Express Travelworld (Vol.10, No.1) February, 2015

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CONTENTS MANAGEMENT Vol 10 No 1 FEBRUARY 2015 Pages 40

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Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka Editor

Reema Lokesh* Chief of Product

Prabhas Jha MELAKA: A MULTI-CULTURAL LEGACY MELAKA IS A LIVING LEGACY OF A RICH DIVERSE HERITAGE WITH AN OLD WORLD CHARM THAT IS A GREAT ATTRACTION FOR VISITORS WHO CAN ENJOY A RELAXED VACATION AMONG THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THIS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CITY

Assistant Editor

Steena Joy Sr. Associate Editor

Sudipta Dev CONTENT TEAM Mumbai

Kahini Chakraborty Rituparna Chatterjee New Delhi

Archana Sharma Kolkata

Joy Roy Choudhury DESIGN National Art Director

Bivash Barua Deputy Art Director

Surajit Patro Chief Designer

Pravin Temble Senior Graphic Designerr

Rushikesh Konka Senior Artist

Ratilal Ladani, Kiran Parker SCHEDULING & COORDINATION Sr.Executive

Rohan Thakkar Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil MARKETING Regional Heads

Harit Mohanty - West Prabhas Jha - North Sanghamitra Kumar - East Dr. Raghu Pillai - South

MUSIC TO THE EARS

EDGE

Despite infrastructural and connectivity challenges, Konark, Khajuraho, Elephanta, Sirpur and Modhera, host dance and music festivals that draw thousands of tourists from worldwide for a rich cultural tourism experience. State tourism boards must grow this niche tourism product to put India's cultural legacy on the world map (16-19)

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LIFE

UNITING NORTH EAST, NEPAL AND BHUTAN THE RECENTLY HELD SIKKIM ASSOCIATION OF ADVENTURE TOUR OPERATORS (SAATO) CONFERENCE WAS AIMED TOWARDS STRENGTHENING TIES AMONGST THE NORTH EAST STATES OF INDIA

Marketing Team

Sunil Dcosta Gunjan Chauhan Baljinder Singh Ajanta Sengupta CIRCULATION

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KUONI- INDIA CLEARS AIR ABOUT ITS B2C BUSINESS UNIT’S ‘EXIT’ DECISION

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I WANT MPTDC TO WORK BETTER THAN PVT SECTOR: ASHWANI LOHANI

Mohan Varadakar PRODUCTION

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TAJ TOURS APPOINTS GOGO TRAVELS AS PSA IN MUMBAI

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ASSAM TOURISM TO STREAMLINE HOMESTAY SEGMENT

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General Manager

B R Tipnis Manager

Bhadresh Valia Express TravelWorld Reg. No.-MH/MR/SOUTH156\2013-15 RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993 Printed by The Indian Express Limited and published by Ms Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of The Indian Express Press, Plot No. EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400710 and Published from Express Towers, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021.

(Editorial & Administra-tive Offices: Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)

P06 : EDITOR’S NOTE P30 : APPOINTMENTS P35 : WEEKEND

SKILL DEVELOPMENT TRANSFORMS LIVES MINISTRY OF TOURISM'S HUNAR SE ROZGAR TAK I NITIATIVE IS TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM PANVEL, PEN AND OTHER MAHARASHTRA VILLAGES, WHO ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO JOIN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AS COOKS AND IN F&B SERVICES

Copyright @ 2011 The Indian Express Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. *Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act

EDITOR’S NOTE

Touching tomorrow

T

ough times don't last but tough people do' or 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going' are strong statements with profound meaning. Interestingly so, I happen to meet people who are examples of this strength and conviction, doing their bit for tourism against all odds. From Namchi in Sikkim to Raipur in Chhattisgarh, a few common men/women and bureaucrats are doing some humbling work, the only motivation being the passion to create a sustainable tourism offering.

Tshering Bhutia's work towards sustainable tourism through the Khanchenjunga Conservation Committee is bringing in the much needed results at the grassroots, while Santosh Misra, MD, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board's work to organise the Sirpur Dance Festival in a place which was a deep dry pond is truly commendable. They go about doing their work without complaining, one step at a time, devoid of the desire for publicity.

