Gonow sept 2014

Full service airlines make a comeback with VISTARA leading the pack a cross section publication

VOLUME 15. ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER 2014 `50

Tourism. Cities. Heritage. Connectivity. Sustainability

Kyoto

Emirates A380 is now flying to Mumbai

PM Modi strikes the heritage chord with this Japanese smart city with a strong heritage tag. Explore the city's success story

travel market, ss ne si bu t es rg la th 10 India is casts GBTA re fo , % 6 7. ow gr to ed pois France showcases the destination with Hundred-Foot Journey, produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey, starring Om Puri, with its most successful box office run

India’s Northeast has huge diversity to explore for rural experiences, says Gen. V.K. Singh

Truly a boutique hotel, Dusit Devarana, close to Aerocity in New Delhi, is a heady expression of both vision and passion

this issue

From the Editor With this issue, we bring not only a new look GoNow, but a magazine that we hope will make a difference in our appreciation and understanding of cities and people, their culture and heritage, with a more comprehensive grasp and engagement with issues and concerns. This is based upon our belief that travel and tourism is not all about just feasting the eye - it equally concerns the intellect and our eagerness to explore and understand the 'why' of things - their relevance to India and how to adapt, or even adopt, some of the best practices available in the world. We bring you SMART cities, we bring you Kyoto, which has been in the news, for all the right reasons. Our prime minister's visit to Japan has raised a new curiosity in that country - a heady mix of tradition and contemporary. We also bring you a feature on Sweden, not often talked about for tourism in our country - a land like no other, and just SMART, the way we would wish. You will see more of these features in the issues to follow - a touch of the contemporary and what is current to our times.

Our travel needs are dynamic, where we continuously seek better travel experience and more value for money. With the launch of the big Bird i.e. A-380, Emirates has done just that. It has diversified the options at hand, for the travelers. We understand from them, on their expansion plan and its significance on the Indian market. While, in another aviation piece, we decipher the launch of two new full-service airliners and its possible impact on the way we travel. We also delve into the world

Metro Travel-New Delhi 24 What’s trending with the new-age Lobby Lounges 28 Dusit Devarana: A true boutique experience in the heart of the capital

of online booking and know from Ezeego. com, the current trends in the market.

We take you the best lobby lounges, the Capital city has to offer, and understand the trends that have come to shape them in their present being. We also explore the unique boutique experience that Dusit-Devarana has to offer.

Moving away from the Indian shores, we explore the fun and shopping that the Dubai Royal Mirage has to offer. From a blazing desert, we take to the snowcapped mountains of Alps on Rhaetian railways and tell you all about travelling in luxury. We also look at all that Sweden has to offer, apart from exploring a fascinating world of Spas in, none other than, Thailand. Fiji, too, remains on our agenda, where we explore the Island nation and its magnificent sights. In our Tourism Connect section, we take a look at the multitude of opportunities that rural tourism has on offer for us. While, we take you to the farthest corner of India, The Andamans, and explore how the great Islands remain under-publicised and under-sold.

Apart from that, we also look at the need for sensitivity in dealing with heritage, while also insuring optimum utilisation of our tourism assets.

With a hope that you enjoy all this and a lot more that awaits inside, in this issue and into the future.

Happy Reading!

navin@crosssectionmedia.com

40 EDITOR : Navin Berry MANAGING EDITOR: Priyaanka Berry FEATURES DESK: Shashank Shekhar,

Anupriya Bishnoi

ADVERTISING : Saurabh Shukla DESIGN : Ashok Saxena,

Heritage 32 Kyoto: A heritage city that is also smart 37 Make memorable chronicles in Sweden

Neelam Aswani

CIRCULATION : Chandra Tamang

Go Now is printed and published

by Navin Berry, on behalf of Cross Section Media Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Anupam Art Printers, B-52, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi - 110 028

Wellness Thailand 40 Spoilt with choices- A quick guide to some of the best spas Wildlife Tourism 44 South Africa- A country for adventurers Destination Guide 48 It’s all about FIJI Tourism Connect 52 Rural India brings new tourism experiences 56 The Northeast holds special promise for rural tourism: no more lip service, says Gen. V.K. Singh 58 The True Rural Tourism: The Users’ Perspective 60 Destination Andamans is waiting

64 Tourism is good for economy, but it must capture heritage with sensitivity 66 Beachfronts and beaches: Thailand edges out US in numbers 67 Dubai introduces multi-entry visa, makes it easier for cruise tourism 68 The Hundred Foot Journey: A voyage of culinary and intercultural discovery 70 New cruise service to connect Varanasi-Patna

Go Now is published from IIIrd Floor, Rajendra Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi - 110002.

Tel: 91-11-43784444. Fax: 91-11-41001627 E-mail: info@crosssectionmedia.com This issue of Go Now contains 76 pages

If travel excites you just the way it excites us, share your experiences on /gonowlifestylemagazine /gonowmagazine /gonowmagazine

Last Page 74 Welf Ebeling, GBTA, Asia Pacific: India is 10th largest business travel market, poised to grow 7.6% September 2014 GO NOW

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vSnippets Upload your favourite selfie and get a chance to win free accommodation at Mandarin Oriental, Paris

Miami’s latest happenings make it a perfect getaway for the travellers

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iami has experienced a string of new and exciting activities in recent times which will beckon tourists from all over the world. They include redesigning; renovation, reopening, and even inauguration of new places. Some of these include – Reopening of Caribbean Market Place (CMP), the reopening of The Shelborne, as the Shelborne Wyndham Grand Resort South Beach, The Hilton Cabana Miami Beach has officially opened its beachfront property on Collins Avenue at 62nd Street, the opening of the first vintage arcade bar at South Beach etc. Now Miami has new reasons as a destination for wanderers.

For more information visit: www.miamiandbeaches.com

Mandarin Oriental, Paris has introduced a package that offers guests luxurious accommodation, and the chance to share their best ‘selfies’ in the City of Lights.

Guests are encouraged to upload their favourite selfie to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Google + and use @MO_PARIS and the hashtag #MOselfiecontest. Photos that are posted publically with the hash-tag and hotel username will be entered in an exclusive competition, which runs from October 2014 to January 2015. At the end of each month, Philippe Leboeuf, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Paris will decide on the winning entry. Each monthly winner will enjoy a onenight stay at the award-winning Mandarin Oriental, Paris.

For more information visit: www. mandarinoriental.com/paris/hoteloffers/selfie-in-paris

Bali gets its first 5-star villa resort by Centara

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entara Grand Villas Nusa Dua Bali, the first five-star villa resort by Thailand’s Centara Hotels & Resorts is now open. This resort features two signature restaurants, a bar, a swimming pool, the executive club lounge, spa and fitness center, meeting rooms and a Chrysler limousine service. Located at Nusa Dua, on the southern tip of Bali, the resort is within the 4

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ocean resort complex established by the Bali Tourism Development Corporation. All villas are Club class, which includes access to the Club Lounge with its complimentary servings, and an around-the-clock villa host service to ensure each guest will enjoy life in Nusa Dua to the full.

For more information visit: www. centarahotelsresorts.com/cgnd

Visit the all new Trident website and get a chance to fly to London

With the launch of its new website, Trident launches its new offer for the guests to make booking more fun.

In this offer those who are booking their stay via tridenthotels.com may win fabulous holiday packages at Trident Hotels every week and two Business Class tickets to London on British Airways.

For more information visit: www.tridenthotels.com

with travellers in mind

Celebrate Pierre Gagnaire’s iconic dishes at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

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ell renowned chef Pierre Gagnaire will celebrate his eighth anniversary at his two-Michelin-star restaurant Pierre in Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong this November with an exclusive Magic 8 room stay package and an opportunity to enjoy an exclusive menu including the eight most celebrated dishes of his career.

The package is available from 8th to 14th November 2014 where the guests booking the Magic 8 package will enjoy an overnight accommodation and get to taste the eightcourse Magic 8 anniversary dinner menu featuring eight of Chef Gagnaire’s most famous dishes. In addition to this, guests will receive a bottle of Dom Perignon with dinner and a guaranteed window seating at the stunning Pierre, situated on the 25th floor offering panoramic views overlooking Victoria Harbour.

Room reservations can be made by contacting the hotel directly on +852 2522 0111, through Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s worldwide sales, or by visiting the tempting offers page on the website at www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong from September onwards.

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with travellers in mind

W Retreat & Spa introduces its Limited Edition Getaway Package curated by Yoga Rebel Tara Stiles

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Hotels Worldwide have launched its first ever fitness program, FIT with Tara Stiles, to its 45 W brand’s hotels and resorts around the world. In partnership with the industry’s yoga rebel, FIT with Tara Stiles flips the traditional idea of fitness on its head with a non-traditional approach to working out while on the road. With this partnership, guests of W Hotels will be able to experience a curated in-room workout video designed for the needs of the W traveler, in­-room tip cards with quick fixes to get camera-ready in a flash, allowing guests to polish their body and mind-set in a uniquely W way.

For more information visit: www.whotels.com

Anantara Veli Resort & Spa gets better with New Deluxe OverWater Pool Bungalows

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na nta ra Hotel s, Resor t s & Spa s has added Deluxe Over-Water Pool Bungalows at Anantara Veli Resort & Spa, Maldives that offers an additional s t yl i s h ac c om mo d a tion choice for couples.

Bringing the total room count to 67 bungalows across four accommodation types, the most recent addition to the accommodation choice is poised directly above a turquoise lagoon, allowing guests to bask under the sun while soaking up the breath-taking views.

Each Deluxe Over-Water Pool Bungalow offers expansive indoor and outdoor personal space with unobstructed ocean panoramas, complete with a plunge pool and a stairway that descends into the glistening lagoon below. Floor to ceiling glass doors open onto a sundeck with private sun loungers and a seating area to provide guests with multiple choices within their bungalow to enjoy the ultimate romantic escape.

For more information visit: www.gha.com 6

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vSnippets Bhutan gets more ideal with the season!

September and October are absolutely gorgeous months to visit Bhutan as the heat of summer begins to fade away in favour of the cooler days. Some of the very exciting festivals can be enjoyed during the next months in Bhutan. Tour of the Dragon (September) which is considered one of the most challenging one-day events in the world, includes the race that covers 268 kilometres of absolutely stunning Himalayan landscapes as it takes cyclists from central to western Bhutan. Also Jomolhari Mountain Festival (October), an exquisitely themed t wo-day event celebrated at the base of Mt. Jomolhari, by communities located along one of the most scenic trekking routes in Bhutan, will be celebrated.

So join the localities in their feast.

For more information visit: www.tourism.gov.bt

Langkawi to host Ironman Malaysia, a cultural journey through a tropical, hilly and demanding terrain, 2014

This year has been truly sporty and adventurous for Malaysia. The country hosted the Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya version in April this year and will be holding the Ironman Malaysia in Langkawi on September 27, 2014.

Ironman Malaysia is one of 32 qualifying races on the global Ironman circuit that culminates with the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii each October. Professional athletes will be competing for a total prize of US$40,000 (RM127, 000). It is an annual triathlon and one of the Worlds’ most recognized endurance events.

It is a gruelling race that starts out with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run.

For more information visit: www.tourism.gov.my

with travellers in mind

Montego Bay, Jamaica beckons for the unlimited fun

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ontego Bay situated on Jamaica’s north coast is a favourite among travellers in search of a good time. With sparkling sandy beaches, assortment of water sports activities and tours, pulsating nightlife and tantalizing cuisine, Montego Bay is undoubtedly one of Jamaica’s most popular destinations.

Montego Bay’s Gloucester Avenue, also known as the “Hip Strip” is home to some famous spots ranging from sun-splashed shores awash with crystal-clear water

to interesting shops offering a slice of authentic Jamaican apparel and restaurants that double as venues for events and amazing live entertainment. The Hip Strip is also known for some great Caribbean sunsets and tropical panoramic views of the bay. Visitors to the strip can choose to indulge in a plethora of activities in and out of the water and have a day complete with relaxation and revelry.

For more information visit: www.visitjamaica.com

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Emirates A380 now to experience out of Mumbai, India remains leading market With the launch of their new aircraft, A380, Emirates have increased the gamut of its offerings for the Indian travellers.

GoNow in conversation with Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Vice President – India & Nepal, discovers the future plans and the significance of the Indian market in their network.

“In India, the A380 has already started receiving a very encouraging response and passengers are activity seeking to book on EK 500 and EK 501 which is the A380 flight on the route. The Mumbai-Dubai sector is one of the busiest routes we operate between India and our hub in Dubai.”

Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, VP - India & Nepal, Emirates 8

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ow important is the Indian market in Emirates’ global operations?

Since the launch of our first flights to Mumbai and Delhi in 1985, Emirates has been fully committed to the Indian market and has carried over 42 million passengers, to and from India to its global destinations across the network. We have always maintained that India is an extremely important destination in our network and operations, more so with the growing aspirations of the middle class, an increasingly competitive business base, a large student community and substantial demand from expats to visit their friends and relatives.

Hence, the significance of India for business and leisure travel is of great importance for us.

What number of Indians are transit passengers through Dubai every year with Emirates and how do you see this increasing over the next few years?

We do not segment passengers by nationality but Emirates carried 4.86 million passengers on its f lights between India and Dubai in the financial year 2013/14. In addition to those passengers who connect through Dubai to one of Emirates 143

global destinations, Emirates regularly launches attractive fares to promote our home and hub – Dubai, to passengers from India.

This includes offers to promote Dubai Summer Surprises and the Dubai Shopping Festival in January, both of which are extremely popular with travellers from India. As Dubai adds even more activities to its already extensive portfolio of attractions, the appeal of the destination will continue to grow to travellers from India.

What changes are you expecting with the introduction of A380 in India?

The iconic Emirates A380 is our flagship product and has received an ex tremely good response from all 29 markets where we presently operate it.

Whether passengers are travelling in the our spacious Economy Class cabin on the main deck or our First Class and Business Class cabins on the upper deck, Emirates passengers can enjoy a superb level of comfort, service, amenities and on-board connectivity combined with world-class service from our multi-national and multi-lingual Cabin Crew and innovative products such as our unique Onboard Lounge and First Class ShowerSpa’s.

In India, the A380 has already started receiving a very

with travellers in mind

Emirates A380: An experience beyond comparison

encouraging response and passengers are activity seeking to book on EK 500 and EK 501 which is the A380 flight on the route. The Mumbai-Dubai sector is one of the busiest routes we operate between India and our hub in Dubai.

Which is the strongest destination for Emirates in India? And why?

Emirates operates 185 weekly flights to 10 destinations in India, out of which, Mumbai is the largest port for us with 35 flights being operated every week. Given the diverse economy of India all the ports we serve have their own strengths, such as IT sector traffic going to Hyderabad. Due to the large global Indian diaspora, all our routes carry a large number of people visiting friends and relatives.

Where do you see Emirates in

comparison to other foreign airlines in India? What are the yields of Emirates from India like?

At Emirates, while we do take competition seriously, our focus is on offering the best services and products to our customers and continually launching innovating solutions to help Emirates become their preferred airline and this strategy has proved successful so far. For example, only a few months ago we launched a specially created South Asian menu which features dishes from each corner of India to cater for the diverse diets and tastes across the country.

We do not release information regarding yields as it is commercially sensitive. India is the largest market for Emirates after Dubai and is the main contributor to revenue from WAIO (West Asia & Indian Ocean) region to Emir-

A luxurious experience beyond comparison offered in all the classes, Emirates A380 has Private Suites, Shower Spas, flatbed seats and more in its largest airbus. Throughout the aircraft the passengers can also enjoy Wi-Fi and relax themselves in peace, socialize and relish a snack. The Emirates A380 Onboard Lounges can be accessed by the First Class and Business Class passengers and they can enjoy a cocktail with their group of friends or associates. The Private Suite for the First Class passengers will make you feel like travelling in a private jet as you can close the door and have all the space to yourself. The flat-bed seats ensure that you reach relaxed and fresh to your destination and do not have to go through hours of Jet lag. The variety of beverages and food available on the flight is made of fresh ingredients and has something for everyone. The Ice entertainment system on the plane will keep you entertained with a variety of movies, television shows, games, music and keep you updated with the latest news as well. It is a different world in itself and whether you are travelling in the spacious Economy Class cabin on the main deck or the First Class and Business Class cabins on the upper deck, you can enjoy a superb level of comfort, service, amenities and on-board connectivity combined with world-class service. ates’ annual profits – please refer to our latest annual report for details: www.theemiratesgroup. com/annualreport What are your expansion plans in India? Are you planning to increase seats and routes?

Emirates is committed to upgrading existing aircraft and adding frequencies to its existing 10city Indian network as well as launching new cities.

In February 2014, the Indian and Dubai Governments negotiated an incremental capacity increase - the first since 2008 – which will see capacity on

the India-Dubai route grow by 11,000 seats/week, phased – in over three seasons from the 2014 Summer Schedule.

In Summer 2014, Emirates deployed the first tranche of new capacity adding 3,779 seats/ week to Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai through aircraft upgrades including the launch of A380 services to Mumbai – the number of flights per week remained static at 185.

The Winter 2014/15 capacity deployment, which will include further aircraft upgrades, will be finalized shortly.

As told to NIKITA CHOPRA

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with travellers in mind

Deltin Suites re-launches its signature restaurant – Vegas

vSnippets Marriott to give more benefits to its members

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eltin Suites, situated in the heart of Goa and in the proximity to Deltin Royale and Deltin Jaqk casinos, Deltin Suites offers complete luxury. To make this experience more enriching, Deltin Suites is taking its patrons on a culinary voyage by relaunching its iconic multi-cuisine restaurant – Vegas. The Executive Chef of the Deltin Group has mapped out a gastronomic journey for the global traveller. Global cuisines like Lebanese- Lamb Tagine, Chicken Shawarma, Homemade Pita, Hummus Beiruti, ItalianRisotto, Pasta, Thai- Kra-poow, Basa pla meung mano, variations of Thai Curry- Red , Green and Yellow, Tum Yum, Tom Kha Rae-Mushroom Soup and Chinese are amongst the highlights of Vegas other than the chef’s own Indian and Goan specialties.

For more information visit: www.deltingroup.com/deltin-suites

Sofitel Mumbai BKC’s initiative for great Indian weddings and large gatherings Sofitel Mumbai BKC has launched HRIDAY a 30,000 square feet outdoor area at their hotel, specifically targeted to great Indian weddings and large gatherings.

The space is inspired from French and Indian designs. Also there are exclusive wedding offers for residential and nonresidential guests wherein both can enjoy various services complimentary from the hotel.

For more information visit: www.sofitel. com/gb/hotel-6451-sofitel-mumbai-bkc

Marriott International is rewarding its members with their new ‘Members Get More’ campaign, giving tech sav vy members more travel benefits with the help of their mobile device. Through this Marriott Rewards Members will be able to experience a queue-free zone at the front desk when checking-in thanks to mobile check-in before arrival on the Marriott Mobile App. Marriott Rewards members get more than free room nights or air travel, with extra benefits including free Wi-Fi, mobile management of reservations, dining discounts, room upgrades offering etc.

For more information visit: www.MarriottRewards.com

Now run and relax as TUI brings Delhi Marathon packages TUI India introduces exclusive packages for the upcoming Delhi Marathon. The packages include airport transfers and accommodation in Delhi. Runners can choose from the Bronze, Silver and Gold packages based on their requirements.

These packages include 2 night stay in a 4/5 star hotel, airport transfers, breakfast and transfers to and from Jawaharlal Stadium and the hotel.

In addition to these, there are other special packages that comprise day trips or a tour to nearby hill stations and places like Agra and Jaipur.

