completed some of the projects and campaigns to induce a bet ter picture of Pattaya. Our earlier strategy was to support dif ferent areas of the tourism industry, especially the entertainment one. Now we are emphasizing on the family travel markets also. We have plans to improve the attractions for the families including the beaches, amusement parks, theme parks, shopping centers etc. On the other hand people who want to visit Pat taya for entertainment, the area for them will be restricted to the South of Pat taya. We try to control and not to give licenses to new pubs and bars in the other areas which house the residential area and schools. We are supporting many events and activities like the New Year celebrations in which we invest more that ten million bhats. We invite international press to take par t in these events. We also conduct may other international sport events like Pat taya marathon and golf. With these sorts of initiatives the tourists will get a feel about the variety of at tractions the place of fers and thereby change the image of the place in the tourism map. We are giving more
thrust to the 'sea, sand, sun and ser vice'. What is the idea behind the 'Restore Pat taya Tourism Campaign'? We were af fected by the world economic slowdown, some political factors and later the swine flu. At this juncture we set up a committee to restore the tourism industry in Pat taya city with the Governor of the province as the Chairman and me, the Pattaya Mayor, as its Secretary. The commit tee has representations of dif ferent associations, tourism clubs and other people who have concern over the industry in the commit tee. We have submit ted proposals for subsidies from the government. We have requested for 255 million dollars from the Government to support our campaign. We plan it to do in three sections and the first one is in our own city and provincial backyard for the promotion of domestic tourism. The second section we are setting up is international events like the Asian Week, in which we invite many artists from Asian countries to visit our city and hold concerts and thereby become our tourism ambassadors. What are your plans to improve the facilities for the tourists in your city? Our plan is not only to improve the image, but also do dif ferent
things like improving the safety of the tourists. We have invested some money on safety measures especially for technological tools like cct v etc. We have a project to maintain the traf fic and are also planning to start a tram service to solve the traf fic problems. What is the USP of Pattaya tourism? The city of Pattaya has many attractions. If you want to enjoy the heritage side and the old life style and the life of fisher-folk the place to visit is north of Pat taya. If you are looking for beaches and luxury hotels the ideal place is central Pat taya. Southern Pattaya is place for entertainment, bars etc. The advantage Pattaya has is that it is a city which of fers variety. The destination is of reasonable prices. You go shop more than you expect and you can enjoy dif ferent kinds of international cuisines here. How important is tourism to the economy of Pat taya? Tourism is the major income generating industry as it constitutes about 90 per cent of the economy. Agriculture and other industries contribute only a small segment of it. According to the numbers given by the ministry of industries and the Tourism Authority of Thailand we hosted about six million tourists in 2007 and we earned about 5000 million Bhats. The number has decreased about
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10 to 15 per cent in the year 2008 i.e about 5.8 million tourists and the income generated is about 4900 million. There were many factors like the swine flu, which obstructed us to meet our goals. What is your vision for Pattaya city as its mayor? We can do some administrative improvement as we have a principle to manage Pat taya. If our beaches get dirty we get more of ficers to create awareness among the people and the tourists. We also want the pollution in check. We are also bringing in a new traf fic strategy. We also try to use the concept of good governance by making the public to get involved and when we do the projects the people know and they support us. We are also keen not only in changing the image but the activities. We are bringing up MICE as we have a five star convention centre in Pattaya. We are also trying to make the city as a year round destination rather than the traditional tourist season from October to March. What are your major source markets? Our major markets include India, Russia, Korea and China. We also have large number of tourists coming from Western Europe especially from the Scandanavian countries as well as US and Canada.
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thailand
WHERE TO GO IN
Thailand
Bangkok angkok, the capital city and the largest city of Thailand is one of the prime tourist at tractions of South East Asia. It is also one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities,
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Market, Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), Wat Pho, Chao Phraya River & Waterways, Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of Emerald Buddha), The National Museum, Vimanmek Palace, Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo with high white walls spans an area of about a square
and temples of the past are reproduced with vigour. Phra Thi Nang Vimanmek and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall Vimanmek Palace is located behind Bangkok's National Assembly and is the world's largest building made entirely of golden teak. The three storey wooden palace has 81 rooms, halls, excluding terraces and verandahs. Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall (The Support Museum), a one storey teak building built in the reign of
which is provides a range of attractions suiting dif ferent travellers. Created as the Thai capital in 1782 by the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty, Bangkok is a national treasure house and Thailand's spiritual, cultural, political, commercial, educational and diplomatic centre. It is also savoured as a destination for blistering nightlife and shopping. Some of the main attractions in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, Chinatown (Yaowarat), Floating
mile. The palace consists of several buildings with highly decorated architecture. The Royal chapel, Wat Phra Kaeo, which is in the same compound, houses the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand. The Ancient City houses Monuments, traditional houses,
King Rama V, is situated on the east wing of Vimanmek Throne Hall which is the first handicraf t museum in Thailand.
historical identity. This tourist resort combines the attractions of a modern holiday destination with the charm and fascination of a still active fishing port. Hua Hin literally means stone head in Thai. There are many leisure activities in Hua Hin ranging from watersports to golf apar t from the warm sunshine and the white beaches. There are many fabulous parks and peaks, historical sites, shopping opportunities, caves and waterfalls nearby. There are some local beaches near
Hua Hin like Khao Takiab, Suan Son and Khao Tao (Haad Sai Noi). The traditional Thai Hospitality along with the Thai massage and the beautiful landscapes takes you to another world. While most other Thai holiday destinations cater mainly to foreign tourists, Hua Hin is a holiday resort for both foreigners and Thais. Khao Kalok is a long beach with a concentration of good restaurants and has a large rock outcrop with a hole through it. Ban Krut, Bangsaphan, Ao Manao (Prachuab) are the other noted beaches here. Koh Talu, a small island ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. Diving and snorkelling trips can be taken out to the islands of Koh Ngam Yai and Koh Ngam Noi.
Hua Hin
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he traditional Thai resort lying 281 kilometers south of Bangkok is the oldest beach resort of Thailand. Hua Hin still remains the major attraction among the beaches of Thailand and has grown into one with word-class facilities. Despite the continuous development, it has retained its environmental aspects and its
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thailand
Phuket
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huket is situated in one of the southern provinces of Thailand and is one of the largest islands of the country. The name Phuket is derived from the Malay word 'bukit' meaning hill as the island appears like one from a distance. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by a bridge. Earlier the island was one of the major trading routes
bet ween India and China and was frequently mentioned in foreign trader's ship logs. The traditional Thai hospitality and the Thai massage are still the best ambas-
Chiang Mai sadors of tourism here. Phuket, with its gorgeous beaches has an ideal place to rela x and soak up the sun. It is also a center for activities like diving, sailing, golf and other water sports along with all popular activities. It is also fast becoming a sailing centre for Asia. The major beaches from nor th to south are Mai Khao, Nai Thon and Nai Yang, Bang Thao, Surin and Pansea Beach, Laem Sing, Kamala Beach, Surin Beach, Kalim Beach, Patong Beach, Karon and Karon Noi, Kata
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Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Nai Han and Ao Sen, Ya Nui Beach, etc. There are 18-hole golf courses golfers and numerous reefs, dive spots for the divers. The night life is vibrant here. The dizzy array of bars and various types of restaurants adds to the flavour. It is also a shopper's destination. The shopping happens mainly in the night. Phuket is a melting pot of Buddhists, ThaiChinese, Muslims and sea gypsies living in peace and harmony. The events and festivals at the place is another attraction for the people traveling to the region.
hiang Mai, is located among some of the highest mountains in the country 700 km north of Bangkok. The city stands on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river. Chiang Mai is also a place with great historic importance and it features many monuments of the old city which mark the seven hundred year history of the city. The main attractions are the Walls and Gates of the old city, The Three Kings Monument and the old city center, The Kamphaeng Din, Khuang Chang Phuak, Khuang Singh, The White Chedi etc. The city also served as a major center for handcraf ted goods, umbrellas, jewelry (particularly silver) and woodcar ving. There are a number of religious sites to visit in this part of Thailand. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is the most famous temple standing on Doi Suthep hill, while Wat Chiang
Pattaya
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attaya which is located 150 km north of Bangkok is one of the most popular enter tainment tourist destinations that of fers great beaches, beer and go-go bars, and
a wide array of sport activities. The main sweep of the bay area is divided into t wo principal beachfronts. Pat taya Beach is parallel to city centre, and is the main destination for bathers and loungers with the section from Central Road (Pat taya Klang) south to the harbor forming part of the core of the town's restaurants, motorcycle hire, and night at trac-
tions. Adventure tourism and Golf is a speciality of the region. Activities include go-cart racing, underwater trips in tourist submarines, Bungee jumping, Leisure flying, Horse Riding, Artificial clif f climbing, Diving etc. Khao Phra Tam Nak or Khao Phra Bat, a small hill in South Pattaya, Hat Chom Thian a 6kilometre-long beach, Hat Wong Phra Chan beach on the northern side of Pattaya Bay, Underwater World, Institute of Marine Science Aquarium & Museum, Oasis Seaworld are the picnic and marine life spots in the city. Budhha Hill and Sanctuary of Truth are the spiritual destinations here. There are some cultural spots to visit in Pat taya. The Thai Dance shows, Thai ar t exhibitions, Thai
boxing contests etc. are also a treat for the visitors. Songkran, the Thai New Year (April 18-19) and Pattaya Festival is usually held in the mid of April with a series of events including has floral floats, a Miss Pat taya Beauty contest, a traditional aquatic sports competitions, castles, a fireworks display, fire crackers, arts and cultural performances, exhibitions and souvenirs for sale. Chonburi Buf falo Races held October, Ancestral Spirits Ceremony Festival, Koh Pra Sai Wan Lai
Festival at Bangsaen, Boon Klang Ban and Phanatnikhom Basketware Festival are the other attractions.
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Man: the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. Wat Phra Singh exhibiting northern Thai style architecture, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ched Yot, Wiang Kum Kam, Wat Umong a forest and cave wat in the foothills, Wat RamPoeng known for its meditation center and Wat Suan Dok a 14th century temple are the other major spots. There are also 20 churches, 13 mosques, t wo gurdwaras (Sikh Temples) and one Hindu temple in the area. The Chiang Mai is also a place with attractive nightlife. There is an array of rela xing bars, a few discotheques, and one street with many go-go bars. Chiang Mai has a large and famous night bazaar for arts, handicraf ts, and other products. There are some massage parlours and a number of Thai cooking schools in the city.
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Thai Government, Industry Move Vigorously To Revive Tourism
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he Royal Thai Government and the entire Thai tourism industry have expeditiously taken several measures to keep visitor flows moving in spite of tough economic times and global fears of swine flu. The government has approved measures to help local operators promote more domestic travel and international visitor arrivals. These involve financial help, waiver of visa fees, and a range of tactical marketing measures; such as special campaigns, especially via online media. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand said, "There is no doubt that these are challenging times. We are ex tremely happy to be receiving the ma ximum possible assistance and cooperation from right across the industry. Everybody realises the importance of travel and tourism to the country's economy." In January - April 2009, visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 4.7 million, down 14.7 per cent compared to the same period last year. While most markets showed varying rates of decline, Thailand saw an increase of almost 11.5 per cent in arrivals from the Middle East and a 3.6 per cent increase in arrivals from South Asia. For 2009, TAT initially projected 13.5 million visitor arrivals. However, due to the recent global and local developments, TAT is realigning its arrivals targets and marketing strategies in line with the market circumstances. Most of the help has been directed at the grassroots of the business community, especially Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. The Thai Cabinet has given
Banks and financial institutions will be requested to show leniency in their approach toward loans given to hotel and or tour operators who are not financially secure. For hotels, the government reduced the deposit amount for electricity usage. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) waived 30 per cent of the landing and airport fees for airlines for the period during which Bangkok's t wo airports were closed until 31 December 2009. The Thai government has agreed to ex tend the exemption of the visa fee for tourist visa applications until March 4, 2010. The exemption will apply to all applicants for a visa on arrival at all international airports in Thailand as well as those applying at Thai embassies abroad for stays longer than the period for which they are normally eligible. Furthermore, visitors are being given a 50 per cent discount for entrance fees to national parks, which include historical sites, wildlife reserves, and marine Juthaporn Rerngronasa Deputy Governor for Marketing national parks. Communications, TAT Marketing Measures A number of tourism marketing measures have also been apSMEs which are indebted to proved. These include restoring the government-owned financial image of Thailand worldwide by institutions. This fund will help pay launching special campaigns along two per cent for repayment of the with stepped up online marketing. loan by SMEs for a period of two A "Thailand Talk to the World" years. In addition, the government has project involves making 90-second allowed the companies to file as an vignettes to publicise the image and atmosphere of Thai tourism expense the amount paid for and distributing it to global media seminar fees within the country like CNN and BCC World. and the allowance is to be calcuSome marketing measures lated as double of this amount. feature inviting international media It has arranged for sof t loans and travel agents to see Thailand with a low interest rate from government financial agencies with and entice them to return with their friends and families as well as to zero per cent interest for a fix send their clients, readers and amount of time followed by a viewers to Thailand. flexible payment return plan. clearance to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) to of fer loans totalling Bt5 billion to smaller tourism operators. Of that amount, three billion baht has been allocated to help tourism SMEs who are in debt to the banks. This will help to subsidise the loans given by banks by paying an equivalent of t wo per cent interest for a period of two years. Another t wo billion baht loan was set up for tourism industry
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The "Welcome Back" project involves media briefings in major trade shows and arranging a Thailand Road Show in major markets; such as, China, India, Russia, and America. In turn, the "Thailand Real Time" campaign involves organising an online event and mini website to promote Thailand's image. The "Partner on Demand" campaign involves working with industry par tners to launch special packages, advertise in local media, promote the amazing value card and coupon, encourage overseas Thai residents to visit Thailand, attract seminars and exhibitions, etc. TAT has stepped up its online marketing presence with a number of websites. One campaign involves the Thailand Super Deal where tourists can find Thailand's best deal packages from hotels, tour operators, airlines, shopping centres, etc. On 1 June, the "Package Tour for Transfer Passengers" initiative was introduced. Transfer passengers making a stopover of 6 to 12 hours at Suvarnabhumi International Airport can take short tours of Bangkok and the surrounding area. The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has just published a directory of the MICE venues in Thailand. The "Venue Variety" directory promotes business events around Thailand with an "aim to boost awareness and confidence in Thailand as a dynamic business event destination". The 174-page directory has
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thailand information about business facilities in the five geographical areas of Thailand: Bangkok / Pat taya; Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai; Nakhon Ratchasima / Khon Kaen; Cha-am / Hua Hin and Phuket / Krabi / Phangnga. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced that its Bangkok Smile Card project will be launched this August. According to BMA Deputy Governor, Ms. Taya Teepsuvarn, the BMA will introduce a boat pass, add information booths, and designate certain roads as walking streets. The "Smile Cards" are part of a wider campaign that tags Bangkok as a "City of Smiles". About 100,000 Smile Cards are to be produced for tourists to pick up at BMA information booths. It will of fer discounts
for attractions, shopping, dining, night sightseeing, spa, golf, massage as well as medical treatment. Thai Airways International, the national airline, and Bangkok Airways, the country's leading privately-owned airline, have introduced special promotional campaigns to boost international and domestic travel within, to and from Thailand. The Thai Airways campaign, launched on 13 July, 2009, is called "Fly THAI Get More", a promotional airfare of fer valid on THAI's selected domestic and international routes. THAI's of fer is valid for return air tickets in Economy Class, at prices starting from 2,810 Baht for domestic destinations and 4,300
Baht for international destinations. A number of services are being of fered without ex tra charges; such as, up to 40 kg of check-in luggage allowance and lounge access per class of service entitlement. Passengers can make their own seat selections upon reservation. In turn, Bangkok Airways launched the "Flyer Pass" on 15 July, 2009. According to the airline, it is the first prepaid sets of tickets designed to fulfill dif ferent lifestyles for hassle-free and valuefor-money travel. The Flyer Pass is divided into four packs; each consisting of four flight sectors selectable from the card's designated destinations at prices starting from an all inclusive airfare of 9,000 Baht up to 29,000 Baht. It is available for online
booking via w w w.bangkokair.com/ FlyerPass and through Bangkok Airways Call Center 1771. These measures are all in addition to the ex tensive packages and promotions being of fered by hotels, tour operators and tourism attractions through their own sales and distribution outlets. Juthaporn concluded, "There is no doubt that all these campaigns further enhance our umbrella marketing slogan 'Amazing Thailand Amazing Value'. Whether one is coming to Thailand for a holiday, convention, business meeting, or visiting a friend or relative, our range of products and prices continue to of fer unbeatable value." She added, "There is no better time to visit Thailand than now."
Thailand Establishes Health Travel Industry Research Society he Health Travel Industry Research Society of Thailand (HTRIS Thailand), a nonprofit, private sector initiative, has been set up focusing on with three goals for the Thailand's international health travel industry. The Center will also act as a
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nations including Singapore, Malaysia, India and the Philippines. The research society also compiles white papers comprising data from media and market responders, from international industry consultants, as well as from national industry leaders and
media watchdog for Thailand's medical tourism industry by publishing information that helps maintain the nation's dominance in the industry as there is stif f competition from other Asian
government advisers. The Thailand HTI Research Society's white papers are writ ten reports of results and conclusions of its research collaboration activities. The research society coordi-
nates its activities with Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Af fairs, the Of fice of the Prime Minister, various government bodies, nongovernment organizations and representatives of the international medical travel industry. "The Research Society's role as industry watchdog and its goals of industry improvement and trade promotion meet an urgent need," says Secretary-General Niramit vijit, a retired professional with a sales career embracing top media companies including the Reader's Digest, Bangkok Post and Sing Sian Yit Pao. "The society's purpose is not only to analyze how the world market views the international service industries such as healthcare, travel, security, hospitality, wellness and tourism in Thailand," says Nirmit vijit, 'but also to ensure that the increasingly aggressive promotion from competing nations in the region do not overshadow Thailand's primacy in the region as a favorite medical travel destination.'
statistics released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand shows that visitor arrivals went down 19 per cent in Jan-March this year (3.2 million) compared to the same period last year.
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The Thai tourist industry earns some 540 billion baht (about 15.4 million USD) each year, comprising over 6 percent of Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) and employing over seven per cent of its work force. More recently however,
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thailand
Thai Massage
WHAT TO DO IN
Thailand
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he renowned Thai massage is one of the branches of Tradi tional Thai Medicine which involves stretching and massage without oil. The massage is done with the hands, feet, knees and elbows. on the floor on a futon, with comfortable clothes. Thai massage gives flexibility, oxygenation of blood, increasing flow of energy and quietening of the mind. The massage gives stimulation to the inner organs also. Thai massage operate on the theory that the body is permeated with air, which is inhaled into the lungs and which subsequently travels throughout the body along 72,000 pathways called "sen," or vessels. The therapists apply pressure to manipulate a handful of major sen lines by pressing certain points along these lines. The healing art, is believed to have been developed by Jivaka Komarabhaccha, physician to Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago. A typical Thai massage is 60 minutes to t wo hours long.
Thai Food
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hai cuisine has grown popular around the world over the years. The typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles of Thailand are well-known for being hot and spicy. The cuisine's theory is its balance of five fundamental flavors in each dish hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. Thai food is also known for its enthusiastic use of fresh (rather than dried) herbs and spices as well as fish sauce. Although it is known as a single cuisine, there are four dif ferent regional cuisines corresponding to the four main regions of the country which include Northern, Nor theastern (or Isan), Central, and Southern. Each cuisine has a share of similar foods or derived from neighboring countries. Southern curries tend to contain coconut milk and fresh turmeric, while northeastern dishes of ten include lime juice. The cuisine of Nor theastern (or Isan) Thailand is heavily influenced by Laos. A Thai meal usually includes a soup, a curry dish with condiments or a spiced salad, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables. The soup can be spicy, but the curry should be replaced by non spiced items.
Thai Beaches
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hailand's beaches and islands are considered to be some of the best in the world. Being one of the ideal places to unwind, for the weary travellers, the tourist spots in the coastline of Thailand of fer serenity and tranquility along with scenic beauty. The azure waters and the pleasing climate, it of fers a variety of at tractions and activities to the visitors. The crystal clear water and the underwater attractions especially underwater mountains, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and sof t corals, along with a rich variety of marine life including whale sharks, silver tip sharks and manta rays makes it a diving or snorkeling destination. Phuket, Phi Phi, Lanta, Koh Tao Krabi, Rayong, Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Chonburi, Koh Samui, Hua Hin and Cha-Am are the some of the major beach destinations in Thailand. Laem Sing Beach and Kamela Beach is some of the best sur fing seas in Thailand. The best time to go to Thailand's beaches is from December to March and the time to avoid is May - October because of the heavy rains.
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TAT to Open Office in Mumbai and Chennai India has become a very important market for Thailand with nearly 500, 000 travellers from India visiting the country every year. In this context Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) plans to open its second Indian office in Mumbai after New Delhi. TAT will also appoint a representative in Chennai soon, said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Director, TAT, India. Excerpts from the interview: haul markets such as Europe and East Asia. Thailand receives approximately 500,000 Indian visitors a year. What type of travellers do you get from here? Leisure How important is India travellers or business for Thailand Tourism? How many visitors you get travellers? Thailand receives both from India every year? leisure and business India has become a crucial market for Thailand's travellers from India. The ratio is around 70 per cent tourism industry. With the current economic slowdown leisure and 30 per cent globally, India as a short-haul business. Do you have any specific market has greatly strategy to promote compensated for the drop different segments? off in arrivals from long-
We will undertake a series of advertisement and public relation activities and marketing pushes to promote segments like Indian weddings, golf, corporate travel, and student travel. What plans do you have to attract more travellers from India? What are your marketing plans? We focus on four main areas: Advertising and PR, niche markets, joint promotions, and information production. We aim to work consistently with trade
Bid to Capitalize on Tourism Marketing Power of Thai Cuisine
Thailand Seeks More Trade Ties With India
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rit Kraichit ti, Ambassador of Thailand to India said that Thailand wants to enhance trade ties with India af ter the operationalisation of the Free Trade Agreement. India’s Look East Policy and Thailand’s Look West Policy would help in improving economic relations between the two nations. The envoy said besides trade and investment, tourism and education were other t wo areas where Thailand was looking at, and added that tourism would flourish as both the countries had similar cultural ties rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism. The volume of Indo-Thailand trade was around USD4 billion.
wo major events are to be held in Bangkok at the end of Septem ber 2009 to capitalize on the global popularity of Thai cuisine, boost exports of Thai agricultural products, and help visitors enjoy a higher quality of culinary experience across the vast range of dining options in the kingdom. The t wo major food events “Amazing Taste of Thailand” and “Thailand Brand” will be held concurrently bet ween September 24 to 28, jointly organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Department of Export Promotion, Thai Hotels Association, Association of Domestic Travel, and Thai Restaurant Association. Thai cuisine is popular all over the world because it is nutritious, delicious, and inexpensive. Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, there are plans to increase the number of Thai restaurants overseas from 13,000 locations in 2009 to 15,000 locations in 2010 as part of the second phase of Thailand’s “Kitchen of the World” project, aimed at boosting Thai food exports.
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Thailand Show in New Delhi
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estination Thailand, a Thailand theme fair, will be organized in New Delhi, India, from September 26 to 28 at Select Citywalk, Saket. At this three-day event, one can enjoy Thai cultural shows, taste Thai cuisine and fruits, learn Thai cooking, try traditional Thai massage, and shop Thai products and handicraf ts.The weekend will be filled with opportunities where one can eat Thai, drink Thai, see Thai, and feel Thai.
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partners such as travel agents and airlines. We concentrate on giving personalized service to the travel trade rather than embarking on a mass communication campaign targeting the public because of budget limitation. Do you have plans to establish more offices in India? Our TAT Mumbai Office is scheduled to open this November. We are considering hiring representation in Chennai next year as well.