His colleague in MP Tourism, Ashwani Lohani who takes over the reigns once again, is also known to have created a product against odds.

Our cover story this issue speaks about a niche tourism product that was created in destinations without much infrastructure, but with a product that was strong enough to open opportunities for

HEAD OFFICE MUMBAI: Express TravelWorld Sunil Dcosta The Indian Express Ltd Business Publication Division 2nd Floor, Express Tower, Nariman Point Mumbai- 400 021 Board line: 022- 67440000 Ext. 263 Mobile: +91 9821798612 Email Id: sunil.dcosta@expressindia.com Branch Offices : NEW DELHI: Baljinder Singh The Indian Express Ltd Business Publication Division Express Building, 9&10, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi- 110 002 Board line: 011-23702100 Ext. 568 Mobile: +91 9868848013 Fax: 011-23702141 Email id: baljinder.singh@expressindia.com CHENNAI: Gunjan Chauhan The Indian Express Ltd Business Publication Division

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New No. 37/C (Old No. 16/C) 2nd Floor,Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai- 600 014 Mobile: +91 9620601306 Email id: gunjan.chauhan@expressindia.com BANGALORE: Gunjan Chauhan The Indian Express Ltd Business Publication Division 502, 5th Floor, Devatha Plaza, Residency road, Bangalore- 560025 Mobile: +91 9620601306 Email id: gunjan.chauhan@expressindia.com HYDERABAD: Gunjan Chauhan The Indian Express Ltd Business Publication Division 6-3-885/7/B, Ground Floor, VV Mansion, Somaji Guda, Hyderabad – 500 082 Mobile: +91 9620601306 Email id: gunjan.chauhan@expressindia.com KOLKATA: Ajanta Sengupta

“ Afew common men/women and bureaucrats are doing some humbling work,the only motivation being the passion to create a sustainable tourism offering ” The Indian Express Ltd Business Publication Division JL No. 29&30, NH-6, Mouza- Prasastha & Ankurhati, Vill & PO- Ankurhati P.S.- Domjur (Nr.Ankurhati Check Bus Stop), Dist. Howrah- 711 409 Mobile: +91 9831182580 Email id: ajanta.sengupta@expressindia.com KOCHI: Gunjan Chauhan The Indian Express Ltd Ground Floor, Sankoorikal Building, Kaloor – Kadavanthra Road Kaloor, Kochi – 682 017 Mobile: +91 9620601306 Email id: gunjan.chauhan@expressindia.com COIMBATORE: Gunjan Chauhan The Indian Express Ltd No. 205-B, 2nd Floor, Vivekanand Road, Opp. Rajarathinam Hospital Ram Nagar, Coimbatore- 641 009 Mobile: +91 9620601306 Email id: gunjan.chauhan@expressindia.com

investments. This month also witnessed tourism gatherings, wherein the outbound tourism space was cluttered once again with events, each trying to capture the outbound Indian traveller. Further it is also convention and conference time, with one to be held in the centre of India and the other in the land of creation. Israel-Land of Creation (its tourism tagline) is all set to welcome TAFI delegates to a place which is misunderstood by many as war stricken and dangerous, when actually it is sensitive and warm as the headline in our story says. The other event titled the Global Panorama Showcase to be held in Nagpur, is once again a story of determination. The Anand brothers are determined to bring India's Tier II cities into prominence. Further, TAAI too is going to a destination that has faced adversities both manmade and natural, and has emerged strong. From the Bali bombings to the tsunami, Indonesia's story is of survival as well.

Finally it's budget time and the wishlist is too long, from service tax exemption to industry status. Let's see what Budget 2015-2016 has in store for the tourism sector.

REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com AHMEDABAD: Sunil Dcosta The Indian Express Ltd 3rd Floor, Sambhav House, Near Judges Bunglows, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Mobile: +91 9821798612 Email Id: sunil.dcosta@expressindia.com BHOPAL: Baljinder Singh The Indian Express Ltd F-102, Inner Court Apartment, 1st Floor, GTB Complex, Behind 45 Bungalows, Bhopal - 462 003 Mobile: +91 9868848013 Email id: baljinder.singh@expressindia.com JAIPUR: Baljinder Singh The Indian Express Ltd S2,J-40, Shyam GHP Enclave, Krishna Marg, C-Scheme, Jaipur - 302 001 Mobile: +91 9868848013 Email id: baljinder.singh@expressindia.com

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Policy reforms need of the hour: tourism industry Akshay Kumar Mumbai WITH THE ANNUAL BUDGET 2015 round the corner, every industry is expecting it to be business friendly. Last year's Annual Budget gave tourism a very important spot and allotted a good amount for the industry, thereby increasing expectations.