When: 22nd - 24th November 2014 Cost: `10,000 onwards (Inclusive of taxes). For more information visit: www.tui.in/Holidays-Packages/ domestic-monsoon-offers

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with travellers in mind

Cox & Kings on board for Deccan Odyssey, relaunch this October

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o boost the luxury train business, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has appointed Cox & Kings as its outsourced partner to operate the Deccan Odyssey from October 2014. This partnership will cover full management of on-board and off-board services, sales, marketing and operational activities. Currently the agreement has been signed for a period of five years but it has a scope of being extended to five year tenure further.

Deccan Odyssey has been one of the major attractions for the discerning tourists from across the globe. With the increasing foreign tourists to India, MTDC has put up an aggressive plan to promote this luxury train internationally.

The train has 21 coaches, out of which 12 are passenger cars accommodating 8 people per coach (10 passenger Cars, 4 coupes per coach - 2 Presidential Suite Cars, 2 coupes per coach), 1 Conference Car, 2 Dinning Cars, 2 Generator Cars with Luggage Store, 2 Staff, spare Car, 1 Spa Car, 1 Bar Car. The train has on-board facilities like TV, Cable connection with central audio disc player, cell phones, Channel Music, Foreign exchange facilities, etc. The capacity of the train is 88 passengers.

For more information visit: www.deccan-odyssey-india.com

Munch on Brunch at Goa Marriott Resort & Spa MONSOON SUNDAY BRUNCH Goa Marriott Resort & Spa offers the ultimate weekend luncheon experience during monsoons with the Monsoon Sunday Brunch at Waterfront Terrace & Bar valid from June to October. The guests can indulge in a colourful spread traversing a range of cuisines and engage in pleasant conversation over drinks, in an ambience enhanced with the light tunes of a live band against the backdrop of the pitter-patter of raindrops outside. Guests can relish the age-old mouth-watering Kheema Pao and Kathi Roll, and have a taste of some exquisite Burmese Khao Suey, Dim Sums and Momos.

They can also sample the wholesome Japanese Okonomiyaki, and savour drool-worthy Quesadilla and Fajita. Get into a Middle Eastern stupor with the crowd-favourite Shawarma and Falafel, and relish regional specials of Appam and Stew from Kerala or Madras Kuttu Paratha. Wide variety of desserts includes the Mississippi Mud Cake, Cranberry and Vodka Jelly, Rustic Apple and Mint Pie, and a range of Cheese Cakes. Further, a renewed beverage component of a choice of domestic premium wines and spirits or French champagne will be sure to get you in the perfect weekend mood.

Timings: 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm every Sunday For more information visit: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ goimc-goa-marriott-resort-and-spa

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vSnippets Escape to The Leela Palace Chennai this weekend

The Leela Palace Chennai introduces its Weekend Luxury Escape offer where the travellers can relax during the weekend by the serene view of the pristine Bay of Bengal as this offer is designed to showcase and provide comfort keeping in mind the preferences and choices of guests. The Weekend Luxury Escape offer can be availed by guests at ` 9,999 on double occupancy basis and `10,999 to enjoy the sumptuous spread at Brunch on Sunday.

The offer includes transfers in BMW, breakfast and lunch at Spectra.

For more information visit: www.theleela.com/locations/chennai

Take a break with Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi’s ‘Weekend Special Package’

Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi, Mahipalpur beckons you to a pleasurable holidaying experience with its ‘Weekend Special Package’. The package includes accommodation, buffet breakfast, one major meal, one way airport transfer and 24 hours Wi Fi internet access during the stay. In addition, a 10% discount on all food & beverage and spa spends at the hotel can be availed too. This offer is valid till 30th September 2014 and is priced at `6,500/7,500 on Single/ Double Occupancy, taxes exclusive.

For more information visit: www.radissonblu.com/hotelnewdelhi

with travellers in mind

IBIS Delhi Airport Hotel - Delhi Aerocity gets a new addition to its family

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elhi Aerocity, a contemporary hub of hotels has got a new addition with the opening of IBIS Delhi Airport Hotel. Located minutes away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, the hotel offers 316 welldesigned contemporary rooms, two dynamic dining outlets and 24 hours check-in and check-out facility. The hotel also houses state-of-the-art meeting rooms; well-equipped gymnasium and temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool make IBIS ideal for both business and leisure travellers.

For more information visit: www.accorhotels. com/gb/hotel-7484-ibis-delhi-airport/ restaurant

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with travellers in mind Indians cannot buy foreign exchange online as RBI does not permit this for an Indian passport holder. The customer has to sign a Business Travel Quota (BTQ), form and submit it to the bank or a Forex dealer.

What change in trends do you see in Indian travellers, domestic as well as international, in the past few years?

Indian travellers have become more adventurous and have evolved in both domestic as well as international travel. Now they go beyond the regular vanilla packages and usual tourist attractions, and seek unique experiences in their travel. People have also been taking holidays more frequently over the past couple of years. Luxury, health and spa, gourmet, adventure are some of the categories that are doing really well among the well heeled Indian travellers.

The young and budget travel-

How is online booking bringing a change in the Indian travel scenario?

Advent of internet introduced several new concepts within the travel industry. From online booking to online seat selection and web check-in from the convenience of your home or office, travel technology is increasingly becoming a lifeline for many. With more access to information, increased competition among vendors resulting in more competitive pricing and introduction of differentiated products and itineraries by OTAs such as Ezeego1.com, the travel industry in India has got a huge boost. Indian travellers have more choices and make more informed decisions. This has resulted in a more competitive and evolved industry.

How well are Indians accepting these flash sales of hotels as well as airlines?

Flash sales are a huge hit with Indian travellers as they get great value for money. We notice a considerable spike in overall consumption for hotels and airlines on our website when flash sales are introduced.

What special services are you offering to Indian travellers to improve their travel experience?

Our products are focused on e-tailing, as against retailing.

When customers choose Ezeego1.com, they know they are in safe hands and that all their travel needs will be taken care of end-to-end. We are able to deliver because we have a real time interface with major suppliers across the globe. Direct contracting and real time inventory ensure competitive positioning, which lets us give the best prices to our customers.

We have a 24X7 dedicated customer service and operations team to ensure seamless coordination and satisfactory resolution of customer queries. We believe that growth cannot compromise customer experience. We have customer centricity as our core DNA and zero tolerance for any processes or actions that hinder an idle customer experience.

“Customers are now empowered to make educated choices” With the increasing trend of online bookings, travellers now get convenience along with best deals. The online travel agents have totally changed the face of travel bookings and this has evolved greatly in last few years. GoNow talks to Neelu Singh, COO, Ezeego1.com about the change that online travel booking is bringing to the Indian scenario and how you, the customer, can get value out of online booking sites.

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ow can one get value out of online booking for Tours, Tickets and Foreign Exchange?

Today there has been a shift in how customers book their travel. Many travellers prefer to do their booking online. It is the convenience factor that is a major pull for customers, which makes online booking increasingly attractive for all.

The channel costs for online businesses are significantly lesser as compared to the traditional brick and mortar system because of factors such as zero rentals, lesser overheads 14

GO NOW September 2014

and so on. Also, due to considerable competition, digital channels often run on lesser margins and can offer more competitive pricing. These benefits automatically translate into more value for money for customers. With huge amount of information available at the click of a mouse, customers are now empowered to make educated choices about their travel, resulting in more quality experiences that are best suited to their needs.

Foreign Exchange is perhaps the only component of travel that cannot go 100% online. This is mainly because

lers are opting for back packing trips and value for money itineraries, but are choosing destinations and products that are off-beat and best suited to their personalities, such as adventurous trips to Ladakh or backpacking across Eastern Europe. People have been turning to the internet for a lot of preholiday research.

Earlier Indians were known for last minute bookings, do you think that they are planning well in advance now? And why?

The mix of last minute bookers and travellers who plan in advance are divided in the middle. The incidence of impulse purchase has increased over the years, with more purchasing power among the middle class and greater need to spend quality time with friends and family in their hectic lifestyles. However, family travellers and the higher age group plan well in advance.

Increased information and channels for online research has aided this advance planning and booking.

As told to NIKITA CHOPRA

with travellers in mind

Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2014 announces lineup

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he fifth edition of India’s leading music festival returns this November with an impressive lineup of some incredible artists from India and around the world.

This year, over 100 artists will play on six different stages at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender’s four editions.

2013 was the first time that Bacardi NH7 Weekender travelled to four locations. To the thousands who attended, nothing seemed out of place and the festival reached epic proportions like never seen before on Indian soil.

Manish Seth, Director of Marketing & Sales, Bacardi says “This year marks 152 years of the uncompromising passion and irrepressible spirit of Bacardi with our bold new identity ‘BACARDÍ Untameable since 1862’ that showcases the heritage and legacy of our brand. We are thrilled to associate our Untameable identity with Bacardi NH7 Weekender ushering a whole new era for this truly iconic festival.”

Only Much Louder CEO Vijay Nair adds, “Preparing the lineup of the Bacardi NH7 Weekender is one of the most fun creative processes in the run up of the festival.”

Block the dates Kolkata November 1-2 in November 8-9 in Bangalore November 21-23 in Pune November 29-30 in Delhi

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Marital Bliss at Cidade de Goa!

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edding is an important day which you would treasure for a lifetime.

Fac i n g t he s e r e ne beach of Vainguinim near Panjim, Central Goa, Cidade de Goa is a premier 5 star luxury beach resort in Goa, and provides

you one of the best exotic locations to have a dream destination wedding. In a peaceful location, with modern amenities and a multitude of entertainment options, Cidade de Goa is that rare venue - one singularly exquisite location with everything you could ever want!

A Wedding is the starting point of

memories which you would cherish forever. Cidade de Goa has a choice of settings when it comes to holding a wedding.

The hotel’s wedding planners take care of everything to create your special occasion as personal and unforgettable as you wish – from the exquisite floral displays to innovative gourmet menus, from unique baarats to mehendi, sangeet parties besides the shimmering bay.

The hotel has two Indoor venues: Grand Sala which has an architectural detail, conferred ceiling arched opening and French doors complimented by chandeliers and more with the capacity of setting arrangement of 475 people. Sala de Banquet is another indoor venue which can hold up to 180 people in a theatrical style. Terraced on a hillside overlooking the bay, Cidade de Goa’s breathtaking view abounds at every turn, sets the mood for wedding celebrations.

One can extend the event outdoors onto any one of the Cidade de Goa’s beautifully landscaped lawns. The Sunset Lawns, the Mandovi Lawns and the Zuari Lawns provide a large idyllic setting for your family and friends to gather and celebrate your special day and can be a creative location for your wedding bash.

For further queries log on to: www.cidadedegoa.com

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with travellers in mind

e of the Cidade de Goa’s beautifully on y an in ors tdo ou nt eve the d ten ex One can Mandovi Lawns and the Zuari Lawns the ns, Law t nse Su e Th ns. law ed ap landsc ily and friends to gather and celebrate fam ur yo for g tin set llic idy ge lar a e provid location for your wedding bash. ve ati cre a be can d an y da l cia spe ur yo

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with travellers in mind

S

urrounded by skyscrapers and contrasting Islamic architecture, Dubai’s collection of world famous shopping malls offer an extensive range of shopping experiences, covering everything from luxury designer boutiques and high street fashion brands, to internationally renowned department stores and traditional Arabic souks, where visitors can buy gold, jewellery, clothes, textiles, and perfume at great prices.

The Concierge at One&Only Royal Mirage shares tips on how to make the most of the shopping season in Dubai.

Dubai Surprises

Dubai Surprises is equivalent to Dubai Shopping Festival and takes place from 2 August to 5 September 2014.

Over 6000 stores, ranging from market stalls to the ultra-high-end exclusive boutiques, participate in the event and are offering fabulous reductions of up to 75%.There are sales all over the city, whilst luxury hotels and resorts offer attractive rates for tourists.

Two of Dubai’s most distinctive resorts, One&Only Royal Mirage and One&Only The Palm, are offering guests 20% off the best available rate including breakfast, when staying for more than three nights. Both resorts are perfectly located to explore the city, shop at a variety of locations, and are home to the unique One&Only Spas, the ultimate place to end a busy day of shopping. This offer is available until 30 September 2014.

Shopping & fun in Dubai by One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai Shopping Hours Throughout the year, shopping malls in Dubai are generally open from 10am until10pm daily, whilst stores located outside of malls, especially those in the souks, close around noon until approximately 5pm.

The malls are much quieter during the day and guests can either take advantage of this, or use the time to enjoy the resorts experiences. Guests staying at One&Only Royal Mirage can enjoy a selection of spa promotions at One&Only Spa,use the beach and pool, or indulge in a delicious

lunch at one of the many restaurants on offer. Guests staying at One&Only The Palm can enjoy the private beach, bask in the sun on oversized daybeds by the swimming pool, relax in one of the six air-conditioned poolside Cabanas or unwind in the adjacent all-suite One&Only Private Spa. During Dubai Surprises, the city’s malls provide a number of exciting late night shopping experiences, from fashion show sand entertainment, to activities for the whole family. In addition, some of the malls and shops stay open late,some until 3am, allow-

ing guests to enjoy a combination of shopping and activities available at the resort.

Dubai Malls

Dubai’s malls are some of the largest and most opulent in the world, and are best accessed by taxi, car or metro. The largest is Dubai Mall,located next to BurjKhalifa – the tallest building in the world.This ‘citywithin-a-city’ offers every designer and high-street brand imaginable, an ice skating ring, a series of restaurants and cafes, and the Dubai Fountains – a spectacular

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with travellers in mind light and water display that is shown every 30 minutes in the evenings.

The Mall of the Emirates is home to the famous Ski Dubai, an indoor ski slope, as well as a large variety of shops and restaurants.

Shopping Services

Whilst taxis are very popular and easy to use in Dubai, One&Only Royal Mirage offers exclusive chauffeur services. Guests can choose from a BMW Series 7, Mercedes S-Class, or for a truly luxurious experience, they can opt for a Rolls Royce.

The resort also offers a butler service where guests can have an appointed person from the resort accompany to assist with their shopping and guide them around the city. Personal shopping services are very common in Dubai, and a number of high-end fashion boutiques and leading department stores, such as Bloomingdales and Harvey Nichols, offer this service with compliments.

Dubai’s Souks

Whilst Dubai boasts an abundance of sleek shopping malls, the bustling souks (traditional Middle Eastern market places) are what Dubai was originally famous for.

The traditional Gold Souks, Spice Souks and Cloth Souks offer a myriad of shops, popular with local Emirati’s, expats and tourists alike.

Authentic items from the Middle East include carpets, textiles, perfume, spices, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Dubai’s Spice Souk may be small, and a lot busier now than what it once was, but a stroll here is an aromatic journey. Great buys include tiny boxes of saffron, frankincense, incense burners, and do-it-yourself henna kits.

Deira’s covered souk is the place to pick up traditional attire, shisha pipes and other cultural wares, whilst the Gold Souk sells every piece of jewellery imaginable.

Bur Dubai’s Textile Souk sells Indian saris, vibrant fabrics, Arabian style slippers, ‘Dubai’ t-shirts and souvenirs, as well as Arabian antiques.

Karama Soukis the best place for popular merchandise from the region: Arabian

About One&Only Resorts Created exclusively for the luxury resort market, One&Only Resorts are conceived as hallmarks of excellence. Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, each awardwinning resort offers guests a distinctive style and personality borne of its local culture, a genuine hospitality and a lively energy that is unrivalled. These properties include One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas, One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, One&Only Cape Town, South Africa and One&Only The Palm, Dubai. The newest resort in the collection is One&Only Hayman Island in the heart of The Great Barrier Reef in Australia which began welcoming guests as of 1 July 2014. One&Only recently announced plans to develop and operate three new One&Only resorts, in Sanya, Hainan, China; in Montenegro, which will be the first property for the collection in Europe and in the city of Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. More information on One&Only is available at oneandonlyresorts.com

At the end of a long day of shopping, we advise that guests return to the resort to enjoy a sumptuous dinner. There are a number of cuisines available, ranging from the traditional Moroccan delicacies in Tagine to modern European delights of Celebrities.

One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai

With spectacular views over Palm Island Bay, three equally distinctive properties – The Palace, Arabian Court and Residence & Spa – create a wondrous destination paying tribute to Arabian hospitality on a truly regal scale. Here along a kilometre of private coastline within 65 acres of scented gardens, days are filled with world-class golf, the One&Only Spa, exceptional dining, and endless play in pools and sea.

One&Only The Palm, Dubai

Located on the peninsula of one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes, Palm Dubai, discover an exclusive enclave of impeccable accommodation secluded in a residential environment of manicured gardens, fountains and pools. Experience the culinary wizardry of Michelin-starred chef YannickAlléno.Indulge at the One&Only Spa. Explore the New Dubai Skyline by private water taxi, or bask in the sunshine by the exclusive marina, the expansive pool, or along the private beach.

bronze and copper coffee pots, engraved trays and Aladdin lamps, Yemeni khanjars (daggers), Bedouin silver jewellery from Oman, colourful Moroccan lamps, sequined and beaded cushion covers as well as bedspreads from India, and mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes and furniture from Syria.

Combine Shopping with Local Experiences

Besides the amazing shopping experiences on offer in Dubai, guests should try to take time enjoy some of the cultural attractions available across the city. From traditional Abra rides across Dubai Creek, to desert safaris where you can enjoy camel riding, belly-dancing and interactions with traditional Bedouins - there are a host of authentic experiences on offer across the city. Likewise, from skiing and sky diving, to viewing the city atop Burj Khalifa, there are also a number of exhilarating adventures to experience in between all of the shopping.

Dubai’s Homegrown Fashion

Dubai is home to some wonderful fashion designed by local Emiratis. There are a number of local designer shops available across the city that produce truly unique pieces that are not replicated elsewhere.

Flea Markets

On the first Friday of each month, between June and September, the Ramadan Night Flea Market at Al Safa Park is the perfect place to purchase a rare treasure.

At the end of a long day of shopping, we advise that guests return to the resort to enjoy a sumptuous dinner. There are a number of cuisines available, ranging from the traditional Moroccan delicacies in Tagine to modern European delights of Celebrities. The choice is simple when it comes to a relaxing post-dinner drink – we advise either the Jetty Lounge, one of Dubai’s most popular beachside lounges, or Rooftop Lounge, where the stars are the ceiling.

Inputs from ONE&ONLY RESORTS

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with travellers in mind Witnessing the snow-laden Swiss peaks, crisscrossing the Alps in a a fast moving luxury train is a fascinating experience, for some even a ride of a life-time. Rhaetian Railway is a marvel of railway engineering passing through some of the highest points in the Alps. GoNow speaks to Rostetter Reto, Manager Overseas Markets, Rhaetian Railway about their rail-network and what they offer to the passengers to make their journey exotic and memorable.

A trip through the Swiss Alps in luxe “Rhaetian Railway is completely a unique experience. Relaxing trips in the Swiss Alps in comfortable panorama coaches is what we provide. Friendly staff and information in several languages makes the commuting convenient and hasslefree for the travellers.”

Rostetter Reto, Manager Overseas Markets, Rhaetian Railway Explain your network in detail?

Rhaetian Railway’s network covers 384 kilometers in the vacation region Graubünden, in south-east Switzerland.

It ser ves fa mou s resor t s like St.Moritz, Davos, Arosa or Pontresina, just to name some of them. It is a narrow gauge mountain railway. The two most famous brands synonymous with the service are the panorama trains Glacier Express and Bernina Express.

To your understanding how much has the Rhaetian Railway helped in boosting tourism in Switzerland?