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thailand
Thailand
A Second Home
Thailand is not just a place to visit. There are a lot of people from India who work and have settled in Thailand making it their second home. Here are three such people talking about their experience so far in Thailand. lebua and the Dome have established firm footprints in the global arena. How do you find working in Thailand? Working in Thailand has been both challenging and rewarding in its own ways. The consumers here have Deepak Ohri, CEO very good understanding of lebua at State Tower State Tower, 1055 Silom Road, Bang Rak, the hospitality segment and Bangkok 10500 Thailand are exacting when it comes to endorsing a luxury brand. lebua, with its superior Why did you decide to standards, has always work in Thailand? impressed the populace and Thailand has a rich consequently is a top rated tradition in hospitality. The property in the country. The very culture of the country country also has remarkable epitomizes a warm hospitable demeanor which resilience and has bounced forms the foundation of the back every time it has been luxury hospitality sector. So, hit by a crisis - whether natural or political. after a successful career in What would you like to India and other countries, advise others about when I was offered the opportunity to build a luxury working in Thailand? Thailand is a country of hospitality brand in opportunities and it treats Bangkok, I promptly accepted it. I firmly believed every other culture with respect. So every Indian that there is huge working in Thailand must opportunity for a Thai hospitality brand to establish look at the bigger picture itself throughout the world. and target the development Today, just after a few years, of the economy through
their individual efforts. In other words, they must contribute their mite to the growth and development of this country. Which is your favourite spot in Thailand? Thailand has numerous beautiful and picturesque locations of which I am equally fond of. However, my personal favorite will
Thailand and India are not very far from each other. It takes only about four hours by air between Bangkok and New Delhi. There are a lot of similarities in culture and traditions between Thailand and India. Therefore I felt there would be not many difficulties to work and settle Dr. Sushil Rahul down here. That's why I Spa Director RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort decided to come to Chiang Mai, Thailand Thailand. Why did you decide to go to How do you find working Thailand and work there? in Thailand? I liked Thailand since my I found working in childhood. I have been with Thailand easier as I had Thais since I was in primary prepared myself and done a school. It was fascinating course in Thai language, and charming for me to go before coming to Thailand. and settle down in Thailand. Even then there were mixed
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always remain our own establishment, lebua at State Tower in Bangkok. This institution embodies the true culture and values of Thailand which speaks of genuine hospitality and respect and is a testimony to the fact that Thailand will always appreciate what is innovative, elegant and dynamic.
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thailand experiences of working in Thailand. It depends on many things, factors and circumstances. But I am lucky that, I am working with the talented, professional and kind hearted employers at RarinJinda Wellness Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. What advice would you like to give those who like to come to Thailand for work? There are no shortcuts, be patient, everything has its own time. Work hard, keep positive attitude and thinking and be honest in what we are doing. In brief, if we see our employer's struggle as a part of our own struggle then we can work smoothly and harmoniously. Which place you like the most in Thailand? I like Chiang Mai, the most, no doubt about it. What and where I am today is because of this beautiful city called Chiang Mai, in the northern part of Thailand. I believe that Chiang Mai is one of the ultimate destination cities in the world, and further believe it
is a perfect place to run a wellness health spa center. Chiang Mai is a perfect blend of an old traditional Lanna culture and heritage and current globalization.
Ramneek Singh Lamba Executive Chef, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel 250 Sukhumvit Road Bangkok 10110, Thailand
What attracted you to Thailand? As a chef I was always fascinated by the culture and food of Thailand. I wanted to learn more about the Thai food and explore the similarities and differences in various curries in Thai and Indian Food. Also, I had the chance to visit Thailand on a couple of occasions before getting this job proposal and found life very vibrant and
people very humble and was really impressed by the crystal clear beaches, temples, amazing Thai food and flavours, and shopping which Thailand had to offer. So as soon as I got an opportunity to work in Thailand, the answer immediately came as a yes. What is your experience of working in Thailand? I am very happy and satisfied working in Thailand. I have been working with The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit since January 2004 and find this experience really enriching and adding a lot to my skills. Thai people in general are happy go lucky and follow instructions really well. One must spend time to understand the work culture which is absolutely different to any other country and very unique to Thailand. Once you know these basics then it is really easy to work and communicate. What would you like to advise Indians about working in Thailand? If you sincerely want to work in Thailand and be
successful you must focus on learning the Thai language. It is definitely a tool which would give you a head start if you want to work in Thailand. Which is your favourite place in Thailand? I am a fan of hustle and bustle. I enjoy working and living in metropolitan cities so my choice is Bangkok. Bangkok is a vibrant city offering a mix of modern and traditional life styles. It has a mix of the most ultramodern skyscrapers and shopping malls to a rich heritage of palaces and temples. Bangkok offers numerous eating options and restaurants to explore from the top hotel restaurants to street foods. You can find almost every cuisine to satisfy your taste buds from Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, French, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and not to miss my stern favourite Thai Cuisine. Bangkok's close proximity to Pattaya and Hua Hin also makes it my favourite as it is easy to get away on an ideal weekend by the beach.
TAT Offers All-Expenses Paid Holidays for Free
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he Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a new campaign of fering five couples fully paid trips to the country's most popular cities and beaches. In return, they will be asked to blog, chat and t weet about their holiday in a bid to win a grand prize of USD10,000, a BlackBerry and a video camera. Applicants should be "good storytellers" and must know how to navigate YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr, the TAT said on the contest's newly launched website w w w.utlimatethailandexplorer.com where one-minute video auditions can be submit ted till October 15.
Interested contestants have to apply as couples, regardless of their relationship. Five energetic and enthusiastic couples will be chosen, and dispatched on a fullypaid, five-day itinerary to the five Thai destinations, one couple per destination. All their costs will be taken care of by the TAT, including air travel from their home countries. During their five-night, six-day tour, they will have to narrate their experiences via the social networking sites and blogosphere, focussing on what they enjoy about Thai culture, Thai cuisine and all the various places they visit. Some attempts to speak a lit tle Thai will add to the adventure.
Digital citizens will be pitched to view the couples' online postings, and vote for the one they think is best. The voters will have to register, which will make them eligible for their prize to be given at the end of the contest. The couple with the most votes will win the grand prize Known as "The Ultimate Thailand Explorers", the TATinitiated competition is target ted at digital citizens worldwide and designed to raise Thailand's global online presence, across all
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blogs, social-networking sites, chat-rooms and websites. It is intended mainly to publicise Thailand's five top tourist destinations: Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui.
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The Phi Phi Experience EDWARD EVANS
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n February 2007, just over three years af ter the tsunami had struck, I went to Ko Phi Phi, an island south of Phuket. Despite visiting many islands in the month I was in Thailand, I found Phi Phi the
most fascinating. Af ter a short, four-day stint on the island, I came away both charmed and shocked by my experience. As a naïve, 19year-old, I was aware of the tsunami disaster but whilst arriving at Phi Phi I had no idea of the true ef fects it had had on the island. Ko Phi was situated in a vulnerable geographic location, causing both sides of the most populated area to be hit by the wave. When I arrived on Ton Sai beach, I noticed a stretch of land to my lef t with no buildings, just empty fields. I later learned that this stretch was covered with
bungalows and restaurants prior to the tsunami. The natural beauty and the boisterous atmosphere were still intact however, disguising the events that had taken place three years earlier. Debris from the destroyed buildings had cleared, leaving Phi Phi with a feel of emptiness rather than an island that had suf fered a crisis. My first realisation of the impact it had had on people's lives was from word of mouth. I met an Australian couple who had lived in Phi Phi for five years. They explained that the water level had reached the bot tom steps of their front garden. The sheer incline of their driveway prevented them from being harmed. Their neighbour and close friend, whose house was located closer to the beach, was not so lucky. Her house was demolished and her family killed. The surviving women, scarred for life, had yet to return to the beach. I met another man who worked hiring out speed-boat tours. He had lost his wife and two children and explained in graphic detail how he was out in his boat when the
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he Phi Phi Islands are located in Thailand, between the large island of Phuket and the western Andaman Sea coast of the mainland. Ko Phi Phi Don is the largest island of the group. It is just a short boat ride from Ko Phi Phi Don. Ko Phi Phi Leh was the backdrop for the 2000 movie The Beach. Phi Phi Leh also houses the 'Viking Cave'. The Phi Phi Islands were also the setting for the hide-out of Scaramanga in the James Bond Film 'The Man with the Golden Gun.' Following the release of The Beach, tourism on Phi Phi Don increased dramatically. Ko Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when nearly all of the island's infrastructure was wiped out. Redevelopment has, however, been swif t, and services like electricit y, water, Internet access and ATMs are up and running again.
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tsunami hit Phi Phi and tried to prevent his children from drowning. His failed attempts had lef t him distraught and it seemed that he was just beginning to get his life back together when I met him. Those stories, amongst others, had really moved me and I began to picture the state of the island three years before my stay. Af ter viewing various graphic images of the tsunami from locals, I realised the ex tent of damage to the infrastructure of the island. One lady had a collection of photos which were taken a week af ter the wave struck the island. The island was temporarily ruined. All that was lef t were remains of buildings that once stood. I noticed however that the palm trees stood firm, ensuring perhaps that the beauty of Ko Phi Phi was never destroyed. The photos I saw helped me understand the ex tent of redevelopment that had taken place in the time between the wave striking and my visit to the island. There were still signs of the tsunami when I was there but on the whole, the people of Phi Phi had worked hard to make their island livable again. I plan to visit Ko Phi Phi again in 2010 and would be interested to see the further ef forts made to rebuild the island three years on. The tsunami was a huge disaster. Some 75 per cent of the buildings were destroyed and roughly 2,000 people killed with 1,200 of them listed as missing. However, while I was in Phi Phi, spirits were high. Children were playing and there were smiles all round. Despite the scars being lef t from the disaster the people of Phi Phi seemed to be focusing more on the future than the past.
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heritage H.C. KUNWAR
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Mountain Railways of India
Chugging And Romancing The Hills SEPTEMBER 2009
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he history of development of hill stations in India during the British rule is quite interesting. Mughals were the first settlers to develop hill-resorts in India. Shalimar and Nishat gardens in Kashmir are reminders of their love for the mountains. While Mughals learnt to appreciate the charm of hills in one generation, British took almost two hundred years to do that. For years, several important personalities advocated for the control over the Himalayas and other mountain ranges of India, for establishing thereon more sanitaria and even planting military colonies. In 1844, Sir Lawrence advocated partial colonization of hills especially for military settlers. Gazing on the charming landscape, (in fair Kashmir, or green Kangra, or the green slopes and downs of the Nilgiris, or at the tea growing bright spot Darjeeling), the idea also occurred that a happy Anglo-Sa xon population may arise in this fair land, may cultivate their plot of land, rear a family and their robust sons growing up as the future defenders of the State. The British modesty referred the mighty mountains as mere hills and 'Hill Railway' is a term of ten used, though not very clearly defined, which refers to rail-lines connecting 'hill stations' built for British settlers. Development of hill stations in India came up in the nineteenth century. Till 1920s, there were four such rail-lines built by dif ferent companies in four dif ferent parts of British India widely separated geographically and culturally. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway built in 1881 in West Bengal, Nilgiri Mountain Railway in 1899 in Tamil Nadu, Kalka Shimla Railway in 1903 in Himachal Pradesh and Matheran Light Railway built in 1907 in Maharashtra. Another line, namely, Kangra Valley Railway in Himachal Pradesh was built for connecting the Shanan Power House in the State, taking of f from Pathankot. The line was opened in 1929. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was one of the first narrowgauge railways of India. The other two lines are at Matheran (another
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heritage hill railway) and the lengthy Gwalior system in the plains. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has long been viewed with af fection and enthusiasm by the travellers. The history of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway line commences in 1878 when Franklin Prestage of the then Eastern Bengal Railway proposed a hill tramway following the alignment of the Hill Car t Road to 2 Darjeeling. Construction commenced the year af ter and the line up to Darjeeling was opened in 1881. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Declared a World Heritage Site in December, 1999 DHR the second railway to have this honour bestowed upon it, the first being Semmering Railway of Austria in 1998 and the third Nilgiri Mountain Railway of India in 2000. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway links
Engineer engaged received his first setback. Deep erosion in the hillside made it impossible to employ a gradient within the limits of rail transpor t. He was preparing himself to accept his failure when his wife saved the situation and suggested, "Darling if you can't go ahead, why don't you come back?" This brilliant scheme of climbing mountains, also known as 'Z' reversing stations, is as simple as it is clever. The train runs forward almost to the edge of the clif f, then back wards at an oblique angle up the hillside, then forward again, this time high enough above the original track to avoid the problem of land erosion. The line thus follows an elongated form of 'Z'. Nilgiri Mountain Railway is one of the oldest rack and pinion systems and has the steepest rack and pinion technology successfully being operated till date i.e. even
New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri to the hill station of Darjeeling in the Eastern Himalayas. The unique features of this line are a typically British climate beyond Kurseong, Z's and loops, the unique ways of gaining height in the hills and the cute B class steam locomotives, which are, revered the world over by steam enthusiasts. For almost 40 years from the beginning there were four complete loops and four 'Z' reversing stations. Something very interesting about 'Z' reversing:- Tindharia, the first reversing station on the line, is a reminder of the success story of the genius who made this fairy-tale ride possible. It was here that the
af ter 100 years. Most of the stations buildings built during 1897 to 1899 are maintained in the same glorious look. Nilgiri Mountain Railway not only preserves the heritage of the people, culture and organisation of the social structure of the region but is also considered to be a cultural melting pot for the English and the local tribes. In recognition of these features, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway has been inscribed World Heritage status by UNESCO in July 2005. The delight ful lit tle train starts from the town of Met tupalayam and covers 46 km to Udagmandalam in about five hours. The train ride is a visual
delight t wisting, turning, passing through 16 tunnels, breaking out into bright sunlight, chugging over 250 bridges, passing through forest clad hills, moving gently along the tea plantations. It indeed is a journey to remember. It is worthy to enjoy the charm of nature at its best. It will not be an exaggeration that the 'Blue Mountains' without Nilgiri Mountain Railway will be just a flower without fragrance. Udagmandalam (Ooty), nestling among the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu is the Queen of Indian Hill Stations and enjoys a cool, pleasant climate all around the year. Coonoor, a hill station enroute is situated 6000 feet above the sea level at the southeast corner of the Nilgiri Plateau and at the head of the principal pass from the plains. Up this ghat runs a rack railway (27 km) from Mettupalayam to Coonoor since 15th June, 1899. Coonoor remained a terminus for the Nilgiri line for eight years. The Government constructed the ex tension from Coonoor to Udagmandalam and the line upto
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Fernhill was opened on 15th September, 1908 and upto Udagmandalam a month later (15th October, 1908). Kalka Shimla Railway mastered the art of tunnelling. As many as 107 tunnels, of several shapes and designs were built in three years from 1900 to 1903. At present, 102 tunnels are functional. Barog Tunnel (No. 33), 3752 feet long, is the longest tunnel on Kalka Shimla Railway. It is a straight tunnel and also the longest straight stretch of Kalka Shimla Raiwlay System. Kalka Shimla Railway has a ruling gradient of 1 in 25 with 919 curves, the sharpest being of 48 degrees. Climbing from 656 m, the line ends at 2076 m at Shimla. Barog Tunnel Generally trains take about 2.5 minutes to cross this tunnel. The name of the tunnel came af ter the engineer who was entrusted with the job of designing a tunnel near the railway station. He commenced digging the tunnel from both sides of the mountain. He however made a mistake in his calculation and ultimately found that the two ends
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heritage of the tunnel did not meet. Barog was fined for this lapse. Unable to withstand the humiliation, he commit ted suicide and was buried near the incomplete tunnel. The area came to be known as Barog af ter him. Thereaf ter, another tunnel was built by H. S. Harrigton about 1 km away from the earlier point with the guidance of a local saint Bhalku from Jhaja near Chail. Bhalku possessed natural engineering skills and it is believed that he helped the British engineers to bore other tunnels also on the line. According to Shimla Gazette, the viceroy presented a medal and turban to Bhalku in recognition of his contribution. Kalka Shimla Railway is famous for its rail-motor-cars. The earliest 'Automobiles' or 'Rail Motor Cars' on Kalka Shimla Railway bore a marked resemblance to the charabanc. They were petrol driven and had white & poppe engines, supplied by Drewry Car co. Ltd. of London. The rail cars are now fitted with a transparent fibreglass roof, thus af fording a beautiful view to the travellers. The Kalka-Shimla Railway has been inscribed World Heritage status by UNESCO in July 2008. Kalka Shimla Railway The train journey bet ween Kalka to Shimla (about 5-6 hours) covers several picturesque stations
bridges and the heady fragrance of flowers. Elegantly designed and furnished coupe of 'Shivalik Express' tourist coaches provide exclusive privacy to couples and of fer them a memorable journey. The line from Kalka to Shimla (96 km) was opened for traf fic on November 9, 1903. Matheran Light Railway Matheran is the tiniest hill station of India, located on the Western Ghants range at an elevation of 800 m above sea level. 'Matheran' means 'forest on top' and also 'mother forest'. It is a continuous poem of shady and thickly wooded paths of red mud and velvet moss stretching endlessly. Abdul Hussein, son of the business tycoon Sir Adamajee Peerbhoy of Bombay (Mumbai), had fallen in love with the beauty of this hill station and was a regular visitor to Matheran. Af ter having obtained a reluctant consent from his fathr, young Abdul Hussein camped at Neral in 1900 AD to plan for a narrow gauge railway line to Matheran. The construction of the line was authorized by Public Works Department, Bombay. Abdul Hussein floated "The Matheran Steam Light Tramway Company" for the purpose. Government land was provided free and private land was acquired at the cost of the Company. The promoters were autho-
like Dharampur, Taksal, Barog and Solan. It provides an unforget table experience as one can take a breathtaking view of the Himalayan peaks, snow-capped mountains, inviting trails, several tunnels/
rized construction, maintenance and working of the line and to fix the fares within the specified limits. The line was opened in March, 1907. There are 221 cur ves, however, there is complete
absence of tunnels, save for a small tunnel on the section. The line follows the embankment for a mile in the north direction till it turns back through the only tunnel on the route, 'One Kiss Tunnel' which gives a couple, time just suf ficient for a kiss. Matheran Light Railway In the olden days the tiny locomotive may have exhausted all its water, therefore a water pipe is available at this midway point and the station is conveniently named as "water pipe'. The name continues though the diesel locos now no more get exhausted and the water pipe has lost its importance, instead a tea staf f on the plat form serves the passengers on this midway point. The line now lies under Mount Barry, and to negotiate the ascent here, the line zigzags sharply backwards and forwards t wice, passing through two deep cuttings. The line pursues its way more decorously and reaches out more or less straight for Panorama point, af ter skirting it, returns by Simpson's Tank and terminates close to the Matheran Bazar. Kangra Valley, famous for its natural beauty also had a number of ancient Hindu Shrines visited regularly by thousands of pilgrims. The European settlers converted it into a rich tea-growing district and established a large European colony at Dhamsala. Dharmsala is described as an 'enchantingly pret ty spot on the pine-clad slopes of Dhaula- Dhar range of the Himalayas'. Europeans also settled in large number at Dalhousie and Palampur.
(PIB Features) The author is Deput y Director (M & C), PIB, New Delhi
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Kangra Valley Railway Proposals for a narrow gauge line on Kangra Valley Railway were put forth in 1900, when a scheme was mooted to link Shimla with Dalhousi. Later, Punjab Government revived the proposal for a metre gauge tramway from Kukerian to Shanan in 1925. The Railway Board, however, found it desirable to construct a narrow gauge (762 mm) line from Pathankot (instead of Mukerian) to Shanan and the alignment included easy connections to a number of pilgrim places as well as European settlements. The construction began in 1926 and the line was opened on 1st April, 1929. On Kangra Valley Railway, the curves are relatively easy. For the greater portion of the journey, the traveller can gaze long at the ever present panorama of snow clad ranges and gold green fields without being swung round every minute on a narrow arc before his eyes can savour the scenery. There are 971 bridges but only t wo tunnels, viz., Dhundi (250 feet) and Daulatpur (1070 feet). The alignment of Kangra Valley Railway is a clever one from the economic standpoint. By following the lower contours for as great a distance as possible, the railway remains close to rich croplands. It also taps traf fic from the main towns and centres of pilgrimage - Nurpur, Kangra, Palampur, Dharamsala, Baijnath and Shanan.
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hospitality
The Leela Kempinski Gurgaon Launched T
he Leela Kempinski Gurgaon, Delhi NCR, the latest addition to the Leela Group has been formally launched at a glittering function held at the hotel in the second
week of September. Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja and Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit were among the number of dignitaries who were present to grace the occasion. A 15-minute drive from the Indira Gandhi International Airpor t, the Leela Kempinski Gurgaon of fers 322 guestrooms and suites and
90 residences in one-, t wo- and three-bedroom options. Built nex t to the Ambience Mall, it targets the international business traveller. It is the first entry into northern India for Leela. Leela plans to open another five properties by 2012 in India's
destination cities, including the academic center of Pune, and Agra. A distinctive Indian ambience separates Leela from its competitors. Also see page 140
Accor Continues Aggressive Expansion in India
T
he Accor is continuing with its plans to invest and expand its Indian operations in a grand manner. The European hospitality major is aiming to make itself a net work of 50 hotels and over 10,400 rooms in India by 2012. Accor has stated that the sub continent remains at the forefront of the company's expansion plans. An investment of Rs 636 crore (USD130 million) will be infused in
the hospitality market. The group will open ibis Pune later this year followed by 7 hotels opening in 2010, 18 hotels in 2011 and 19 are programmed for completion in 2012. This expansion includes three hotels as a part of 'Aerocity' the hospitality precinct at Delhi International Airpor t, where Accor will operate a Pullman, Novotel and
an ibis, with a combined stage 1 total of 985 guest rooms. The ibis will open in late 2011, with the Pullman and Novotel opening in 2012. Michael Issenberg, Asia Pacific Chairman and Chief Operating Of ficer, Accor said "Accor has developed an expansion strategy, created relevant joint ventures and investment commitments to ensure that Accor will be the leading international hotel operator in India by 2012." As a part of India's first hill city Lavasa, Accor will manage four hotels, in addition to Lavasa Lakes Convention Centre. The hotel port folio includes the Pullman Lavasa with 258 rooms, Novotel Lavasa with 200 guest rooms, Mercure Lavasa with 130 guest rooms and Grand Mercure with 88 apartments. Ibis Gurgaon opened in the second half of 2008 and will soon be joined by the ibis Pune which is scheduled to open in October, 2009. In addition to these two hotels, 14 ibis hotels are commit-
ted to development to date, taking the total inventory to 2,909 guest rooms by 2012. Today Accor details five Novotel's for India, all scheduled to open in 2010 and 2011. Novotel Bangalore with 219 guest rooms will be the nex t Novotel to open by the end of 2010. Opening in December 2011 is Novotel Kolkata, a new 300 room hotel situated in the heart of New Town and close to the upcoming suburb and IT hub of Salt. Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach" will be the first internationally branded and operated hotel in this progressive city. The hotel will feature 240 rooms, a convention facility for 1200 people, with t wo restaurants, a bar lounge and a spa. Sofitel, Accor's luxury brand, will debut with Sofitel Mumbai Bandra Kurla (283 guest rooms) scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2010. Other commitments for Sofitel include Sofitel Mumbai Muland and SO Mumbai Muland (193 guest rooms) which
will both open in 2012 and centred within the Nirmal Lifestyle Complex in Muland. There are presently 13 Pullman hotels operating throughout the region and a further 18 committed to development including 2 projects for India - Pullman Gurgaon (284 guest rooms) and Pullman Lavasa (250 guest rooms). Network ambitions for the AsiaPacific region remain at 100 Pullman hotels by 2015.
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Michael Issenberg Asia Pacific Chairman and COO, Accor
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hospitality
Taj Opens its
First Vivanta Resort in Maldives
T
aj Hotels Resor ts and Palaces has announced the opening of their new brand Vivanta, in Maldives. The new branding was done as par t of the repositioning of the hotel as it has undergone a comprehensive make over. Formerly Taj - Coral Reef, the villas range from 58-square-metre Charm Beach Villas to 215-square-metre t wo-bedroom Nirvana Suites. The resort also features three food and beverage outlets and a signature spa with four treatment rooms. Located on Hembadhu Island in the North Malé Atoll, the 62-villa resor t is approximately 32 kilometres away from the airport, and less than an hour's speedboat ride from the airport. Vivanta brand is an upper upscale hotel segment from the Taj group of hotels, addresses the needs of a sophisticated, new-gen traveler with 62 delight ful villas all offering unrivalled views of the sea, an eclectic choice of dining options and a truly amazing array of recreational activities. "The Taj has played a prominent role in developing the Maldives leisure market and we are delighted to reopen this resort under our exciting Vivanta brand & in this stunning location," commented Raymond N Bickson, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, The Indian Hotels Company Limited. "Our pleasure is heightened by the fact that we are doing so during the Indo-Maldives Friendship Week and at the hands of His Excellency, Mohamed Nasheed the President of Maldives and so many other distinguished guests, including our Group Chairman, Ratan Tata."