The Modi led government has also focused a lot on the tourism segment and has initiated many major steps like the Visa on Arrival, ETA, and so on.

Dev Karvat, managing director, TrawellTag Cover-More, India said, “I’m quite hopeful that

the upcoming Union Budget will be in favour of the tourism industry. Since the sector has been officially included in the government’s election manifesto, I feel that for the first time, the travel industry has been looked at seriously. Introduction of e-visa in India has instilled a new lease of life into the existing tourism sector. Now we expect the upcoming Budget to allocate higher investment for development of Tier I and Tier II city airports to boost inbound and outbound travelling. This year’s Union Budget should also focus on bringing in vital tax reforms and developing the infrastructure of

popular tourist destinations to improve the current state of economy and position India as a globally competitive tourist destination.

Harmandeep Singh Anand, secretary general, TAAI said, “TAAI had made certain representations to the government for providing exemptions. Following the representation, couple of exemptions were granted by the government namely- exemption to tour operator for conducting tours for foreign tourist wholly outside India; exemption from levy of service tax on Haj and Kailash Mansarovar Yatras. Although, all the issues weren’t ad-

dressed by the government previously, but we are still hopeful of continued redressal of issues faced by the travel industry so as to provide a boost to this industry and promote tourism.”

Umapada Chatterjee, director of tourism and ex-officio special secretary, Government of West Bengal said, "In our state the present government has emphasised a lot on tourism. The central government has taken major steps in getting in place the e-visa and visa on arrival systems. The central government is also developing 50 circuits out of which two are in West Bengal.

The Budget must focus in build-

ing infrastructure, last mile connectivity and publicity. We expect the central government to allot more budget to promote our state. It should be a joint effort by the state and centre."

Rajeev Wagle, MD, Kuoni India said, "First of all, we want the government to look into the GST. We want to look at the operational details of full GST. The government has done a lot on the inbound front like the e-visas and visa on arrival. But a few issues on taxes should be clarified.

I do believe both outbound and business travel is doing good but in this Budget we will look forward for some tax clarity."

Kuoni- India clears air about its B2C business unit’s ‘Exit’decision Reema Lokesh Mumbai “IT IS BUSINESS as usual at Kuoni,” stated Rajeev Wagle, managing director, Kuoni- India, in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld. The recent announcement by the Kuoni headquarters (Kuoni’s board of directors and group executive board) based in Zurich to exit from its tour operating activities created a stir in the industry. The company has taken a decision to part with its B2C businesses and focus completely on the B2B and B2G business units namely Global Travel Distribution (GTD), Global Travel Services (GTS) and VFS Global.

These core businesses already

represent around 60 per cent of Kuoni’s current consolidated turnover. “The decision taken by the headquarters was clearly strategic to accelerate growth and profitability and take the other core business performing units to the next level of growth. M&As, ownership changes are a part of any form of business across sectors, the travel space being no exception,” mentioned Wagle, adding that, the headquarters, based in Zurich, will start the formal process of seeking bids and tenders in the coming months. Buyers could be private equity investors, strategic investors or others. Apart from India, Kuoni will also exit from tour operating business in few other regions as well.

The decision taken by the headquarters was clearly strategic to accelerate growth and profitability and take the other core business performing units to the next level of growth Whether these business units will be hived off as a whole or in parts will again rest only with the headquarters, informed Wagle. He also emphasised, “The team in India, including all our franchise units are functioning with the same

enthusiasm and focus. For us, it is work as usual.”

The company aims to further drive growth and profitability by leveraging the group’s scale, exploiting crossselling opportunities and developing more new business. In

particular, Kuoni will focus on markets with attractive, longterm growth potential such as Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The travel market environment is likely to remain fast- changing, requiring travel companies to choose distinct development priorities. Kuoni has therefore decided to focus on its resources and to divest its tour operating activities. On a pro- forma basis, the new Kuoni Group employs approximately 8000 people and generated a turnover of CHF 3.4 billion in 2014. Post-divestment, Kuoni Group aspires to become a leading service provider to the global travel industry and to grow significantly faster than the travel market as a whole.