The two panorama trains attract around 500’000 tour-

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ists yearly to travel with the trains. They use the trains to explore mountain areas, glaciers, mountain lakes or just relax on board the comfortable trains. So there are considerable numbers of tourists who are getting attracted to the destination via trains.

What is the USP of the brand?

We are exclusive in what we serve. Some of the USPs areUSPs of Bernina Express: Highest Alp crossing railway without using tunnels Highest point 2253 meters above sea level Official UNESCO world heritage Panorama coaches with highstandard comfort Landwasser Viaduct

Brusio circular viaduct USPs of Glacier Express: Slowest express train in the world Panorama coaches with high standard comfort Landwasser Viaduct Oberalp pass (over 2000 meters above sea level) Rhine gorge, also known as Swiss Grand Canyon How has the connectivity improved in the region with your railways?

Graubünden was a poor region before the start of the railway. All goods had to be transported on horses and don keys. E ven t he tou rists had to use this medium to travel any distance and it took very long to reach a destination. From 1889 when the first trains operated, Graubünden started to develop into a modern holiday region. Today, together with Swiss Postbus the Rhaetian Railways connect even the remotest small villages. Here, I guess we have played a vital role in promoting tourism in the remote areas. Now commuting has become far more convenient and luxurious in comparison to what it was before. Sometimes it’s just about a ride in the train than about anything else that people travel in Rhaetian Railway.

Do you have any competition?

Within the region of Graubünden, there is no direct competition. However, within the country other scenic trains like Goldenpass, Jungfraujoch railway or the Centovalli railways are direct competitors.

What can one expect when on board the Rhaetian Railway?

Rhaetian Railway is completely a unique experience.

Relaxing trips in the Swiss Alps in comfortable panorama coaches is what we provide.

Friendly staff and information in several languages makes the commuting convenient and hassle-free for the travellers. On the Glacier Express, it is possible to even order Indian food.

Your tag line says ‘’A fascinatingly different travel experience’’. How do you live up to this?

We undertake strong efforts to keep the standard high.

We can’t change the scenery; therefore we have to ensure that our guests can travel in style, enjoy their trips and return to their homeland with strong positive memories. as told to ANUPRIYA BISHNOI

with travellers in mind

‘The Peninsula’ experience now in Paris

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he Peninsula Paris, the latest in the hotel chain's portfolio is now open. The group shares many well-loved traditions at each hotel around the world. Although each hotel is unique in itself with its own inimitable sense of destination, they are all unified by a collection of exclusive Peninsula elements, ranging from the iconic Peninsula pageboys to the Lobbies with their celebrated Afternoon Tea, Rolls-Royces to state-of-the-art in-room technology and much more.

The Peninsula Paris’ Lobby is a spectacular space, resplendent in white and gold and with its mouldings, gold leaf and paintings meticulously restored by some of France’s most revered artisans.

With its collection of eclectic restaurant and dining options, The Peninsula Paris showcases six F&B venues with the best of France and The Peninsula – The Lobby, LiLi Cantonese restaurant, La Terrasse Kléber, Le Bar Kléber, Le Lounge Kléber and L’Oiseau Blanc rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace offering 360° views over Paris. Rising six storeys above Avenue Kléber, The Peninsula houses 200 luxurious rooms, including 34 sumptuous suites, with five featuring their own private rooftop gardens that overlook some of the spectacular views of Paris.

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with travellers in mind

Focus on full-service returns to Indian domestic flights with Vistara

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major chu n k of ou r day-to-day air travel is managed by the LCC’s, as most airliners are opting to go for ‘no-frills’. However, with the recent development of TATA –SIA embarking on a joint venture in ‘Vistara’ and Jet airways shunning Jet Konnect to go full-service, these moves may facilitate carving a new segment of travel, for the Indian market. Which may be aimed at those of us, who put luxury ahead of budget. The moot question remains whether they succeed in their endeavour.

In the current Indian aviation industry scenario 70 % of the market is of LCC’s, and only two airliners, IndiGo and GoAir, are making profit in a market marred by losses as a result of surging fuel prices, high government taxes on fuel and price wars. While, CAPA, an aviation consultancy, estimates the combined losses, in the current fiscal, at a flabbergasting 1.4 billion dollars. Yet, these developments have not dampened the spirit of aviation industry as airliners continue to queue up for licenses. Six airliners will be commencing operations in the coming months. At least, one of them is also a fullservice, along with the separate announcement of ‘Vistara’ and Jet. So, suddenly is the Indian aviation industry going for fullservice category? It may heavily 22

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weigh on how well these two airliners perform, as their successful run could give a fillip to the full-service category and ultimately the aviation industry.

TWO NEW LAUNCH IN FULL-SERVICE CATEGORY India’s Tata Sons conglomerate and Singapore Airlines, in a joint venture, have come together to launch a full-service luxury carrier. It has an initial investment of $100 million, where Tata Sons hold a 51 per cent stake in the airline and the SIA owns the rest for $49 million.

‘Vistara’, which literally translates as ‘expansion’, will be flying from October with A-320’s, while the company plans to expand its fleet to 20 Airbus aircraft by its fifth year, according to the officially released statement by the company. Newspaper reports suggest that it will offer 148 seats in a three-class configuration in its Airbus A320s.

You may be seeing 6 business class, 36 premium economy, and 96 economy class seats on-board. According to the newspaper reports, this fullservice airliner will initially fly to five cities, which after a year of operations could go up to 11.

The airline will have 87 weekly

flights linking Delhi to Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jammu, Srinagar, Patna and Chandigarh.

The company in its released note said that it intended to “transform the air traveller’s

experience”, provide quality service in all aspects and “will treat travellers as unique individuals and delight them with intuitive thoughtfulness.” The airline will provide you with personalised service in both business and

“We firmly believe that we will play a major role in expanding the size and quality of the aviation sector offerings in India. We are approaching the market differently by putting the customer first all we do and Phee Teik Yeoh in leveraging the Chief Executive Officer, TATA SIA Airlines Limited expertise of two exceptional brands – Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.

We aim to​provide seamless experience to air travelers in India with our thoughtfulness and a compelling focus on quality”.

with travellers in mind

economy class- which is unprecedented in the Indian aviation industry. Foreign airlines Cathay Pacific, Air France and Virgin Atlantic, among others, have ‘premium economy’ seating, offering you more leg room, better meals and other amenities. It was followed by another important announcement that Jet Konnect, the low-cost service, was going to be discontinued, with the airline, now planning to focus entirely on full-service category. Now, you can be prepared to, be accorded with free on-board meals, more free baggage along with all the other amenities provided on a full-service carrier.

NEED TO GO BEYOND FREE-BAGGAGE AND ONBOARD MEAL TO ENHANCE PROFITABILITY Experts, however, feel that merely providing free meals and extra baggage might not cut the deal, for the full-service carriers, anymore. As, LCC’s too, barring the free meal, are operating with high frequency from the same airports and a high percentage of them are operating on-time. Personalisation of service and more detailing will hold the key to the sustenance of full-service carriers.

Profitability in India, for the full-service carriers, is also hindered by the fact that the cost of full-service carriers is 25-50 percent higher, while the fares are more or less same. That leads to lesser profits and room for negating losses. ‘Vistara’, in a bid to curtain such a possibility, has opted for measures to minimize its operational loss and maximize its efficiency. It will, initially, be operating from New Delhi as a base-hub and you are likely to see a much slimmer airport-to-employee ratio from the onset. The air-

line will be outsourcing a major chunk of its operation. It is also in talks with Air-India for technical checks of its aircrafts and reportedly plans to fly 12-13 hours a day, which is higher than full- service Air-India’s 1112 hours a day and more in-line with the LCC’s.

CASHING-IN ON THE ‘SNOB VALUE’ FACTOR L eav i ng t he ec onom ic s of running a full-service airline aside, it certainly does bring in a snob value to the flying experience. Many of you do not mind shelling in some extra money for better food, better seats and on-board facilities.

Kingfisher airlines (KFA) had established a fairly strong ‘snob’ value amongst fliers, who did not mind paying extra for a high quality flying experience. But, some have wrongly blamed the type of service to be responsible for the downward spiral of the KFA. They argue that it was the full-service airline model, which left little or no room to make profits out of operations.

However, aviation expert, Navin Berry contests that, “KFA cannot be the industry benchmark. It is an airline that spent recklessly. It had the best concepts but very little control on revenue management.” Therefore, it will be interesting to see how much of a ‘snob value’ factor the company can create and how much tail-wind does it provide to their profitability.

TREMENDOUS UNTAPPED POTENTIAL IN THE MARKET Indian full-service airliner segment truly remains untapped and there is huge potential for roping in the business-class travellers, as Business-class seats, in India, constitute only 8 to 10 per cent of the total

Profitability in India, for the fullservice carriers, is also hindered by the fact that the cost of full-service carriers is 25-50 percent higher, while the fares are more or less same.

That leads to lesser profits and room for negating losses.

‘Vistara’, in a bid to curtain such a possibility, has opted for measures to minimize its operational loss and maximize its efficiency. It will, initially, be operating from New Delhi as a basehub and you are likely to see a much slimmer airport-toemployee ratio from the onset. domestic capacity. While, they make up 15 to 20 per cent of the revenues. Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, TATA SIA Airlines Limited, concurs on this. He says, “The Indian aviation sector is a high potential market and is set to emerge as the third largest aviation market in the world by 2020, according to a report by CAPA. However, a consumer study commissioned

by us revealed that for an average air traveler in India the flying experience has been reduced to mere transportation which is laden with negative emotions and anxiety.”

While talking on the possibilities in the full-service segment in the Indian markets, he exhibits ample confidence. He told us, “We see a clear demand in India for a better flying experience from passengers who want to ensure that they arrive at their destination refreshed and ready for whatever the day holds. We have deliberately chosen to meet that need with a high level of customer focus and quality of service.”

Both Jet and ‘Vistara’ can hope to capitalize on the corporate travel segment, which probably will not fret over paying extra money for more personalised service and luxury.

As, the Indian economy finally shows signs of recovery with the GDP pegged at 5.7 per cent, in the last quarter, one can only hope that business and commerce will pick-up, which, consequently, would fuel more business travel.

As we expand our businesses and commerce, we will need more air connectivity and with only 430 airplanes for a population of 1.3 billion people, India, still is to see a remarkable growth, in the aviation industry for it, to achieve its full potential. A lot would depend on how these two airliners fare, as their successful operation will not only bolster our domestic air-connectivity and give us more options in connecting flights –but, more importantly, it might also burst the myth that full-service carriers are continually destined, to operate, in loss in the Indian aviation business.

By SHASHANK SHEKHAR

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metro travel – new delhi

What’s trending with the new-age Lobby Lounges The Lobby Lounges in many hotels across the country are much more than just a ‘lobby’. They no longer are silent witness to the hotel guests checking-in, but have evolved into a full-fledged ‘lounge’, where guests can relax, unwind and bite into a snack or two. To understand this trend better, GoNow talks to select hotels in the capital, which have started off this trend and are faring well in the Capital.

The Leela Palace, New Delhi Offerings

The tea ceremony at The Lobby Lounge celebrates the finest of teas and single origin coffees along with finger sandwiches, pastries and freshly baked scones in the company of the live jazz symphonies every weekend from 4pm to 7pm.

The Design Element

The lobby at The Leela Palace, New Delhi has been designed by KNA, USA. The timeless elegance of the Lobby Lounge takes one back to the Edwardian era of sheer grace and style, savoring the timehonored tradition of afternoon tea. The seating capacity is 54 seats.

Timings: 0900 hrs – 2345hrs Price: Coffee for two at The Lobby Lounge is `700 plus taxes

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JW Marriott, Aerocity Offerings

JW Lounge at JW Marriott Aerocity, has a wide range of offerings from wines of different regions to variety of rare spirits.

Being centrally located, it also serves the finest of tea and coffee selection. With an expansive variety in terms of wines by the glass covers both the old and the new world wines. The collection also boasts of brands like Brut Gold By Armand De Brignac champagne and some of the finest wines across the globe like Château Cheval Blanc, 2004 from St. Emillion. In terms of Spirits, JW Lounge offers the entire range of single malts, blended whiskies, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, liqueurs and some of the most unique and innovative

cocktails done by in house mixologist.

Apart from this wide range of alcoholic beverages, the selection of tea and coffee is also ample. With a selection of the handpicked tea leaves from the finest tea makers makes this place perfect for an evening with teas. Coffee is considered the best medicine to relax mind and body. Every coffee is freshly brewed in the semi-automatic machines to give it the perfect human touch and making sure that every cup is as good. In the JW lounge 100% Lavazza beans are used with an offering of the specialty coffees from around the globe. The menu at JW Lounge is designed, keeping in mind the meetings and casual get-togethers and consists of dishes like Hummus, Chicken Kathi Roll, Tenderloin Sliders, just a few to name from

the culinary delights.

have beautiful symmetrical motifs lending an artistic and a warm vibe to the place.

Comfortable high back chairs, natural day light, area overlooking the poolside and the right amount of black, purple and

silver makes you want to stay back just a little more.

The Design Element

The lobby lounge is famous for its unique chandelier which was created by Nikolas Weinstein from San Francisco. The lounge can seat around 97 guests at a time. The Island live/display bar is right in the middle of the lounge. The chandelier is at its lowest height just above the bar which gives a very warm and welcoming feel to the place. The lounge overlooks the Cabanas which are the extensions of the Lounge itself. Situated right in the middle of the water body with a beautiful view of the landscape and the fire elements, makes this a perfect outdoor seating.

Timings: 0900hrs. to 0100hrs Price: `1,000 for two plus taxes

Hyatt Regency, Gurgaon Offerings

Menu at The Lounge, Hyatt Regency Gurgaon is designed to delight even the fussiest eater in town which includes Salads, Fresh and Blended Juices, Classic and Speciality Coffees, Fine, Classic and Traditional Teas, Energy Drinks, Champagne. At The Lounge, different types of Cocktails, Hot Snacks, Sandwiches and Desserts are also served. Continental Breakfast is served between 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM. Vegetable Spring Rolls and Crispy Chicken Wings amongst others are popular snacks. The Lounge menu has items that are about 30% lower than the coffee shop price.

The Design Element

The Lounge has a vibrant and distinctive feel with contemporary seating arrangements to break the monotony. The walls

Timings: The Lounge is operational between 0700 hrs – 2400 hrs. Alcohol is served between 1100 hrs –2400 hrs. Price: `1000 plus taxes for two September 2014 GO NOW

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metro travel – new delhi Shangri-La - Eros Hotel, New Delhi Offerings

produce and the finest ingredients.

An elegant venue for meeting friends, partners or clients, the Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel, New Delhi offers an impressive selection of tea, coffee and light bites. Located adjacent to the hotel’s lobby, Lobby Lounge offers a unique culinary style and afternoon tea sets. The menu offers local and International dishes created from the freshest market

Offerings

The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi

Emperor’s Lounge serves as an elegant place for meetings over high tea and coffee. The ambience is well suited for both

The Design Element

It has a refreshing and contemporary look cementing its status.

The seating are comfortable, while the mixture of modern and classical elements can be seen all around.

Timings: 0900 hrs - 2345 hrs Price: Meal for two is for `1,500 plus taxes

casual get-togethers and formal meetings and gathering. The cigar counter is a key attraction and its popular bakery section offers the best plated desserts and cakes.

The semi-circular lounge offers 21 varieties of tea, finger sandwiches, jam and clotted cream and a wide range of pastries. Some of the signature dishes include Freshly Baked Scones, Emperor Vegetable club in foccasia Bread, Chicken Cajun Salad and Udon noodle Soup. E-lounge also offers a premium selection of champagnes, Bellini’s and cognac.

The Design Element

The hotel welcomes you into its spacious lobby decorated with artefacts and antique paintings that are reminiscent of the Mughal era. The hotel lobby leads to the Emperor’s Lounge overlooking the lush green poolside lawns offering a relaxing and calming view through the full length glass windows. The table and lounge seating arrangements which on one side overlook the grand marble staircase and the fountain often filled with fragrant roses or marigold flowers have been designed keeping in mind the guests’ requirement and comfort.

Timing: 0900 hrs -2330 hrs Price: `1,000 for two plus taxes 26

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metro travel – new delhi Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Offerings

R The Lounge at Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi in the lobby looks quite inviting. The range of gourmet teas and coffees is extensive and there is an array of interesting snacks like Coconut Marinated Chicken, Caviar and Sour Cream Bouchees, Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese, Lamb and Cream Cheese Tikki etc. If you’re craving something sweet, you could try the Lemon Maringue Tart or simply sip leisurely on a cup of herbal tea.

The Design Element

A perfect mix of business and pleasure awaits guests at R-The Lounge, an elegant meeting place known for its intimate and leisurely ambiance and a variety of aromatic teas and coffees from across the world. The contemporary furniture along with vibrant atmosphere intermingles unapologetically to give weary travellers/ customers a relaxed experience.

Timings: 0800 hrs- 2300 hrs Price: `1,200 ( Including snacks) for two

Longitude, Le Meridien New Delhi Offerings

Recently renamed as Longitude from Caffee e Chocol art, it serves much more than just a regular frappe or cappuccino. Here the seasonal coffees suiting the climate are served to the guests.

Apart from the famous Illy coffees, huge varieties of teas with handmade chocolates are sure to delight the guests.

Design

This lobby lounge is situated in the middle of the hotel and exhibits a whole new artistic view that reflects the brand globally. The floor at Longitude, if seen from the top floor of the hotel, looks like a canvas painting instead of ‘just a floor’. In fact, the furniture at Longitude is a piece of art with every piece distinct from another.

Timings: 0800 hrs-2400 hrs. Price: `1,200 approx. for two Researched by ANUPRIYA BISHNOI

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metro travel – new delhi

A true boutique experience in the heart of the capital The Thailand-based Dusit Group has set up its first Indian property, in the heart of New Delhi, in close vicinity to Aerocity. A joint venture with the Bird Group, Dusit Devarana is a genuine boutique experience – a designer's dream project and yet with every conceivable amenity. GoNow takes a look, based on an interview with hotel's general manager.

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metro travel – new delhi Dome Stairs

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s a product what does Dusit Devarana bring to the capital?

Ideally located between the 'grande dame' New Delhi and its elite corporate neighbourhood Gurgaon, Dusit Devarana New Delhi is an uber luxury urban resort, the first in its genre. Set amongst eight acres of luscious greens and water bodies, regally columned verandahs, understated yet elegant interiors, it is the first city resort of Delhi NCR. The spacious guest rooms equipped with state of the art technology and the attentive yet unobtrusive service of Dusit Devarana New Delhi makes it an ideal abode to the corporate elite as well as the discerning leisure traveller.

Every aspect of the property is a novel concept be it the architect which leverages the existing rich natural landscape or a 102 meters long temperature controlled luxury pool or IPAD connectivity to operate all in-room gadgets (even lock or unlock doors). The food and beverage philosophy at Dusit Devarana New Delhi is in line with the grandeur of its architecture and design.

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All dining options are distinct in their identity, true to their taste and deliver 'service from the heart'. Kiyan offering the very best in world cuisine is known for its farm fresh produce, authenticity in taste and a picture perfect plate. IAH bar offers a select 'young' fare, offering trendy mixology options, boutique brewery beers and new age wines. The ambience, music and service reflect the fashionable yet no fuss attitude of today. Not just our ingredients are sourced from Thailand, we have our in house Master chef from Thailand to conjure up the true authentic taste.

Devarana Spa, though owes its lineage to the age old traditions of 'Thai', 30

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now offers Spa cuisines from across the world. Inspired by their warmth, age old treatments, internationally trained expert 'hands', we promise not just to treat your body and mind, but help you calm your soul.