Star Additions at Taj Lands End
T
aj Lands End, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World further reinstates its leadership position in North Mumbai with the introduction of 125 new rooms comprising 107 Taj Club rooms and 18 Suites, increasing the inventory to 493 rooms. Combining contemporary elegance with traditional Taj warmth and service, Taj Lands End is poised to of fer its discerning business clientele an experience that can best be defined as unparalleled. Situated on the 22nd
to the 25th floor, the new aesthetically designed Taj Club Rooms and Suites of fer an immaculate view of the Arabian Sea and the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Spectacular by both day and night, the view captures the very essence of the fascinating city of Mumbai and its emerging new face. Designed by the renowned David Winter, these rooms were inspired by the need to provide simplicity, modern elegance and functionality for the business traveler with 420 sq.f t of luxuriously spread spaces that seamlessly flow into each other. Through the subtle use of colour and contemporary design elements, the rooms evoke a residential studio environment with generous spaces for rela xing and working. An opulent king size
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bed is complimented with an ergonomic desk chair and ex tensive sideboard area. The desktop work areas are equipped with task lights and sleek leather bound desktop accessories. The four fix ture bathrooms of fer the luxury of space, a separate shower cubicle, a flat screen television and expansive mirrored walls with subtle concealed lights. "With the addition of the new Taj Club rooms and suites, Taj Lands End is poised to of fer our business and leisure travelers a distinguished and distinct luxury experience. This launch is a perfect interpretation of the vision we envisaged for Taj Lands End- a leading contemporary luxury hotel of fering the best of both worlds, business as well as leisure" said Rohit Khosla, General Manager Taj Lands End, Mumbai.
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sonar bangla
Bangladesh to Accelerate Tourism Growth G
overnment of Bangladesh has formed a highpowered national body led by the Prime minister as a measure to revitalise the tourism sector of the country. The new body, National Tourism Council-2009, will consist of 11member representing dif ferent ministries including finance, home, local government, land, civil aviation and tourism, foreign, environment and forest and cultural affairs. The body will be responsible for national and regional plans for tourism development and infrastructure development decisions and tourism laws. The council's main function is to compel the ministries be to execute different activities planned. Apar t from the NTC another high-profile committee including the finance minister and the national advisory council for tourism has also been formed to coordinate development ef forts in the sector. The government is also eager in providing support to the private stakeholders for the improvement of the industry. Attractive measures are announced by the government to lure the private players like duty exemptions on the import of tourism equipment and lower bank rates for tourism developers will be of fered.
Bangladesh to Bring Out a Tourism Master Plan Tourism in Bangladesh is only in the nascent stage but is developing fast as a foreign currency earner. The country has much to attract international and domestic tourists. Samena Begum, Joint Secretary (BCS Administration), Director (Commercial), Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation spoke to Asian Traveller about the tourism scene in the country. Excerpts:
Which are the main markets of Bangladesh tourism? The main markets for Bangladesh tourism are the top budget ones. India is the largest and the other main ones include China, Thailand, Nepal and Japan along with some European countries. India and China are the most important ones
with the government. What is the total budget allocation for tourism in Bangladesh? It was very low before, but now the government has taken more interest in - so is Japan. The business travel segment has improved tourism and will be very much in these countries allocating more money. Bangladesh Parjatan and they target Bangladesh Corporation (the National among their target Tourism Organisation of destinations. We are Bangladesh) is the main developing all required body which runs the facilities and infrastructure to cater to the needs of the business and facilitates the others. travellers. We are trying to rope in private players to do What are the measures these projects in association you take to attract tourists
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to your country? Although we have some plans, we are not equipped to conduct huge marketing missions. Our products include some of the beautiful spots with historical and cultural importance as well as a business one. We do promote our products in a moderate manner. We are bringing out a master plan linking all the ministries, under the central government to showcase our cultural vibrance to the tourists around the world.
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hospitality
Swissotel Enters India
S
wissotel Hotels has announced a management contract for 10-year with the Ambuja group for setting up a five-star hotel at Rajarhat New town on the north eastern par t of Kokata. Swissotel Hotels, owned by
Pride Launched in Jaipur
P
ride Group of Hotels' has added another landmark in Jaipur, the pink city, with launch of its first hospitality project in Jaipur named 'Pride Amber Vilas'. Located away from bustle of modern day cities this upscale ethnic resort is an expression of the spirit of Rajasthan and its royal elegance. Designed with enriching activities it will let guests immerse themselves in the color ful nuances of rustic charm complemented with modern day comfor ts. Announcing the launch, S.P. Jain, Managing Director, Pride Hotels Limited said, "Rajasthan with its vibrant culture enjoys preeminence in at tracting a large slice of leisure and business tourists
from across the world. We are delighted to launch our first resort in this color ful city that would enable us tap the growing potential of tourist inflow. Pride Amber Vilas with a perfect blend of contemporary amenities rooted in customary Rajasthani elegance will make every guest's stay a pleasurable experience". Spread on a sprawling area of 17 acres, 'Pride Amber Vilas' has
45 comforting guest rooms and suites which are stylishly designed with 5 star hotel comforts, each boasting of tastefully adorned ethnic décor, luxurious ambience, modern ser vices and breathtaking views. It comprises of 17 Deluxe Rooms, 20 Superior Rooms and 8 Haveli Suites that provide all the luxury for an unforgettable holiday. It of fers an stunning array of facilities that include specialty restaurant with culinary choices ranging from Rajasthani and
international cuisine, bar stocking exotic cocktails and mocktails, 24 hour room service, lawns, conference room and banquet hall. It is harmonized by a landscaped courtyard to accentuate the peace and tranquility of the natural environment. The resort also features a wide variety of lifestyle activities including Spa, health club with sauna, steam and Jacuzzi, swimming pool and games area. All the guest rooms are fully air conditioned and replete with contemporary elements, internet access, attached bath, mini bars, telephone and television. With serious concern for health and environment the resort has provision for a R.O.
plant for drinking water & Rain harvesting system. The rooms with semi rural dwellings are small yet cozy, S.P. Jain Managing Director that echoes the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. The Haveli luxury suit at Pride Amber Vilas is a major inspiration that narrates stories of romance and splendor of this magical land set amidst the desolate desert beauty. Pride Amber Vilas will be a perfect place for wedding venues, reception and events with a spacious Central lawn that can serve 3000 guests and adjoining Haveli Lawn, set amidst the lush garden to accommodate 500 persons. It also encompasses a beautiful banquet hall 'Rangmahal' designed with color ful glasses to house 150 persons. 'Rajwada' the conference hall for get together/ parties can accommodate 200 persons while 'Hawamahal' the board room with private terrace is ideal for 50 persons.
EWDPL, IHC Targets Tier-II Cities
E
ntertainment World Developers (EWDPL), a partner firm of Phoenix Mills, is in the final stages of tying up with London's AIM-listed hospitality company, Indian Hospitality Corp (IHC), to run its five 3-star hotels in the country. EWDPL will be spending Rs 450 crore on building the 11 hotels. EWDPL's budget hotels are coming up in tier-II cities such as Nanded, Ujjain, Raipur, Jabalpur and Bhilai and are expected to be completed in the next 6-9 months. "The five hotels are nearing completion soon and the rest of them are a year away. We will decide about others later,'' said Manish Kalani, managing director of EWDPL.
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Fairmont Raf fles Hotels International - a leading global hospitality company with 91 hotels and resorts worldwide is the first Swiss hospitality chain to enter Indian hospitality market. Fairmont group would come up with t wo hotels with Indian partners in Hyderabad and Jaipur under the Fairmont brand nex t year.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
mice tourism
Incentives Are the Driving Force Which Motivates Achievers for Success MICE travel industry is one of the most important segments of travel industry. The involvement and participation of all corporates worldwide in organizing Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions prove its importance. Millions of representatives of corporates participate in Meetings and Conventions which are regularly organized all over the world. These exhibitions provide a platform for corporates to meet their counterparts. Billions of Dollars worth business is transacted at these thousands of exhibitions, which provide a major base for business worldwide. Om Prakash, Director, Orbit Tours and Travels and Former Chairman TAAI Western Region, spoke to Asian Traveller about the various aspects of MICE tourism. Excerpts: What is the current situation of the MICE travel industry? What are the measures you have taken up to boost the sector? The slowdown has come into existence since 2008 due to economic recession, which principally started from USA and has covered the entire world in its shadow. As a result, there has been a crash in India, in the industry, real estate, stock markets, aviation and tourism. As a result of the slowdown the MICE Tourism industry has been af fected pretty badly. The Corporates have started taking measures to cut their expenses. They are deferring their par ticipation in "incentive travel schemes", reducing their par ticipation in Exhibitions and curtailing the number of executives travelling in India and abroad. Similar drop is also in the participation in conventions, meetings etc. Some corporates have even started a reverse trend to retrench employees, while others have taken measurers to cut salaries upto 25per cent. On the other side pricerise in the commodities have added fuel to the fire. Airlines are also facing the pinch of reduced business. Some of the airlines have reduced the frequency and others are planning to reduce flights, while some are thinking to withdraw operation. Ever since 26/11 Mumbai terror
attacks and now the Swine Flu pandemic the confidence of international tourists, including MICE, have been shaken. The inbound MICE has shown a sharp decline. The main measures that we have taken to overcome these are: Ex tensive approach to corporates and to of fer them "modified low- budget" travel plans for their MICE requirements; strict negotiations with airlines, hotels and services to slash their rates, where by we can also reduce prices for MICE travel; introduction of new or lesser popular destinations, but with bet ter facilities and lower cost; educating the corporates to think positive and to adopt an aggressive approach to participate in exhibitions to generate new business and other measures are required by the government to revive economy. The Tourism Ministry needs to pull its socks and launch aggressive campaigns abroad to gain confidence of inbound travellers; step up India's par ticipation in international travel shows abroad; invite media and tour operators to India, who can experience personally and help to regain the confidence of the travelers and consider the reduction of ta x structure on hotel rates to make India as a competitive destination.
The domestic airlines can introduce at tractively priced multicoupon India travel passes. The Finance Ministry can provide some sops to Indian tour operators and corporates to encourage Incentive and MICE travel. What are your major expansion plans in the immediate future? Our immediate plans are to consolidate MICE business by increasing our selling arms which include travel agents and travel consultants on all India basis; to identif y and to promote new, conventions and conferences to the trade and industry, thereby to generate MICE business from additional sources; to of fer low-budget travel plans, thereby to motivate medium size corporates to participate in international trade events and all ef forts to expand the clients base to enable to maintain our share of MICE business. We do not think of changing our plans or to put them on hold. However necessary steps will be taken to get response for the money to be spent by our organization. What are the innovative features of your products in the international markets? In the MICE market, innovation has to be a continuous process. In the Incentive business, to maintain
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the confidence of the corporates, we of fer various themes such team building exercises and innovative themes such as treasure hunt. As a value addition, we arrange ex tra technical visits and meetings with trade associations abroad, who in turn arrange B2B meetings for exhibitions. Our main markets are Germany, France, China and Hong Kong on priority list and Italy, UK, Korea, Japan and Taiwan on the secondary list. What according to you are the major infrastructure developments that are needed for the development of the MICE sector in India? The need of the hour is a master plan and not the interim peace-meal solutions like, broadening the existing roads, building of footbridges and pedestrian subways and flyovers. A city like Murnbai with its ever increasing traf fic demands, it needs an alternate six- lane road from north to south and not the peace-meal solutions, like 4.7km sea-link which will further merge in the existing and congested roads. Tourists need speedy and dependable traf fic arrangements in all our cities. They also need hygienic and clean toilet facilities in cities and on highways. Rest houses and good restaurants at reasonable prices should be the part of infrastructure projects to boost tourism.
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personality
Man with Midas Touch
A
but hard work coupled with grace of God - or the other way round", he said when asked about the secret of his success. But Ramachandran is not just a typical businessman. A jeweler, actor, film producer and a connoisseur of fine arts he is a multi-talented and multi-dimensional personality. Born into a family with a rich cultural and literary background Ramachandran lef t for New Delhi af ter acquiring his Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Kerala University. In Delhi he joined the Canara Bank and along with that he completed his Post Graduation in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. Later he joined State Bank of India and then Atlas Ramachandran moved to the State Bank of Travancore. In 1974 he joined The Mathukkara Moothedath Commercial Bank of Kuwait and Ramachandran became Atlas Ramachandran through hard work, moved to Kuwait City. One day in 1981, while returncourage, integrity, compassion and ing from of fice, he saw a large keen business acumen. "Nothing tlas and the Chairman of the Group M M Ramachandran (popularly known as Atlas Ramachandran) are t wo easily recognisable 'brands' in Kerala along with the catch line "Trusted by millions".
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crowd in front of a jewellery shop. He was fascinated by the way people were queuing up to buy gold and realised a tremendous potential. Though he knew very little about gold he opened the first Atlas showroom in Souk Al Watya in Kuwait in 1981 itself. The only assets in his store then were two kilograms of gold and a few goldsmiths and lots of determination. Within six months the business flourished. He pioneered transparency in the gold business by advertising the gold rates. Highly successful in the gold business Ramachandran ventured into film production and distribution. Before he became famous as Atlas Ramachandran he was known as Vaisali Ramachandran due to the fame from his début film production 'Vaisali'. Subsequently he rolled out many more hits and a number of thoses films were selected to Indian Panorama and
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acclaimed with critical appreciation and won prestigious awards. In 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait Ramachandran incurred devastating losses. Starting nearly from scratch, he moved to the United Arab Emirates to begin over. Over the nex t few years not only did Ramachandran rebuild but he came back stronger than ever. Now with over 50 establishments and a store in every major business market in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Atlas is a regional leader. With his hard work and perseverance Atlas served well over a million customers. This led to the coining of the now famous slogan, 'Atlas Jewellery - Trusted by Millions' with Ramachandran himself serving as the Brand Ambassador. Recently, Ramachandran has returned to the world of films but this time round he is in the spotlight as an actor.
SEPTEMBER 2009
downunder
Australia Bowls Over German Maiden Anke Stirner travelled to Australia for spending vacation but hugely impressed by what she saw and experienced and plans to go back, well, maybe forever.
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t took me 25 hours, seven 'plastic meals', five movies and t wo stopovers to reach Brisbane. When I stepped out of the airport I was almost blinded by the light and the colours. Sun blazing at 27 degrees, people in shorts and skir ts, almost everybody with a hat and sunglasses - a symbol of life in Australia (as I would find out later). Being a backpacker for the first time in my life, things were much dif ferent from my other journeys abroad. Instead of hotels or a friend's place to stay, hostels became my new home and sharing rooms with
other people (sometimes seven) from all over the world. It took just a short time to make some friends and so I started to explore Brisbane and several parts of Queensland with nice company and the Lonely Planet Guidebook as an inherent part of my travel. Brisbane is a melting pot of people, nationalities and brands, from all over the world. You will come across every fashion label such as Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuit ton, D&G. Besides the immaculately dressed business people of Brisbane you will also find the backpackers in their Flip Flops with
a tourist guide book in one hand and a digicam in the other. One of the first things that impressed me is the kindness of the people in Australia. In the shops they always ask you "Hey how ya doing? How're ya? how 'as yoa day?" what lef t me the first time very confused. Getting in Germany just a cool "what do you want" I had no clue how to deal with the Australian way of service. Do they expect me to answer? But later I started to enjoy replying kindly back. Shopping became so much nicer with this lit tle attitude. Another thing it took a lit tle time for me to get used to was the Australian accent. Af ter asking somebody about directions to reach my hostel, I simply could not understand what he was saying. "Is he talking in English or in some foreign language?" was the first thought that came to my mind. The Aussies like to chew their words, especially the vowels, for some time before they spit it out. Slowly I started to comprehend the Aussie way of speaking English. I also star ted to sound like them which is quite great because in my opinion the Australian accent is the most at tractive English accent I have ever heard. There are so many things to see and experience: the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where you can cuddle Koalas and Kangaroos. There is also Brisbane Botanical Gardens and Parklands at South
Bank, where the artificial beach of the city is located. With an exclusive view of the skyline of the city here you can find people from every age group enjoying the sea and the sun under the palms of the beach. You can also find long beaches, some more crowded, some lonesome. For me it was like a dream, being on the other side of the world, the sea floating around my legs, sun and laughter everywhere, the surfers with their boards - if paradise exists this might be a part of it, I guess. Great Barrier Reef is another place which is famous and popular among the travellers. Although very expensive I decided to go there since everybody seemed to talk about the world's largest coral reef. Being a simple tourist for three days I had the time of my life with a group of 16 people, 10 nationalities and everybody with their own special story. Also special was the boat trip to the Reef. The sea around Australia is not nice and calm. It's very rough, and af ter 20 minutes more than 90 per cent of the guests on board, including me, were busy using the barf bag. Standing outside the cabin on the back of the ship I experienced the 90 worst minutes of my life. But af ter passing this hell we reached the Great Barrier
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Reef, a water-island-wonderland. The changing colour of the sea, the pureness of the white sand and the variety of the animal world under the sea make it one of the most popular tourist places in Australia. Having experienced so many things here, I found something out about pure passion. The best fun I ever had was on a surfboard, even though just a beginner. It's pretty dif ficult and needs a lot of practise, af ter my first day of surfing I was almost dead because it's so stressful, but it's worth every single minute. "Kind of addictive" as my sur f teacher Paul described, and he's completely right. The feeling on the board, carried by the wave, is unbeatable. Life I experienced in Australia has been simply great. Fun, sun, summer, surfing, travelling, very kind people and a much higher life quality. That might be the reason why the Australian government gets 1,000,000 visa applications every year for immigration from all over the world. But just 250,000 are permit ted. Hopefully, I'll be one of them this year!
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profile
Somatheeram Ayur vedic Health Resort
Ayur veda, Authentically…
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he Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resor t, the first Ayurvedic Resort in India, is situated right beside the Chowara beach, nex t to Kovalam, the renowned beach destination in the coast of the Arabian Sea. Anticipating the needs of its customers and fulfilling these with the highest grade of motivation and satisfaction
is the stronghold of the hospitality group. This dif ference is also of ficially appreciated through public recognition as the StateTourism-Award for The Best Ayur vedic Centre for the last many years. Set amidst an idyllic garden of five acres, Somatheeram provides its clients with a combination of
dif ferent services mainly Authentic Ayurveda, Yoga and the traditional Kerala bungalows of the resort. Built in 1989, the architecture of Somatheeram combines the theme of traditional Kerala architecture and the natural beauty of Kerala. Kerala houses are up to 300 years old, predominantly made of wood, opulently carved buttresses, pillars and doors. The construction is always comfor tPolly Mathew, CMD able cool in the interior. Somatheeram of fers 66 double rooms of five dif ferent categories. All bungalows are embedded in 5 acres of tropical gardening, surrounded by palms and other nature greenery. A granite built palace like house with a spacious octagon shaped living room, a gorgeously decorated bedroom with king size bed, overlooking an inexplicable panorama. The Kerala Houses: Illam, Mana, Tharavadu and Naluket tu represent the original Keralite way of living. Each house is a unique piece of art, with carved but tresses, pillars and
doors. The light-colored tile flooring, carved stonework in the Houses and open lobby area to create an ancient Kerala ambiance. The standard and sea view cot tages are made up of bricks and thatched roofs. The balanced architecture complemented with the furnishing makes the cot tages ensures the stay a rela xing and rejuvenating one. All modern facilities are provided for the guests. The whole combination provides a unique address to the Resor t. The tropical gardening is the most at tractive part of Somatheeram. Walk around pathways with many flowers, lush greenery lawns and plenty of dif ferent tropical fruit plants and Jackfruit, Coconut trees, Mango trees. The herbal garden contains more than 200 dif ferent Ayurvedic plants. Founded in 1989 by the Arampankudy family, Somatheeram started its business in the Hospitality Industry, thereby creating India's first Ayurvedic Resort. Polly Mathew, founder of the Somatheeram-concept, is an NRI living in Germany since 1979. He played a major role in introducing India's rich tradition of
Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation. The team comprises of experienced Indian and European Managers, each with many years of experience in the field of hospitality. The scenic beauty of Somatheeram with the view of Beach invites you to rela x and enjoy while you feel the spirit of "God's Own Country". w w w.somatheeram.org
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Ayurveda to Europe and other parts of the world. He is always a noted presence all relevant international tourism fairs. The focus is always will on providing highly qualitative health services to the world market. Since the resort has a vast number of national and international clients who visits the property regularly. The management team has more than 17 years of experience in the tourism industry. The focus is on Health management particularly
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experience
Travelling is Beautiful FLORIAN MAYER
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Photos: Florian Mayer
hat is it that moves more than 900 Million people to travel around the world every year? Well, the answer is quite diverse. Some have to travel due to their jobs. Others follow a specific purpose like visiting family, doing a religious journey or going for a health treatment. But the majority, more than 50 per cent, want to make holidays and enjoy their leisure time. What is it that makes travelling so interesting? Of course there are thousands of reasons. Everyone has dif ferent interests, sets dif ferent priorities. While some are happy with staying in a hotel for two weeks and lying on the beach or by the swimming pool all day, others want to pack
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look like beneath? Would there be sharks? But now it was too late to step back and I did not want to either. So we took the plunge, one af ter the other. The sea was rough. The waves were pushing us around. I their backpack and be at a put some air in my jacket and put dif ferent place each day, travelon my mask. That was much ing hundreds of kilometers. Some want to visit churches and bet ter. I breathed through the mask and floated on the surface. museums while others are more That felt safe. We gathered and interested in nature and wildlife. Also the type of transportation is one by one approached the anchor robe. When I grabbed the where opinions differ. While thick robe and led myself slowly some prefer a comfortable and downwards it was get ting calm fast airplane to get to their and silent. It was barely bright destination, others enjoy the enough to see. I looked down. journey itself and travel by ship, The bottom was about 15 meters bus or even bicycle or on foot. below us. Nex t to the anchor was When I ask myself why I travel, I also find lots of answers. lying something. It looked like our greatest fear and hope at First of all, going somewhere once. It looked like a shark. I had else is most of the time like an escape. You want to flee from all problems with the pressure equalization and had to take it the stress and problems you slowly. When I reached the face back home, you want to bot tom it was gone but there was forget and feel free. You want to something new, something I see something else. You want to have not experienced so far. It feel differently and leave everywas beautiful and peaceful: The thing behind. A new country, a underwater world. I had no more new environment, different fear. Very soon I was part of it. people gif t you a dif ferent point of view. As soon as you set your All the colorful corals and fishes, foot on foreign soil you turn into it was amazing. No noise. I was a different person. It is like a new just floating through the blue. The highlight of that boat trip life. Nobody knows you. You can was a night dive. We all were start all over again. Being newborn you live dif ferently. You pret ty excited. I mean, this is the try out new things, you are more wide ocean. It is not a swimming pool. There live all kinds of open. creatures. And night time is When I was backpacking in sharks' hunting time. We had a Australia I experienced a lot of short briefing where we all got great things which I can not handed over some underwater experience back home in Gertorches. A few minutes later we many. For example I made my jumped into the black uncerdivers license at the Great tainty. Under water it was Barrier Reef in Cairns, absolute black. You could not Queensland. Af ter two days in see any thing. You only had that the pool, we went on a boat to thin spotlight of your torch. My make our first dives in the open girlfriend and I took each others sea. When we were about to hand. That was very romantic. To jump in the water for the very dive trough the dark was excitfirst time, it was early in the ing. We saw schools of fish morning and we were freezing. shooting through the spotlight of Black clouds covered the sky, the sea was rough, the water was our torches like spears. We have not seen any bigger fishes until dark and white foam sat on the we were back near the boat. Big tips of waves. And that was just lights lit up the water. And then above the surface. How would it
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experience we saw it. There was a big creature about 15 meters from us underneath the boat. I quickly showed it to my girlfriend. Both of us starred at that big fish. We realized that fish was nothing but a shark. A moment later it turned around and disappeared quickly into the dark sea. That was a "Wow!" moment. The most beautiful thing with travelling is however that you do not have to spend a lot of money to experience great things. For example when I was in Mumbai in March this year ago I experienced some things which could only happen in a foreign country. One day my girlfriend and I spend some time by the Gateway of India, a place which is quite popular with tourists. We just went for a walk, did not know what to do. We thought about going to Elephanta Island which was nearby The Gateway of India but finally we decided to spend the day in the city. When we were walking over that square in
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front of the Gateway of India strange things started happening. We were not the only tourists visiting that place. There were many Indian tourists from all over India. Suddenly a family with two lit tle kids stopped us and asked whether they can take a picture of us. That was quite odd, but we had no problem ending up on a foreign microchip and so we agreed. It took us only a couple of meters and a group of men stopped us again. They wanted to take a picture of us standing between them. It is just a picture, so we were friendly and agreed. My girlfriend and I smiled at each other. That has never happened to us ever before. When we were just saying good bye to those guys a group of six people stopped us again. Same thing, we have already known it before
they said any thing. This time, they wanted me to shake their hands like the heads of states at a G8 meeting. I only knew that scenes from TV. It was amazing. Three guys of that group wanted a picture of me and him shaking hands smiling towards the camera. That was not the last group that was asking for pictures that day, but we got exhausted quite soon and sat down at the steps near by. Even there some of the people walking by asked us for a picture. There was no escape. That is how celebrities must feel I thought. Quite nice for a couple of minutes but af ter that it gets
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quite exhausting. These are only t wo experiences which I made while travelling. There are many, many more which I never ever will forget again. I would never have been able to experience those things in Germany where I am from. For experiences like the one I just told you, you need to leave your familiar environment. You only need to be open and curious. There is one thing I have forgot ten to tell you. In my opinion the best thing with travelling is still coming back home. Coming back home, not only with dirty clothes and some souvenirs, but first and foremost with lots of new experiences. Experiences and emotions that change you as a person, experiences that will let you see things differently at home. I also feel refreshed, recharged, and a bit newborn again. So why are we travelling? I guess because travelling is just beautiful.