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India-US relations: The real work starts now, says Manoj Gursahani Reema Lokesh Mumbai THE MODI-OBAMA euphoria has got the world talking.

From a rather awkward past especially with India's present PM, followed by the Khobragade issue to the recent buoyancy in relationship and business, courtesy the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and the visit of Obama at the Republic Day celebrations in India, the attitude at the top level has been very clear - let the past be left behind and let's march into the future on a progressive note.

This attitude was clearly expressed by Thomas L Vajda, consulate general of the USA in Mumbai, wherein he stated, "We are hear to look into the future as strong partners. I

would like to say that I have come in at the right time as there is a lot of positive energy and good work being done at both ends." The path ahead is predicted to increase trade relations from US$100 billion to US$ 500 billion in the coming three-four years. Manoj Gursahani, president, Visit USA Committee and vice-chairman, US India Investors Forum, who was part of the USA pavilion at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and the US India Business Summit has been witnessing the action rather closely. "The future is full of positive action and our real work starts now.

After the top level engagements there is a lot of work happening on the ground level.

I have witnessed the action rather closely, there is a lot of

TAAI Annual Convention 2015 to be held in Bali ETW Staff Mumbai TRAVEL AGENTS Association of India (TAAI) is all set to host their 62nd Annual Convention at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua Bali in Indonesia. The convention will be from March 26- 29, 2015.

Harmandeep Singh Anand, secretary general, TAAI said, “We are glad to hold our convention in Indonesia. The sessions and the event line up are yet to be decided. We are looking forward to a robust participation and are planning out an interesting and a meaningful convention for all our attendees.�

The theme of the convention is Reflections -Redefining Relevance.

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Thomas L Vajda

Manoj Gursahani

joint opportunities taking place on the sidelines," stated Gursahani adding, "There has been a visible focus on the SME segment. There is vibrant business taking place in the pharma, IT, auto ancillary sectors and espe-

cially in the renewable energy space primarily in solar energy."

On the tourism front, there is a lot of growth that is taking place. Gursahani opined, "We have seen the numbers grow-

ing in tourism to a tune of about 20 per cent. Along with tourism, we also predict positive growth in the education of tourism space. From post graduation to under graduation, campus visits, NASA experience, we are witnessing all this and more. The MICE space is also getting very prominent. US is promoting itself as a MICE destination with its advantage of being reasonable in terms of a destination, benefits given in terms of group visas and the visa on arrival news is a further encouragement. The team at the consulate office in Mumbai lead by Vajda has been extremely forthcoming and is effectively working as a catalyst to strengthen the MICE space," he concluded.

I want MPTDC to work better than pvt sector: Ashwani Lohani Reema Lokesh Mumbai ASHWANI LOHANI can be credited for reshaping the working and functioning of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) in his previous tenure. Under his leadership, the corporation gained visibility and prominence both nationally and internationally. As Lohani takes charge once again as commissioner tourism and managing director of MPTDC, he is ready to take the corporation to new levels of growth. Speaking exclusively to Express Travel-

World, Lohani stated, "I have always believed that it is my work that should speak and today I am clear that I want MPTDC to work better than the private sector. What we achieved in the past has been recognised but there is a lot of work that needs to be done for a better future. We are completely focused and should achieve what I hope to."

Connectivity, infrastructure improvement is of priority in his plan both in terms of land and air connectivity. He gave the example of Khajuraho as a region, wherein he feels a destination as rich in heritage as Kha-

juraho needs its share of effective connectivity especially gateway cities like New Delhi and Mumbai and other metros as well.

He also believes that the success of the tourism board and the destination can take place only if issues at the grassroots level are addressed and | resolved. People participation is the key and those on the ground need to be involved and supportive of any development.

He concluded with a very clear message, "Our team is here to work and you will see some positive developments in the coming future."