Club Prive’ Dusit Devarana's by invitation, members only club, offers unique experience for its elite members with the latest in state of the art facilities and personalized services.

All this and more makes Dusit Devarana New Delhi a first of its kind in the country, a brand that promises its discerning guests a never-before luxury experience.

This resort is an exclusive sanctuary of

Lobby

Boardroom

“Every aspect of the property is a novel concept be it the architect which leverages the existing rich natural landscape or a 102 meters long temperature controlled luxury pool or IPAD connectivity to operate all in-room gadgets (even lock or unlock doors). The food and beverage philosophy at Dusit Devarana New Delhi is in line with the grandeur of its architecture and design.�

Jaideep Anand, Area GM, Dusit Devarana New Delhi September 2014 GO NOW

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IAH Bar & Lounge

Devarana Pool View Room

fifty comfortable chambers ensuring the guests’ desired privacy.

Who are the ideal customers?

As the property is situated strategically in National Capital Region (NCR), therefore the ideal customers are corporate/ business travellers from not only India but also from international destinations. Dusit Devarana New Delhi also poses to be an ideal destination for the newlyweds and well- travelled people, who are looking for optimizing their vacation experience which are tailored exclusively by experts or to rejuvenate their senses. We also cater to high-end leisure traveller seeking the renowned ‘Indian Raj style luxury and hospitality’ where in Dusit Devarana is the 32

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ideal gateway resort for the unmatchable journey. It is the bestselling offsite destination for corporate meets/ brunch meets etc. as we offer the luxury resort experience.

Is it good for wedding or theme parties?

Set against a quaint background with acres of lush green gardens and refreshing natural surroundings, only a few miles from the capital, Dusit Devarana New Delhi is the destination of choice for the city's who’s who. Dusit Devarana is an ideal destination wedding venue but for the ‘elite’.

With ample indoor and outdoor space and flexible venues with customised services and facilities to meet the preferences of the guests, the hotel is one of the best bet

in the city for theme based parties or weddings. The resort welcomes a complete buy out where in the guests pre purchases the guest rooms, F&B, rooms and for that duration, it becomes their home.

Since Dusit is a Thai chain, how are the chefs bringing in the authentic Thai elements in their cuisine?

Dusit Devarana New Delhi being an international brand brings you the very best of Thai hospitality, and maintaining the world renowned Thai gastronomical culture. With a reputation of authenticity and excellence, we stay true to the culinary culture and influences of Thailand and have a specialised in house Thai Chef.

By ANUPRIYA BISHNOI

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heritage

KYOTO

A ‘Heritage City’ that is also Smart This ‘heritage city’ has imbibed all the essential features that defines a bustling modern city. Kyoto has maintained a continuity in its heritage, while not compromising in its allaround development in infrastructure and public amenities. The city of temples has all the ingredients that make it one of the most sought after destination in Japan.

L

ocated in west-central Honshu, in the picturesque valley of the Kamo River with surrounding mountains, it is one of the most historic and attractive of the world's cities. With over 2,000 temples, which include 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto temples, Kyoto has a special place for Buddhist pilgrims and is rightly called the city of ten thousand shrines. It is former capital of Japan, famous worldwide as an ancient centre of politics and culture for over 1,100 years

Kyoto station

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and Japan’s emperor residence from 794 to 1868 A.D. Its territory stretches out from the southeast to the northwest in the central and northern parts of the Kansai region.

Its rich heritage and culture is amply testified by the fact that seventeen of its historic sites including, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Nijo Castle, The Kinkaku, or “Golden Pavilion,” are inscribed as World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Kyoto, holds 20 percent of Japan’s national treasures, has 15 percent of Japan’s important cultural properties, 24 museums, gardens and

37 universities and colleges. Yet, this rich legacy and heritage with a concoction of shrines, temples, and wooden houses have not stopped it from being one of the most efficient and clean cities of Japan.

Technology makes Kyoto a modern heritage city

It’s a smart city boasting of all the modern amenities that make life easy for its inhabitants. Smart city, essentially, refer to urban settlements that uses technology to offer more hospitable and structured condition

Shinkansen; a network of high speed railways

for its residents. Kyoto, boasts of a centralised control system, which provides real-time inputs on the availability of water, public transport, electricity, health care and education. It also harnesses technology to use intelligent communication tools, which enable administrators to manage and deal with emergencies like earthquakes and other hazards.

In a bid to protect and sustain its glorious heritage, Kyoto has infused technology in its day-to-day city management. It, like other smart cities, emphasizes on the use of renewable sources of energy like solar and wind energy to minimize carbon emission. While, it also practices better energy management system enabling people to automate energyconsuming electrical appliances in their buildings, thereby, reducing energy wastage and hence, sustaining a cleaner surrounding. Consumption of scarce resources like water and energy is also streamlined through the use of technology.

View of a cobbled street, showing the restoration of the old city

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PM Modi at the Kinkaku temple

Women in traditional Japanese costume in Gion, a district of Kyoto, with folded hands in prayer

"Kyoto has been able to preserve its thousand year legacy and cultural heritage while also staying abreast of all technological advances that is necessary in today's life. We are planning to do something similar in India as well, where we can achieve a similar union between preservation of culture and technological progress." – PM Narendra Modi

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A panoramic view of the museum, embodying the heritage and traditional Kyoto

A Japanese artisan works on handlooms while a couple looks-on

percent of Japan’s Kyoto, holds 20 percent of Japan’s national treasures, has 15 ersities and colleges. important cultural properties, 24 museums, gardens and 37 univ temples, and wooden Yet, this rich legacy and heritage with a concoction of shrines, and clean cities of Japan. houses have not stopped it from being one of the most efficient factfile Climate The temperature in Kyoto in May ranges from a high of 24C (76F) to a low of 13C (56F), with an average precipitation level of 154mm (6 inche s).

When to visit: Kyot o is best visit ed during the spring or autumn seas on because of the fading wint ers and colo urfu l tree s.

How to reach Kyoto by air 1. Osaka International Airport: The closest airport to Kyoto – 50 minutes by convenient airport limousine bus.

Serves mostly domestic flights (man y airlines will fly you here free from Nari ta if you fly with them internationally).

2. Kansai International Airport: The main international access point to Kyoto – about 90 minutes from Kyot o by direct express train.

3. Central Japan International Airpo rt: It can take you from Kyoto by airport express and shinkansen in less than 90 minutes.

How to reach Kyoto by rail Shinkansen or the bullet trains of Japa n are best known for their speed and efficiency. Nozomi bullet from Tokyo can take you to Kyoto in two and a half hours. Or, you can opt of a more budg et, the Hikari Bullet train which is relatively cheaper and takes three hours to reach Kyoto.

Kaiseki ryori, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner

Can we too learn?

It has inherited a rich history and used modern means to create a unique symphony of old architecture and swanky glass and steel buildings. Kyoto, incidentally, happens to be a poster less city! Where people have been continuously discouraged from putting up posters and banners. It is an inspiration for cities like Varanasi, which apart from sharing a similar heritage, has not been able to maintain its rich grandeur and has little in common with its Japanese counterpart.

Kyoto’s management and efficiency is an example, which can show the way to managing our cities as well.

Kyoto has come into the Indian consciousness, thanks to the PM Modi’s visit to Japan. From what we understand, the PM, himself, was keen on visiting Kyoto and it has been his desire to learn the intricacies of city management and incorporate them in Varanasi. Apart from the learning curve, that we can get from Kyoto, our hope is that this partner city collaboration that we have signed, during the trip, will turnaround Varanasi – for its local residents and for its visitors, both, in terms of spiritual experience as well as a Smart city.

By SHASHANK SHEKHAR

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destination guide

Make memorable chronicles in

SWEDEN S

In recent times, Sweden has evolved into the perfect tockholm, Skane and Lapland holiday destination for the discerning Indian traveller are those parts of Sweden which should not be missed by the visioffering something for everything. The country is tors. These three destinations are home to islands, forest and mountains, as well as some famous for different reasons. We great historical tourist attractions. Offering great city just got those for you! experiences, shopping and some of the most scenic landscapes, visitors will truly be spoilt for choice.

STOCKHOLM Foodies will also be able to partake of the culinary Places to see scene, as part of the New Nordic cuisine movement, Stockholm is widely celebrated not only which is world renowned. Sweden truly offers a modern as the capital of Scandinavia, but also as creative and sustainable lifestyle that’s fun to explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities, built where lake meets sea, on fourteen and be a part of. islands, with ten centuries of history and culture.

Djurgården: The island of Djurgården, the old royal hunting grounds is home to a number of fascinating museums, restau-

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destination guide

rants a theme park and a number of scenic nature walks. Some highlights in Djurgården are: The Vasa Museum: The Vasa is the only preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world, and a unique art treasure. More than 95 percent of the ship is original, and it is decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures. The 69

meter-long warship Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in the middle of Stockholm in 1628, and was salvaged 333 years later in 1961. For nearly half a century the ship has been slowly, deliberately and painstakingly restored to a state approaching its original glory.

The ABBA museum: The music, the clothes, the lyrics, musicals, and films of ABBA have been gathered in a permanent exhibition. This is a place where you walk and dance out!

Gamla Stan: Gamla Stan, the Old Town, is one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centers in Europe, and one of the foremost attractions in Stockholm.

This is where Stockholm was founded in 1252. All of Gamla Stan and the adjacent island of Riddarholmen are like a living pedestrian-friendly museum full of sights, attractions, restaurants, cafés, bars and places to shop. Gamla Stan is also popular with aficionados of handicrafts, curios and souvenirs. The narrow winding cobblestone streets, with their buildings in so many different shades of gold, give Gamla

Stan its unique character. Even now cellar vaults and frescoes from the Middle-Ages can be found behind the visible facades, and on snowy winter days the district feels like something from a story book.

Fotografiska: This is one of the world’s largest meeting places for contemporary photography. Fotografiska presents four unique large exhibitions and about 20 smaller exhibitions annually. Book and souvenir shop, restaurant and a photo gallery. In the top floor bistro bar you will find one of Stockholm’s very best view points.

The Stockholm Archipelago: The Stockholm Archipelago that surrounds the city consists of over 30 000 islands islets and skerries. The islands are easily accessible and open for all. Nature in the archipelago is varied and offers a wide variety of activities. Cycle or walk along a natural trail, enjoy the pleasures of nature from a boat, explore the beaches on the islands, or just breathe in the fresh air. The archipelago is packed

SMART CITY MALMÖ, SWEDEN – A CLIMATE The city of Malmö, Sweden to reduce its impact on the environment has recently established an organization to work exclusively with green and sustainable IT efforts. With approximately 290000 inhabitants, Malmö is located in the heart of the dynamic Öresund region. This coastal city is renowned for its green parks, its bicycle-friendliness and its 43 kilometres of coastline. Formerly known as a heavy industry town with the Kockums wharf as its pounding engine, central Malmö is the site of a recent visual transition. The building projects in Västra Hamnen (Western Harbour), site of the Santiago Calatrava-designed landmark ‹Turning Torso›, have transformed the character and usage of the extensive harbour area. Malmö is also a signatory of the Green Digital Charter – a declaration among cities in Europe to work together in meeting EU climate objectives through sustainable use of IT. Malmö is also aiming to be Sweden’s most climate smart city by 2020 specifically by implementing an IT infrastructure that reduces the environmental impact of technology and also city operations as a whole.

A bird’s eye view of Stockholm September 2014 GO NOW

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destination guide with culture. Explore forts and citadels, as well as art exhibitions, museums and events. It is easy to see how the archipelago inspired some of Sweden’s most famous artists and writers. The proximity to nature is reflected in the cuisine of the archipelago. Local restaurants take pride in serving regional dishes in their original environment.

Art in the subway – off the beaten track

The Stockholm subway system is said to be the world’s longest art exhibit - 110 kilometers long. Traveling by subway is like traveling through an exciting story that extends from the artistic pioneers of the 1950s to the art experiments of today. Over 90 of the 100 subway stations in Stockholm have been decorated with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, installations, engravings and reliefs by over 150 artists. The Kungsträdgården subway station looks like an archaeological excavation, with the remains of the old Stockholm Makalös palace. At Östermalmstorg the artist Siri Derkert highlights women›s rights and peace and environmental issues.

Restaurants

Oaxen krog och Slip: Oaxen is divided in the “Slip”, a casual Swedish bistro, and “Krog” where you can experience fine dining. Both restaurants have a clear focus on Swedish, locally sourced and seasonal flavors.

Operakällaren: Sweden’s most famous dining room, in the same building as the Royal Swedish Opera. A magnificent setting, with views across the water to the Royal Palace from the terrace bar. Dine on first-class international delicacies, presented with bold, contemporary flair. The legendary Nobis wine cellar is a wine lover’s magic cave.

Restaurant Frantzén: This compact restaurant in the medieval Old Town is this year’s trendiest and most talked-about hotspot. For foodies who like to push the boundaries, dinner here is a spectacular show, full of surprises and humor.

Brasserie Le Rouge: There’s no Swedish minimalism at this place. Visiting the restaurant Le Rouge is like stepping into French fin-de-siecle. Classic French and Italian composed menus are served here, and tradition is more important than trendiness.

Shopping

The shopping in Stockholm is excellent whether you’re looking for department stores, exclusive boutiques or local concept stores. The more Bohemian quarters on the southern Island of Stockholm is famed for its SoFo area featuring a number of small designer studios, vintage boutiques and trendy concept stores, while 40

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Tree Hotel, Lapland

The island of Djurgården, the old royal hunting g a number of fascinating museums, restaurants a the of scenic nature walks.

destination guide Sweden is a cosmopolitan, beautiful country with a surprisingly rich history.

Blessed with amazing archipelago, delicious seafood, picturesque fishing villages and great outdoor adventures, Sweden offers something for everyone.

Sweden offers clean, crispy air and unspoilt nature, offering fitness fanatics the opportunity to jog early in the morning along lake Mälaren IN Stockholm.

Sweden is a culinary nation shaped by its countryside. The summer with long, light days and cool evenings produces fruit that grows slowly and bursting with rich flavors. The coastline provides highquality fish and shellfish, whilst the vast forests are full of berries, mushrooms and game, which all have a special place in Swedish cuisine. Sweden’s Consul General of Swedish nature and the produce it yields creates Consulate, Mumbai opportunities for exclusive culinary experiences. Most people don’t realize that Sweden is a gastronomic paradise. Not many people are aware of how evolved the Swedish food scene has become. Over the last 10 years, Swedish chefs are returning to their culinary roots, rediscovering classic Swedish dishes and fantastic local seasonal ingredients, and giving them a modern twist. Through top-class cooking and innovative use of raw materials, Swedish chefs have won the world’s recognition, taking home gold medals. And with gourmet restaurants opening their doors all over the country, Sweden has turned into one of the haute-cuisine hot spots in Europe. In recent years there has been a boom in top-class restaurants in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, but also in smaller towns and the countryside. I would encourage everyone to go visit Sweden and especially food connoisseurs as Swedish cuisine is now becoming very popular indeed.

Fredrika Ornbrant,

grounds is home to eme park and a number View over Djurgården

the northern parts of Stockholm offers more upmarket international shopping as well as exclusive Swedish designs.

SKÅNE Skåne in southern Sweden famed for its beautiful landscapes is known for offering “the good life”. You can join art tours by bike or bus, whichever way you choose you’ll enjoy the yellow canola fields and the billowing flat and open landscape.

It is no coincidence that two Bollywood movies have been filmed here. Skåne’s coast line is made out by long sandy white beaches and dramatic rocky cliff coastlines in the east.

Restaurants

Daniel Berlin: The region of Skåne has a long-standing tradition in farming. Asparagus, apples, herbs and root vegetables flourish in the rich soils of the area, and small-scale producers of ecological port, young roosters and charcuteries are thriving. In the tiny village of Tranås, Chef Daniel Berlin runs an inn-style restaurant in wish his entire family is involved, his father is responsible for the selection of cheese while his mother manages the fields of herbs, berries and beans. The food is based on locally produced ingredi-

ents and Berlins prepare simple traditional dishes to perfection.

LAPLAND Lapland up in the north of Sweden is home to Sweden’s indigenous people, the Sami with a unique culture of their own. Every year at the Jokkmokk market you can experience the sami culture, eat sami food and buy handicraft. The landscape of Lapland is breathtaking and the culinary scene different from the rest of Sweden with unique Laplandish produce such as cloudberries and Kalix Roe. Lapland offers two very exciting hotel options with adventure packages that you can book with your stay: The Iceland: Here you will sleep in a hotel made completely out of ice, and an artwork in itself that is recreated every year with designers from all over the world.

The chances of seeing the northern lights are very high here and northern lights tour is arranged during the winter season. The ICEHOTEL also has its own chapel and is a popular spot for weddings.

The Tree hotel: It has uniquely designed tree houses, in the forest of Lapland. It is known world-wide for its new and innovative designs.

Researched by ANUPRIYA BISHNOI

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wellness : thailand

Spoilt with choices

A quick guide to some of the best spas Known as the land of smiles, Thailand has a lot more to offer to its travellers in addition to its beautiful landscapes. This spiritual country has wellness resorts in different parts which help you in reaching your inner peace and relax your mind, body and soul. GoNow lists down some of the finest wellness and spa resorts in Thailand which offers exclusive and authentic Thai therapies to take their guests on a journey of comfort and happiness. ort Sukko Cultural Spa and Wellness Res

A traditional Thai-home With Thai-style accommodation and traditional Thai living, Sukko Cultural Spa and Wellness Resort has a come a long way from being a day-spa to a resort. Services at Sukko are divided into two main parts: room accommodations and Thai wellness & spa services. Offering whole Thai-wellness experience, along with the authentic massages, the wellness resort also has Thai macrobiotics, foot massage lessons, Reu Si Dat Ton, Ahstanga yoga, aqua exercise and Muai Thai Chaiya for the guests. A Thai traditional home at Sukko has in-room spa rooms while their lush and plush gardens are filled with Thai herbs and flowers, ready to be picked for the cooking and room decorations. The resort does not have as much ‘resort-style’ floras and faunas like others because it resembles a real Thai home. With a motive to relax every part of your mind and body, they start your day with exercises which stimulate your senses and your body. Along with these healthy massages, exercises and food, it also adds fun to your Phuket trip with sea excursions to the islands.

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They offer specific three day or five day programs for the guests offering different services and adding a sense of wellbeing to your fun trip. One can choose the program that fits the best to your requirements and whichever you find relaxation in. The three day program is the Wellness Program which includes early morning Rue Si Dat Ton lessons, breakfast with Thai Macrobiotics cuisine, which is then followed by three hours session of Thai spa and the afternoon activities include Aqua exercises, or Chaiya Thai boxing, Thai Massage lesson or Foot Massage lesson. This package also includes lunch and dinner, where they recommend the Thai Macrobiotics cuisine to complete the wellness program. On the other hand, the Ashtanga Yoga Holiday Program is for five days and has a lot more in addition to the wellness program.

Relive the ancient Thai days at the resort and experience the authentic massages and wellness experience that used to be prevalent in the olden golden days when life used to be very simple and the lifestyle of Thai people were different from what it is today. People were more relaxed and calm, and the wellness resort also aims to instill these feelings in your mind, body and soul.

For further information, visit: www.sukkospa.com or call: +66 7626 3222

RarinJinda Wellness Spa

The wellness through water RarinJinda believes that water is a natural healer for physical and emotional health. RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort offers a holistic approach to wellness through Hydro Therapy treatment. The therapeutic effect of using water is an aid for treating muscular and joint injuries, as well as balancing the general wellbeing. It is one of the most exclusive boutique spa resorts in North Thailand and overlooks the Ping River. The resort’s modern accommodation is tastefully decorated with Thai artifacts, and all rooms are facing the swimming pool to emphasize the importance of water.