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itb
ITB Ties-up with SATTE to Launch Co-branded Show in India orld major ITB Berlin, a product of Messe Berlin, has announced a co-branded show with SATTE for 2010. ITB's decision to endorse SATTE is a reflection of its commitment to the India market, indeed to the entire South Asian region. It is a recognition of the power of the Indian traveller and also a recognition for India as a major generator on the travel and tourism circuit of Asia. It also recognises the leadership position of SATTE as the premier tourism product of the region. SATTE and ITB have signed an MOU in New Delhi. On behalf of Messe Berlin, Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin was in New Delhi for this big event. He confirmed these developments as a most positive statement, coming from ITB Berlin, which is regarded as the world's biggest tourism business
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platform, that India is a huge travel market that cannot be ignored. Asked to comment on the nature of the MOU between the two organisers, Dr. Buck said that "currently, we are in the middle of the design process and will announce new developments and features. We would like to create opportunities to help establish SATTE as the place where government discusses with travel industry the latter's infrastructural requirements; develop the CSR component within the SATTE convention and enhance the trade show portfolio by bringing MICE and business travel sellers and buyers to SATTE." Dr. Buck went on to say "the MOU envisages mutual selling and marketing of the two shows, sharing of the learning curve from each
other and developing synergies between the two. We see ourselves in a leadership position in India through this partnership with SATTE". ITB has been looking around to increase its international presence and to look beyond Germany. Last year, ITB embarked upon its maiden show in Singapore and launched the first edition of ITB Asia. A co-branded show in India is a big recognition of the Indian market and of SATTE in particular. Asked to clarify how the Singapore model would be different from its endorsement of SATTE in New Delhi, Dr. Buck said: "SATTE and ITB Asia are product offers that cater to different market needs. Some buyers/sellers will attend one of the two and some will attend both."
Speaking on the occasion, Navin Berry, chief coordinator, SATTE exuded confidence in this new partnership as "it opens the doors for SATTE to acquire more international exposure, both for buyers as well as the sellers. ITB will be extending its marketing muscle to SATTE and we expect this to translate into a more comprehensive international show. We expect more quality content enhancement from ITB and for us this is indeed both a recognition as well as a challenge to achieve new goals." SATTE and ITB have been working together over the last four years. This new agreement will secure a more world class experience at the 17th annual edition of SATTE from 28-30 January, 2010. This development has been welcomed by all segments of the travel and tourism industry as heralding a new chapter for Indian tourism.
CSR and Sustainabilit y in the Tourism Supply Chain
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TB Berlin is once again investigating the subject of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the travel industry. As the partner of GATE e.V. in this under taking ITB Berlin is lending its support to the symposium taking place in November, which is entitled "Sustainability all along the line? CSR in tourism supply chains". "Increasingly, the subject of sustainability is becoming a quality factor for the socially aware traveller. This makes it even more important for tourism companies to face up to their responsibilities and not just to use CSR as a marketing instrument," according to Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Centre Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin, in explaining his organisation's commitment to this subject. The t wo-day conference will examine the impor tance of tourism supply chains, the verifiability of CSR criteria, and transparency in the implementation of CSR tourism destinations. The aim is to present the subject of sustainability and CSR in tourism supply chains from a
number of dif ferent perspectives - for the benefit of representatives of the tourism industry, academics, those employed in development cooperation, and anyone else with an interest in these subjects. The discussions will focus on the ways in which CSR can be implemented in the tourism supply chain, the role played in this contex t at the particular location by cultural factors in the organisational structure of tourism, and how to ensure transparency for tourism suppliers in Germany as well as for tourists themselves. Participants will also investigate the fundamental questions of the importance and ef fect of the implementation of CSR criteria on the local population at tourism destinations. The presentations, which will be given by leading figures from the industry, will also be accompanied by discussion groups, using the open space method, allowing anyone to introduce their own topics. The symposium will take place on 20 and 21 November 2009 at the Euro Business College Hamburg.
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column
Jordan
Sands of Time
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ordan is one such place which still retains its charm of long past and still enthralls a whole new generation as a modern, vibrant nation. The visitors to Wadi Rum - a stupendous, timeless place, vir tually untouched by humanity
Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea is just adding quality to a refined product that is distinct, accessible and friendly - a product that is home to a new display of modern meeting facilities and unique venues for incentive travel. Jordan has a lot
Dead Sea
Petra
and its destructive forces where the weather and winds have carved out imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as " vast, echoing and god-like" usually told to "listen to the silence". From this haunting primeval starkness of Wadi Rum, to the teeming centre of urban Amman and from the majestic ruins of bygone civilizations to the timeless splendour of the Dead Sea, Jordan unveiles as a magical and mysterious landscape which of fer high standard accommodations, exquisite cuisine and countless activities that can provide visitors with inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation. The new stream of luxury hotels emerging in Amman,
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to of fer to the traveller like the salt crystals form on the rocky shores of the Dead Sea which create a snow-like ef fect, the gazelles and Ory x herds and migrating birds, the grandeur of Wadi Rum, ancient caravan trails from the highlands of Moab and
Wadi Rum
Edom and the wooded hills of biblical Gilead. The unique, cleansing mud baths of the Dead Sea are just a few examples of the treasures awaiting visitors to this Unique Kingdom. Jordan is not a mass destination and as per the national tourism strategy put in place in 2004, it will always be identified as a boutique product.
Jordan Eyes Asian Markets J
ordan, which at the moment gets most of its visitors from US, UK, Germany, France and Spain - in that order - eyes Asian countries, especially India and China, as a lucrative inbound markets. "We hope India will soon become one of the leading inbound markets for Jordan", said Anwar Atalla, Director - Marketing, Jordan Tourism Board. Last year around 38,000 people from India visited Jordan. India, is the first destination in the Asian market where Jordan is being promoted. Jordan Tourism Board, which is viewing India as a promising destination, has already started a representative office in Delhi this year, its first in South and East Asia. Tourism is the second highest earner of GDP of Jordan and its contribution accounts for about 14 per cent of the GDP. "Jordan Tourism Board is planning long term action and Anwar Atalla Director - Marketing look at working with our limited Jordan Tourism Board budgets," said Anwar Atalla. "We are looking at positioning itself as a shorthaul niche destination. Our plan is to attract leisure, wellness, adventure, MICE, history and
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culture, as well as religious traffic from India". The Christain population in Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu and North East India would be interested in visiting the many Biblical sites spread over Jordan. Apart from some of world's earliest churches, Jordan has places like Bethany, where Jesus Christ was baptized; Mount Nebo, the final station in Moses' flight from Egypt; Madaba, Ummar-ras and the rock-carved city of Petra, all mentioned in Bible. Jordan Rif t valley near Dead Sea has been home to Biblical cities Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin and Zoar. With Royal Jordan Airlines operating flights from Mumbai and Delhi connectivity is not a problem. Since Jordan believes in niche tourism, it is targeting the discerning tourists. Jordan has Ashish Sharma more to offer in eco-tourism, Jordan Tourism Board leisure and wellness and fun India and adventure for other travelers as well. In addition there are fun and adventure spots like Aqaba near Red Sea, good convention centres for MICE and shopping centres.
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newsline
Capt. Krishnan Nair Conferred The Giant International Award apt. C.P. Krishnan Nair, Chairman, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts was conferred The Giant International Award for Excellence in "Business and Industry". The award honours and
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journey just 8 decades ago and now I feel proud to stand tall with the recognition that the Gaints Award brings with it." Giants International, is the first and only India based International Service
recognizes his outstanding contribution to the industry. The glit tering ceremony was presided by Rajashree Birla, Director, Aditya Birla Group at Hotel Hilton Towers, Mumbai on September 17, 2009. On receiving the award Capt Nair's said, "It seems just like yesterday when I started my purposeful life
Organization that has since 1972 always endeavored to resolve some of country's pressing problems by executing projects and programmes in the areas of Family Planning, Low Cost Housing, Consumerism, Flood Relief Work, Earthquake Relief Work and similar public spirited activities.
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GoI Releases Rs 50cr for Tourism Promotion in Vidarbha
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overnment of India (GoI) has released a special grant of Rs 50 crore for development and promotion of tourism in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The fund has been allocated to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the Forest Department for the development of infrastructure facilities at prominent tourism destinations in the region. Jagmohan Sethi, Chairman- Tourism Commit tee, Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) said that the grant is to be used for developing facilities like internal roads and interpretation centres for training tourist guides. The facilities are to be developed at four national parks in Vidarbha--Pench, Melghat, Tadoba and Navegaon--besides some other destinations like Chikhaldara. Sethi said that tenders for the same will be issued soon. Although the plans are to be executed by the MTDC and the Forest Department, the tenders will be issued and processed by the Public Works Department (PWD) of the state Panchgani government.
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personality
A True Plural Being PR Krishna Kumar, Managing Director, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore has been instrumental in taking the flagship company, started in a humble way, to the current status of the second best traditional Ayurveda house in the South. He initiated the first ever clinical research in traditional medicines under WHO and ICMR partnership to study the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment on Rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. U. Indulal profiles PR Krishna Kumar
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urdjieff called man a plural being because he considered men as divided in themselves, with hundreds and thousands of 'I's. But only an extraordinary man can have many 'I am of uniquely diverse characteristic features, recognize and maintain a fine balance and successfully use them for the sake of the society. P. R. Krishna Kumar, the head of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Ltd is such a being, effectively plural. He adorns the roles of an Ayurveda physician, a teacher, a visionary, a philosopher, a counselor, an
administrator and an entrepreneur in his daily life. Perhaps because of maintaining a profound equilibrium of these roles, many treat him also as a sage, as defined by Osho. Spiritual, traditional and revolutionary - that is what Krishnakumar is, all at the same time. Krishnakumar was born in 1951 as the son of Arya Vaidyan P. V. Rama Varier, the founder of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy and Pankajam Rama Varier. Rama Varier was a trend setter in his own ways, which was evident in the establishment, growth and spread of AVP during his time. Krishna Kumar naturally imbibed these finesses and used them on a larger platform from a very young age, making his father proud. Living a life of total surrender to God, doing righteous things without
P R Krishna Kumar, Managing Director, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore
expecting returns and helping the poor are three of his qualities he always attribute to his father. He studied Ayurveda from one of Kerala's prestigious schools and yet decided not to be a practitioner and instead took up imparting proper education and the propagation of Ayurveda as main objectives in life. Though not a full fledged practitioner, Krishnakumar has effectively incorporated allied knowledge systems like astrology to potentiate the effect of Ayurveda treatment as seen in his Chikitsalayam in Coimbatore. The practical success of this holism has convinced even hard core modern medical specialists, who rarely go beyond their rigid algorithms, to the extent that they seek Krishnakumar's help with astrological consultations and rituals like Dhanwantari Havan for some of their patients in critical conditions. Krishnakumar is the head
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of The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy and is involved in production of quality medicines, promotion of Ayurveda education, research and clinical services. He was instrumental in taking the flagship company, started in a humble way, to the current status of one of the best traditional houses in India. With his matchless zeal he is actively involved in various other pioneering activities as well, whether it is the Kshetropasana Trust founded along with noted spiritual leader Pujya Professor Prema Pandurang to revive and rejuvenate the values and ideals of Indian Culture which are appearing to be forgotten in modern era and uplifting of weaker and downtrodden class of society or the Bharatamuni Foundation for Asian Culture, an organization created by the famous danseuse Padma Subrahmanyam for research on cultural identities and to enhance dialogue between scholars and Asian artists,
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personality both performing and those associated with puppet theatre, painting and sculpture. He sleeps very little and is active almost for 20 hrs every day to meet his demanding schedules. His long working hours, this wide range of activities and very frequent travels despite certain health issues, will make even a normal healthy person humble. In his early 20s, he took the road not traveled by Ayurveda people those days and reached the office of the WHO Representative with a request to take steps towards global scientific footing for Ayurveda. He faced only sarcasm there as the officials could understand Ayurveda just as a form of "blackmagic". But he fought for the cause and convinced them to participate in the first clinical research under WHO and ICMR partnership in 1977 to study the efficacy of Ayurveda treatment on Rheumatoid arthritis. As recognition for that and his continued efforts to bring quality research to the field of Ayurveda, NIH (National Institutes of Health) USA funded a clinical trial project recently through University of Washington (2004-2006). He has always stood for scientific validation of
Ayurveda and in incorporating the best of modern science in the clinical practices and medicine production he heads, that too without compromising on the traditional norms. Being a strong representative of great south Indian Ayurveda tradition has not prevented him from promoting the preventive medical aspects of Ayurveda in the tourism industry. This had invited criticism from the peers. He has done that adhering to the concepts of hita (suitable) and mita (moderate) concepts of Ayurveda and not to theories of indulgence that guide the hospitality industry. Thus such treatment centers run in association with leading hotel chains in famous destinations of the country have remained to be more of an authentic Ayurveda information centers rather than profit making ones. In 1977 he conceived and implemented a unique sevenand a half years Ayurveda course in the gurukula pattern, affiliated to Madras University and later to Bharathiar University, which created a unique breed of Ayurveda scholars. This successful curriculum is now regarded as the "Coimbatore Experiment" in academic
Krishnakumar continues his journey with a surprising ease, undeterred from his commitments unaffected by successes and failures, disease and disturbances circles. This particular course was provided to deserving students totally free of cost, despite being a huge financial burden to the then slowly growing mother institution. For Krishnakumar, value based education is the most basic and consistent interest in life and he has spent considerable time and resources for the cause. As a great motivator he always likes to be in the company of keen students. Government of India recognized his contributions in the field of Ayurveda and selected him for the prestigious "Padmasri" award in 2009. It is recognition for Ayurveda, as he says. Many of his works had also been misunderstood and many had also met with failures. As Swami Vivekananda said "each work has to pass through these stages - ridicule, opposition and acceptance. Those who
think ahead of time are sure to be misunderstood". When his works are accepted, his past failures will be ours and not his as all he had conceived and implemented were actually not for him but for others. The recent interest in the authorities, the same which crumpled the gurukula education pattern, to revive it outside the restricting boundaries of the regulatory body, is a latest example of the acceptance that naturally followed ridicule. Krishnakumar continues his journey with a surprising ease, undeterred from his commitments unaffected by successes and failures, disease and disturbances. There is a famous Sanskrit verse, that can be translated thus, for a comprehensive conclusion of this write-up on his personality, life and mission: "let the learned ridicule or appreciate, let wealth come or go, let death happen right Dr. U. Indulal now or ages later, whatever that may happen cannot influence the committed person shift his step from the path of righteousness".
Choice Hospitalit y to Launch LIC Plans Hotel in Chennai ife Insurance Corporation (LIC) South Zone plans to Qualit y Inn The Mayflower in Tuticorin
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set up a hotel on the 2.8 acres it has at Pallavaram in hoice Hotels India and Peninsula Hotels Pvt Ltd have Chennai. According to announced the signing of Quality Inn The Mayflower sources, LIC is in talks with hotels chains for in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. The hotel will commence operation in the first week of September, 2009. Peninsula this venture. The Hotels Pvt Ltd entered into a franchise and marketing tie property is to be developed by LIC and up with Choice Hospitality India Ltd, the master given on long lease to franchisee of Choice Hotels International. a hotel chain. LIC had With Quality Inn Mayflower, Tuticorin, Choice Hotel India expands footprint across 21 cities in India including bought the land from Hindustan Unilever for Rs 63 crore New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and two years ago. It had also bought about seven acre valued at Rs 110 crore from Amrutanjan in 2008. Pune.
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tamil nadu traveller
Quenching The Travellers’ Thirst Dr S BAKTHAVATCHALAM
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oty or Ootacamund is the most popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. Udhagamandalam is the official Tamil name for the town which is the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Situated at an altitude of 7,500 feet (2, 286 m) it was the erstwhile summer capital of the Madras Presidency during the British reign. Ooty draws a large number of tourists every year. Lofty mountains, dense forests, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens and eucalyptus trees greet the visitors en route to Ooty. The hill station itself is a land of picturesque picnic spots. The 'Nilgiri toy train'
connects Ooty to Mettupalayam, at the foot of the Nilgiris. The railhead is now a part of this World Heritage Site built originally by the British. It is one of the main attractions of the hillstation. The train starts from Kallar, near Mettupalayam on a ratchet and pinion track and covers the 46 km to Udhagamandalam in four and -a half hours. The train passes through deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, and tea gardens. After that there is a 21 km section through truly rocky terrain. The track passes over 26 viaducts, and twists and bends through 13 tunnels. After a steep climb, the train enters Coonoor, the little hill station known for its tea plantations. Then the track goes uphill to reach Fern
Hill at a height of 2,218m, the highest point on the railroad. There are five stations between Mettupalayam and Coonoor - Kallar, Adderely, Hill Grove, Runnymede and Kateri. There were five stations between Coonoor and Ooty. Though Wellington, Aruvakkadu, Ketti, and Lovedale are still functional, Fern Hill, the last one, was closed down a few
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years ago. The land exhibits a diverse variety of flora, ranging from rare trees like the cork tree, the paper bark tree, and the monkey puzzle tree, flowering bushes and plants, fern house consists of ferns and orchids. Some of the main tourist attractions the of place are; Ooty Botanical Gardens, the 22 acre scenic garden was laid out in 1847 and is open to visitors although its
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tamil nadu traveller
prime purpose is to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris. The Garden is well maintained by the Tamil Nadu government. A flower show and an exhibition of rare plant species is held here every year. There is a 20 million year old fossilized tree and an Italian-style garden bordering a pool at the garden. The place is also an ideal location for bird watching. Ooty Lake, the artificial
lake & Boat House are the mainstays for tourists coming to the place. The lake spanning size of 4 sqare kilometers is 2.5 km in length is bordered with eucalyptus trees. Boating is the major attraction at the lake. Adjacent to the lake is the Mini Garden with an amusement park for children and a toy train. A wax museum of personalities of Indian history, culture and heritage is housed in a 142 year old
bungalow. The first "Pukka" house in Ooty, situated inside the premises of the Government Arts College along with a few number of Toda Huts up in the hills of Botanical Garden are the some of the other attractions. There is also golf course for recreation. Ooty is well connected the nearby places by good roads. It is 535 km far from Chennai, 89 km from Coimbatore, 18 km from Coonoor, 155 km from
Mysore, 187 km from Calicut, 290 km from Bangalore, 281 km from Kochi. Nearest broad gauge railway head is Mettupalayam (46 kms). Major broadgauge railway junction is Coimbatore. There is a regular bus service from Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Calicut, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Tirupathi and Cochin. Buses ply regularly to Mudhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Doddabeta.
Adventure Tourism Complex at Mamallapuram
Tamil Culture Centre Planned in Singapore
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amil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation planning to set up an adventure tourism complex at Mamallapuram. The Corporation has already introduced adventure sports like parasailing, water scooter and wave runner in t wo of its boat houses at Mut tukadu and Mudaliarkuppam situated along the East Coast Road, in the last few years.
heritage centre will be set up in Singapore to promote Tamil and Indian culture. This was revealed by Balaji Sadasivam, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Singapore in Chennai. During his recent visit to Chennai he has discussed the details with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu. The centre is likely to come up in two years. About three lakh Indians live in Singapore, of whom more than two lakh are Tamils. The
Balaji Sadasivam, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Dr A Chit taranjan Mohandoss, Director of Tourism and Managing Director of TTDC, told the media that the proposal at Mamallapuram was aimed at making Tamil Nadu a destination for adventure tourism in India. He said, “The facility has been planned at TTDC’s Beach Resort Complex in the coastal town. It would be of fering several adventure sports alike other spots, where the sport is presently available.” The facilities are expected to be ready in t wo month’s time.
proposed Heritage centre will reflect the historical relations between the people of the two countries, besides showcasing Indian and Tamil culture.
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hospitality
'Swosti Plaza' Renamed 'Swosti Premium'
Sarovar Portico Launched in Port Blair
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Sarovar Hotels has launched Peerless Sarovar Portico in the scenic set tings of Corbyn's Cove, the only beach in Port Blair. Sarovar Portico has 50 guest rooms and premium cottages equipped with all modern conveniences and facilities ideal for discerning holidayers. The rooms with private balconies of fer picture perfect views of the expansive sea and the manicured green lawns. Commenting on the opening of Peerless Sarovar Portico, Port Blair, Anil Madhok, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts said, "Port Blair has been fast emerging as a favorite destination both for international and domestic
wosti Group has recently upgraded its flagship property Swosti Plaza, now known as Swosti Premium. The upgraded property of fers the largest hotel and convention centre in Orissa with all the trappings of a five-star hotel. A newly built health club includes swimming pool, ultra-modern gymnasium, steam and jacuzzi, massage parlour, etc. The recreation room of fers facilities for games like billiards/snooker, chess, dart and table tennis. The hotel has also introduced state-of-theart facilities in conference rooms like video conferencing and LCD projectors as well as high-speed Internet facility in all areas of the hotel.
Radisson, Noida Introduces Prive Wing
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he Radisson MBD Hotel, Noida's first five-star hotel located in the commercial and business district of Sector 18, has recently commissioned an exclusive Prive wing with 11 luxury rooms. Located on the second floor of the hotel, each room in the Prive wing has a total area of 580 square feet with a palatial floor and ceiling height of 12 f t. The wing has been specially designed to ensure that every expectation of a business traveller is met. Comfort, spaciousness, beauty, luxury and rela xation are well taken care of.
travellers especially honeymooners and long - stayers. Peerless Sarovar Portico here promises to give best service ensuring customer delight at this beautiful island destination." S K Roy, Chairman, Peerless Group of Hotels said, "Sarovar Hotels with its necessary expertise and pan-India presence is an ideal choice for managing this hotel and will provide fine hospitality at a very competitive price." Peerless Sarovar Portico one can explore exotic Port Blair, an exotic destination complete with silver sand beaches, clear blue waters, coral reefs, swaying palms and stunning marine life.
Leela Kovalam Becomes ISO 14001:2004 Certified he Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach Resort became the first beach resort in India to get an ISO 14001: 2004 certification by The Bureau Veritas group. Commenting on the certification,
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environment. ISO 14001:2004 is an internationally accepted standard for placing an ef fective Environmental Management System (EMS). The Leela Group has always
largest beach resort in Kerala with 182 guest rooms and suites. It is spread across numerous acres of the sprawling 1.5 Km beachfront. The Resort sits perched on a clif f top cradled
thereby decreasing the negative impact to nature. Treatment of the waste water - which is used for gardening, Energy ef ficient pumps for the optimization of water usage, Use of dimmers for energy
Biswajit Chakraborty, General Manager, The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach, said "ISO 14001: 2004 is truly an achievement for The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts group and is testimony to our Chairman, Capt. Krishnan Nair's vision and commitment to
been commit ted towards prevention of pollution and continual improvement in environmental per formance by controlling the impact of activities, products and services on the Environment. The Leela Kovalam Beach is the
bet ween t wo wide sweeping beaches and of fers a stunning view of the famed Kovalam coastline and the coconut groves beyond. The hotel has adopted various measures as environmental initiatives to improve the environmental per formance
conservation, Installation of Flash Steam Recovery, Establishing EMPs to improve the environmental per formance of the hotel on a continual basis, Planting trees in and around the premises & organic farming are some of the initiatives in place.