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Taj Tours appoints GoGo Travels as PSA in Mumbai Unveils news brochure for 2015 Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai LONDON-BASED Taj Tours, which offers ground handling and coach services in major destinations worldwide, has appointed Mumbai-based GoGo Travels as the Preferred Sales Agent (PSA) in Mumbai. The company also launched its new brochure for 2015 at the event announcement in Mumbai.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Niteen Mehta, managing director, Taj Tours said, “Taj Tours has been in the India market since 1999 and opened its office in Mumbai and the focus has been B2B. We see a huge potential in the India market and hence the company is now investing a lot of energy into this market. Teaming up with GoGo Travels has provided us with a good entry point. We offer three products as part of our offering- Premium, Exclusive and Cost Saver. In our new brochure for 2015, apart from our source markets- Europe and the US, we are highlighting new destinations as part of our exclusive tours to destinations like South America, Scandinavia, Russia, East Europe. And interesting trend that we have seen in the India market has been the interest of travellers to visit Iceland and experience unique offerings.”

He also added, “Our 2015 brochure includes a range of coach tours covering new destinations and attractions for our repeat clientele as well as new travellers. We have used our extensive industry knowledge and expertise and our ongoing customer evaluation programme to introduce some new tours.”

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Assam Tourism to streamline homestay segment Rituparna Chatterjee Mumbai THE DIRECTORATE of tourism, Government of Assam has plans to turn the state’s homestays into an organised sector by mid 2015 and for the same, they would be introducing a set of guidelines and criteria for service standards.

Presently, Assam’s homestays is mainly concentrated at Kaziranga National Park and Majuli and the directorate of tourism has been recently promoting homestays in districts like Karbi Anglong and Bongaigaon.

Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Moitreyee Das, tourist information officer, directorate of tourism, Government of Assam said, “We are

coming up with a set of guidelines to streamline our homestays to keep a track of the quality of services being provided to the travellers. There are around 30 to 40 homestays at Kaziranga National Park and 20 to 25 at Majuli– all being unorganised. The guidelines would be implemented in three to four months time as they are still under process.”

Under this initiative, the directorate of tourism would be giving training sessions to the staff managing the homestays.

“We will be taking them for trainings to Ranthambore National Park, Kanha National Park and some international destinations to give them an outside exposure and educate them about the service standards followed there. The DCs

There are around 30 to 40 homestays at Kaziranga National Park and 20 to 25 at Majuli– all being unorganised. The guidelines would be implemented in three to four months time as they are still under process Moitreyee Das

and officers in different districts will do regular checks of these homestays and the membership can be renewed every year,” opined Das. Moreover, financial assistance will also be provided to resorts and homestays for their further develop-

ment. “The applications for this will be accepted till February 20, 2015 and some have already applied for it,” she added.

Moreover, there are many hotel projects coming up at Guwahati and Kaziranga National Park, post the comple-

tion of which the directorate of tourism has plans to promote Guwahati as a MICE destination. A golf resort is also coming up in the outskirts of Guwahati, which is expected to be operational in a year or two.

SATTE 2015 addresses industry concerns Archana Sharma New Delhi THE 22ND EDITION of SATTE was held from January 29-31, 2015 at Pragati Maidan, Delhi and witnessed participation by over 650 exhibitors from 50 countries. During the inaugural address, Joji George, managing director, UBM India and Michael Duck, executive vice president, UBM Asia emphasised on the importance of India as a major tourist destination as well as an even bigger source market. While talking about the partnership with the ministry of tourism (MoT), Duck also highlighted their plans to make SATTE 2016 an even bigger event.

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Speaking about future initiatives, Girish Shankar, additional secretary, MoT stated that they will be adding more countries to the tourist visa on arrival scheme. “With the surge in tourist arrivals observed so far, we are looking at adding more countries to the tourist visa on arrival list by the end of 2015, as tourism is not just good for the GDP of the country but for inclusive growth as well.” he stated.

Shankar also informed that MoT is trying to improve connectivity for seamless travel and increase air connectivity by utilisation of unused airports and air strips. Stressing on the security concerns, Shankar also talked about the 24 hour helpline launched recently which is

presently available in only two languages but will soon be available in eight more languages.

“MoT will also be upgrading the India tourism website in the next six months with a new look, making it more user friendly,” he

added. Ashok Chandra Panda, minister for tourism, Odisha, spoke about their strategy to promote Odisha not only in the domestic market but also in the South Asian market with the help of a Look East policy.