Different water pressures and temperature variations revitalize, maintain and restore health.

The pressures from the water increases blood flow that will remove toxin and wastes from the body system, relieving the pain and ache of the limbs, back and neck. The body weight is reduced when being in the water therefore the pressure from the water offers the massage that both soothing and healing.

Another signature treatment at RarinJinda, apart from Hydro Therapy, is the Elements of Life treatment. Each treatment in this package is about the Four Elements of Life – Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. The treatment starts with herbal foot soak and followed by the guava foot polisher. Then it relaxes the mind and body of the guest with the warm sand bed therapy and lays them down on the bed filled with heated sand. This treatment consists of two elements of life – earth represents by the bed and fire represents by the warmth of the sand. While relaxing on the sand bed, you will also be treated with the Tibetan Sound therapy – representing the wind. The therapist will tap the ancient Tibetan bowls to create a vibrating sound which helps balancing the energy field and taking you to a deeper level of peace. This package concludes with the spraying of Icy Rose body toner to refresh the body after the anti-stress back massage. This Icy Rose Spray represents water, the last elements of life.

For reservations, visit: www.rarinjinda.com or Call: 053-247000

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wellness : thailand The Oasis Spa

Ultimate Thai Lanna Spa experience Perfectly combining the traditional medicinal herbs and techniques of Thai massage with the contemporary discoveries, The Oasis Spa serves its guests the ultimate Thai Lanna Spa experience. You can enjoy these treatments in the private garden treatment villa which is designed to serve you privacy, comfort and a healing atmosphere. The highly trained therapists at the wellness center pamper every guest by transforming the mind, body and soul into a state of tranquility, and health.

The spa centers are built in such a way that from the moment the guests enters here, he feels the tranquility in the ambience and passes through stone pathway to the world of beauty, serenity and pleasure. This place of lush foliage, wooden bridges and walkways, waterfalls, reflective ponds with fluttering gold fish, private treatment villas is encompassed by the arms of ancient venerable trees. All the senses are caressed. The body scrubs and body wraps prepared for each customer are created fresh according to the requirement for that particular body and these are made using fresh ingredients which enhances the whole experience. Only 5% of the material is imported and the rest of

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it is all natural and supplied from local village in Chiang Mai. Their philosophy lies on the thought of safety for you and for the environment.

Guiding you to extreme well-being, the Music Therapy at The Oasis Spa is named as The Voyage of Golden Lanna. This massage is done by two people at a time and the four hands run the twenty fingers around your body massaging you in tune with the music. This therapy is for 90 minutes and leaves the guest golden, from inside and outside. Combining Thai massage techniques with Aromatherapy massages, King of Oasis Massage leave you relaxed after the two hour tranquil journey. It begins with a Thai Herbal Hot Compress along the strong muscle lines followed by a Hot Oil Massage that works and stretches the muscles while reopening the body’s energy pathways. Another massage that you must go for is the Queen of Oasis Massage which combines the best of Eastern and Western therapies to promote a woman’s health and wellbeing. This therapy detoxifies, improves organ function and promotes the sense of self-healing.

The Oasis Spa is available in four different destinations of Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya.

Each center ensures first-class service and the most perfect ambience.

For further information, visit: www.oasisspa.net or call: +66 53 920123

with a full range of health and wellness treatments. The focus of their programmes is on balancing and rejuvenating the Mind, Body and Spirit.

The staff at Chiva Som includes health professionals, doctors, Starting your health journey from the moment you arrive, Chiva naturopaths, fitness experts, spa therapists and other health Som offers its guests with a complimentary health and wellness practitioners who devise this plan after deep understanding of consultation, on arrival and further aims to improve their health your lifestyle and eating habits. Chiva-Som is a luxury health during their stay. Helping you achieve the most out of your stay, resort, combining international standards with Thai hospitality the advisor creates a personal program for you including the to deliver personal wellness programmes in a non regimented treatments and services that you should go through. This plan way. Everything they do focuses on a holistic approach to health also includes the diet, exercises, and activities that you should that incorporates mind, body and spirit. be practicing to attain perfect relaxation. They offer every guest They serve its guests with healthy cuisine which is so flavoura total lifestyle transformation to achieve wellness and longevity ful that you will enjoy health relish the food too. They serve the freshest produce delicately mixed with fresh herbs and spices to create flavours that “Thailand is known as The Best Health & Wellness destination in will scintillate senses and creAsia. We have received many awards. For example “The Best Spa ate delicious dining experiDestination in Asia by Asia Spa India for many years. Bangkok is known ences. The chefs at Chiva-Som as the hub of South East Asia for Health & Wellness tourism. In 2011 create daily menus to offer there were 2.2 million Heath & Wellness travelers from the globe to the widest range of dishes to Thailand and we forecast the growth of 10% each year. There are suit a healthy lifestyle while many reasons for why one should choose Thailand for their wellness satisfying your appetite. They trip. Thai hospitality is well accepted around the world with high include the tender steaks, standard facilities. It is also cost saving, and serves value for money the tastiest lamb, the softest for the guests. With convenience of travel for Indians we offer state chicken, the most delicate fish of the art technology, professional personnel and combine a variety and the freshest vegetables of specialists with leisure. TAT began to look on Health & Wellness combined with local herbs segment over 10 years back; we work very closely with spa services, and spices to produce great hospitals, ministry of public health and all parties concerned. We tie tasting dishes. up with travel agents, media and other potential partners to promote

Chiva Som, Hua Hin

Serving complete wellness plan

wellness tourism around the world.”

Runjuan Tongrut, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi

For reservations, visit: www. chivasom.com or Call: +66 (0) 27116900-12

Researched by NIKITA CHOPRA

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wildlife tourism One of the continent’s top safari destinations, South Africa is a paradise for wildlife lovers with umpteen parks and game reserves, renowned worldwide for superb game viewing and luxurious lodge accommodations. South Africa owns deep pockets of wildlife regions and game parks encircling every possible landscape from deserts to forests, mountains to coast, teeming with wildlife species. Apart from this the destintion also offers wide array of other activities which makes South Africa an ideal destination.

S

afari experience in South Africa

For many, a safari in South Africa is synonymous with the Kruger National Park. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Truly the flagship of the South African national

parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. For those in search of the Big 5 the Kruger National Park in South Africa has superb facilities for self-drive safaris.

Roads and signage in the national park help tourists to find their way to a beautiful safari experience. River safaris can be

very thrilling to float right up to herds of elephant drinking water from the river.

Riding one of the magnificent horses on a safari over unbelievable landscapes spotting game as you go, adds to the magnificence of the experience. Qualified guides share their intimate knowledge as you are brought closer to the animals and birds.

Any sighting of an elephant on safari is a

South Africa

A country for adventurers

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wildlife tourism thrill; however, should you wish to engage more meaningfully with these magnificent creatures you have the choice of an organized elephant safari. South Africa’s Kapama Private Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park is a popular venue for elephant safaris. The Park offers its visitors up close and personal nature experiences with a variety of activities.

Be it driving, biking, hiking or walking that you want to do; Kruger has something for each one of you. You can also enjoy an intimate safari experience with discreet service, gourmet dining and exceptional hospitality at the Kruger National Park.

Nestled in the rustic and unhampered settings are luxury game reserves that offer wildlife enthusiasts and the lovers of extravagant luxury. The luxurious accom-

GoNow speaks to Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager, South African Tourism about the adventure tourism in South Africa and what specifically they offer to Indian travellers

H

ow vast is adventure tourism in South Africa?

Adventure tourism for the longest time was believed to be undertaken by the rich or the restless but over the years, trends have changed and the interest in adrenaline pumping activities have significantly increased amongst varied segments of travelers. Known as the Adventure capital of the World, South Africa offers a mix of varied soft and hardcore adventure activities. Abseiling, paragliding, bungee jump, skydiving, micro-lighting, kloofing and cage diving with predators such as great white sharks and crocodiles are a treat for hardcore adventure junkies. For those who prefer soft adventures, horse-back safaris, fishing, whale watching, hot air ballooning over mountains, walking safaris and hiking in South African national parks are some activities to indulge in. Over the years adventure tourism has witnessed a gradual evolution and a paradigm shift with a large number of Indian travellers opting for adventure sports. Both Indian men and women travellers are getting more adventurous and have been exploring various activities across South Africa.

In line with this trend, adventure tourism has been given a major boost by products, trade and the tourism ministry and going forward, we will continue further to invest in highlighting our adventure offerings in India.

What are you offering specifically to Indian adventure travellers? And how are you promoting this segment in the market?

South Africa’s USP lies in its multitude of adventure activities on offer, making it easier for Indian tourists to plan their holiday in the country. In line with this trend, adventure tourism has been given a major boost by all our valued partners and tourism industry. South African Tourism makes proactive efforts to showcase the products and services of the country by setting up a platform for South African exhibitors to meet the Indian Trade dur-

ing our annual roadshows held across multiple cities in India. This ensures that Indian Trade is well informed and equipped to sell South Africa as a tourist destination with special emphasis on adventure. Last year, select South African suppliers had come to India to interact with the Indian trade across 15 cities in India during our classroom training module titled ‘Learn SA’ and this year we took 96 Indian travel agents to South Africa and got them to experience various adventure activities available in the country. In all our joint marketing agreements with travel companies, we promote and showcase adventure as an integral component of the South African holiday experience. We also encourage customized adventure tours for all the adventure sports lovers, thereby providing them with an adrenaline filled holiday experience in the country. In the past, we have partnered with leading travel companies such as Thomas Cook, Cox & Kings, Kuoni-SOTC, Carnation Holidays, Kulin Kumar and Comfort Holidays amongst others. In addition, our live size hoardings and billboards across 22 cities in India highlighting diverse adventure activities garners immense attention from potential travellers.

Through media engagement such as familiarization trips and advertorials, we try to showcase a variety of adventure activities available in the country.

Last year, 4 lucky Indian boys won a chance to visit South Africa with our Brand Ambassador Jonty Rhodes basis a contest we had undertaken for travel junkies in India. All four winners were on the frontlines of some amazing hard core adventure activities with Jonty.

The whole journey was captured by NDTV Good Times and generated a lot of viewership for the destination. Similarly, we also engaged with Fox Traveller last year for their show ‘Life Mein Ek Baar 2’ where five female celebrities embarked on an adventurous holiday in South Africa. We have put in our continued efforts to highlight the immense number of adventure experiences available in the country through varied trade, marketing and consumer initiatives and we will continue to come up with innovative ways to promote the same and welcome many more Indian tourists to the land of amazing adventures.

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h Africa has For those in search of the Big 5 the Kruger National Park in Sout national superb facilities for self-drive safaris. Roads and signage in therience. park help tourists to find their way to a beautiful safari expe Some destinations also offer specialist walks, such as birding trails and historical walks, where you can take in a variety of smaller wildlife, explore indigenous trees and plants, or just take in the landscape.

Adventure Activities

modations afford supreme privacy and luxury, with unfenced accommodations providing you the ultimate safari experience. Premier game reserves and lodges such as Sabi Sands, Manyeleti, Timbavati, Singita, Malamala, Tintswalo, Royal Malewane, Lion Sands, Ulusaba among others offer the very best services in class.

A guided safari is the most common and most recognizable form of safari 48

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whereby a specialist driver guide will ‘guide’ you through the wildlife experience. While any safari in South Africa will be memorable, if you want to get the real feel of the bushveld, go on foot. Walking in the bush, accompanied by knowledgeable guides, is about as close to nature as you can get, especially in wildlife areas where most visitors are restricted to exploring from the confines of their vehicles.

Whether its bungee jumping, racing ostriches in the Karoo or paragliding off Table Mountain, South Africa has some of the world’s best adventure activities to offer. South Africa offers 3,000 kilometers of coastline along with breathtaking mountains – often side by side.

The country’s diverse terrain together with an ideal climate for outdoor activities, make it a rich hunting ground for adrenaline seekers. The Rainbow nation is sure to captivate and entice you with world-class offerings in climbing, surfing, diving, hiking, horseback safaris, mountain biking, river rafting – and just about any other extreme activity. There is a huge variety available, giving the tourists numerous options. With the diverse terrain, plethora of activities and an ideal climate for outdoor, South Africa has emerged as the Adventure Capital of the World.

Inputs by SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM

September 2014 GO NOW

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destination guide

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part from water sports and other water-related activities like snorkelling, scuba diving and kayaking, Fiji offers a plethora of activities and adventure – tandem sky diving, scenic helicopter flights, quad biking, ATV tours, sand bank picnic, culture, waterfall and cave tours, zip lining, shark diving / feeding, jet boating, white water rafting, sunset dinner cruises, day as well as overnight, golf and spa. The main regions/islands of Fiji include –

Nadi

If you like action, hustling and bustling, jam-packed streets, hot, hot climate and heaps of people, then Nadi is the place for you. A mixture of Fijians and Indo-Fijians with an added zest of life imbued by the thousands of tourists who land in Nadi as the setting-off point for their unforgettable Fiji experience.

The Main Street in Nadi is the commercial centre of the town and is brimming with shops of various persuasions all hellbent on enticing you inside to buy something. The competition is fierce hence the prevalence of street touts offering you all sorts of ‘stuff’ at cut rate bargain prices.

These efforts go hand-in-hand with loudspeakers at shop entrances belting out

the latest Hindi or Fijian music. All in all it tends to be a cacophony of sound, sight and colour.

Nadi doesn’t have its share of fabulous white sand beaches – for that you have to hop on a boat and go to the Mamanucas or the Yasawas.

The number of hotels, motels and backpacker accommodation is too extensive to go into however be assured whatever your taste in accommodation, whether you are transiting or staying for a day or so, Nadi’s range will have something to suit you.

Restaurants are also limitless. A complete range of local and international culinary delights is available in Nadi town itself or a bit further towards the airport at Martintar or Namaka which have sort of turned into satellite towns or suburbs of the main town.

With its large Indo-Fijian population, Nadi is a centre for Hinduism and Islam in Fiji. The downtown area is defined by the Nadi River and Viseisei village on the west side, and the beautiful Sri Siva Subramaniya temple on the east. It is the largest Hindu temple in the Southern hemisphere.

Craftsmen from India were especially flown in to create this masterpiece.

The Nadi market is worth a visit as it reflects the multi-ethnicity of Nadi (and Fiji in general) and close by you can also bar-

gain for handicrafts from the handicraft market. Not quite the range of the commercial outlets in Nadi but a lot cheaper.

Basically when you get down to it Nadi is a “stepping off” point for the Mamanucas and the Yasawas or wherever else takes your fancy. It has some great nightclubs (check out Nightlife in Nadi link) and offers a frenetic pace for the active tourist.

Nadi also boasts an 18-hole par-70 golf course aptly named Nadi Airport Golf Club with another course located at Denarau.

Denarau Island

Denarau Island in Fiji is one of the best resort destinations in the country. With some of the most popular and well know resorts located here it has become a very popular holiday destination. One of the longest established hotels on Denarau is the Sheraton Fiji Resort, which expanded in subsequent years to include the popular Sheraton Villas.

Guests at the villas may use the facilities of the neighbouring hotel. One of the other longer-running hotels on the island is the Westin Denarau (formerly the Royal Denarau Resort). Newer hotels include the Sofitel, the Fiji Beach Resort and Spa (by Hilton), and The Radisson Resort. There is a variety of investment opportunities particularly in respect of the on-going residential development being carried out on the island.

It’s all about Fiji

Set in the tropical South Pacific, Fiji, an archipelago of 333 islands, is surely the essence of a tropical island paradise. It boasts of white sandy beaches, swaying coconut trees, pristine oceans and waterways and a range of things to do and see that will appeal to the most discerning traveller. GoNow gives you a sneak peek into the culture and adventure offerings of this island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean.

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ands with around 7 isl nic lca vo 20 of p ou gr us ulo fab a The Mamanucas are t so tiny, scattered no ers oth y, tin are me So e. tid h hig at of them under water clear, clean reefs that are home tonts. hither and thither amongst exotic,nu ents swept in by strong curre pelagic and reef fish attracted by tri Popular resorts include Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Westin, Sheraton Denarau Villa, Sheraton Fiji Resort, Radisson Blu Resor & Fiji Resort & Spa managed by Hilton.

Mamanuca Islands

The Mamanucas are a fabulous group of 20 volcanic islands with around 7 of them under water at high tide. Some are tiny, others not so tiny, scattered hither and thither amongst exotic, clear, clean reefs that are home to pelagic and reef fish attracted by nutrients swept in by strong currents. These islands will offer you more sun than you can probably cope with, one of the reasons why they were selected to host the reality shows, “The Resort” and “Treasure Island” plus enough activities that will have you looking for a holiday to get over the holiday. In the early days of tourism, and still today, this group was famous for catering to day trippers.

The Mamanucas were the trailblazer in resort tourism in Fiji and it’s not hard to work out why. Relatively close to the mainland and Nadi international airport, and closer now that they are serviced by high-speed catamarans, the great tropical weather combined with all the fabulous bounty that nature has endowed on them, makes for a ‘perfect holiday in a tropical paradise theme’.

Here you will find resorts galore and come as close to a Club Med in the Pacific than anywhere else in Fiji. The group is known for fun and frolicking and a list of activities that will leave the most intrepid travellers gasping for breath. The range of activities include diving and boat snorkelling, sea kayaking, surfing, jet skiing,

parasailing, windsurfing, island trekking & beachcombing, ocean swimming, dolphin watching, sailing, sunset cruises, onsite water activities such as paddle boarding & banana boat rides, romantic beach picnics, cultural village tours, spa treatments, weddings & honeymoons.

The Mamanucas is also home to world renowned dive sites such as The Big W frequented by a resident bronze whale shark and 70 metre drop-offs. Gotham City so named for its batfish and abundance of soft corals and schools of fish in the thousands. West of Mana Island is the Supermarket where shark feeding is the order of the day and the Circus for its prevalence of clown fish and Eagle Mana Reef where eagle rays make intermittent appearances.

Popular resorts include Likuliku Lagoon

Resort, Malolo Island Resort, Castaway Island Resort, Mana Island Resort, Tadrai Island Resort, Musket Cove Island Resort.

The Coral Coast

Traditionally known and promoted as the most densely populated tourist area in Fiji, the Coral Coast is around 80km of beaches, bays, rocky outcrops and lush vegetation along the southwest of Viti Levu. The Coral Coast is heavily dotted with hotels, resorts and backpacker retreats like no other region in Fiji and is a haven for the adventurous or for those who simply want a bit of sun, sand and fun.

The name is apt as the coast is wrapped by one of the largest fringing reef systems in the world and while its beaches are not quite the standard of the outer islands, September 2014 GO NOW

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now integrated with are era ial lon Co the m fro s ing ild bu tic Majes Suva. Government House, to x mi e iqu un a e giv t tha es ris hhig modern Carnegie library and the the , ing ild Bu tel Fin , ion ns Ma al nti ide the Pres mple of this past era. sa all sm a t jus are s ing ild bu nt me rn Gove

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it has the benefit of being conveniently located halfway between Nadi and Suva.

This section probably has more villages in a stretch than anywhere else in Fiji. Entry to the villages is fine but ask permission first and make sure you follow Fijian protocol in removing your hat and sunglasses and ladies cover up knees and shoulders.