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Heritage Trail
Heritage is the actual traditions, places and values that groups throughout the world are proud to conserve. In tourism the term heritage has come to mean landscapes, natural history, buildings, artifacts and cultural traditions that are "either literally or metaphorically passed on from one generation to the other, but those among these things which can be portrayed for promotion as tourism products". In this special section ASIAN TRAVELLER presents twelve such heritage sites from the Asia region.
heritage
China
Great Wall of China T
he Great Wall of China one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire travel world has a long and vibrant history. The Great Wall is made of a series of stone and earthen fortifications which was built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from Xiongnu attacks. Qin Shi Huang of the Ming dynasty is known for building it by joining the sections of earlier fortifications in 220 B.C. Construction continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when the Great Wall became the world's largest military structure which winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus from east to west of northern China. It was independent walls originally built in the Spring, Autumn, and Warring States Periods as a defensive fortification by the three states: Yan, Zhao and Qin which underwent extensions and repairs in later dynasties. Built as a united defense system for preventing invasions from the north, its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance. It was built with wisdom, dedication, blood, sweat and tears and is estimated that about two to three million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long construction. The grand structure stretches over approximately 6,400 km from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west. Including all of its branches it has a total length of 8,851.8 km. Although some portions of the wall in north of Beijing and near tourist centers have been preserved and even reconstructed, much of the wall is disintegrating or destroyed. The monument was listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1987 is also one man made monument visible from space. The Great Wall was always a symbol of the bravery and wisdom of the Chinese people.
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heritage
Sri Lanka
Sacred Cit y of Anuradhapura A
nuradhapura, one of the ancient political and religious capitals of Sri Lanka that flourished for 1,300 years, was abandoned after an invasion in 993. Hidden away in dense jungle for many years, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, is now accessible once again. This sacred city was established around a Bodhi tree, the sapling from the original Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya brought by Sanghamitra, the daughter of Indian Emperor Ashoka. It is the oldest living tree in the world with a reported planting date. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over forty square km. The UNESCO World Heritage Site inducted in 1982, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. Historical records state that the city was
founded in the 10th century BC, the archaeological data have revealed that there has been inhabitants even before the 5th century BC. The layout of Anuradhapura as described in the Mahavamsa. The city's popularity grew both as a ritual centre and as the administrative centre with quality living facilities and the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. In the sacred city of Anuradhapura and in the vicinity are a large number of ruins. These have not been identified properly and many have been destroyed either by Tamil invaders or by vandals. There are Eight Great Places still used for of worship here. They include Abhayagiri Dagaba. Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa, Lankarama. Other structures include in the Isurumuniya, Magul Uyana, Vessagiri, Rathna Prasadaya, Queen's Palace, Dakkhina Stupa, Sela Cetiya, Naka Vihara, Kiribath Vehera, Kuttam Pokuna, Samadhi Statue, Toluwila Statue.
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heritage
Bangladesh
Mosque Cit y of Bagerhat T
his historic Mosque city of Bagerhat is situated at the meeting-point of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers in Khulna Division, southwest Bangladesh. The city earlier known as Khalifatabad was founded in the 15th century by the Turkish general Ulugh Khan Jahan. Hence, the place features a number of mosques and early Islamic monuments, many built of bricks. The tomb and mosques of Khan Jahan Ali is one of the main attractions and pilgrimage site where hundreds of visitors pay their respects to one of the country's more famous holy men everyday. UNESCO has included about 50 monuments including Mausoleum of Khan Jahan, Shatgombuj Mosque, Singar mosque, Bibi Begni mosque, Reza Khoda mosque, Zindavir mosque in its World Heritage list. The constructions reveal high technical skills by the craftsman who made it. Shait Gumbad Mosque another tourism attraction, literally means, Mosque of 60 domes although it has 77. Built in 1549, it is one of the country's oldest mosques attracting a large number of visitors. There are several other mosques in the vicinity. Most are single domed. There are also some temples worth visiting in this area.
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heritage
South Korea
Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynast y T he Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty form a collection of 40 tombs of members of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. Scattered over 18 locations, these monuments were built over five centuries, from 1408 to 1966. The tombs are classified into two types. Tombs of the kings and queens and those posthumously granted the title of king or queen, were interred in Neung-type tombs. Crown Princes and their wives, as well as the parents of royalty, were interred in Won-type tombs. The tombs honoured the memory of ancestors, showed respect for their achievements, asserted royal authority, protected ancestral spirits from evil and provided protection from vandalism. Spots of outstanding natural beauty were chosen for the tombs which typically have their back protected by a hill as they face south toward water and, ideally, layers of mountain ridges in the distance. Alongside the burial area, the royal tombs feature a ceremonial area and an entrance. In addition to the burial mounds, associated buildings that are an integral part of the tombs include a T-shaped wooden shrine, a shed for stele, a royal kitchen and a guards' house, a red-spiked gate and the tomb keeper's house. The grounds are adorned on the outside with a range of stone objects including figures of people and animals. The different clusters of tombs include `Donggureung Tomb Cluster which represents the best sample of royal family group tombs, Seosamneung Tomb Cluster which is located in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, Gwangneung located in Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, 20 km from Seoul and Hongneung and Yureung which represent the political changes of Korea. The tombs have was inscribes as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009.
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heritage
Philippines
Baroque Churches T
he Baroque Churches of the Philippines stands tall among the heritage attractions of Philippines. The world heritage destination listed by the UNESCO includes four churches; San Agustin (Manila), La Asuncion (Santa Maria), San Agustin (Paoay), Santo Tomas (Miag-ao) built over a period of more than 150 years (16th-18th century). The first one located in Manila was built by the Spanish in the late 16th century. Their unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen, which resulted a fusion of the European church design and local construction techniques and decorations. Their specific characteristics include a separate belltower and strong buttresses to withstand the powers of earthquakes common in the region which belongs to the Pacific Ring of Fire. These churches have been at the forefront of Philippine history, not just in furthering Christianity in the archipelago, but in serving as the political backbone of Spanish colonial rule, when Church and State were regarded as one. These churches had been subject to attacks by local revolts and rebellions, hence, most had the appearance of a fortress, rather than just serving as mere religious structures. La Asuncion Church, Santa Maria is located atop a hill, which also served as a citadel during times of this crisis. Miag-ao Church also withstood the occasional attacks of Muslims from the south.The masterpiece in this architecture is at the San Agustin Church, Manila which is also the only structure to survive the Second World War in Intramuros, a small historic center. The structure looks bulky from the outside with the buttresses. The most imposing of these buttresses are at the San Agustin, Church, Paoay. The church got its name as the Agustinians were the first order to arrive in the Phillipines in 1565. This church has a spacious setting and looks sturdy enough to withstand any earthquake.
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heritage
Tibet
Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace T
he Potala Palace, located in Lhasa, Tibet is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century. The place is named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara. Perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. The complex, comprising the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700m. This central member of Potala is called the "red palace" from its crimson colour, which distinguishes it from the rest. The building measures 400 metres east-west and 350 metres north-south, with sloping stone walls averaging 3 m. thick, and 5 m. (more than 16 ft) thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. Thirteen stories of buildings - containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues - soar 117 metres (384 ft) on top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 m (about 1,000 ft) in total above the valley floor. The central part of this group of buildings rises in a vast quadrangular mass above its satellites to a great height, terminating in gilt canopies similar to those on the Jokhang. It symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The beauty and originality of the architecture of the sites, their rich ornamentation and harmonious integration in a striking landscape, add to their historic and religious interest. The Palace has been converted into a museum now. The main parts of attraction in palace are the Tomb of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, the White Palace, Red Palace, Great West Hall, The Saint's Chapel, North, South, East and West Chapels, and the three Galleries. It is still one of Tibet's major pilgrimage destinations because of the tombs of past Dalai Lamas.
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heritage
Cambodia
Angkor A
ngkor, one of the most attractive regions of Cambodia is the home of Angkor Wat, the world's largest single religious monument. The World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO is also a temple complex spanning an area of 400 square km. There are more than one thousand temples in the area ranging scale from piles of brick rubble scattered through rice fields to huge temples. It has been the largest preindustrial city in the world spanning a huge area of 3000 square km which could hold up to one million people. Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia which mostly feature remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire who ruled most of South East Asia from the 9th to 15th century AD. These are located amid forests and farmlands to the north of the Great Lake, Tonle Sap and south of the Kulen Hills. The word 'Angkor' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'nagara' meaning city. The magnificent remains of the Khmer architecture with countless sculptural decorations is considered to be one of the most astonishing and enduring in history. About two million travellers visit this heritage site every year. There are different theories on the location and construction of the place. Angkor was chosen as a settlement site because of their strategic military position and agricultural potential. Some also believe that the geographical location of the Angkor complex and the arrangement of its temples was based on a planet-spanning sacred geography from archaic times as the computer simulations showed that the ground plan of the Angkor complex - the terrestrial placement of its principal temples mirrors the stars in the constellation of Draco at the time of spring equinox in 10,500 BC. The Bayon and Baphuon temples are the other major attractions in Angkor Thom along with the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, Five entrance gates, Phnom Bakheng etc.
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heritage
Thailand
Historic Cit y of Ayutthaya F
ounded c. 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese dynasty capital after Sukhothai. The kingdom existed from 1351 to 1767 until it was invaded by the Burmese in the 18th century. The city was a hub for international commerce in its prime days and had trade relations with the Chinese, Vietnamese (Annam), Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French. The remains of the place are characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries which gives an idea of its past splendour. Ayutthaya located 53 miles (85 kilometers) north of Bangkok is today known for its spectacular ruins and temples. Many of its temples are still intact, such as Wat Phra Sanphet, Wat Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Panangcherng and Wat Chai Mongkol, known for its large bronze statue of the Reclining Buddha. There are many significant ruins like the Wihan Somdet Hall cloistered on three sides and was the first building in ancient Ayutthaya to be covered in gold leaf. A fitting decoration for coronation, and investiture ceremonies that used to he held there. The buildings styles too are interesting being a fascinating mix of Hindu and Khmer-inspired motifs and styles. The foreign traders of yore described it as one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the East around the sixteenth century. Some even compared the city in size and wealth of Paris. Ayutthaya was inscripted to the Unesco World Heritage site in 1991.
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heritage
Vietnam
Hué Monuments T
he Complex of Hué Monuments, one of the yester year unified planned capital cities of Southeast Asia has been one of the great heritage attractions of Vietnam. Exhibiting unique architectural, sculptural and aesthetic achievements the complex was the result of highly creative labour of the Vietnamese people over a long time. The Hué monument complex is preserved by currently under the Hué Monuments Conservation Centre of Dept. of Conservation and Museums Vietnam. The complex is regarded as one of the most important physical representations of the national heritage with exemplary monumental arts, urban planning and landscape design. This eastern feudal capital dates from the 19th century. It's a complex of defensive walls and palaces, with the Forbidden Purple City at its heart. Outside the city center, there are a number of associate monuments mainly tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty, pagodas and temples. In spite of social, economic influences, of war as well as human settlement, the Hue monument complex still maintains quite intact appearance of an imperial capital of the former Vietnam Empire in the 19th century. The Northern bank of Perfume River houses relics consisting of palaces, which were constructed as arc defensive ramparts with 11km length. This valuable construction includes more than 100 architectural works which were extremely reflected the life of Emperors and mandarins under Nguyen' reign. On the Southern bank of Perfume River there are the tombs of Nguyen Kings. The most popular ones among them include majestic Gia Long tomb, imposing Minh Mang tomb, poetic Tu Duc tomb and magnificent Khai Dinh tomb. These tombs are the four famous ones with the name and the arrangements of the tomb reflected each Emperor's points of view, personality, and tastes. Being an important center of Buddhism, there are some 300 year old pagodas in the area. There are also large number of temples and pagodas of the last century. The plave is also famous for the royal music famous dishes and sophisticated handicraft. The museum at Hue is also a place worth visiting.
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heritage
Japan
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto K
yoto was the imperial capital of Japan from its foundation once it was built in A.D. 794 till the middle of the 19th century. It was made in the style of the capitals of ancient China. Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto comprises of 17 locations in three cities: Kyoto and Uji in Kyoto Prefecture and ?tsu in Shiga Prefecture of in which thirteen are Buddhist temples, three are Shinto shrines and one is a castle. They are Kamigamo - jinja Shrine (Kamowakeikazuchi - jinja Shrine), Shimogamo - jinja Shrine (Kamomioya - jinja Shrine), To - ji Temple (Kyoo-gokoku - ji Temple), Kiyomizu - dera Temple, Enryaku - ji Temple, Daigo - ji Temple, Ninna - ji Temple, Byodo - in Temple, Ujigami - jinja Shrine, Kozan - ji Temple, Koke - dera Temple (Saiho - ji Temple), Tenryu - ji Temple, Kinkaku - ji Temple (Rokuon - ji), Ginkaku - ji Temple (Jisho - ji), Ryoan - ji Temple, Hongwan - ji Temple, Nijo - jo Castle. The properties include 38 buildings designated by the Japanese Government as National Treasures as well as 160 designated as Important Cultural Properties with eight gardens designated as Special Places of Scenic Beauty and four designated as Places of Scenic Beauty. Being the nerve centre of Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years the place showcases the development of Japanese wooden architecture, particularly religious architecture and the art of Japanese gardens. These 17 properties in Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities were approved for inclusion as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" among the World Heritage sites by UNESCO during the 18th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Thailand.
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heritage
India
Khajuraho Group of Monuments T
emples at Khajuraho, one of the largest cultural destinations in India especially in is situated at a village in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The monuments which date between 950 and 1050 AD portray different bands of sculptures including erotic ones. The region and monuments known for the religious art in India has been lost for many centuries and has been discovered a couple of centuries back. Only 22 of the 85 medieval temples built during the reign Candela dynasty remains today. These belong to two different religions; Hinduism and Jainism and belong to the people who worshipped the goddess as well as the god and believed that through sexual union, one could achieve moksha (spiritual salvation). They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The temples are grouped into three; western, eastern and southern. There are hundreds of exquisite images on the interior and exterior walls of the shrines. Architecturally unique, the Khajuraho temples were constructed with spiral superstructures resembling a northern Indian shikhara temple style and at times to a Panchayatana layout. Apart from the Jain temples, the other belongs to the Hindu deities; Trimoortis (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and Devi (the mother goddess). The Panchayatana temple has four subordinate shrines on four corners and the sanctum in the center where the idols deities stand. Above it is the secondary shikharas with a graded rise which holds the main shikhara. These shikharas attribute unique splendor and special character to the temples of Khajuraho. The Lakshmana temple belongs to Panchayatana temples. Kandariya Mahadeva, one of the most accomplished temples of the Western group, comprises eighty-four shikharas, the main being 116 feet from the ground level. The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone. The stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons.
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heritage
Malaysia Malayasia
Melaka and George Town A
cultural epitome developed over a periods of 500 years of trade and cultural exchange is Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca. Situated in Malaysia it enjoyed a strategic position of sea trade between Europe and Asia from 15th to 18th centuries. These are the most complete surviving historic city centres on the Straits of Malacca with a multi-cultural living heritage originating from the trade routes from Great Britain and Europe through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and the Malay Archipelago to China. Their culture and townscapes further evolved after being colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. With its government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications, Melaka demonstrates the early stages of this history originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century. Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town repmresents the British era from the end of the 18th century. The architecture and urban form, technology and monumental art practiced here reflect the coming together of cultural elements from the Malay Archipelago, India and China. The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape unparallel to anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. They demonstrate an exceptional range of shophouses and townhouses. These buildings show many different types and stages of development of the building type, some originating in the Dutch or Portuguese periods. The properties have retained their authenticity; listed monuments and sites have been restored with appropriate treatments regarding design, materials, methodologies, techniques and workmanship, in accordance with conservation guidelines and principles. Its inclusion among the UNESCO world heritage sites in 2008 has brought about a major boost to the lack-lustre economies of these two states.
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newsline
“Emerging Company” Award for Paramount Airways
Ram, Gandhiji to be 'Ambassadors' of Gujarat Tourism
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rost & Sullivan Excellence in Best Practices award for 2009 has recognised Chennai-based Paramount Airways as the Global Commercial Aviation Emerging Company of the Year. The Less than five year old company with over 700 employees is India's leading premium domestic airline. Presenting the awards at a glit tering ceremony held at the London Marriot t Hotel Marble Arch, Joe Nivas, Director of Best Practices, Frost & Sullivan said, "Paramount Airways has redefined air travel in M. Thiagarajan, MD India with its unique business model and has bucked Paramount Airways the economic downturn with innovative product of ferings". "The business model of Paramount Airways is well defined and has managed to penetrate into the market. Paramount Airways is on a billion dollar fleet expansion plan to move into international operations by 2010," explains John Siddharth, Team Leader, Aerospace & Defence, Frost & Sullivan. M. Thiagarajan, Managing Director, Paramount Airways said, "It is an honor to be recognized by the leading grow th partners in the research industry and market. We are delighted to receive this award as it shows our commitment in making a mark on the global map. We are currently entering into an exciting stage of grow th in the company where we would soon like to ex tend our services to the global traveler".
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ujarat's Religious Tourism will soon have a renewed vigour with all temples and places associated with Lord Ram set to figure in the state's travel map. Apart from the Religious Tourism titled 'Rama Tour,' Mahatma Gandhi will also be showcased as an icon to at tract foreign tourists. Jay Narayan Vyas, Tourism Minister, Gujarat said, "If Sri Lanka can cash in on Ramayana to promote tourism, then why not Gujarat. We have old temples and sites, which have mythology woven around them. These will be of interest to both domestic and international tourists." The state government also plans to link tourism with Buddhist pilgrim centres ahead of this year's World Buddhist Conference to be hosted by the state.
Japan to Explore Meghalaya's Golf Tourism Potential
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apan is keen to explore Meghalaya's potential as a Golf Tourism destination. For this purpose, Hideaki Domichi, Japan Ambassador to India called on DD Lapang, Chief Minister, Meghalaya in New Delhi recently. "Japan will organise Indo-Japan Golf Tournament in Shillong which will at tract tourists from home and abroad," said Domichi. The 18hole Shillong Golf course - Gleneagle of the East - is one among the few linked courses and the third oldest in the world. Domichi emphasised exploiting Meghalaya's tourism potential that can benefit both the countries. The state government is also trying to give tourism a boost by involving big tour operators and travel agents.
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experience
Auschwitz Museum
Shadows of a Dark Past
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Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland was the largest of Nazi concentration camps. The camp took its German name from the hosting town of Oswiecim, in Southern Poloand. Following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Oswiecim was annexed and renamed Auschwitz. The site where the concentration camp was functioned is now a museum and attracts a lot of visitors these days. Edyta Bednorz writes about her visit to the Auschwitz Museum.
uschwitz, located in the south of Poland, was the largest of the Nazi concentration and ex termination camps, operational during World War II. The camp commandant, Rudolf Höss, testified at the Nuremberg Trials that up to three million people had died at Auschwitz - of which ninety per cent were Jews. Nowadays Auschwitz is a museum, honouring the victims of Nazism. I have been to the museum three times. Each time I went there I discovered new things and noticed more facts which all are equally important, but hard to spot during a quick visit. The Museum encompasses a huge compound with a number of buildings which once were jail houses and gas chambers - where most of the victims were subjected to the 'final solution'. Most of the buildings are maintained as they were in the 1940s- untouched. When you walk inside the buildings you get a feeling that you are back in 1940s. The 'hospital laboratory building', where those notorious experiments on people (mainly children) were conducted still gives you an uneasy feeling. Through the grills at the door of each room, you can see beds, bot tles of medicines, various pots and other equipments. The doctor's of fice is so meticulously maintained with papers and other paraphernalia on the desk. One gets a feeling that the doctor or 'patients' could actually walk in any moment. That thought gave me goose bumps each time I visited the place.
The camp had inmates from dif ferent nationalities and each one had an apartment of his own. And each of those houses has been now transformed into a museum where documentary films are shown. These buildings also house the pictures of prisoners, their let ters, belongings including suitcases and clothes. You can even see photos of Ann Frank and her sister, as the Frank family arrived in Auschwitz in 1944. One can spend days looking through numerous books that are placed in these buildings with life stories of the victims and the memoirs of the survivors. I remember one corridor which has its walls lined with the prisoners' pictures taken immediately af ter they had arrived in the camp, with their heads shaved and dressed in the striped pajamas. As you walk along the corridor you feel like being gazed upon by those people and it is an eerie feeling. When you walk the courtyard of these buildings the thought that it is the same ground those prisoners had walked could give you goose bumps. You can see a few gallows where thousands were killed some because they misbehaved, some because they at tempted to escape and some were hanged just to set an example to others not to do any thing against the of ficer. It was like a show in the theater, with the prisoners being the audience. On a side, close to the gas chambers, stands a lonely gallows, where the camp commandant Rudolf Hess was executed in 1947. Gas chambers are also open to the public. They are kept as they were during the war, and nothing
has changed. As you walk in you can feel the cold air and you can experience an odd smell. Inside there are a few rooms and waiting area, which was once a changing room, where prisoners coming straight from the train in which they had been transported, were stripped naked hoping to get a shower as they were told, but as they went into the tiny room instead of water they were sprayed with gas. If you want some more information about the holocaust, there are two small bookshops, from where you can buy books in dif ferent languages, maps, postcards and guide books about Auschwitz. There is also a small restaurant were you can have a cup of tea or try some delicious Polish dishes.
If you ever visit Poland you should not miss visiting Auschwitz. It is an eye opening experience as well as a great history lesson, which could not be taught in any class room. You will come out from the museum with bet ter understanding of the Nazi regime and its consequences which killed millions of people and even more of them lef t scarred for life. Through the pictures, videos and numerous memorabilia you will be able to emphasize with the prisoners and get to know those innocent peoplethe victims of the holocaust.
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Edyta Bednorz
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
macau
Free Admission for
Grand Prix, Wine Museums in Macau
T
he Macau Grand Prix Museum and Wine Museum under the auspices of the Macau Government Tourist Office will open to public for free starting September 2 to December 31 this year. This measure aims to stimulate the Macau tourism industry, and enhance visitors'
over half a century. Throughout the years, the unique and challenging street circuit attracted the world's top drivers. Legends such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Takuma Sato, David Coulhard and Mika Hakinnen marked their success at the Guia Circuit.
Senna. In addition, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix video game by PlayStation®, simulator of WTCC (World Touring Car
across the Macau Grand Prix Museum houses over a thousand wine labels, among which, the oldest was bottled in 1815 at Porto. Residents and visitors can view the utensils and reconstitution of various stages of the viniculture. Moreover, costumes from the different regions of Portugal are exhibited at the museum. Between September 2 and December 31 this year, both Macau Grand Prix Museum and Wine Museum will open to public for free. Visitors The Museum features Championship) and Digital aged 18 or above can also knowledge and interest valuable memorabilia track slot cars let visitors feel enjoy a wine-tasting towards Macau. including the racing machine the thrill of the Guia Circuit. experience for only The Macau Grand Prix The Wine Museum right MOPD10. has been staged in Macau for and racing gear of Ayrton
'Experience Macau'
Bus Tour Campaign Launched T he Macau Government Tourist Of fice (MGTO) launched another innovative campaign the 'Experience Macau Bus Tour', to celebrate the upcoming 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (S.A.R.). The launch event was of ficiated by Macau Government Tourist Of fice (MGTO) Representative in Malaysia, Tunku Dato' Seri Iskandar Tunku Abdullah, accompanied by lion dance and Portuguese folk dance performances - representing the blend of eastern and western cultures in Macau. The event was witnessed by more than 50 partners from the travel industry, airlines and media representatives. In conjunction with the Experience Macau Bus Tour around Malaysia, there will be activities and many at tractive of fers on sale and giveaways. For those who purchase a Macau holiday package, they will be able to join the Double Celebration Draw and stands a chance to win daily prizes and also the Grand Draw, which includes a luxurious holiday package for 2 to Macau, with accommodation at the intimate Four Seasons Hotel Macao, stylish MGM Grand Macau or the Venice-theme Venetian Macao Resort-Hotel plus show tickets to "Zaia", a dazzling Cirque du Soleil per formance which is the first permanent show in Asia.