The three day event witnessed many companies promoting their products like Abacus and Travelport Galileo, Fore Representations, Holiday Merchants, Influence Technolabs, Internet Moguls, M Globe International, QuadLabs, RezLive, roomsXML, etc. Apart from these, a few international cities also promoted themselves as solo destinations like Moscow. “We are also looking into major investment projects to improve the infrastructure of Moscow city in order to facilitate more tourists visiting us,” informed Nato Chechelashvili, consultant, Committee on Tourism and Hotel Industry, Moscow City Government.

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SIA launches special Kuwait Airways to promotions to mark 50th start operations to year of diplomatic relations Ahmedabad and Bengaluru Akshay Kumar Mumbai

Sudipta Dev Mumbai ON AUGUST 9, 2015, Singapore turns 50 years old as a nation. The year also marks the 50th year of Singapore's diplomatic relations with India. Throughout the year Singapore Airlines will be launching a series of packages, promotions for Indian customers. “We have recently started a campaign, on January 15, 2015 - every passenger who books return ticket on our website, on Singapore Airlines or SilkAir, are entiled to SGD 130 worth of gifts, which includes upto SGD 30 shopping at Changi Airport and SGD 100 worth of attractions in the city,” said David Lau, general manager India, Singapore Airlines.

This campaign is in collaboration with Singapore Tourism Board and Changi Airport. It is a common promotion across India, and only for Indian citizens.

David Lau

Singapore Airlines was the first airline to introduce A380 in the India sector on May 30, 2014. “The response has been nothing less than spectacular from the market. The launch of A380 to Delhi and Mumbai is something that we are very proud of as it is the first commercial A380 for India. For Singapore Airlines as a group it was also the first time that we launched two A380 stations within a single night. It was a great team effort,” stated Lau, pointing out that

it is not an easy task to launch a new destination for A380 in terms of operations, publicity, ground handling, etc.

With A380, suites were introduced in the India market by the airline – 12 in each aircraft. Lau believes that demand for Business Class is growing in India. Singapore Airlines is planning to introduce premium economy by July 2015, though not initially in the India sector, but probably in Hong Kong and Sydney routes.

In terms of expansion, for Mumbai in the peak season of May and June, SIA will introduce additional three times per week flight. A fourth weekly will also be introduced to Ahmedabad, in May / June 2015. SilkAir flies to five Indian cities, besides parallel operations to Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. “Pune is one of the airports we are looking at for SilkAir, but it is subject to the approval of the authorities,” mentioned Lau.

KUWAIT AIRWAYS, the national airline of Kuwait is all set to start operations to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru

by June 2015. The aircraft’s used in these routes will be Airbus A320 and will be thrice weekly.

Speaking exclusively to Financial Express Online, a senior authority from Kuwait Airways said, “We will be introducing routes to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru before June. As of now we are waiting for the clearance. Also, we are adding three new destinations this year which are Munich, Vienna and Istanbul.

The number of travellers flying from India to Kuwait has gradually increased year on year.”

Recently, the airlines took

delivery of an A320 equipped with Sharklets; the first of 37 new aircraft that the company has ordered for their fleet renewal plan.

The airline has also decided to equip its new A320 fleet with Airbus’ innovative Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) technology. This on-board cockpit technology, which Airbus has pioneered independently over several years, increases pilots’ situational awareness during landing, reduces exposure to runway excursion risk, and if necessary, provides active protection.

Currently, the airlines flies to five destinations in India namely; daily flights to Mumbai and Kochi; six times a week to Delhi and four times a week to Chennai and Thiruvanathapuram.

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Switzerland focuses on increasing stays of Indian travellers Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai SWITZERLAND Tourism is introducing new products and destinations like Davos and Zermatt in the India market, with a focus on aggressively increasing the number of Indians coming to Switzerland and extending the number of nights spent. The well known destinations like Lucerne and Zurich are also adding new products to their portfolio to keep people revisiting the destinations. To celebrate the summers of Switzerland, the tourism board has introduced The Grand Tour of Switzerland which combines the highlights of the destination in one single journey. It also leads across five Alpine passes, alongside 22 lakes, and to 13 UNESCO highlights with access to three neighbouring countries via Basel, Geneva and Lugano. Speaking to Express TravelWorld on the sidelines of the press launch of the product, Ritu Sharma, deputy director, Switzerland Tourism India said, “The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a self drive route. We also offer a Grand Train Tour of Switzerland which basically covers all touristic regions of Switzerland with panoramic routes such as Glacier Express, Golden Pass and so on.