Some of the villages operate home stays and it is an experience of a lifetime to stay in a village and experience communal living at its best. Popular resorts include Outrigger on the Lagoon, Intercontinental Resort & Spa and Shangri-la’s Fijian Resort

Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island is a blending of the best attributes that Fiji possesses. Warm and hospitable people, sugar cane fields, pine forests, fabulous rainforests, swaying coconut groves, copra plantations, sandy beaches and bays all flanked by one of the world’s longest barrier reefs are some of its attractions.

Savusavu is a lovely little town opposite Nawi Island on Savusavu Bay. The view from town is superb with the bay tranquil and protected making it an ideal haven for the numerous yachts that moor here. Some come for a few days and others come and stay for years. Yachties are a bit of a unique breed but if you get a chance to have a drink with them at the Yacht Club at the Copra Shed, do so as they are an interesting and entertaining bunch. The main street has a mixture of Indian and Chinese shops with the market in the centre of the town.

There is another yachting centre called Waitui Marina run by one of the icons of the diving industry, Curly Carswell. Curly was responsible for the importation of Fiji’s first hyperbaric chamber to treat divers for the bends. Popular resorts include Namale Resort & Spa, Koro Sun Resort & Spa and Jean Michel Cousteau Resort.

Taveuni

Taveuni is a priceless gem in Fiji’s crown.

A tribute to Mother Nature and her unique skill of creating perfection in the form of an island that is aptly named “The Garden Island of Fiji.” Taveuni is the third largest island in Fiji stretching for 42 kilometres in length and is 15 kilometres wide. The island is smothered in prolific tropical rainforest and girthed by beautiful and bountiful tropical reefs harbouring some of the world’s best dive sites. Taveuni has an abundance of indigenous flora and fauna which flourishes due to the absence of the mongoose, a nonindigenous animal imported from India that has no natural predators.

The birdlife is prolific from your average wild chickens to the more exotic kula lorikeets, red breasted musk parrots, honeyeaters, silk tails goshawks, fern tails and orange-breasted doves, making the island a bird-watchers paradise. Due to its 1000 me-

tre high volcanic ridge the prevailing trade winds ensure that rainfall is prevalent and often torrential, in turn ensuring that this Garden Island receives the rainfall required to maintain her cloak of vivid green.

Taveuni has a volcano called Vuna which is dormant however after erupting around 350 years ago it is considered the island’s most active volcano. Popular resorts include Matangi Island Resort, Qamea Island Resort, Taveuni Island Resort & Laucala Island Resort.

Suva

Looking for a blend of the past and the present? Well, Suva City has just the right mix that will see you experiencing the past without you having to miss out on modern perks. Suva is often referred to as the most cosmopolitan city in the Oceania region.

Suva sits on a hilly peninsula between Lucile Bay and Suva Harbour in the southeast corner of Viti Levu. This capital city of Fiji has managed to retain the magic and character of the Colonial era and at the same time develop over the years offering visitors sites and attractions that will definitely make their stay memorable.

Suva is the largest city in the region and is an important centre for many regional bodies which bring with them a diverse mixture of races and people. This has seen a growing expat community and also half of the country’s population calling Suva home. It is also the home of the government of the day, foreign embassies and consulates and educational as well as financial institutions which includes the University of the South Pacific, Fiji Institute of Technology, ANZ Banking Group, Westpac Banking Corporation, Colonial National Bank and the Bank of the South Pacific and the newly established University of Fiji. A wide selection of restaurants offers different types of cuisine to suit any fussy eater’s palate with bars and entertainment within walking distance of each other.

Highlights of the Region Majestic buildings from the Colonial era are now integrated with modern high-rises

factfile Location Fiji is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 2000 km northeast of New Zealand’s Nort h Island.

Visa Visa for Indian passport holders is granted on arrival free of cost. The only documents required are a passport valid for 6 months beyond the trave l dates and a return or an onward ticke t.

How to get there?

Fiji Airways flies thrice a week, on Monday, Thursdays and Saturdays, from Hong Kong (ex-Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai & Kolkata with airline partners) to Nadi .

Several airlines have direct flights from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane) and New Zealand (Auckland & Christchurch). Korean Air has three weekly flights to Fiji via Seoul (exMumbai) Weather Fiji is an all-year round destination and enjoys an ideal South Sea tropical climate. Maximum temperatures in Fiji rarely move out of the 31°C to 26°C range all year round. Trade winds from the east southeast bring year long cooling breezes late afternoon and early evening. Fiji’s summer occurs December through March. June through October happen to be the driest months.

Currency The currency in Fiji is the Fijian dollar.

1 FJD = approx. 0.55 USD or approx 30 INR. Health precautions Fiji is free of most tropical diseases including malaria.

that give a unique mix to Suva. Government House, the Presidential Mansion, Fintel Building, the Carnegie library and the Government buildings are just a small sample of this past era. The old Grand Pacific Hotel has been vacant for years waiting to be restored to its former grandeur. Take a walk into history and tour these buildings many of which are now protected by the National Trust.

Inputs from FIJI TOURISM

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tourism connect

Rural India brings new tourism experiences Here is a new holiday opportunity to explore

Foreign tourists enjoy a traditional Indian meal at Agri Tourism Centre Palshi, Baramati, Maharashtra

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f one has to argue the merit of emphasizing on rural tourism in India, then probably the majority voice would forcefully pronounce – it should be at the top of the agenda. And one could hardly find any fault with this line of argument. Firstly, with over 5,00,000 units India’s identity as the country of villages still continues to remain intact despite all metro centric growth models and patterns we have witnessed in last 20 years.

And secondly, when it comes to diversity there are ample proof to suggest that what Indian villages can offer would be second to none in terms of uniqueness and the resulting experience. This is a country where heritage, craft or even dialect can change after every 50 kms.

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That Indian rural tourism offers a goldmine of opportunities is, however, not a new realization. Government policies have been there for quite some time and certain brilliant entrepreneurial drives have resulted in creation of assets which have a distinct identity of their own. In some instances even the state government support has paid rich dividends. The result is: India today does not have a blank report card when it comes to showcasing vibrant rural tourism products. But then these products almost appear out to be fragmented pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The symbols of rural tourism brilliance exist in silo due to the lack of a structure regime in place. There is not even any authentic study to suggest the precise size of Indian

rural tourism even as a tourism veteran asserts that it is creating more jobs than the possible cumulative figure of top ten corporate houses put together.

The two day-seminar titled “Rural Tourism: Challenges & Opportunities” organized by Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development and Cross Section Media on 25th-26th July at India International Centre in the national capital saw some serious micro analysis of the developments in the rural tourism segment trying to figure out the faultlines and looking for ways to fix them. The event brought together diverse stakeholders – senior minister of the present government, senior politicians, tourism secretary and former bureaucrats, senior representatives of multilateral agen-

tourism connect cies and financial institutions, representatives of state tourism departments, and private entrepreneurs who have managed to create products which are no less than model examples. Apart from other important dignitaries, the seminar was addressed by General V K Singh, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region; P A Sangma, Former Lok Sabha Speaker and Parvez Dewan, Tourism Secretary.

“North East simply is a treasure trove for India.

It has assets which can’t be described but only seen. But the reality is we have failed to convey to the world how unique this region is. Our government is committed to provide all assistance to change the scenario.”

What is fundamentally wrong?

From the perspective of national economic priority, there could be hardly any dispute on the point that inclusive growth model is the need of the hour. And here rural tourism could be a potent tool. “Time has come when we should seriously consider tourism as a catalyst for the rural development. And the future of Indian tourism lies in focusing on rural tourism since it provides so much of diversity,” said S K Misra, Chairperson, Indian Trust for Rural Heritage & Development in the inaugural session. “Reaching out to rural India and make them part of our growth process is a national priority and here rural tourism has a big role to play,” opined Habib Rehman, NonExecutive Director, ITC. Harsh Verma, Director, Technical Cooperation and Services, UNWTO (the tourism specific wing of United Nations which is currently running 140 rural tourism projects in 45 countries) emphasized on the need to promote rural tourism by citing evolving trends in the international market. “International tourist arrivals is slated to shoot up to 1.8 billion by 2030. And by the stated year, about 60 percent of the global population will be living in the cities.

So the larger urban world will be looking for those periodic let outs and here rural tourism products could be a major draw for them.” He was, however, quick to point out that present dynamics will hardly help in pushing the Indian rural tourism segment on the path of its potential grandeur. “A comprehensive strategy and regulatory framework for rural tourism development is urgently needed. At this time, they are fragmented and they not only need to brought together but they should also be packaged properly,” Verma underlined while also adding that micro-finance opportunities should be created for them since they would be vying with urban tourism products at some stage.

Tourism secretary Pervez Dewan created quite a flutter by saying that rural tourism destinations can’t be created. “Rural tourism has been an official policy for a long time but the showpieces have not done well. We need some serious soul searching.”

But then he elaborated his point vis-à-vis the source patterns and also location specifics equations. “Rural tourism is typically patronized by people who are super-educated and are attracted to segments like wildlife and adventure. Secondly, merely assigning large number of facilities anywhere to create a viable rural tourism product will not work. It can work in destinations like the Himalayas and close to sea beaches,” Dewan said.

Aman Nath, Chairman of the famous Neemrana Group of hotels seconded the theory that rural tourism product could not be a ballgame for any place.

“There are a few pre-requisites which have to be strictly adhered to. Rural tourism is about quiet voyeurism and evolved beings are attracted to it.

Needless to say, precision has to be the defining ele-

Gen. V.K. Singh, Ministry of State (IC) for Development of North Eastern Region

“Northeast is still carrying on the basis of basic infrastructure created during the second world war. Enough studies have been done to give a facelift to the region in all aspects including its tourism sector but those intentions to transform have unfortunately by and large remained lip services.”

P.A. Sangma, Former Chief Minister, Meghalaya and former Speaker Lok Sabha

“Time has come when we should seriously consider tourism as a catalyst for the rural development. And the future of Indian tourism lies in focusing on rural tourism since it provides so much of diversity.”

S.K. Misra, Chairperson, Indian Trust for Rural Heritage & Development

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tourism connect

“A comprehensive strategy and regulatory framework for rural tourism development is urgently needed. At this time, they are fragmented and they not only need to brought together but they should also be packaged properly.”

Harsh Verma

Director, Technical Cooperation and Services, UNWTO

“12th plan period draft paper had mentioned focusing on rural tourism. But the efforts have been half-hearted.

Why can’t we create rural tourism products? Surajkund Mela is a vibrant example, Dilli haat is clearly a creation and Neemrana is another example. It can be certainly created closer to the places where tourists’ footfall is high.”

S.Y. Quraishi, Former Chief Election Commissioner, India “Rural tourism is typically patronized by people who are super-educated and are attracted to segments like wildlife and adventure.

Secondly, merely assigning large number of facilities anywhere to create a viable rural tourism product will not work. It can work in destinations like the Himalayas and close to sea beaches.”

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ment of your offerings to them,” he observed.

He also pointed out at a basic fallacy, often witnessed in the rural tourism segment. “I know the examples where entrepreneurs have come in, taken control of say a haveli very rich in architecture, refurbished it and turned into a noticeable product. But they make the mistake of not doing much for the surrounding in terms of hygiene and sanitation. Creating such painted pictures won’t work.”

“12th plan period draft paper had mentioned focusing on rural tourism. But the efforts have been half-hearted,” S Y Quriashi, Former Chief Election Commissioner said without pulling any punches while emphasizing that India has enough scope to take rural tourism to a more evolved level. “Why can’t we create rural tourism products? Surajkund Mela is a vibrant example, Dilli haat is clearly a creation and Neemrana is another example. It can be certainly created closer to the places where tourists’ footfall is high,” he added.

In the opinion of Yogendra Narain, Former Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, rural tourism now clearly deserves more attention. “There is no gainsaying that rural tourism is much richer than urban tourism. But there are wide areas which are lying untapped. There are opportunities for instance, along inland waterways from Allahabad to Hugli for heritage sites. If new sites can’t be created then they can certainly be discovered and market adequately,” observed he.

It is not that the union government has lacked in making a serious attempt to unleash the rural tourism potential vis-à-vis policy initiative. Recalled Saleem Beg, Member, NAC, “In 2005, the Ministry of Tourism for the first time had introduced infrastructure development in the rural areas under an UNDP programme.

And the scheme had started off well. But it soon got politicized in terms of identification of new sites for rural tourism as elected politicians wanted to have a project in their own constituency. Also not right due diligence was followed in selecting NGO partners at the local level.”

Joining hands with the local community

Provisions to ensure viable local community participation was a strong underlying theme at the conclave as several speakers maintained that it should be considered as the basic building block to structurally expand the wings of rural tourism. “If local community has no role in play in a product, it is bound to fail,” the refrain was sufficiently palpable. Ravi Singh, CEO, WWF India which is running a host of conservation projects in the country succinctly summed up the point in these words, “Projects should also ensure regular income for the local community. You can’t show any inability in resolving their basic issues,” Singh underlined while asserting that some of untapped treasure troves like Indus Valley Civilization sites in Rakhigarhi, Rajasthan would hugely need participation of the local population to emerge as a major non-urban attraction.

tourism connect Beg recounted his own experience of visiting two tourism sites in Gujarat recently – Champaner and Rani ki bawdi. “Before I visited these places, I was told that locals are not co-operating. But what I found utterly shocked me- Champaner site has hardly contributed to any local employment creation and at Rani Ki bawdi, it would be quite an exercise to even find an outlet which can offer you a cup of tea. Unless you integrate the local people, you will not go far away.”

“Our little experience with local tourism projects has made it clear to us that communities’ willingness to accept a project is very critical. And for that you need to create window of opportunities for them,” Bhupesh Rathore, VP, Yes Bank reasoned.

“Reaching out to rural India and make them part of our growth process is a national priority and here rural tourism has a big role to play.”

How to take it forward?

There are certainly symbols of rural tourism progression as above-examples earmark but the moot question is: can we even call the glass half full?

They all seem to be isolated cases, probably with a loyal clientele base but not known to the outside world on a larger scale. So the larger issue is: how stakeholders in Indian rural tourism need to do things differently going ahead? “We need to have a synergy between different administrative wings – the panchayats, state and the central government – at the planning stage. Special rural tourism divisions should be brought in place which should be responsible for creating required infrastructure and training the locals especially the youth section. And uttermost attention should be paid in the selection of the villages- they should be preferably closer to existing hubs like Varanasi and Agra,” responded S K Misra. According to S Y Quraishi, “A white paper is a must for this segment which should define a clear road map chalked out on the basis of micro-analysis of problems in the past.” Yogendra Narain asked for an accurate mapping for rural heritage which would pave the way for new projects.

“Great work has been done in the rural tourism sector but it has been done at individual level. There is no formal body representing rural tourism and that is a basic lacuna. It needs a purely commercial marketing organization,” advised Subhash Goyal, President, IATO. On the critical issue of project financing, there seems to be new avenues emerging. Agencies like NABARD are willing to enhance their exposure in the segment. “In rural tourism, our exposure is low right now.

But we are involved in some projects in Maharastra and four projects in Sikkim. We are particularly helping in setting homestays and in training local youths who can act as guides. We are certainly in the mood to expand our rural tourism footprint in other states like Kerala, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand and UP and this may even involve undertaking rural tourism specific infrastructure projects,” assured Sudhansu Mishra, a senior official with NABARD. According to S K Misra, the mandatory CSR spending by the corporate could also be a vibrant source wherein projects for rural heritage preservation can be clubbed in. Archana Capoor, former chief of Tourism Finance Corporation opined that rural tourism projects should be granted infrastructure status which will facilitate them easy and cheaper finance.

Habib Rahman, Non-Executive Director, ITC Limited “If local community has no role in play in a product, it is bound to fail, the refrain was sufficiently palpable.

Projects should also ensure regular income for the local community. You can’t show any inability in resolving their basic issues.”

Ravi Singh, CEO, WWF India “There are a few prerequisites which have to be strictly adhered to. Rural tourism is about quiet voyeurism and evolved beings are attracted to it. Needless to say, precision has to be the defining element of your offerings to them.”

Aman Nath. Chairman, Neemrana Group of Hotels

by RITWIK SINHA

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The Northeast holds special promise fo tourism: no more lip service, says Gen.

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ny national level debate on Indian tourism or even any section of it would be incomplete without bringing the issues of the north-eastern region on the discussion table. The region for long has lived with this disparaging tag of ‘paradise unexplored’ and as conventional wisdom suggests, it has purely resulted from a strong sense of alienation (in the North-eastern mindscape) from the national mainstream. But with the new government which has taken over the controlling command on the basis of all round transformation and growth, can North-East tourism too expect coming out of the state of comatose?

Or to use a more polite expression – status quoism. The rural tourism conclave extensively focused on this pertinent issue too with the sparkling feature being the presence of General V K Singh, Minister of Development of North Eastern Region who in his usual nononsense style explained the gameplan of the new government for the region.

But first here is the status check, what proponents of north-Eastern tourism (including its rural tourism component) believe the region is capable of but has failed to make any significant headway thanks to adminis-

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trative ad hocism. “The ministry of tourism calls North East paradise unexplored. But the fact of the matter is the number of recognized hotels is not more than 25 and there are only 25-30 recognised tour operators catering the entire region. North East very badly needs larger influx of domestic tourists and this is not a new issue. There is no dearth of policies on the paper but because of poor implementation the region in tourism terms continue to remain a paradise unexplored,” former tourism secretary M P Bezbaruah rued. Senior politician from the North East and Former Lok Sabha P.A. Sangma added, “Though I disagree with the fact that people in the north east region feel alienated from India, they is no denying that they are indeed gripped with a strong sense of neglect. The region is still carrying on the basis of basic infrastructure created during the second world war. Enough studies have been done to give a facelift to the region in all aspects including its tourism sector but those intentions to transform have unfortunately by and large remained lip services.”

Padma Shree awardee and noted craft development activist from North East Sentila Yanger strongly pitched for keeping North

East out of standardized policy frameworks because of its own distinctive peculiarities.

“Products that north eastern states can offer are very different from the rest of the country and therefore the region deserves a specific tourism policy based on the analysis of ground reality and local conditions,” she said.

Even as she confirmed states like Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya have seen enhancement of tourism related activities in the recent years, it does not hold true for other pockets in the region. On the specific rural tourism appeal of the region, she cited the examples of product like Kisama Heritage Village (where famous Hornbill festival is held) in Nagaland which is quite unique but suffers from lack of visitors. “Our unique rural tourism products are registering low traffic and there are a host of reasons for it. Forget about connectivity with other parts of the country, even connectivity within the reason is poor. For outsiders, the cost of reaching to the region is huge.

Tourists would rather prefer to visit Bangkok.

There is an acute shortage of quality accommodation and no attempt has been made to harness north east tourism potential by creating specified circuits built around local festival and crafts,” she pointed out.

tourism connect “Tourists look at North East as a single composite destination. They are not guided by political boundaries but by their own interests.

They want to see maximum at minimum cost and minimum time,” P K Dong, Former Director, India Tourism explained the aspiration of travelers to the region in these words. However, given the ground realities where reaching out from one destination to another is not hassle free, that aspiration is often not met. Dong also emphasized on promoting rural tourism in a major way which can contribute a great deal in improving the lot of the people in far flung places within the region. “Take the case of Manas National Park which is surrounded by 60 villages with about 20,000 inhabitants living in the fringe of the park. If we can create some rural products by training the locals, it can transform their lives,” he said.

According to Hemant Katoch, Promoter, Battle of Imphal Tours, the region certainly has more than craft, culture, heritage and natural beauty to offer and its strong history with the remnants of the second world war too can be developed in a major attraction. “If we talk about the World War 2 battles within the present boundary of the country, then Imphal was the epicenter where Britishers had fought with the Japanese and Subhash Chandra Bose’s army.