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profile
Hideout for the Discerning Travellers T
he Chancery Pavilion, a contemporary 5 star luxury business hotel in Bangalore is one among the popular names in the hospitality industry. Set on an elevation amidst the heart of Bangalore's central business district on Residency Road, The Chancery Pavilion is the perfect destination for business travellers, tourists, medical visits and even quick getaways. The Chancery Pavilion has 234 wellequipped rooms, including dedicated floors for non-smokers and lady Stephen Beale travelers. VP, BD & OP The self
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indulgent rooms, chic interiors, brilliant architecture and warm service make the place an ideal place for the travellers coming in for business or leisure.
Lounge, Pavili-Oven offer the finest food and beverage experience serving Indian and global delicacies. It also features state-ofthe-art banquet facilities spread over 20,000 sq. ft.
transportation facilities to all tourist destinations and attractions in Karnataka. 24hour health club equipped with modern equipments is also made availed for the guests. Other services and
The rooms and suites are categorized into the First Citizen Suite, Executive Suite, Club Pavilion Rooms, Superior Rooms and Long Stay Rooms. The restaurants for the gourmets here include the Indian Affair, Ithaca, Amnesia, The
this hotel is the ideal place to facilitate corporate workshops, wedding receptions or even informal gatherings. The travel desk of the hotel arranges
facilities available round-theclock include business center, travel desk, laundry, exquisite in-room dining and complimentary Wi-Fi access.
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marketing
Canadian Tourism Comes to India
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he Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has recently opened its representative of fice in India to develop Canada as an important tourism source market. The CTC has appointed Buzz Travel Marketing India Private Limited as its Indian representative for all its marketing and promotional activities. The CTC plans to focus its marketing activities primarily in Delhi and Mumbai and then later incorporate other Indian cities that have the potential to generate more visitors to Canada. Speaking at the inauguration, held at Imperial Hotel in Delhi Joseph Caron, the Canadian High Commissioner, said "Canada as a tourist destination has a lot to of fer to Indians. It is an ideal family
destination where we are of ficially launching our tourism base. The basic idea is to intrigue an Indian traveller to choose Canada as a destination for travel. To encourage more Indians to travel to Canada, we are launching our brand 'Canada - Keep Exploring'. The major tools towards accomplishment of this objective are the travel agents in India and the website." Clark hopes that the year 2010 Winter Olympics would draw more attention and resultantly would pull more Indian tourists to Canada. Last year, 110, 000 Indians visited Canada including traf fic from all segments such as business, leisure, VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives), MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition) and student. "We
holiday spot that of fers a lot of culture and outdoors. There is a lot that the t wo countries can do together." Echoing the High Commissioner's sentiments, Sujit Banerjee, Secretary-Tourism, Government of India, said that India and Canada should sign an MoU which will enable both the countries to work together. "250,000 Canadians visit India whereas only 110,000 Indians visit Canada. With Canadian Tourism Commission's Of fice in India, this number would surely go up," he said while welcoming CTC's presence in India. Andrew Clark, Vice President Market development, CTC, Derek Galpin, Managing Director - India and China, CTC; Henry Yau, Vice President TPI Travel Canada; and SanJeet, Managing Director, Buzz Travel Marketing India were also present. Andrew Clark, speaking on India's huge market potential, said that India's outbound travel to Canada is expected to grow. "Af ter nine countries, India is the 10th
received 54 per cent VFR traf fic, 20 per cent business traf fic and rest was leisure. We aim to increase leisure traf fic to Canada," added Clark. "Out of India's total outbound traf fic, only 4.9 per cent travel long haul. Our job is to develop curiosity among Indian travellers about Canada and entice more Indians to visit it," he emphasised. Commenting on the Indian economy in the backdrop of global financial crisis, Derek Galpin said,
Joseph Caron the Canadian High Commissioner at the launch
"India is a booming economy. There is a huge potential for tourism in India and we are pleased to be here. Our primary objective is to train and educate travel agents and prepare them to organise lucrative packages for Indian travellers. In 2010, we also plan to organise media and travel agent FAM trips to generate more awareness about Canada. We are looking forward for a mutually beneficial relationship with the travel agents and Indian media." SanJeet threw light on the healthy grow th of Indian outbound numbers. "In the year 2008, India's outbound was 11.7 million. In 2010, it is expected to reach 15 million and by 2020, it is estimated that the number of outbound travellers would increase to 50 million." The CTC is looking forward to develop the tourism market from India to Canada by joining hands with travel agency partners throughout India to assist in promoting the destination. The CTC's launch in India has been facilitated by the Canadian government that is providing additional funds to develop this important tourism market. The marketing budget for the remaining of 2009 would strongly focus on the Indian travel trade and media. This would include dinner receptions, press conferences, training programmes for travel agents, invitation to key travel agencies for FAM trips to Canada and supporting individual marketing initiatives
by travel agencies that are interested in developing Canada tour programmes. In November, the CTC plans to bring Canadian suppliers to India to meet their Indian counterparts for Showcase Canada B2B programme, which will be beneficial for both Indian and Canadian agents to conduct serious business. To facilitate and educate travel agents, the CTC has also developed an online training programme for Canada specialist agents to provide an introduction to Canada. Agents just need to log in and learn about the destination, answer a few easy questions to be eligible to take the nex t module. To be launched by the end of the year, the nex t module will provide an ex tensive and comprehensive training plat form for all agents with a serious interest in selling Canada and certified specialists will get free Canada FAM trips, information sessions, timely newslet ters, promotional vouchers, window displays and other important promotional material. The CTC is likely to double its marketing budget in 2010 by at tracting additional funds from Canadian tourism partners for further grow th. Canada is the finest four season leisure destination in the world that provides amazing experiences and unique adventures across the 13 Provinces and Territories to assist in developing the tourism market from India to Canada.
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Henry Yau, Vice President TPI Travel Canada; SanJeet, Managing Director, Buzz Travel Marketing India, Andrew Clark, Vice President, Market Development, CTC and Derek Galpin, Managing Director - India and China at the launch
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adventure
Into the Blue Scuba Diving In Lacadives and Andaman
I
n 1995, Prahlad Kakar - India's leading ad-filmmaker had an experience which in his own words he calls as "the nearest to spirituality he ever got" On his first ever dive in Mauritius, he discovered an ancient Koran at the bot tom of the reef. This mesmerizing first dive led him to his dream of opening up this experience in India for the many that were ignorant about the bliss of Scuba diving. Lacadives was that dream and it acquired roots first on the island of Kadmat in the lit tle known islands of Lakshadweep of f the Western coast of India. A team of Instructors was assembled that included Prahlad and his wife Mitali
Kakar amongst others. All this was initiated under the banner of the World Underwater Federation (CMAS) and His Royal Baldness Hugues Vitry, Staf f Instructor plus
Indian Ocean Coordinator for the Federation; a legend in his own right who is to date our patron saint of diving! Since the opening of the Kadmat Dive School and centre, Lacadives has safely trained over a 1000 beginners and has played host to numerous divers from all parts of the world. Our safe track record was incentive for CGH Earth Group (formerly The Casino Group of Hotels, Kerala) to invite us in the year 2000 for running the dive centre at their prestigious Bangaram Island resort in Lakshadweep. Lacadives crossed over to the Bay of Bengal in 2009 when they opened their third center at Havelock in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands; another amazing destination with vibrant reefs, spectacular flora and fauna and home to one of the best beaches in Asia as well as backwaters, mountains and lush tropical jungles. The Andaman & Nicobar experience is a treat for all divers with lush coral gardens, wrecks and a stunning diversity of fish life.
With three dive operations on both sides of the Indian subcontinent and backed by an experienced and dedicated team trained to International CMAS standards, Lacadives today embodies the spirit and compe-
Havelock Island:
Steeped in Time… H
avelock Island with an area of some 90 sq.km is the largest of the islands which comprise Ritchie's Archipelago, a chain of islands to the east of Great Andaman in the Andaman Islands. It's one of the few places that the administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India has permit ted and encouraged development of tourism, with a focus on promoting eco-tourism. Forest trails and treks, mangrove and back water kayaking and of course SCUBA diving on the abundant coral reefs, all make up a unique adventure here. With more than 30 dive sites to choose from, Havelock forms the base for some of the best diving around India and on par with any premium dive destination. The new center is based out of the new Silver Sands resort at Beach no. 5 and offers both CMAS as well as PADI courses. We have tried to raise the bar in quality, safety and standards to match those of all our other dive centers while renewing our commitment to provide the best diving in Havelock.
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tence of the parent World Underwater federation. Team Lacadives started as a labor of love and passion and constantly aims to bring the best diving destinations in India closer to all.
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serendip
Sri Lanka Anticipates 35pc Growth in Tourism Sector
S
rilnka's Tourism Ministry anticipates a 35 percent growth in the country's tourism sector during the year. According to Tourism Promotion Minister Faizer Musthapha
the tourism sector has recorded a considerable growth during the past few months due to moves taken by the Government to restore peace by putting an end to nearly three decades old conflict. The country's tourism sector has achieved a
remarkable 28 per cent growth during July this year while the Middle East Market has shown a mammoth growth of 104 percent during the same month compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. "The influx began in June after the LTTE was defeated in May. The end of the three
said Faizer Musthapha in an interview to a news paper. The UK, India, Middle East, China, France, Germany and Eastern Europe have been identified as key markets. In addition emphasis is laid to promote tourism activities with all SAARC countries. Under the aggressive
decades old war has brought marketing campaign many tourists from all parts launched by the Tourism of the globe to the country," Ministry, opportunities will
be provided for investors to set up tourist resorts while the SME sector will also be Faizer Musthapha Tourism Promotion encouraged Minister to start small scale tourism establishments. A series of major development activities are taking place in Kalpitiya and the Eastern Province. There will be major development in the tourism sector in the near future. Investors have shown a key interest to invest in the country while the tourists themselves are interested in visiting Sri Lanka due to the prevailing peaceful situation, the Minister added.
Sri Lanka Launches MICE Training Programme
World Congress of Environmental Journalists
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ri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) in association with PATA Sri Lanka Chapter has launched a programme to train outstation hoteliers, particularly the middle managers who handle Meetings and Incentives which generate higher income over leisure. As an ef fort to uplif t the standards of the meetings industry, the programme was carried out by MICE trainers Dharni Soza, Upul Gamage, Vipula Wanigasekera, Achini Dandunnage and a few others while it was coordinated by Ratten Abdulhussain of PATA. "Now that we are gearing ourselves to serve more customers, our service standards must be equal or above our competitors," says Vipula Wanigasekera, GM of SLCB. We of fer this programme to 50 MICE professionals every year. But we noted that outstation executives are not get ting this opportunity due to the cost factor. So we decided to allocate a budget from SLCB annual funds and of fer this to such personnel completely free of charge with assistance of PATA in the co ordination and overall arrangements. The programme was completed in Kandy, Kalutara, and Galle and the last location is Hambantotoa which will be covered in September. "Af ter that we will refine the programme and get experts to go into nit ty grit ties of the MICE (Meetings) industry to make it more useful in day to day operations," Vipula Wanigasekera added.
he 18th World Congress of Environmental Journalists will meet in Colombo Sri Lanka from 19 to 22 October this year. Organized by the Asia Pacific Federation of Environmental Journalists it is expected that around 100 participants from over 50 countries would attend the event. The presentation awards to the winners of the Environmental Journalists Competition will be on 19th of October. These awards will recognize quality environmental coverage in Central Asia, East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, West Asia and the Pacific. Winners will receive certificates, threeyear membership to APFEJ and a fully-paid trip to 18th World Congress of Environmental Journalists. It will be an opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the world to share experiences and examine important issues related to environmental reporting.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
serendip
Sri Lanka to Lease Islands for Hotels S
ri Lanka plans to lease islands of f the north-west coast for tourist hotels, as the travel industry recovers af ter the end of the 30-year ethnic war. Sri Lanka's Tourism Development Minister Faiszer Musthapha has said in Colombo recently that the government wouldl soon advertise the lease of five islands in the Kalpitiya lagoon region which is being developed as a new up-market tourist resort complex. The tourism promotion ministry and investment promotion ministry were already holding talks with international hotel investors on new projects in the country, he told a news conference. Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, said 4,000 rooms are to be built under the Kalpitiya tourism project. Previous fears that such a large number of rooms being added might lead to overcapacity at a time when existing hotels were struggling to fill their rooms had evaporated with the end of the war, he said. Bernard Goonetilleke Dileep Mudadeniya Chairman, SLRPB MD, SLRPB The government is now also trying to at tract investors to build hotels in the east, known for some of the country's best beaches, Goonetilleke said. Dileep Mudadeniya, Managing Director, Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau, said the new hotels earmarked for Kalpitiya would be up-market ones with the aim of at tracting high-spending tourists.
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aviation
Boeing Projects Asia Pacific as the Largest Aviation Market for Future
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ccording to the Boeing forecasts, Asia Pacific region will rank as the world's largest aviation market over the next 20 years, requiring 8,960 new commercial jets valued at approximately $1.1 trillion. Asia Pacific is the largest market in the forecast for new airplanes in terms of both units required and market value. Randy Tinseth Vice President "Twenty Marketing years from Boeing Commercial now more Airplanes than 40 percent of the world's airline traffic will begin, end or take place within the Asia Pacific region," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President - Marketing, Randy Tinseth. "That's a big leap for a region that was not even mentioned in our earliest Boeing market forecasts back in the 1950s." Tinseth said between now and 2028, Asia Pacific air travel will grow from 32 percent of the world market to 41 percent.
The Asia Pacific region covers a broad area including Japan, Korea, China, Australia and India and currently accounts for more than 8,300 flights and 1.2 million travelers daily. In less than 10 years, it will be the largest air travel market in
the world, according to the Boeing outlook released today in Hong Kong. Travel in the region is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.5 percent over the next 20 years. "This is clearly a difficult time in the aviation market, and today's challenges are reflected in the Boeing forecast, but we do expect the growing Asia markets to lead the industry into recovery," said Tinseth. Strong domestic growth in China, India and other emerging Asian nations will contribute to high demand for single-aisle airplanes. Over the 20-year forecast
China, within Asia and those connecting Asia to other regions outpacing the global average growth annual rate of 5.4 percent over the next 20 years. "Despite an unprecedented contraction during 2008 and 2009, we remain confident in the strength of the global air cargo market over the long haul," said Jim Edgar, regional director, Cargo Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The air cargo industry is even larger single-aisle jets. supported by sound Airlines in the Asia Pacific region will take delivery of fundamentals -- the imperative for speed, 2,590 twin-aisle airplanes. consumer product Regional jet deliveries will innovation and global total 440. The Asia Pacific fleet will industrial interdependence nearly triple from 3,910 to a are key drivers -- as well as global GDP projections of total of 11,170 airplanes. More than 80 percent of this about 3 percent annual demand will be for growth. growth." Delivery of new, more fuelAsian carriers will add about 750 freighters to the efficient airplanes ensures the region's fleets will region's fleet to remain among the youngest accommodate growth and in the world. airplane retirements, about Boeing's projection also 27 percent of the world shows the Asia Pacific region requirement - second only to as a growth leader in the the more mature, but slower long-term global air cargo growing, North America market, with routes within market. period, more than half of the deliveries, some 5,600, will be single-aisles. With just 330 deliveries, the percentage of the fleet's large category will decrease from 10 to 4 percent as airlines switch to more efficient mid-size twins and
Etihad Mulls F oray into Hospitalit y Industr y Foray
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tihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is planning to enter the hospitality industry by developing own hotels. James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways said that the airline aimed to make Abu Dhabi a tourism and investment centre by 2030,
already forging a strong partnership with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Tourism Development and Investment Company. Etihad has also launched a special company
to run the network of its world destinations and works to develop and boost the tourism infrastructure of Abu Dhabi. James Hogan added that the company would make available a broad range
James Hogan CEO, Etihad
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of trade and entertainment activities for visitors to the region, with focus on tours, safari trips and VIP services.
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aviation
AI to Launch New Low Cost Airline Soon
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ir India is planning to launch a low cost airline in September. According to Jitender Bhargava, executive director - corporate communications, Air India, "More and more passengers are becoming price sensitive in today's economic environment. We can't see our passengers moving to other LCCs". He added that the airline will launch low cost services under the Air India Express brand and the service is expected to start in September.
Jet Launches Bangkok-GayaVaranasi Flights
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et Airways will connect Bangkok with Gaya and Varanasi on the Buddhist circuit with t wice weekly flights from October 6. The airline will operate t wice weekly services on the sector on Tuesdays and Fridays. These flights will allow people from the South Asian region to visit the famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India.
Sri Lanka's LCC Begins Direct Services
M
ihin Lanka Airlines, which is the budget airline of Sri Lanka, started direct operations in the first week of August from Bodh Gaya and Varanasi to Colombo. STIC Travel has been appointed GSA for the airline in India. The flights are operated with Airbus 320 and have all economy class fares. It also flies to Dubai and Kuwait via Colombo from both the cities and has interlining fares for Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on Sri Lankan Airlines from Colombo.
India Renews ASA with Finland and Nepal
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he Government of India has approved the renewed bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Finland. India has also increased the capacity to Nepal from 30,000 seats per week from existing 6000. It has been agreed by India and Nepal to further liberalise the entitlements contained in the SA ARC of fer, MoU for a revised ASA was signed based on the ICAO template, A technical agreement was also signed bet ween the Nepal civil aviation authority and the (AAI) which is also a part of the MOU. Importantly three new points have been granted to Nepal, namely Dehradun, Gorakhpur and Bagdogra and for India, Pokhara, Lumbini, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Jankpur, Dhangadi and Bhairava have been added. In the modernized ASA with Finland, articles on co-operative
marketing arrangements and intermodel services have been introduced. This modernized ASA has the potential to spur greater trade investment, tourism and cultural
'Co-operative Marketing Arrangements' and 'Inter-Modal Services' shall be incorporated in the ASA bet ween India and Finland. In addition to the existing points of
exchange bet ween the t wo countries besides bringing it in tune with the developments in the international civil aviation scenario. The salient features of the agreement include; new Articles on
call, the designated airlines of each side shall be entitled to operate code share services to any t wo points in the territory of the other side to be specified later. Open Sky for all cargo services.
SpiceJet, IndiGo, Paramount Hiring Crew
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s a strong indication of growth in the lean Asia pacific aviation market, SpiceJet, IndiGo and Paramount Airways has announced that they will be hiring more than 500 pilots,
cabin crew and ground staff. The airlines are in the expansion mode as they recorded in the first quarter of this fiscal year and they expect a bit more during the traditional tourist season in OctoberMarch. Other airlines are on the path of hiking their fares to match the ATF prices and reduce loss. They don't seem like hiring in the near future.
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Paramount Airways will hire 80 foreign pilots and 200 local pilots over the next one year. The Chennai-based airline, which closed a Rs 4,000-crore fleet order in June, is adding 10 aircraft to its existing fleet of six and will increase services to 2,500 flights per month by October. SpiceJet will hire 84 cabin crew and 24 pilots this year after recording a Rs 26 crore net profit this quarter. IndiGo, the country's largest low-cost carrier will hire 5060 pilots and add five aircraft to its fleet of 19.
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newsline
Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) Kerala Chapter
M. Jyothi Prakash Chairman
Sudhir Mehta Secretary
Kerala Tourism Onam Week Celebrations
Onam Celebrations being inaugurated by V S Achuthanandan, Chief Minister, Kerala. Also seen are Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Tourism (Kerala), C. Divakaran, Minister for food and civil supplies, M. Vijayakumar, Minister for Law (Kerala), Oommen Chandy, Leader of Opposition, V. Sivankutty, MLA and Mohanlal, Cine Actor
Joshi P C has joined Lakepalace Resort, Alleppey, Kerala as General Manager
Devika Arvind has joined Chariot Beach Resort, Mahabalipuram, Chennai as Deputy General Manager (Sales and Marketing)
ASIAN TRAVELLER
Kerala Tourism Food Festival being inaugurated by C. Divakaran, Minister for food and civil supplies. Also seen are V. Sivankutty, MLA and Cherian Philip, Chairman, KTDC
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museum
9/11 Memorial Preview Site Opens Near World Trade Center Provides Visitors with Information about Memorial and Museum, Live View of Construction Progress, and Opportunity to share their 9/11 Stories with the Museum
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he National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened a 9/11 Memorial Preview Site near the World Trade Center on 26 August 2009. The Preview Site provides the tourists and public with the opportunity to learn about the Memorial and Museum, view real-time images of the construcGeorge Fertitta tion progress at the World Trade CEO, NYC & Company Center site, and participate in the
creation of the Museum by sharing their 9/11 stories. "The opening of the new 9/11 Memorial Preview Site will provide visitors with an interactive way to connect to the historic events of September 11 while acquiring a bet ter understanding of the plans for the forthcoming 9/11 Memorial and Museum," said George Fertit ta, CEO of NYC & Company. In order to provide the
public with information on the plans for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Preview Site will display models and renderings of the project, illustrating what the World Trade Center site will look like when the rebuilding is complete, along with a 9/11 historic timeline.The Preview Site exhibition was designed by Thinc Design, the exhibition designers for the Museum.
equipment
Cooking up a Kitchen
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ajalakshmi is one of the popular names in manufacturing and export of commercial kitchen equipments, steam equipments, gas equipments, electrical equipments, professional kitchen equipments, kitchen cabinet
of quality for providing better products in the market, they are always updated in technology and skill. They only use 304quality stainless steel. Inspite of stiff competition they we ensure that customer get the finest quality products at
The main products supplied by the company include; Kitchen Cupboard, Kitchen Racks / Pot Racks, Wall Shelves, Hot Food Cabinet, Fryer's Display include Ovens including Unit, Rotating Display Continental Cooking Range Cabinet and Bent Glass with Oven, Multipurpose Display Unit among the Steam Cooking Equipment, Kitchen Cabinets Mobile Rumali Roti Trolley, section. Trolley, Tray Chinese Gas Range, Coal Rack Trolley, Frying Operated Tandoor, Baking Pan, Dosa / Oven, Pizza Oven and Chapathi Plate, Sink Restaurant Cooker. Unit and Hand Wash Tea / Coffee Dispenser, Trough, Plate Cover, Thermal Jars / Tea Urns, Plate Cover, Trays, Pasta Machine, Knife Salad tray, Sharpner, Hot Case/Bain Insectocutor / Fly Marie, Salamander, Sandwich Catcher, Chafing Griller, , Milk Warmer / Dishes and Exhaust Water Boiler, Grinder, Idli equipments among others. competitive prices. System among the Kitchen Cooking Plant, Dip Type The company has a good The company which has a Accessories section. The Sterilizer, Deep Fat Fryer, list of reputed clients who rich experience of more than Kitchen Furniture section Coconut Scraper, Potato has always preferred quality two decades in the industry include Dirty Dish Landing Peeler/Vegetable Peeler, over other aspects for their was established in 1988 by Table / Soiled Dish Vegetable Slicer, Vegetable kitchensa and they are Late M.S. Satyanarayana, Receiver, Kitchen Work Cutting Machine, Cake provided with unmatched who himself had an Table, Kitchen Work Table, Kneader (Mixer), Bread quality products. As a result, experience of 30 years in Dining Table, Dining Table, Slicer, Chicken Griller, many of our customers have design, manufacture, supply, Service Counter / Bain Dough Kneading Machine, patronized us for all their erection and commissioning Marie and Service Counter / Pulveriser, Juice Machine are requirements of kitchen of commercial kitchen Bain Marie. the other major products equipments. equipment such as steam The Kitchen Equipments coming from the house. As part of Rajalakshmi's equipments, gas equipment w w w.rajalakshmikitchenequipment.com unremitting efforts in terms and electrical equipments.