And the region is fraught with insignia of that grand battle. We can definitely create a world war 2 circuit comprising areas like Imphal, Kohima, Dibrugarh, Ledo, etc. In many countries, the historical b” underlined Hemant.

So the pos sibilities are infinite and there is nothing secretive about the past follies which have kept the north eastern tourism captive of that image of a paradise which everybody admire but nobody bothers to explore. The moot point now is: will the new government infuse that much needed energy to trigger that much awaited metamorphosis. If the words of General V K Singh are to be believed, the new government will go extra mile. “North East simply is a treasure trove for India. It has assets which can’t be described but only seen. But the reality is we have failed to convey to the world how unique this region is. Our government is committed to provide all assistance to change the scenario,” General Singh emphasized. General Singh also presented the list of North East specific priorities and the specific vision which the government is likely to pursue. “There is no denying the fact that the basic infrastructure in the region is bad. In next five years, we have to improve connectivity and power scene and also open the region for our neighbouring countries. In terms of tourism focus, we also believe that segments like adventure, eco and rural tourism need to be developed in a massive way.

We would welcome all the inputs from the industry stakeholders to formulate a definitive action plan.”

In fact, according to General Singh the new government has already begun the exercise of initiating a few preliminary steps meant to benefit the region. Among them is the basic issue of improving the connectivity. “We have begun talking to the Civil Aviation Ministry to streamline connectivity to the region. One idea is to convert Imphal in an international airport. We have to ultimately open the region to the neighbouring countries, otherwise the possible large footfall from the nearby source markets would continue to remain a big missed opportunity,” General Singh said.

“Products that north eastern states can offer are very different from the rest of the country and therefore the region deserves a specific tourism policy based on the analysis of ground reality and local conditions.”

Sentila Yanger

Noted craft development activist and Padma Shree awardee

“Tourists look at North East as a single composite destination. They are not guided by political boundaries but by their own interests.

They want to see maximum at minimum cost and minimum time.”

or rural . V.K. Singh

by RITWIK SINHA

P.K. Dong, Former director, India Tourism

We can definitely create a world war 2 circuit comprising areas like Imphal, Kohima, Dibrugarh, Ledo, etc. In many countries, the historical b.”

Hemant Katoch

Promoter, Battle of Imphal Tours September 2014 GO NOW

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ural Tourism is a Big Opportunity badly misunderstood. It differs from Rural Homestays, and that’s where the misunderstand lies.

Both offer an experience of rural lifestyles and serve the same purpose. They add substantially to the income of village people and so discourage their disorienting migration to the cities. In Rural Homestays, however, tourists share the lifestyles of the families they stay with welcoming ‘the rustic living experience’, to use their phrase. In Rural Tourism, however, the living facilities offered must meet certain minimum international standards of hygiene, safely, security and basic levels of comfort. We realize that as aspirations and incomes rise in our rural areas, the lines between the two will blur. A farmhouse of a rich Punjabi rural family might offer facilities comparable to an urban 5-star hotel. But they are the exception to the general rule: the majority of our rural folk are not affluent.

Here are our views on Rural Tourism, specifically for those interested in this activity. They are based on our first hand experiences all across our land, stretching over many years. They include the inputs we got when we were asked to visit and assess the Rural Tourism projects selected by the UNDP.

1

As in many things connected with tourism, Distance is of great importance. If you’re still shopping around for a place to site your Rural Tourism accommodation, ideally it should not be more than a two hour drive from the outskirts of a town where your clients land or the railway station where they disembark, unless it is on a tourist circuit. We have mentioned the outskirts of such towns because there is plenty to hold a visitor’s attention on roads threading through a town. Boredom sets in when there is limited human activity on a highway.

2

Contrary to popular belief it is best not to have your accommodation too close to a Major Tourism Hub. Why should your clients use your accommodation when they can commute from an urban centre to your area?

3

If you have already bought your plot of land, and it does not fulfil the two conditions we’ve given, you can still have an edge on your competitors.

For one thing Don’t Try to Be Too Authentically Rural. In one of the UNDP places, the occupants of eight rooms were expected to walk across an open court to use the single toilet in the facility. “Why did you do this?” we asked the architect. “Because that’s how our villagers live: it’s authentic!” True. But

he had designed this facility for Rural Tourism, not for Rural Homestays. Thatch, too, captures the right rustic look, if other buildings in the area are also thatched, but it’s expensive to renew and it should be clad on corrugated iron or asbestos. Your guests would not like insects, lizards and birddroppings to rain down on them. The circular mud-walled and thatch clad boonga huts of Gujarat’s Hodka were authentic, aesthetic and comfortable, with beds made of mud platforms carrying foam mattresses and modern loos and showers in a separate hut attached by a short passage screened by a creeper-covered fence. The use of such local features are excellent and capture the right ambiance without compromising on comfort.

4

The Safety of your guests must not only be ensured but must be perceived by them. For them, this is an alien environment: they must feel safe when they are in their room with the door shut behind them. Equally important, they must feel Secure. One of the rooms in which we lived had an enormous window extending over half the room. The glass was tinted so no one could look in during the day. But when the lights were switched on inside at night, there was an uninterrupted see-through view of the entire room from the public road outside.

The True Rural Tourism The Users’ Perspective

An excellent rural tourism resort in Hodka 60

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tourism connect made from farm-fresh ingredients will always be welcome provided the use of oils and spices are cut down for sensitive foreign palates. In a pineapple-growing area, local housewives gave us six delectable dishes of pineapple including pineapple curry, pineapple biryani, pineapple raita and pineapple-stuffed parathas. Every dish had a different flavour and texture.

Don’t hesitate to offer non-vegetarian dishes to your guests, particularly if you are in areas which relish such food. But ask them first.

Traditional village troubadours in Banawasi

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5

The caretaker and attendants working in your facility will probably have been drawn from the nearest village. Their Standards of Hygiene are not likely to be the same as that of your guests.

We caught one housekeeper using a floorswab to dry the kitchen slab; another couldn’t understand why we objected to

This is the untouched resource that has been maturing and developing in the world’s oldest continuous civilization with its 4,635 distinct communities speaking 1652 mother tongues and professing 7 major and 183 other beliefs.

It is a brilliant, shifting, evolving living mosaic, with a myriad customs and traditions, ready to be discovered by enterprising Rural Tourism entrepreneurs. cobwebs with resident spiders, and buzzing flies, in our room. You must budget for constant supervision of the staff till acceptable standards of cleanliness become second nature to them. And please watch out for any of your trained employees taking French leave and putting an untrained substitute in your establishment. It happened to us once in a Rural Tourism establishment and if we had not discovered it in time the consequences might have been alarming, if not disastrous. The necessity to train unskilled workers is one of the challenges of Rural Tourism.

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Food is not as much of a problem as might have been presumed.

Piping hot food is the norm in our rural households and vegetarian fare

Now for the Activities. These are both the essence and the easiest part of Rural Tourism: experiencing the uniqueness of village life, its selfsufficiency, its entertainments. We were enthralled observing the multiple skills of a bullock-cart maker: blacksmith, carpenter and a wheelwright combined. We have visited rope-makers, pith carvers, bell casters, wood sculptors, shipwrights, painters, prawn breeders and people we call eco-smiths: they melt-down metal scrap and create works as attenuated and intriguing as modern art. We have been enchanted by silk farmers and itinerant community cooks who move from village to village creating wedding banquets in rural backyards. And we’ve not even touched on the epics, legends, fairs and festivals associated with every clan in every village. On one unforgettable night we were entertained by a uniformed village percussion band that marched, counter-marched and changed their beat with the precision of a military drum corps fit to appear in Edinburgh’s famed tattoo. On another night, burned into our memories, we saw a shamanistic ritual in a temple where a medium became transformed before our eyes and assumed another, supernal, persona while drums beat and cymbals clashed and oil-lamps cast their hypnotic spell on worshippers.

And on us.

These have been only some of our experiences and we have scratched just a tiny bit of the surface of an estimated 74% of our population in our approximately 7 million villages. There is a magical world out there whose doors are waiting to be opened by the right people. This is the untouched resource that has been maturing and developing in the world’s oldest continuous civilization with its 4,635 distinct communities speaking 1652 mother tongues and professing 7 major and 183 other beliefs. It is a brilliant, shifting, evolving living mosaic, with a myriad customs and traditions, ready to be discovered by enterprising Rural Tourism entrepreneurs.

You could be one of them.

Text and photographs by HUGH AND COLLEEN GANTZER

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Destination Andaman In waiting

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he Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the pristine and beautiful destinations in India. Essentially, a conglomeration of 572 small and big islands with only 37 of them inhabited, it is one of the last frontiers of Scuba-diving in the world. Spread across 8200 sq. kms in area, it stretches 750 kms from north to south, located 1200 kilometres from the mainland India. Beyond its scenic beauty, it holds immense strategic significance as its location allows India to watch-over the main sea lines of communication and trade passing through the Malacca Straits from the Gulf of Aden.

It also hosts the Andaman and Nicobar Command, which is a tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair.

It is the location of the Islands that makes them an ‘ideal-getaway’ and a bridge to connect South-Asian countries.

It is connected to Singapore and Phuket by a mere 45 minute flight with the SouthEast Asian coastline only a few hundred kilometres away.

A rich history with a ‘MiniIndia’ attribute

Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent a rich history with valuable contributions

“We want to develop and promote responsible tourism which deals with nature and Ecology.

Adventure Tourism, wildlife tourism, Jungle-walks are the areas we are looking into. We intend to promote Andaman’s as a high-end and mediumend destination. It must be promoted as a unique destination. We do not want to be compared with anyone. The government Lt. Gen. A. K. Singh is ready to support any Lt. Governor initiative benefitting the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.” to the Indian national movement for Independence. Cellular Jail, better known as the ‘Kala-Paani’, is now a silent reminder of the sacrifices made by the nationalists to gain independence from their colonial masters. The number of prisoners who

died in this camp is estimated to be in the thousands owing to harsh treatment and deplorable living condition.

The Islands were assimilated in India in 1950 and was declared a ‘Union territory’ in 1956. Andaman, today represents

able contributions Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent a rich history with valu better known as to the Indian national movement for Independence. Cellular Jail, e by the nationalists the ‘Kala-Paani’, is a now a silent reminder of the sacrifices mad to gain independence from their colonial masters. a ‘Mini-India’ with 4,00,000 people of a variety of faith, culture, and customs. It has a majority Hindu population but also hosts a sizable presence of Muslims, Sikh and Christian population too.

Capital of Water sports too

Andaman is widely considered as one of the world's last scuba diving frontiers. It offers an unparalleled range of adventure and wild-life activities to the enthusiasts.

Scuba-diving is the most preferred sport of the Island, owing to its beautiful coral-reefs and wide variety of marine life.

Although, the sport itself is in a nascent stage and there is tremendous scope of its development and branding. Snorkelling has been catching-up fast as well, as the clean blue waters make it an ideal destination to rub shoulders with unique fishes and other aquatic organisms. Apart from these, wild-life treks are another enthralling aspect. Rich and varied in flora and fauna, a whopping 85 percent of the Islands are protected by one conservation by-law or another. Which renders any construction or unregulated human activity out of bounds, providing sustainSeptember 2014 GO NOW

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tourism connect ability to the ecology and longevity to its assets. Sea-walking is popular among the enthusiasts who cannot swim, yet want to experience the sea-life from close quarters. Meanwhile, other sports are Kayaking and sailing are also finding a lot of takers.

In Andaman, the state tax is nil. Hence it reflected on the administration’s desire to develop tourism and business opportunities in the Islands.

Urgent need for Infrastructural upgrade and expansion of tourism Initiatives

Andaman as a destination is at a ‘critical mass’, on the cusp of seeing a major upward trajectory in its tourism inflow. However, with the growth of tourism, there are valid concerns over the over-exposure and degradation of natural resources.

Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar, Lt. General A K Singh echoed similar sentiments, while addressing a gathering of tour operators at the seminar organized

by Indian Association of Tour Operators, IATO. He said, “We want to develop and promote responsible tourism which deals with nature and Ecology. Adventure Tourism, wild-life tourism, jungle-walks are the areas we are looking into.” Further explaining his administration’s vision about the future of Andaman as a tourist destination, he said, “We intend to promote Andaman’s as a high-end and mediumend destination. It must be promoted as a unique destination. We do not want to be compared with anyone.”

He went on to say how distribution of the inflow of tourists would also ensure that there is no undue-stress on the ecology and flora and fauna of the islands. He stressed that, “we must spread the inflow of tourists into lean seasons as well to absorb the tourist inflow, without disturbing the ecological balance of the area.”

However, Andaman has long been only identified as a leisure destination, driven by seasonal tourism starting from October until March. There is a great potential to develop it as a premier destinations for MICE as well. Lt. Governor concurs with the idea, when he says, “Andaman has great potential for developing as a destination suited for conferences and holidays. This is an area which has not been adequately exploited. The government is ready to support any initiative benefitting the Islands.”

Lack of air connectivity is also a reason for Andaman to have not realised its true potential as a premier destination.

Although, it has direct air-connectivity to Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Kolkata by a two hour flight but the airport operates only in the day, restricting its passengers and cargo-handling capability. The government, however, has announced the opening of a new international airport terminal at Port Blair. The foundation of the airport, is being laid now and international flights will commence from 64

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Bishnu Pada Ray

MP, Andaman & Nicobar “It is our land of pilgrimage, where our freedom fighters bear the brunt of brutal tortures inflicted by the Raj. Every Indian must visit Andaman to bow their heads in the land of martyrs. Cellular Jail is a witness to their unparalleled sacrifices and a visit to this landmark will make you realise the sacrifices, made by our fore-fathers, for the cause of the nation.

People generally say that the last tip of India is Kanyakumari. But, in fact, it is the Indira Point which is located in the Nicobar Islands. In terms of high-quality sea food too, we have fantastic tiger prawns, which were tested as pure organic by American labs, apart from sea cucumber, octopus and crabs that weigh as much as 5-8 kilos.

Our coconut water is better than that of Thailand, Singapore and Burma and a single coconut can give you more than two glasses of coconut water.

Apart from having a picturesque land-scape, you will find that Andaman has a ‘Mini-India’ attribute with plenty of Sikhs, Christians, Hindus and Muslims living harmoniously. You can find all kinds of people from all the different regions of the country.

In other states like Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Kerala tour operators have to pay 12-15 percent tax, while in Andaman, the state tax is nil. Hence it reflects on the administration’s desire to develop tourism and business opportunities in the Islands.”

– In conversation with GoNow magazine

as early as 2015. In a similar effort to boost road-connectivity within the islands, highway upgradation has also been undertaken. The Andaman trunk road will be widened to two lanes and bridges will be laid, which will open up middle and north Andaman for development of tourism. The administration has also brought to fore new tourism circuits, which include Port Blair-Hut Bay-Neil-Havelock-Long Islands-Port Blair. Concepts of ethnotourism are also been introduced to lure tourists.

What is the way forward?

Domestic tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar has been growing at a steady pace of over 5-10 percent each year.

In 2013, 2.58 lakh tourists came to the Island, mostly from October to January. Foreigners primarily came from December to March, in a small but healthy numbers of 16,000 in 2013. The inflow of tourists has also doubled to nearly 300,000 in 2012 from 130,000 in 2008-09. However, this is just a tip of the Ice-berg. There is a need to brand

and package the destination in a more attractive way as it would create newer markets for the islands. Lt. Governor also emphasised on the importance of creating new markets of tourists to help bolster revenues. He said, “Most of the foreign travellers come from Israel, United Kingdom, Germany, and France. We must now focus, apart from these countries, on new markets like the United States, Scandinavia, Australia, Russia and South-east Asia.”

It has all the pre-requisites for becoming India’s bridge to the South-Asian and the South-East Asian countries, bringing prosperity to the entire region. Developing 24-hour operation capabilities of the airports can even facilitate its development as a hanger for airlines, which find airport parking fee in the metros exorbitant. It can facilitate large volume of trade and commerce, if ports are developed to handle large cargo vessels.

However, the moot question remains that despite its immensely strategic location, multiple economic opportunities and unparalleled possibilities in tourism, why has it failed to achieve its true potential as a premier destination. It is a baffling question which continues to remain unanswered.

By SHASHANK SHEKHAR

8th annual conference

India’s leading B2B conference that brings together cinema and tourism

Vignettes from last year’s event

◗ Attend cinemascapes to learn, share and network ◗ Plan where to shoot your next film ◗ Connect with line producers, production houses and tourism boards ◗ The ideal networking forum for film and tourism industries For the review of last year’s edition, visit: www.cinemascapes.co.in September 2014 GO NOW

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Tourism is good for economy, but it must capture heritage with sensitivity

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his example is from Vietnam, but could apply to many parts of the world.

Heritage can be commercially exploited without losing its aesthetic appeal to Vietnamese and others who treasure it.

Nguyen Thu Hanh, director of the Scientific Union for Sustainable Tourism Development, recently said that in Viet Nam many officials used heritage to serve tourism, but not all of them fully understood the heritage or its soul.

Many Vietnamese experts are worried that too much tourism can lower the quality of heritage locations – and even lead to its destruction.

"I feel sad and regretful when I see many heritage sites have been downgraded and lost their value after being over exploited for visitors," Hanh said.

"We inherit a treasure of intangible heritage from our ancestors, but we don't always use it carefully and effectively to gain the best benefit."

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In her opinion, authorities and managers have to increase their own awareness and knowledge to know how to use the outstanding values of heritage.

To Ngoc Thanh, chairman of the Viet Nam Folk Arts Association, said he is upset when don ca tai tu (talented instrumental music and singing), an accepted part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is performed to entertain tourists while they eat.

As tour timetables are so tight, tour managers often arrange for tourists to enjoy the performance during the meal.

While instrumentalists and songstresses perform their talent and try to introduce the beauty of the world recognised heritage, tourists eat and talk to each other.

Thanh said most audiences did not realise the beauty of the music and certainly did not understand the meaning of the lyrics.

"I feel unhappy when such fine music is performed at restaurants and the talented musicians received a trifle from restaurants' owners and travel compa-

nies," said Thanh.

"Heritage should be honoured in a different space. It should be performed on a formal stage in a proper old building so that the audience can concentrate.

"We have tried to promote and preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage in general and don ca tai tu in particular, however, the work hasn't been done properly."

Hanh agreed, saying that don ca tai tu – and other heritage music – had its own life and space. "Some people believe that they can promote heritage and introduce it at any time, any place, that's not true," she said.

"If we don't respect the heritage's space, we will never understand its essence."

Hanh said people often exploited heritage to serve tourism, but ignored or did not really understand its quintessential meaning.

"Travel companies offer tours to see the sights of Ha Long Bay, which is what I call the heritage's shell," said Hanh. "They haven't researched the hidden values, including

tourism connect

vSnippets

Inbound tourism to Britain reaches highest in its history

origins, legends, history, and local culture to give visitors a feeling of perspective."

She said world nature heritage was often not promoted properly and often damaged the very environment it was supposed to respect and protect.

"The development of tourism and urban planning with many hotels with disordered architecture undermine heritage space, mangrove forests and the environment" said Hanh.

To promote heritage through tourism, Hanh suggested that authorities should understand the essence of what was being offered. This meant improving the knowledge and awareness of the people employed to look after tourists.

Ninh Binh becomes a national tourism centre

The northern city of Ninh Binh will be developed into a national-level hub of culture, history and tourism.

This follows a master urban planning

scheme recently passed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, which will expand the city into a metropolis of about 4 million by 2030.

Ninh Binh, the capital of the province of the same name, is home to such well-known tourist destinations as Bai Dinh Pagoda, the newly recognised UNESCO cultural and natural heritage site of Trang An, Cuc Phuong National Park, Kenh Ga hot mineral spring, and Tam Coc-Bich Dong site.

The city will also develop rural ecotourism, traditional trade villages, and a waterway to connect tourist sites.

Bui Van Manh, vice director of Trang An's managing board, said classes would be held each month to upgrade the knowledge and awareness of tour guides and the local people who live near the heritage site.

People will be equipped with professional skill, knowledge about the sites, words in foreign languages and responsibility to protect the heritage.

Inbound tourism to Britain in the first half of this year reached the highest level in history.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics figures reveal there were 16.4 million inbound visits to Britain from January to June 2014, setting a new record for this time period and an increase of 8% compared to the first half of 2013.

In June alone, 3.18 million visitors came to Britain, a 10% on June 2013.

Spending by visitors to Britain in June 2014 also increased, by 4% in nominal terms, setting a new June record of ÂŁ1.97 billion.

Holiday visits reached 1.4 million, 12% up on 2013 and accounting for 44% of the total.

VisitBritain head of research and forecasting David Edwards said: "Tourism is an essential part of the wider success of our economy and these first six months have set us up for what could be another record year for inbound tourism.

"It's also hugely positive to see growth both from our high volume European markets and also emerging markets across Asia and Latin America."

Article courtesy E-TURBO NEWS

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tourism connect Beachfront Club allows users to avoid such misleading advertising.”

This photographer’s own work shooting Phuket hotels in the 1990s became the inspiration for the website. Assigned to hide roads and make the hotels look like they were right on the beach, when they weren’t, his embarrassment and motivation for the website is documented in a CNNGo story:http://travel.cnn.com/bangkok/visit/new-online-database-showstravelers-...

Measuring only true beachfront hotels might not give a complete picture of a country’s beach tourism industry, says Everingham. “However, it provides a good look at the top end of each country’s industry. It helps show how tourism has penetrated a country’s beaches, and shows how much choice each country provides to beach-loving visitors. One old-style, large hotel with hundreds of rooms cannot satisfy as many different tastes as several smaller ones scattered

Beachfronts and beaches: Thailand edges out US in numbers

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hailand has surpassed the United States in the number of hotels truly set on its beaches, according to a survey of more than 11,000 hotels in 109 countries released on Friday.

Thailand, a rising superstar in global tourism, has beaten the world’s most famous, traditional beach destinations including Spain, Mexico, USA, Greece and Turkey to take the number one position in the newly announced Global Beachfront Awards. Thailand won top spot with over 1,250 true beachfront hotels and resorts, followed by the USA with 1,016, Mexico with 943, and Spain with 736 and Greece with 576.

Beachfront Stats

This win follows Thailand’s meteoric, 88% rise in tourist numbers over the past five years, overriding both the global depression and its own well-publicized, internal political upheavals. Street violence and grenade attacks in Bangkok did little to slow the country’s burgeoning tourism business, which consistently outperformed all other global players by wide margins over the last five years.

Figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO) show that in 2013, for the first time, Thailand rose to join the world’s Top 10 most visited countries. This world-winning performance was powered by millions of international visitors flocking not to its golden temples 68

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but mainly to its beautiful tropical beaches. Last year 12 of Thailand’s 27 million international tourists visited the island of Phuket alone – and it has 12 more widely scattered beach destinations with over 30 beachfront resorts each.

Issued by The Beachfront Club, whose website maps beachfront hotels in detail not seen elsewhere, the Global Beachfront Awards claim to have accounted for over 12,000 accommodation establishments on beaches in 109 countries. The awards are a measure of the number of true beachfront accommodation establishments a country offers, and include all levels from beach bungalows to luxury, 5-star resorts.

‘True beachfront’, by the criteria of this Club, includes only those hotels directly on a beach or oceanfront with no road or traffic between the rooms and the water.

“True beachfront is the first choice of beach-lovers worldwide” says website founder John Everingham, an Australian and long-term resident of Thailand.

“Especially for those who travel halfway around the planet, and spend large sums of money seeking the perfect beach.” The website is designed, he says, to help people find beachfront hotels anywhere on the planet while avoiding the misleading advertising of hotels that pretend to be on a beach, when in fact they aren’t.

“Old hotel brochures were often designed to leave out roads and make a hotel appear to be right by the sand. Today it’s still commonplace on websites,” he says. “The

on different beaches.” Smaller, more personalized hotels, boutique and creative, says this web entrepreneur, are the trend all across Southeast Asia, the region of the world with the fastest growth by far in international arrivals, according to the WTO’s figures.

Thailand’s taking the number one position in the Global Beachfront Awards will surprise many, just as it did the website’s Bangkok-based creators. Wei Liang Yu, Chinese wife of the founder, the cartographer and a company director, says that when they began they first guessed that Thailand might have about 300 beachfront hotels. But then, as Everingham walked virtually every beach in the country, photographing and GPS-marking all beachfront hotels, the numbers climbed wildly, soaring beyond 1,200. Everingham also walked virtually beach in Bali, Vietnam and Myanmar that has a beachfront hotel, and is now working through the Philippines.

A second set of global awards, the Global Destination Beachfront Awards, has also been released by The Beachfront Club. This counts the total beachfront accommodations in a single beach destination within any country. Once again, Thailand triumphs as Koh Samui’s 270 qualified hotels overtakes the 250 in Riviera Maya, Mexico, while Crete Island in Greece comes in third with 194, and Mallorca in Spain follows with 187.

Article courtesy E-TURBO NEWS

tourism connect

Dubai introduces multi-entry visa, makes it easier for cruise tourism New UAE multiple-entry visa system makes multi-stop trips easier and cheaper for Indian cruise travellers

Cruising through Dubai has become easier, thanks to some recent regulatory changes to the United Arab Emirates’ visa system. These will also further boost medical tourism to the Emirate.

A new ruling in the UAE which took effect on 1 August 2014, will ensure implementation of a new visa and fees system. Amendments include a new multiple entry tourism permit for cruise passengers and a range of new entry permits for medical tourists and their companions.

These visa options will make travel between UAE and visiting nearby countries easier for travellers who need to make multiple stops whether by air, land or sea. Priced at just 200 dirhams (c. US$50), this will now make their travel more cost effective and logistically more convenient with particular impact on a number of key markets for which previous regulations made the cost significantly higher, including India, China, Russia & CIS, South Africa, and Brazil.

Hamad bin Mejren Executive Director of Business Tourism at Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said: “This positive announcement of the new visa system will have an encouraging impact on the attractiveness of Dubai as a destination for those overseas visitors who

plan on travelling in and out of the UAE – for example on a cruise ship, or by taking a short break into neighbouring Oman and Saudi Arabia.

“The announcement will have a significant impact on cruise tourism in the Arabian Gulf, and is one which has been received very well by our partners within the cruise industry. With Dubai being the only home port for many international cruise lines operating cruises in this region, the advantage of simplifying visa procedures through granting passengers multiple entry tourist permits will reduce the costs for each passenger and further boost the sector’s growth. This means that visitors can now arrive at Dubai International Airport or Dubai World Central, take a cruise from Mina Rashid out to other emirates and neighbouring countries and return to Dubai on the same visa rather than having to incur additional time and expense obtaining two or three separate visas.

“We are delighted that the tourists taking a Gulf Cruise can now enter all UAE ports in their itinerary using just one multiple entry visa. Dubai Cruise Tourism has been working closely with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority as well as Oman’s Ministry of Tourism through the Cruise Arabia initiative formed late last year.

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THE HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY

A voyage of culinary and intercultural discovery France is the backdrop to this new Hollywood film with an Indian theme, with actor Om Puri in the lead

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ince August 8th, the film “The Hundred-Foot Journey” is on Indian screens. It narrates the story of an Indian family, the Kadams, who have decided to settle down in a small village in the Midi-Pyrénées region in Southwest France, to open a traditional Indian restaurant, “La Maison Mumbai” just opposite a Michelin-starred French restaurant.

Directed by Lasse Hallström and produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey, the movie stars reputed actors such as OBE and Padma Shri awardee Om Puri and the Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.

According to its producers, the movie grossed more than $ 11.000.000 within a few days of its release (trailer: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=jhop0XdC5s8).

Midi-Pyrenees, a huge region in Southwest France

The Midi-Pyrénées is the largest French region, and is even larger than eight of the European Union states.

Located between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, it has 2,550,000 inhabitants. The region is predominantly rural, but also has a strong presence in aeronautics and the space industry with Airbus global headquarters and industry in the regional capital Toulouse.

The Midi-Pyrénées is bordered to both the north and south by mountains, and the Pyrenees form a natural frontier with Spain. The Midi-Pyrénées has many attractions to explore. Rocamadour, in the Lot, is among the most visited places of interest in France, second only to Mont Saint-Michel.

The economy of the region is based on a number of key sectors. Aeronautics and the space industry are at the top of the list in terms of both reputation and jobs, with some 80,000 employees.

The Midi-Pyrénées is a region full of history. In Montségur, the tragic events of the Cathar faith took place and there are many places that bear witness to the bloody crusade against the Albigeois.

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Conques, Toulouse and Saint-Bertrand de Comminges bring to mind the thousands of pilgrims who set off for Santiago de Compostello, while Lourdes welcomes visitors from the world over.

A gastronomic journey in Southwest France

The Midi-Pyrénées is a gastronomic destination. Foie gras comes top of the list and truffles are often associated with the region. Midi-Pyrénées is home to more than two dozen winemaking appellations, such as the Malbec, Gaillac or Madiran, and is also rich in spirits, most notably the distinctive brandy Armagnac, produced in Gascony.

There are many products with appellation d’origine contrôlée (guaranteed origin) status, and distinguished brands including Rocamadour goat’s cheese, Quercy lamb, Lautrec garlic and Moissac chasselas grapes. Cep mushrooms can be found in the undergrowth in autumn and bryony along the paths in spring. Cassoulet, aligot (mashed potatoes with cheese), garbure (soup with cabbage and confit of goose), stockfish and gâteau à la broche (spit-roasted cake) are some of the other famous traditional recipes.

The region’s celebrated culinary tradition has engendered a considerable number of Michelin-starred chefs, including Michel Bras with three stars, Michel Sarran, Yannick Delpech and Bernard Bach with two stars. Indian Cuisine has also been distinguished by the prestigious award thanks to Michelin-starred Indian Chefs such as Atul Kochchar, Vineet Bhatia or Sriram Aylur.

France, an unparalleled destination for film shooting

France is one of the most dynamic movie industries with talented professional technicians and state of the art facilities. With 200 features produced on its soil every year, from low budget to USD100 million epics, France is an affordable destination, where shooting at famous landmarks such

as the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral is free. Furthermore, since 2009, France offers a 20% tax rebate for foreign features and TV productions, the TRIP (tax rebate for international production).

Many Bollywood blockbusters were shot in France, such as Don, London-Paris-New York, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Queen, and the upcoming Imtiaz Ali movie, Tamasha, starring Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor, which was filmed last month in Corsica.

Cinema is a promising field of cooperation between France and India. India holds the distinction of being the largest producer of films in the world and is always in search of new scenic locations, and France offers a wide range of unparalleled locales, thanks to the diversity of its landscapes.

Story contributed by EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN INDIA

tourism connect A still from the film ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’

, LondonMany Bollywood blockbusters were shot in France, such as Don ming Paris-New York, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Queen, and the upco ir Imtiaz Ali movie, Tamasha, starring Deepika Padukone and Ranb Kapoor, which was filmed last month in Corsica.

A still from the film ‘Queen’

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tourism connect

“New cruise service to co The new government has shown its keenness to pursue many river specific projects in the country. In an exclusive conversation, the chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Amitabh Verma speaks about a new cruise service which will be launched next month and the broader thinking within the government to include tourism in its overall plan to develop inland waterways infrastructure in the country. do understand that Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has the broader mandate to improve the water freight movement regime within the country. But then there are a host of allied sectors which could also

benefit from the infrastructural base which you have created or plan to create further on all six national waterways going ahead. Does tourism also figure on your agenda?

We have examples of other countries who have made most of their inland

Picture shows Brahmaputra cruise, already a successful tourism attraction. Cruises like these should soon become a reality on other rivers.

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waterways assets vis-Ă -vis tourism activities?

The National Waterways 3 (over 200 km water stretch in Kerala connecting Kochi to Kollam) is being used primarily for tourism purposes. If you go to Kerala, you will find houseboats plying on the NW 3

tourism connect

onnect Varanasi-Patna” route. Now coming to NW1 and NW2 that have been created on Brahmputra and Ganga, you have five cruise operators providing services. The timing is generally upto February because after that there is the issue of draft. In the Ganges, we have the cruise coming from Haldia to Patna. From Patna, passengers go on to visit Bodhgaya or Nalanda and then by bus or train they are taken to Varanasi.

That is the usual itinerary.

I am happy to tell you that we are now set to kickstart a new cruise service from Patna to Varanasi from the next month.

“In recent times, we have seen the government talking about connecting religious places with cruise services also. So we are looking at it and we will be convening a meeting of all cruise operators very soon. We want to hear them out and try to judge what all assistance they require from us to increase the frequency of the cruise by bringing in more ships and connecting with places of religious importance.”

Amitabh Verma, Chairman, IWAI The service will commence on 6th September and its going to be an ultra-luxury cruise comprising all five-star facilities.

The passenger capacity of this cruise is 40 and for its inaugural journey, a Japanese delegation has booked the entire cruise. It is going to be a seven day cruise from Patna to Varanasi. They will take you to Sarnath, Buxar Fort and right up to Chunar where the tourists could take part in the regular aarti as well. It will be a regular service operating at least once a month initially.

PHOTO COURTESY: BENGAL NAVIGATION COMPANY

But isn’t it a product meant for high spending international tourists?

Past experience shows that Indian passengers are not availing this kind of unique product in large numbers because the tariffs are quite high. For Patna to Varansi cruise, it is $195 per person/per night. The cruise which comes from Haldia to Patna (a 14 days trip), it is Rs 2 lakh per person.

These products are mainly sold out abroad – Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.

Can there be cruise products catering to the domestic tourists segment as well? Can we expect some initiatives in this direction?

In recent times, we have seen the government talking about connecting religious places with cruise services also. So we are looking at it and we will be convening a meeting of all cruise operators very soon.

We want to hear them out and try to judge what all assistance they require from us to increase the frequency of the cruise by bringing in more ships and connecting

with places of religious importance. We believe this segment has tremendous scope.

Now we are assuring a depth of 2.5 meters from Buxar to Farakka round the year and 3 meters from Farakka to Haldia. So the draft is not a problem. For cruise vessels, even 2 meters draft is enough. We are looking at this proposition very seriously to ensure that tourist movement also starts.

Is there any consistent dialogue happening between IWAI and Ministry of Tourism pertaining to expanding inland waterways tourism sector?

An inter-ministerial group has been set up by the new government comprising representatives from Ministry of Water Resources, Shipping, Tourism and Environment and Forest. The four ministers are looking at developing the rivers, cleaning the rivers and ensuring river front development which includes tourism possibilities.

This group is presently looking at possibilities in Ganga as well as Yamuna.

Beyond cruise, are you also looking at some other avenues like water sports?

In Brahamputra, while we have cruise, we are also thinking in terms of facilitating rowing services. In NW3, we have given a couple of terminals to Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation on lease to develop tourism and water sports activities. So when comes to develop inland waterways tourism, we are certainly looking beyond the cruise.

by RITWIK SINHA

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last page GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) foundation forecasts 7.6 percent growth for India’s business travel spend in 2015. It also says that India is now the 10th largest business travel market in the world. We spoke to Welf Ebeling, responsible for GBTA in Asia Pacific. Here are the excerpts of the conversation.

the BRICS nations?

In terms of volume of course, we are talking David and Goliath. But, they have somewhat similar growth pattern, if we look at the curve. China had an annual business travel spend of something like 30 billion US dollars in 2000, which has shot up to 225 billion dollars in 2014. Whereas, India spend around 8 billion dollars has, now, reached a figure of 24 billion dollars.

In terms of size, India compares better to Brazil. Both of them have the same sort of growth patterns and suffer from similar

India is 10th largest business travel market, poised to grow 7.6% Your recent survey mentions that India is the ‘tenth biggest market’.

How have you arrived to this figure?

We measure business travel expenditure, i.e. basically, the expenditure that is being generated within the country. So, this is what the companies, government and any other commercial institutions, not leisure, is spending on travel expenses. So, essentially, it is a mix of domestic travel and International outbound travel from India.

India is the 10th biggest market by the virtue of Indian domestic travel and Indian international travel outbound put together.

What is the methodology that you have adopted?

Sure. We have our own research department and are also working with an independent institute called the Rockford analytics based in Massachusetts. They are a group of professional analysts, who collect data, analyse them and then put it into a manageable report. They basically collect data from multitude of different sources like government reports, corporate reports, besides looking at the studies from IATA, WMF, and WTTC. Of course, we have to be a little careful of the government reports because sometimes the findings are debateable.

What is your overview of India?

If you look at the period from 2000 2010 period, there was actual significant growth in the numbers. Since then, there has been a slowdown which has affected India’s export and consequently business travel. Growth essentially requires an upkeep of infrastructure, you can’t have growth and the infrastructure not growing parallel with it. I think, this is one of the big issues with India. Here you have a visibly significant growth in India, in commerce and new industries, but infrastructure here is woefully lagging.

What do you make of the infrastructure available in India for business travel?

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Welf Ebeling

GBTA, Asia Pacific

My mantra for business traveller and more so for business companies would be that do not stick to your old habits and traditional ways of managing travel and your people. able for corporate travel. The hotel industry in India, when it started growing, focussed primarily on the five star hotels. So, on one hand you have local guest houses and on the other hand you have top end five star hotels and very little in-between. It is interesting to see Taj group come up with concept like Vivanta. ‘Vivanta’ is a prime example of the ‘in-between’. Now you have palaces, Vivanta, Ginger hotels and then the local guest houses. So, they have drilled deep and that’s precisely what companies need.

How do you see India compared to

woes like lack of infrastructure. In totality, BRICS market are far more exciting because of their growth prospect than the mature markets of US and Europe.

How much do international conflicts and uncertainty affect Business prospects, especially in India?

From a business travel perspective you will have to accept the fact that 90 percent of the business travel is actually happening domestically in India. More so, there are new business centres popping up not only in primary, but secondary and tertiary markets as well. So, domestic business travel, obviously, plays a huge role for India. India is affected, more, by its internal factors like political stability and market sentiments.

What are your expectations from the new government?

Everyone from domestic to foreign investors are looking at what actually is the BJP is doing? It’s the promise of renewed business impetus that has brought them at helm. Can the infrastructure be improved? Will India embark on a similar move like the Chinese, who have pledged transparency and curbed corruption and nepotism? Will it be lip-service or will it actually happen? If it happens, you will see, and this is what we are reflecting in our forecast, a steep increase in both the economic growth and business travel.

What would be your mantra for Indian business travel industry?

My mantra for business traveller and more so for business companies would be that do not stick to your old habits and traditional ways of managing travel and your people. Take a complete review of your procedures, see how you can be more efficient in terms of structuring business travel. India is a service driven economy and thus has more human capital. Therefore, it is important to manage your human capital in the most effective way possible.

There has to be a greater transparency in prices with more efficiency in service delivery in a cost-effective manner.

As told to SHASHANK SHEKHAR

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Date of Publication: 04/09/2014

RNI No. DELENG/2000/3645 Posting Dt. 4-9/09/2014 Licence No. U(C)-299/2012-2014 W.P.P. at NDPSO Postal Reg No. DL-(C)-01/1250/2012-14