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mice
Making Events Memorable ulu International Convention Center is the largest in Kerala and the second largest in India. With a total built up area of 1,50,000 sq. f t., Lulu features 7 upscale venues which can accommodate up to 5000 people at a time. Located in the cultural capital
L
fortably seat 2200 people. The massive The A/c Banquet Hall Ruby can take up to 1100 people (theatre style), while the Non A/c Banquet Hall - Lotus can accommodate 1000 people. Grand Hall is equipped with the most modern audio-visual facilities give the
of Kerala, Thrissur, this is one per fect venue for MICE events, Seminars, product launches, mega shows, domestic celebrations, gettogethers, marriages etc. The centrally air-conditioned Main Hall - Lulu Grand can com-
guests a memorable experience. 1500 people can be seated at a time for the traditional Kerala style feast. The Mini-conference Safina I, II, III is an air-conditioned and carpeted hall which can be segregated into 3 dif ferent halls,
each equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities. This hall can seat 20 to 450 people. The Central Courtyard Lulu Greens is a lush, green, open air venue apt for evening functions and gettogethers. This venue can easily seat up to 2000 people, and can be facilitated with audio-visual arrangements as required. Flexibility and versatility are key factors in the design of this state-ofthe-art technology-driven center. The Convention Center features some of the most contemporary and traditional facilities for a venue that enhances the ambience for the visitors. It is also equipped with the most advanced conference facilities. In addition to all facilities, a dedicated team that comprises of some of the most skilled professionals in the industry of fers superior service and inspired event solutions. Total event-management
solutions can be sourced inhouse at Lulu International Convention Center and Garden Hotels. M.A. Yusuff Ali Lulu Chairman Garden hotels feature 30 fully air-conditioned luxurious executive rooms and 5 suites with double occupancy. Located well away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the ambience of the place of fers a complete peace of mind for business and leisure travellers. The Clay Oven restaurant of fers international cuisines for the gourmet's delight. It also has a well-equipped health club and a kids play park for recreation. Lulu International Convention Center and Garden Hotels is a venture of EMKE Group owned M.A. Yusuf f Ali.
marketing
'Famtaaistic Offer' From TA AI Tourism Council
Online Booking Engine to Sell Walking Tours
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ravel Agents Association of India - Tourism Council is in the process to introduce a new initiative, 'Famtaaistic Of fer' for its members. The main objective of this initiative is to provide first hand experience of outbound tourism products and destinations and thereby promote tourism. According to Jagdeep Rikhy, Chairman, TAAI Tourism Council, the Council will contact NTO's, international and domestic tourism vendors such as hotels, airlines, cruise companies, at tractions and transport companies to provide best rates for a FAM for TAAI members to experience their destinations and products. This of fer will be initially available only to accredited representatives of TAAI.
Queensland to Hold Road Shows
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ourism Queensland will conduct road shows in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai in November. The tourism board plans to bring in a delegation of suppliers for a B2B interaction with the travel trade. Tourism Queensland is looking at increasing the average duration of stay in the state.
PNB to Launch World Travel Card
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unjab National Bank (PNB) is planning to launch World Travel Card for globetrotters. Ranjan Dhawan, Chief General Manager Credit Card Venture division, PNB said that the bank will be launching this pre-loaded travel card by November this year for the convenience of people travelling abroad. "It will be the safest and the convenient currency instrument to carry," opined Dhawan. Instead of carrying traveller's cheque or global currency like Dollar or Pound, the World Travel Card holders will be able to withdraw local currency convertibles from any bank ATM of respective countries they visit. The holder has to pre load the card with the amount he would like to carry.
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alksofindia.com a Kolkata based online booking engine, which will be launched soon will sell and promote walking tour products of various Indian tour operators in international markets. The company will market the website targeting the inbound segment focusing on prime international source markets like US, UK, Europe and Australia, as well as other markets. The company is currently in negotiations with approximately 40 Indian tour operators to market their products (walking tours) on the website.
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indian panorama
Uttarakhand
Simply Heaven U
ttarakhand is a relatively young state lying in the north of India which nestles in the breathtaking beauty and soothing serenity of the stately Himalayan ranges. Aptly named Devabhumi (Land of the Gods), Uttarakhand has at tracted tourists and pilgrims from world over since
environment, while the relatively high rate of literacy would indicate that human resources conducive to tourism development are available in adequate measure. However this unlimited tourism potential of Ut tarakhand has however not been fully realized in the absence of a planned and coordinated strategy of tourism development till recently. Inadequate capital investment in tourism infrastructure and limited private sector participation has been substantially responsible for this. But things have started looking up with the formulation of a tourism policy which has been designed with the main objective to fully develop the vast tourism potential of Ut tarakhand in a planned and integrated manner. The focus is on pilgrimage Rajiv Bhartari IFS tourism, cultural tourism, eco Additional CEO, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board tourism, adventure tourism and wildlife tourism. time immemorial. Sacred pilgrimUt tarakhand has developed ages of dif ferent religions including three tourism circuits - Eastern Haridwar and the world famous Circuit, Corbet t Circuit and Eastern Char Dham or the four Hindu Circuit - in association with Manilapilgrimage destinations of Shri based Asian Development Bank Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri (ADB) which provided financial Yamunotri; the sacred pilgrimages support in the form of loans to of Hemakund Lokpal, Nanakmat ta and Meetha Reetha Sahib and Piran Kaliyar have drawn pilgrims and seekers af ter spiritual fulfillment to Ut tarakhand since ancient times. The rich cultural traditions, the rare natural beauty and the cool and revitalizing climate of this land of origin of the holy Ganges and Yamuna boost up Ut tarakhand infrastrucrivers have been its main at tracture for travel and tourism. tions. UNWTO has also come up with The relatively small population a master plan for the development and low population density help to of tourism in association with provide a clean and wholesome UNDP and Ut tarakhand Tourism in
2008. The overall objective of the project is to promote the creation of a practical and operational framework to meet the demand of Ut tarakhand's nex t generation of value added, high quality tourism by improving the physical and socio-economic environment of the state in general and designated tourism zones in particular. "We are trying to create the right environment for private players to take part in the tourism development activities", said Rajiv Bhartari IFS, Additional CEO,
Ut tarakhand Tourism Development Board. One of the suggestions made in the UNWTO project report is "improving HRD capacity at the central and local level whilst simultaneously protecting the
accommodation to rural tourism players while taking part in tourism fairs", said Rajiv Bhartari. Uttarakhand is planning a national level promotional campaign to create awareness about the state and its tourism products. "Most of our visitors are from with in India So we have to concentrate on domestic market", he added. The Maha Kumbha Mela which will take place in 2010 will be used as an opportunity to at tract more visitors to the state.
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interests of local communities, strengthening their involvement in all sorts of tourism related activities". With this objective in mind Ut tarakhand Tourism ensure participation of rural tourism players in tourism activities. "We Provide free stall space and
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indian panorama
Meghalaya Launches Initiative Orissa Plans Annual Travel to Upgrade Tourism Facilities Mart to Woo Visitors
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eghalaya government has embarked on an initiative billed as Meghalaya Tourism Revolution with a focus on improving road and air connectivity in the state in order to give a facelift to the state's hospitality and tourism business. Meghalaya Tourism Revolution will connect various tourist destinations in the state. "With this new initiative, the state government is confident that
ASIAN TRAVELLER
there will be a sea change in state tourism," said DD Lapang, Chief Minister, Meghalaya in Shillong. Lapang said there was a proposal for direct Air India flights between Kolkata, Shillong and Tura. Arvind Jadhav, Chief, Air India after a meeting with Lapang in Delhi recently, said the national carrier was considering operating regular flights from Kolkata to Shillong and Tura or vice versa.
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rissa government is planning to organise a 'Travel Mart' from this year, with a view to attract more tourists. Apart from this, the state government also plans to introduce radio ta xi for the convenience for tourists visiting the state. In a high level meeting chaired by Debi Prasad, Tourism Minister, Orissa it was decided that road shows and other activities would be organised in overseas and ef forts would be made to attract more tourists during Konark Mahotsav. Promotion campaigns would be organized to give ex tensive coverage about the tourism potential in the state and steps would be taken to increase the stay of tourists visiting the state.
Chhattisgarh Seeks Proposals to Fly to Small Towns
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he Chhat tisgarh government has sought proposals from private airlines to fly small planes to small industrial towns and towns in Maoist-hit parts of the state. The civil aviation department of the state government has asked private airlines to submit proposals by this month end. It wants to connect state capital Raipur to industrial towns Korba and Raigarh, other towns like Bilaspur and Jashpur, as well as two towns in the Maoist-hit belt - Jagdalpur in Bastar district and Ambikapur in Surguja district.
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big apple
NYC Announces Highlights of 2009 Holiday Season
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very year, New York City transforms itself into a winter wonderland as the spirit of the holidays permeates all five boroughs. Visitors will find the City full of things to see, do and experience during this magical season. NYC & Company, the City's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, is highlighting some of the key events and attractions for visitors from around the world to enjoy. "There is no better time to experience New York City than during the holiday season," said George Fertitta, NYC & Company's CEO. "The City opens its arms and welcomes visitors with some of the world's most stunning holiday decorations, events and entertainment." The Christmas season officially kicks off when Santa Claus arrives on 34th Street during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26. As the holiday season begins, swarms of shoppers, department store window aficionados and Christmas tree gawkers visit New York City. From the end of November well into January, the City is dressed to impress. Hotels, restaurants, retail stores, arts and cultural attractions and event venues offer something for every visitor. New this year is The
One of a Kind Show and Sale NY, which will take place December 11-13, with a preview night on December 10, at 12th Avenue at 55th Street. Held in New York City for the first time, this holiday shopping show features the best in fine handmade arts and crafts. Now in its 77th year, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an annual tradition for visitors and residents alike. From November 13 to December 30, watch snow fall and fireworks glow as the Rockettes debut new numbers in this seasonal celebration. The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden will host Wintuk, a Cirque du Soleil production now in its third year in New York. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is one of the most popular draws for holiday visitors from around
the world. Come for the tree-lighting ceremony (on December 2 this year) or any time until early January to see the glorious beauty of its LED lights and Swarovski crystal star. Workers building Rockefeller Center in the early 1930s put up the first tree on the site, and each year's tree is more magnificent than the last. New York City Ballet, located at Lincoln Center, will present one of the holiday season's favorite productions, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. South Street Seaport will present its 27th Annual Tree Lighting celebration on November 27. The Big Apple Circus presents its 32nd anniversary season this year with Bello Nock, 'America's Best Clown,'and the world's most exciting circus artists in an all-new show under its famous Big Top tent at Lincoln Center. In the Bronx, visitors can experience the Annual Winter Family Day at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum on December 5. The whole family will get into the holiday spirit at
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Bartow-Pell with a variety of exciting activities for children and much more. In Staten Island, Candelight Tours will take place on Saturday, December 12, and Saturday, December 19. See 300 years of holiday traditions come alive while experiencing the music, tastes and sounds of Historic Richmond Town at night, which will be lit by candles, oil lamps and the hearth. Brooklyn comes alive for the holidays with the Lights of Dyker Heights. Truly a sight to behold, the spectacle attracts 100,000 visitors during the holiday season. In Queens, the Queens Historical Society presents the Annual Historic Holiday House Tour For more information about visiting New York City's five boroughs, go to nycgo.com.
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luxur y
lebua at State Tower Hotel to host WLHA Gala Dinner
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he 2009 World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Dinner will take place on the 27th of November 2009 at the world renowned lebua at State Tower Hotel Bangkok, Thailand; one of the most cosmopolitan, contrasting and, above all, compelling of Asian cities. A steamy, pulsating, yet smiling metropolis of more than ten million intense at first, but addictive as anything. With an undying passion to innovate and redefine luxury hospitality, lebua at State Tower stands for sheer excellence, offering not only the very best in luxury accommodation in Bangkok, but a collection of magical moments. This Bangkok luxury hotel offers the perfect, elegant retreat for any occasion and is set to be the perfect host for this glamorous Gala Ceremony. The World Luxury Hotel Awards will present Awards to a selection of world- class hotels, in order to recognize their facilities and service excellence provided and available to their guests. During this ceremony the 2009 category winner and finalist hotels will be announced. The World Luxury Hotel Awards are accepted as the pinnacle of achievement for Luxury Hotels worldwide. This
Award was established as a celebration of ultimate achievement in hoteliering. It is about congratulating hotels that have taken the extra step and such differentiated themselves from "good hotels" to "exceptional hotels". The World Luxury Hotel Awards accounts for all categories in the Luxury Hotel industry. Award winners set the benchmark for luxury hotels in achieving recognition for their world class facilities and service excellence. Each year hotels can be nominated by guests, travel agents/tour operators on the website
lebua at State Tower Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand the venue of the WLHA Gala Ceremony
nominate a hotel to participate in the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Awards. Winners and finalists in a particular year will automatically be nominated to participate in the following year. Voting is cast by a selected
recognition should the hotel not be represented at the Gala Ceremony. The 2009 World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Ceremony promise to be the most exclusive and glamorous event on the global hotel industry calendar.
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panel of 50 leading tour operators & travel industry consultants. The Awards are exclusively for Luxury Hotels, Lodges & Resorts and do not include any other areas of the travel industry. Certificates and trophies are awarded to finalists/winners per category after votes has been cast each year, at the annual World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Ceremony. Hotel representatives can book their seats in advance to attend the Gala Ceremony and avoid disappointment. It is not imperative that hotel finalists/winners attend this annual function, we courier the certificate/trophy of
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luxur y
36 Properties from Asia Pacific in the WLHA Nominee List
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sia Pacific region figures prominently in this year's list of hotels nominated for the prestigious World Luxury Hotels Awards. Thailand with 17 hotels tops the list. Here is the complete list of hotels from the Asia Pacific region. Aleenta Resort and Spa - Phuket, Thailand Baan Hin Sin Dhaweng Noi Boutique Resort - Thailand Buddy Samui Boutique Hotel - Thailand Dusit Thani Hua Hin - Thailand Eagles Nest - New Zealand Eden Rock Villa - Thailand Gaia Retreat & Spa - Australia Grand Hyatt Beijing - China Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila - Philippines InterContinental Century City Chengdu - China Kempinski Hotel Shenyang, China - China La Flora Resort and Spa Khao Lak - Thailand Lake Okareka by lebua - New Zealand lebua at State Tower, Bangkok - Thailand Lanson Place Hotel - Hong Kong Layana Resort & Spa - Thailand Link Hotel Singapore - Singapore Mom Tri`s Villa Royale - Thailand Nikko Hotel Dalian - China Nora Beach Resort & Spa - Thailand Pimalai Resort & Spa - Thailand Santhiya Resort & Spa - Thailand Silavadee Pool Spa Resort - Thailand Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort - Thailand The Elysian Boutique Villa Hotel - Asia The Imperial - India The Magellan Sutera - Malaysia The Naviti Resort - Fiji Islands The Regent Beijing/Carlson Hotel Worldwide The Sarojin - Thailand The Westin Sohna Gurgaon Resort & Spa/ Westin - India Trisara - Thailand Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel - India Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa - Thailand Hulhule Island Hotel, Maldives - Maldives Coco Palm Bodu Hithi - Maldives
Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel, In dia
ina ing, Ch nt Beij e g e R The
La Flora Resort and Spa Khao Lak, Thailand
g, China Grand Hyatt, Beijin
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Marinique Truter WLHA Exec. Manager presents the overall winner for the 2008 World Luxury Hotel Awards lebua at State Tower, Bangkok to Karishma Athavia representing lebua Hotels & Resorts Co.Ltd
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asia pacific
Marriott Announces 21 Hotels in Asia-Pacific
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arriott International has announced that it is signing 21 management contracts for hotels and resorts in AsiaPacific Region. The 21 hotels scheduled to open through the end of 2013, represent four of the company's lodging brands and will add Ed Fuller President and MD nearly 7,000 International Lodging rooms to Marriott's previously-announced AsiaPacific pipeline of 37 hotels and 9,400 rooms now under construction. They are part of the company's global
development pipeline of 110,000 rooms. When opened, the 58 hotels now under development will add over 16,000 rooms to Marriott's Asia-Pacific portfolio. This growth will bring the company's presence in the region to 154 hotels offering 51,500 rooms in 18 countries by the end of 2013, ranking it among the largest international hotel operators in China, India and Thailand with 70, 31 and 26 properties respectively in each country. In addition, The RitzCarlton Hotel Company portfolio in the region
currently consists of 16 hotels and resorts offering approximately 5,000 rooms with nine properties and 1,500 rooms under development. Included are Ritz-Carlton hotels opening in Shanghai-Pudong and Hong KongKowloon next year. The Hotels announced are: Two luxurious JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts Dalian and Sanya, China. Ten full service, upscale Marriott Hotels & Resorts in China, Philippines and Thailand which include the 712-room Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Center and the 256-room Manila Airport
Marriott. Two full-service upscale Renaissance Hotels & Resorts in China. Seven upper-moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott hotels in Cambodia, China and India and include the 254room Courtyard by Marriott Bangalore and Marriott International's first hotel in Cambodia. "We are excited by these spectacular, architecturally interesting additions to our already dynamic Asia-Pacific pipeline especially since this growth is occurring in the context of the difficult global economy and tight credit markets," said Ed Fuller, President and Managing Director of International lodging.
Malaysia to Host Asia Medical Tourism & Wellness Congress
Maldives to Impose Environment Tax on All Tourists
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aldives has announced that it would introduce a new environment ta x on all tourists who use its resorts. Famed mostly for high-end luxury resorts and whitesand atolls, the Maldives has made a name for itself as an advocate for mitigating climate change because rising sea levels are forecast to submerge most of its islands by 2100. The Maldives' USD850 million economy gets more than a quarter of its gross domestic product from tourists. President Mohammed Nasheed, who has outlined plans to make the
uala Lumpur will play host to GLOW 2010, Asia Medical Tourism and Wellness Congress in May 2010 which is expected to attract more than 1,500 trade visitors, delegates, sponsors and exhibitors from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and USA. GLOW 2010 will be a significant regional event to the SPA and the Medical Tourism industry, as it provides a net working ground for wellness industries and it will be a place to spread the wellness concept to the corporate world. The congress will focus on how wellness industries could reach out globally and the latest trends and technology to keep the sustainability of the competitive industry. The big message of wellness would also be spread to the corporate world and providing
an exposure to organizations on ef fective ways to implement successful wellness programs that will benefit employees and organizations. GLOW 2010 expected to be the largest gathering of local and international exhibitors from all over the region. The event promises to be a big one for both suppliers and buyers. GLOW 2010 will gather senior level decision makers across the healthcare, wellness and corporate executives from around the world to brainstorm on issues concerning their industry. The senior executives at tending are not only looking to discuss on the current issue but these group of highly targeted attendees is looking for the latest products and solutions that will give them the cut ting edge to increase their bot tom-line.
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Maldives the world's first carbonneutral nation within a decade, said an environment ta x was soon to be levied on all tourists. "We have introduced a green ta x. It's in the pipeline. It's a mat ter of parliament approving it and I hope parliament will approve it USD3 per each tourist a day," Nasheed told media in Male, the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago. Based on an annual average of 700,000 tourists who spend an average of three days on the islands, that translates to about USD6.3 million annually.
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incredible india
Hotel Taken Out of Real Estate Exposure to Facilitate Loans
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n the request of the Ministry of Tourism and recognizing that Tourism is one of the world's largest industry, which plays a prominent role in economic growth of the country the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified that hotels be taken out of the Real Estate Exposure for Banks to those entrepreneurs who themselves run these ventures. This new relaxation/incentive would enable hotels to avail larger
Buddhist Circuit in UP, Bihar
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inistry of Tourism (MoT) will promote Buddhist Circuit in Ut tar Pradesh and Bihar. This was announced by Union Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja. She said that Buddhist Circuit is popular both among foreign and domestic tourists. The issue came up during a meeting bet ween Vinod Singh, Tourism Minister, Ut tar Pradesh and Selja in New Delhi recently. During the meeting, the Ut tar Pradesh government submitted a project on the Buddhist Circuit to Government of India (GoI) for consideration.
credits at better interest rates, which would help to lower the overall cost of such hotel projects. Sujit Banerjee IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism had actively taken up with the Ministry of Finance/Reserve Bank of India earlier this year, to accord infrastructure status to hotel projects, and provide fiscal amenities for creation of additional hotel room capacity to meet the surge in demand in the tourism sector. The hotel segment of the
tourism industry, is highly capital intensive in nature and has a long gestation period. India is facing shortage of good quality accommodation for both the international as well as domestic tourists. The demand for rooms will grow in the years to come. Earlier, on the request of Ministry of Tourism, External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) was permitted to the hotel industry so that hotels could avail of ECB upto
MoT to Release Incredible India Campaigns During International Events
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he Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is planning to release international campaigns of Incredible India in potential markets to motivate travellers to visit India. During the year 20092010, MoT will be placing the Incredible India spots during the Oscar, Grammy and BAFTA award functions on entertainment channel. MoT is also planning to release television advertisements on Euro Sports during the Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver. Apart from this, Incredible India spots will also be placed on major pan European channels during renowned world events. On CNN, Incredible India
branding will primarily revolve around Talk Asia Programme to attract the Asian population. MoT is also planning to release Incredible India advertisement in the print
campaigns, branding will also be done in the in-flight magazines of the major international carriers. 'Incredible India Brand' will draw attention during 'Hollywood Bowl' an
media to coincide with World Economic Forum in Davos and G-20 Summit. MoT has proposed to carry out branding in Conde Nast Traveller on the occasion of World Travel Mart (WTM) by supporting a special integrated supplement of the publication. Through print
international event, supported by the Ministry of Tourism, to be held in Los Angeles next month. Incredible India brand will further be strengthened during MoT's road shows which will be held in Moscow and St. Petersburg next month.
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USD 100 million for financial year and with the recent announcement Sujit Banerjee IAS of RBI, Secretary hotels have Ministry of Tourism been delinked from Commercial Real Estate which will now enable the hotels to seek capital loans from banks and ease out the liquidity issues particularly to the new hotel projects.
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off the beaten track
They Dwell Among the Untrodden Ways ANOOP MENON
ahead of us, trying to make a grip on the Ghat road, a shade he Toyota Innova was a precarious. revelation. I had never I had always thought it was liked the car by its look and not the spectacle of the mounone travel in its backseat on a tains but the dangers that lurk run-for-cover stormy night af ter around the curves waiting to be one of those relentless shooting deciphered and decoded that schedules had lef t a loathing made a journey up the mountains impression on tantalizing and tempting my memory. I Wayanad is built in layers, was so much to the dismay of the comfor table strange pilgrim on how the and cosy with potent ancestors could find their my Honda way through the substantial rock Civic that I formations, thick foliage, hungry man-eaters of the wild and Anoop Menon had lef t no time to ponder countless other perils to seek over the possibilities of another their way up and believe that the opulent sedan, let alone a mid trail could possibly join t wo segment SUV. But this Innova vastly dif ferent tracks of lands seemed to have decided to make like Kerala and Karnataka. It me sit up and take notice. And of fers a sweet dichotomy from didn't I? the plush resorts and hermitages I was on one of those selfat the top ridges to the clamorimposed, a bit self-induced ous bazaars lining every posvacations, set ting my vision on sible junction. The deep gorges the High Ranges of Wayanad, a nestling the night lights of the hilly retreat in the northern end city below in its vague visibilities of Kerala and then if time is curiously private and magically relented, a down-hill journey self-contained. over to the other side, into the I wallowed a long time in state of Karnataka through the harmless nostalgia dipped lush forests of Bandipur and ceremoniously in the crystalline Bathery, then the sun-kissed splendor of cranberry vodka and terrains of Gundalpet traversing walked through the elephant through Mysore and then trails breathing in a lungful of hanging boots to mull over the mountain air. rest of the travel logistics at the The dry auburn, crumbling Catholic Club in Bangalore. leaves protested with a cry under Wayanad is dear to me in my heav y boots and I crushed more ways than one. Countless them with coy sadism for I was reasons. But one I would always not a regular traveller tested relish would be that Wayanad teasingly by the vagaries of was the prime location for my nature. first hit film "Thirakkadha" My driver Abhilash evidently (Screen Play) which won me the was a first timer to Wayanad. He state and film fare honours. seemed a bit disillusioned for he Remembrances waf ted past as might have been expecting my driver Abhilash trained the something film-like [snow Innova through the hairpin capped hills, beautiful ladies with curiosities of the Wayanad Ghat. hair high-lighted by the evening The journey was lubricated by sun, wooden shacks coupling as the masterful foreplay of a eateries on the mountainside hesitant September rain making which would serve hot shashliks the sights of the tanker Lorries and roti,white ponies with bride
T
like grace, horse-driven carriages festooned by rainbow colours and lavishly lit from inside and so on] as the b- grade movie art director would flush out from his imagination. But that was not to be. Wayanad was bare, quiet and melancholic. (The exact reason why I adored it). Abhilash, I told myself, would never come back here on his own. Even the monkeys (who darted from one tree to another and then to the front of a speeding truck) who might have evoked memories of his favorite God Hanuman, could change Abhilash's resolve not to return. Living in the rarefied heights of the mountains might have made the local folk a bit of spiritual people. They were ut terly beref t of any signs of uncertainty of their own future. It seemed they had no impressive plans, no time tables, no long term investment safety, great desires or burning ambitions. They were content and cool. Of course they had inherited the age-old tricks and tactics to woo the tourists and get the ex tra copper but the dawning reality was that they held no hurry to get it. It seemed they looked down upon the people "from the plains" with the refined benevolence of the mountains when they cast their glance at the valleys below. The food was a bit bet ter than being termed pathetic though mention must be made to the delicious kinnathapam which you get in t wo shops in Bathery. The sleepy hamlets of Meppady, Kalpet ta, Chundal, Chembra, Vythiri, Ambalavayal and Pulpally of fers no breathtaking spectacles except the complimentary hills.
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The advasis or aborigines of Wayanad, needless to say, still live in a state of abject poverty. That there is hunger in the core of so much that is gloriously beautiful - the hill, the ravines, the rivulets, the sparkling waterfalls - is much disconcerting. Hunger and disease infest the heartland of this tourist paradise, though the five-star luxuries that festoon the hills have marvelously managed to camouflage them all and present to the straying tourist a shimmering simulated paradise of peripheral bliss. An adivasi can not earn rupees fif ty a day in his place of origin to ward of f hunger where nex t to his abode a luxurious retreat in the hills of fers a bed to a nature-struckexpatriate at a whopping amount of Rs 30,000. I wonder, can ever an adivasi, to whom the land belongs, manage to organize a bed in the rock overlooking the mountains to an adventurous and equally foolish tourist who wants to have a taste of real, regal nature? It may be the beginning of an adivasi take-over revolution. The nature's kid striking back with his genetic tool. Who knows may be "chinnan" who enlightened me on the usurping volcano of aborigine retaliation can be the prelude to a new Magna Carta. (The author is an award winning film actor and writer)
• 130 •
ASIAN TRAVELLER
kerala traveller
Regatta Holidays Inaugurated
Spice Routes Luxury Cruises Launched
Spice Routes Luxury Cruises, sister concern of Akkarakalam Memoirs in Alappuzha has added a luxury houseboat - Cardamom - with five-star facilities. Film actor and Director Lal formally launched the houseboat. Bijoy Cyriac, Scaria Jose, Jobin J Akkarakalam, and Ashwathy Scaria were also present.
Munambam Beach Enters Beach Tourism Portfolio
K
R
erala has added Munambam Beach near Kochi to its Beach Tourism port folio. Under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme, infrastructure development like pathways, rest rooms, information centre, food kiosks on the beach front has been carried out at a cost of Rs three crore. The beach with the facilities was opened recently for tourists.
ASIAN TRAVELLER
egatta Holidays, a Thiruvanathapuram based tour packaging and air-ticketing agency, has been inaugurated recently by Cherian Philip, Chairman, KTDC. Balukiriyath, Film Director; Vikram Nair, Business Controller, Spencers Travel Services Ltd; Jayamohan, Sales Manager - JetAirways, Cochin; Alex Jacob, Manager-Kerala, Galileo-India; Premkumar, Regional Manager- Maldivian Airlines and G. Biju Krishnan, Editor, Asian Traveller were also present on the occasion.
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SEPTEMBER 2009
kerala traveller
Louis Cruise Lines to Start Operations from Kochi
MIR Acquires Resort at Munnar
L
M
ouis Cruise Lines (LCL) will deploy a cruise-ship in Kochi, which will commence operations from the first week of December
itinerary. The company is currently in the process of finalising the package cost of these itineraries. LCL will adopt the PSA (Preferred Sales Agents) route to distribute the inventory and is also considering the possibility of direct bookings through the company's office. The 2009. LCL will operate three company will set up its night itineraries each on headquarters for India in Kochi - Maldives - Kochi Mumbai and will also have sector and Kochi - Colombo offices in Kochi, Bengaluru, - Kochi sector, as well as one Chennai and New Delhi in night high sea sailing the coming months.
Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan inaugurates KTDC Golden Peak, Ponmudi, Thiruvananthapuram. Also present are A. Sampath MP, J. Arundhathi MLA, Cherian Philip, Chairman, KTDC, V. Venu K.G. Mohanlal IFS, MD, KTDC, M. Sivasankar IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism, Sanjay Kaul IAS, District Collector and Rajmohan, Manager-Marketing, KTDC
IR Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality division of the diversified MIR Group, has acquired a new resort - Whispering Meadows - in Munnar, which is the fourth property of the group in Kerala, features 21 cottages. The other properties managed by the company in the State are Kayaloram Heritage Lake Resort at Alappuzha, Krishnatheeram Ayur Holy Beach Resort at Varkala and Park Central Hotel at Kochi. MIR Hotels and Resorts is also planning a four-star business hotel in Thiruvananthapuram at an investment of Rs 40 crore
which will be commissioned in 2010. The company has also signed the MoU for constructing and operating a four-star business hotel at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, along with a Saudi Arabia based private equity investment group. This is also expected to be ready by 2010. The other destinations where the company plans to set up resorts are Waynad, Thekkady and Kodaikkanal. The company proposes to have properties all over South India through purchases, constructions or long-term leases.
Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs inaugurates Keys Hotels, Thiruvananthapuram. Sanjay Sethi, MD & CEO, Berggruen Hotels and other dignitaries are also seen
Leela Kovalam Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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kerala traveller
Nirvana at Paradisa Plantation Retreat
E
nsconced in the landscape of spectacular natural beauty of Kerala, Paradisa Plantation Retreat is a boutique hotel on the ascent to the Cardamom Hills. The Retreat sits on a 26 acre working organic coffee and spice plantation run by the owner Simon Paulose, who also runs the hotel with his team of dedicated staff. The rooms are traditional wooden Kerala houses which
were relocated from their original locations and redesigned to suit the needs of the modern traveler. Great care has been taken not to disturb the natural lay of the land, giving the impression that these houses have been here forever. Each cottage is placed individually to ensure complete privacy and the
best view. Every detail of the beautiful hotel looks a museum of antiques and art and the ambience is one of understated richness which is similar to the style of old Kerala palaces. One of the best loved features of Paradisa Plantation Retreat is the food. The restaurant which overlooks the valley is an open round pavilion with
relaxation to yoga, ayurveda or hard treks into the jungle. The EU aided Simon Paulose organic spice and tea factory, local Ayurveda hospital, Periyar Tiger Reserve are great for excursions. Plantation and nature walks are relaxing, invigorating and educational as well. The warm feeling a bird's eye one takes away from view of the Paradisa Plantation Retreat mountains. It comes from the unmatched is such a caring hospitality from pleasant place Simon and each member of that the guests his team. Friendly smiling are happy to staff and a more authentic spend their sense of Kerala is the time reading or foremost offer of Paradisa chatting at the Plantation Retreat. restaurant when they are not w w w.paradisaretreat.com eating. The restaurant comes alive in the evening with dramatic cultural performances. Plans are afoot to build a closed restaurant with an activity centre too. Paradisa Plantation Retreat offers its guests every possibility ranging from complete
Taj Kerala Hotels and Resorts Hand Over Profit
T
aj Kerala Hotels & Resorts Limited has registered a turnover of Rs. 35.42 crores and a profit before tax from operations of Rs. 4.29 crores for the financial year 2008-09. Anil Goel, Chairman of Taj Kerala Hotels & Resorts Limited, this afternoon handed over a cheque for Rs.
83.33 lakhs to Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Kerala Minister of Tourism, being the dividend declared by the Company for the financial year 2008-09. Taj Kerala Hotels and Resorts Limited is a joint venture between the Taj Group of Hotels and Tourist Resorts Kerala Limited (TRKL), a 100%
subsidiary of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation(KTDC). Despite the difficulties faced by the hospitality sector since mid 2008, the Company reported healthy profitability and is currently debt free. The Company operates 3 hotels in Ernakulam,
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Kumarakom and Varkala respectively and is ploughing back its cash accruals for the renovation and upgradation of its properties. Mr. Goel stated that Kerala continues to be very exciting and promising destination and he was optimistic about the Company's profitable growth in the future.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
kerala traveller
Experience of a Lifetime
R
ainbow Cruises has added Elitaire, an ultra luxury houseboat to its kitty for up-segment customers who cares for sheer luxury. Also a special one for the honeymooning couples as it offers the chance to experience privacy in an exotic backwater ride
ASIAN TRAVELLER
with the care and pampering hospitality of Rainbow. Rainbow Cruises is one of the finest Houseboat operators with a fleet of contemporary styling and facilities. The boats are rated with Gold Star are equipped with the State of the art luxuries and safety measures
• 135 •
w w w.rainbowcruises.in
for the visitors to Aleppey, the Venice of the East. The visitors are provided with the best food. The boats are availed with luxurious furnishings, sun decks, spacious living / dining area along with high quality linen, crockery etc. The company also focuses on being eco friendly and they have biochemical treatment plants for sewage and solid wastes.
SEPTEMBER 2009
kerala traveller
Best Western Launches Hotel at Thiruvananthapuram
B
est Western India has launched its first interna tional hotel - Best Western Classic Avenue - brand at Thiruvananthapuram, capital city of Kerala. This new 60-room property is part of the Best Western India's expansion plans to become the largest hotel chain in India. Sudhir Sinha, President and COO, Best Western India, said, "It is a great opportunity for both, the Best Western India Group and Classic Avenue, to of fer the internationally acknowledged high quality of service and hospitality. Together, Best Western Classic Avenue will of fer a complete new experience to its new and existing patrons." K P Sahadevan, Managing Director,
Sudhir Sinha, President and COO, Best Western India; K.P. Sahadevan, Managing Director, Best Western Classic Avenue and Raj A, General Manager, Best Western Classic Avenue at the launch function
Best Western Classic Avenue said that the property would cater to the business travellers as well leisure
Traffic Chaos A ED EVANS
s I sat in the back of an auto rickshaw on my way from the airport to my accommodation, I was excited and astounded by my surroundings. One of the most prominent dif ferences I
surprised to see even large buses overtaking other vehicles on blind bends. Following my first impression on what seemed to be a disorganized traf fic system, I came to
travellers. Best Western provides marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000
independently-owned and operated member hotels in 80 countries and territories worldwide.
improve its roads further. Once I had adapted to the rickshaw experience, I began to observe the city of Thiruvananthapuram greater detail and noticed several at tempts to make the roads wider, freeing up more space for the vast number of motorists. I also saw that various speed bumps had been put in place as an at tempt to slow motorists down, reducing the chances of accidents. I came to the conclusion that despite the roads in Kerala being vastly dif ferent to what I had
experienced in my life, they weren't necessarily unsafe. Af ter t wo months on the roads of Kerala, I realise there is a transition taking place and even now is far more advanced than its neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka whose roads are far less developed. I see great potential in the roads in Kerala and would be interested to come back to Thiruvananthapuram in 10 years time and see how the developments have gone.
KTDC Hotels See Decline in Room Occupancy
T noticed were the hectic Kerala roads which I found very intriguing. There seemed to be a blasĂŠ attitude towards lane discipline with vehicles of ten weaving in and out of each other both in their own lane and oncoming traf fic. On a day trip I took a bus journey from Kot tayam to Kumily and I was
realise that there was a mutual understanding bet ween motorists. The horn, which in Britain is of ten used as a tool to show aggression, was used to give awareness and aided the problem with lane discipline. I also considered the adjustments that Kerala was making to
he hotels run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), has suf fered a loss in occupancy. This was announced in the state Assembly by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Tourism, Kerala. About 20 per cent decrease has been noted in room occupancy during the first six months of the current financial year. "The state Government has taken various measures to over come the crisis", said the minister.
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The global economic recession had adversely af fected the tourism sector in the state, added the Tourism Minister. As per available data till January this year, there was an 18.86 per cent decrease in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to the state compared to the corresponding period last year. However, a 3.21 per cent increase in domestic tourist arrival has also beens noted during the same period.
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ASIAN TRAVELLER
kerala traveller
Continuous Tourist Survey to Play a Crucial Role
C
ontinuous Tourist Survey (CTS) of Kerala Tourism will play a major role in implementing projects that would accelerate the growth of tourism in Kerala. Minister for Tourism, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that facts and figures that emerge from CTS would be of significance. He was
Dr Venu V IAS, Secretary, Tourism
Sivasankar M IAS Director, Tourism
talking at the launch of CTS in Thiruvananthapuram. CTS would be conducted over a period of three years with survey reports generated periodically and evaluated by Kerala Tourism for giving shape to marketing strategies and also for introducing new and rewarding projects. The questionnaire prepared for the survey would probe different aspects from visitors' point of view and would touch upon aspects pertaining to purpose of visit, number of
days spent, opinion on infrastructure and others that would throw more light on the status of tourism industry in Kerala at a given period of time. "We believe that the data obtained through CTS would provide greater clarity with regard to the functional side of the tourism industry in Kerala, enabling Kerala Tourism to come up with timely interventions in the form of new policies, marketing strategies and innovations in the tourism sector, " said
Dr. Venu V IAS, Secretary, Kerala Tourism. M Sivasankar IAS, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Director, Minister, Tourism Kerala Tourism said, "It is one of those highly effective means to assimilate vital tourism related data in Kerala. We at Kerala Tourism are keenly looking forward to the findings that would emerge through CTS in the next three years". The first phase of CTS would be carried out during 2009-2012.
Kappil: Untapped Beaut y Spot of Kerala USHA RAJAN
K
erala is blessed with a large number of water bodies, including lakes, rivers and back waters. Sandy beaches, lush green forests and verdant hills add to the luster of this land. Have you ever thought of having a lake-front get-away, that too in full view of the Arabian Sea? Would you like to swim a couple of lengths in the lake under a bright tropical sun and also savor a tall cool glass of your favorite drink on the shore? Are you interested in using a rod to fish in the lake, or would you rather accompany the
local fishermen during their daily activity of fishing? A drive of 40 km from Thiruvananthapuram along the NH 47 will take you to Kallabalam. Turn to the lef t and proceed another 13 km, you will see the breath taking beauty of Mother Nature in all her splendor. On one side of the road, you see the waves of Arabian Sea. On the other side, you will meet the placid waters of Paravoor Lake. You could stroll on the beach and see the 'pozhi', where the lake nudges the sea. The breeze will make you forget all tribulations of the city The Arabian Sea is separated from the 'Paravoor kayal '(Paravoor
back water) by a long strip of land studded with the swaying coconut trees. In monsoon excess water flows from the backwater into the sea through the 'pozhi' - a sandy beach. There is a boat club to take you on speed boat ride or on a safari cruise. For a more adventurous person activities like paddle boating, row boating and para-sailing are also available. There are comfortable resorts around for those who like to stay put- you don't need to burn a hole in your purse as there are non a/c rooms available from Rs 1000-1500 per night.
Usha Rajan
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SEPTEMBER 2009
album
Leela Gurgaon Inauguration
album
iviaworld.com Kerala Launch
album
Asian Traveller - Galileo Onam Celebrations
This year's Asian Traveller - Galileo Onam Celebrations were held at the picturesque Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. KTDC Chairman Cheriyan Philip inaugurated the celebrations. Former Air India Chairman V. Thulasidas was the chief guest on the occasion. Various cultural programmes and a traditional Onam Feast were organized as a part of the celebrations.
kerala traveller
Leisure H by the Cliff
industan Beach Retreat is one of the popular hotels at the beach retreat Varkala in south Kerala. There are 27 well appointed rooms offering a spectacular view of the Arabian Sea and the luxury of complete solitude apart from the sounds of nature. Varkala is one of the emerging travel destinations in Kerala for the international travelers. A perfect place to unwind and do nothing it gives you a real holiday experience. The guests can enjoy the swimming pool
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beach to the horizon will turn orange. The place is renowned for doing the rituals for departed souls on the legendary Papanasam Beach as it is believed K P Anilkumar, Ajith Nair Managing Director General Manager that the waters of the sea absolves the sins and overlooking the blue sea gives peace. The mineral with a glass of chilled water springs on the juice and snacks from the beach are considered to poolside barbacue. be a natural healer for Ayurvedic treatments, different deseases. That backwater cruises, is how the beach got its heritage tours are also on name. Varkala is also the offer. The guests can renowned for its 2000 relish an exotic seafood year old Janardhna restaurant on the roof top, Temple, the Sivagiri a multi cuisine restaurant Mutt - the final resting serving Indian, Chinese place of Sri Narayana and continental dishes Guru, a great social overlooking the pool, a reformer of Kerala. The pool side barbecue and a resort is accessible by roof top conference hall road and rail, 55 Km with sea view. The colour North of of the sunset is here is Thiruvananthapuram. mind blowing as the entire w w w.hindustanbeachretreat.com
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SEPTEMBER 2009
album
Alappuzha, often called the Venice of the East has their life, culture and history rooted in its backwaters and boats. Numerous boat races are held in different parts of the place. The most popular one is the Nehru Trophy boat race, which is witnessed by thousands from different parts of the world. The young and the old share and celebrate the event with the same cheer and passion. The boat race has become one of the most colourful attractions of Kerala.
kerala traveller
Tourism Football Tournament SEPTEMBER 2009 India International Travel Mart, Mumbai, India
September 11 - 13
5th UNWTO International Conference on Destination Management, Hangzhou, China
September 21 - 22
PATA Travel Mart 2009, Hangzhou, China
September 22 - 25
OCTOBER 2009 India International Travel Exhibition, Pune, India
October 2 - 4
India Travel Mart-Vadodara, India
October 2 - 4
Travel Distribution Summit India 2009, Mumbai, India October, 6 - 7 IT&CMA 2009, Bangkok, Thailand
October 6 - 8
Locations, Mumbai, India
October 9 - 10
Holiday Expo, Visakhapatnam, India
October 9 - 11
Cosmo Travel Tourism & Build Fair Chattisgarh, India
October 9 -12
ITB Asia, Singapore,
October, 21 - 23
Holiday Expo, Nagpur, India
October 23 - 25
India Travel Mart-Goa, India,
A
ll Kerala Houseboat Owners Association has conducted a Tourism Football Tournament in connection with 57th Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha on 1st and 2nd of August 2009.16 teams from dif ferent parts of Kerala participated in the tournament. JCT Houseboats beat Hotel Orchid in the final. Thomas Chandy MLA presented the trophies to the winners. Vinu Kumar (Secretary, DTPC), Zacharia (President, All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association), Rajan Peter (General Secretary, All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association), Joshy Raj and K.L. Augustine were also present.
October 30-November 1
NOVEMBER 2009 The Luxury Travel Fair, London, England
November 5 - 8
World Heritage Travel Expo, Macau, China
November 12 - 14
Hoteltech & Baketech Show-Hyderabad, India
November 13 - 15
CITM-China Int'l Travel Mart, Shanghai, China
November 19 - 22
International FoodService India, Mumbai, India
November 25 - 27
World Luxury Hotel Awards, Bangkok
November 27
The National Food & Hospitality Show, Gujarat, India
November 27- 29
India International Travel Mart, Pune, India
November 28 - 30
DECEMBER 2009 IITM, Hyderabad, India
December 4 - 6
HITEX Leisure Expo-2009, Hyderabad, India
December 11- 13
JANUARY 2010 Hoteltech & Baketech Show, Kochi, India
January 6-10
Mumbai International Tourism Expo, Mumbai, India
January 7- 9
Travel & Tourism Fair, Chennai, India
January 8 - 10
Hospitality World 2010, Mumbai, India
January 21 - 23
ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), Brunei
January 21 - 28
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• 145 •
SEPTEMBER 2009
Prime Propert y Resort For Sale
Hotel For Lease
Hotel For Lease 40 Rooms Business Class Hotel with Bar, Conference Hall, Cof fee Shop etc.
A 17 Cottages Resort
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Genuine Parties, Please contact
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in Trivandrum, Kerala
asiantraveller.proper ty@gmail.com
asiantraveller.property@gmail.com
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Lease / Sale
Land For Sale
Hotel For Lease
57 Rooms Business Class Hotel
3 Acres of Land Facing Lake Side Near Alappuzha, Kerala
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in Dubai, UAE
in Carol Bagh, New Delhi
FOR IMMEDIATE SALE
Contact
Please contact
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asiantraveller.property@gmail.com
asiantraveller.proper ty@gmail.com
FOR LEASE / SALE
FOR LEASE / MANAGE Please contact
FOR LEASE
Land For Sale 75 Cents of Land
SUITABLE FOR HOTEL / RESORT
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Helpline: Hp +91 9745444177
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• 146 •
ASIAN TRAVELLER
variety
1. 2.
3.
Mauna Kea is the highest mountain in Hawaii. What does it mean in the local language? The giant supermarket chain of Germany, Aldi is owned by Germany's richest man Karl Albrecht. What does Aldi stand for? Rochester in New York State is the birthplace of t wo renowned brands. One is Kodak. What is the other? 4. 5. 6. 7.
What does the Italian word for 'goodbye' ciao literally mean? What is 'white pollution'? Who is a salaryman? What is the one number you can type in on your mobile even as the keypad is locked?
An octopus has eight legs but how many hearts? 9. Who coined the word 'factoid' for unreliable but possibly true information? 10. Af ter Paris, which is the second largest French-speaking city in the world?
Tourism Malaysia has appointed Chandra Sehgaran, as the new Deputy Director, for North and East region operations. In his new role he will be assisting the Delhi team in all marketing and trade activities planned for coming months.
Sujit Naha has joined Via Group, the leading B2B Travel Technology Company, based in Bangalore, India, as its Chief Financial Officer
Rakesh K Madan has joined Le Meridien Cochin, Kerala, India as General Manager
American Airlines has announced the appointment of Philip Lewin as the Country Manager for India. In his new role, Lewin will be heading American Airlines operations in India, including sales/marketing, airport operations and the accounting functions.
Amari Hotels and Resorts, has announced the appointment of Simon Dell as General Manager of Amari Vogue Resort, Krabi, Thailand.
Astudo Hotel & Resort Group has announced the appointment of Juhani Sotka as Area General Manager for Rayong and Koh Kood, Thailand.
Astudo Hotel & Resort Group has announced the appointment of Chetha Maneerat as Resort Manager for the newly opened X2 Rayong, located on Lam Mae Phim beach in Thailand.
Konstantin Elser has joined Mövenpick Hotel Saigon as Executive Chef. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has represented through over 90 hotels in 26 countries with a concentration in its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Advocate G S Prakash has taken over as Legal Advisor of Media Steps India, the publishers of Asian Traveller Magazine
8.
Answers to TYKC 23 1. Joachim & Anna, 2.Fiji Island, 3.Technical name for a hiccup, 4. Short for Do Communications over the Mobile Net work, 5. A seminar through web conferencing on the Internet, 6. Sampaguita, 7. Olympics of abilities of the disabled were (first organized in Japan in 1981), 8. At ta means twin. Kofi Annan is a t win (his twin sister died in 1991), 9. Father of deer, 10. Googleplex (short for Google Complex)
TYKC 23 - WINNER
Sheeba P. Anthony Punjagut ta, Hyderabad, A.P., India
One all-correct entry will get Free Stay at Le-Meridien, Kochi
[ 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
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• 148 •
ASIAN TRAVELLER
WANTED Chef de Cusine Specialised in ASIAN STYLE CUISINE (Chinese, Thai, Sushi)
For a 5-Star Luxury Hotel In Dubai
WANTED
A Singapore-based Company recruiting for the following positions to be based in Dubai
GENERAL MANAGER A 3 star hotel near Secretariate Trivandrum, Kerala
Executive Chef Executive Sous Chef Assistant F & B Manager Assistant Manager Front Of fice Banquet Chef de Partie Barman, Chef - Pastry/Baker Chef De Partie Minimum 3 – 5 years in similar position with a well known brand in hospitality industry
Please send CV with [ Job Code - ATA/Sep09-101 ]
Please send CV with [ Job Code - ATA/Sep09-102 ]
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For a 4 Star Hotel in Dubai requires
WANTED
For a business class hotel in Ernakulam, Kerala require
GENERAL MANAGER
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Please send CV with [ Job Code - ATA/Sep09-104 ]
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asiantraveller.ascent@gmail.com
Please send CV with [ Job Code - ATA/Sep09-103 ] asiantraveller.ascent@gmail.com
WANTED A Large Restaurant Chain Operating at Doha-Qatar, UAE & Kuwait with over 50 High Standard Restaurants (American Franchised and NonFranchised) requires the following personnel for their DOHA operations
SUPERVISORS ASSISTANT MANAGERS OPERATIONS MANAGER KITCHEN EQUIPMENT TECHNCIANS Please send CV with [ Job Code - ATA/Sep09-106 ] asiantraveller.ascent@gmail.com
WANTED For a 5-Star Hotel In Chennai, India require
Ascent To A d v e r t i s e i n t h i s P a g e f o r
FREE
SALES MANAGER Please send CV with [ Job Code - ATA/Sep09-107 ] asiantraveller.ascent@gmail.com
CONTACT : info@mediastepsindia.com Helpline: Hp +91 9745444177
TECHNOLOGY PARTNER
PARTNER COUNTRY
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• 149 •
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