The Grand Tour starts in summer 2015. Right now, we are celebrating 150 years of winter tourism in Switzerl and and promoting Switzerland as the original winter destination.”

Besides this, the board is also offering 'Swiss Outdoors' targeting the younger Indians

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NSWlooks at improving air connectivity with India Sudipta Dev Mumbai

The tourism board will continue to focus on MICE and its specialised division- SCIB (Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau) has now started to look after this growing segment in India - which offers adventure sports such as paragliding, bungee jumping as well as mountain biking, hiking, etc.

“We are also promoting our youth hostels for such travellers. 'Swiss Cities' which are more boutique towns and offer all the advantages of a city such as restaurants, art, nightlife with close proximity to nature are also being promoted this year,” she added.

When asked about the tourist arrival growth from the India market, Sharma in-

formed, “Tourist arrivals are approximately 325,000, hotel overnights are 470,000 and apartment overnights are approximately 300,000 until November 2014. We are expecting a five per cent increase in numbers in 2015.” The tourism board will continue to focus on MICE and its specialised divisionSCIB (Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau) has now started to look after this growing segment in India.

NEW SOUTH WALES, the largest state in Australia, also has the largest Indian population. Mike Baird, premier, New South Wales, Australia was in India recently on a personal invitation of the Indian prime minister for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

Baird has signed a new MoU with the chief minister of Gujarat, and met the tourism minsiter. “Tourism is one of the big opportuinities of our relationship,” said Baird, who also had a meeting with the chief minister of Maharashtra. He was a part of the 450 people delegation from Australia (the largest for Vibrant Gujarat Summit), that was led by the trade minister of Australia.

Talking about the need to improve airline connectivity between NSW and India, he said, “That is one of the things we are discussing with the chief ministers. Collectively we are trying to approach the airlines. Accessibility is one of the important aspects. The direct Air India flight has made a big difference. Jet Airways is one of the airlines we are talking to, and similarly Australian airlines,” mentioned Baird.

Tourism being one of the key focus areas, Baird acknowledged that it provided a great opportunity. “We are looking at doubling tourism

Mike Baird

in five years and want to bring people from Australia to this amazing country. We want to continue our success of attracting tourists from India. A lot of this can be attributed to the Jhappi Time campaign that encourages Indians to go and hug one's loved ones in Australia. My expectation is that Jhappi Time will flourish,” he stated.

Singapore Airlines is signing up for the first time for the Jhappi Time campaign. The next focus is the honeymoon segment. Destination NSW has set ambitious goals for 2020. Paramjit Bawa, country manager – India, Destination NSW, said, “We will not be able to achieve that without the support of the Indian travel trade. We value the support of our airline partners.”

The sneak peek world primiere of Bret Lee's 'Un-Indian' was also held during the event.

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Argentina Tourism to conduct training programmes for India mkt Archana Sharma New Delhi WITH A VIEW to educate and enhance the knowledge of the Indian travel trade about Argentina's tourism offerings, the National Institute of Tourism Promotion (INPROTUR) in association with Knack Marketing, India representative for INPROTUR, will be conducting a series of training programmes in March 2015 in India. “We will be launching an

e-learning platform for tour operators in the next two months and will conduct training programmes for them in Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad, Ahmedabad,” stated Medha Sampat, director, Knack Marketing while commencing their roadshow for the year in New Delhi. Two more roadshows were conducted in Kolkata on January 28 and in Bengaluru on February 2.

Witnessing over 100 tour operators for the roadshow,

this was the first time that INPROTUR targeted the Delhi market. It saw participation from the Argentina Embassy as well as two DMCs - Eurotur and Helling's Travel. INPROTUR is also planning to reach out to other markets in the coming year like Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, etc.

Looking at increasing the Indian visitor arrivals by 10 per cent in 2015, Pablo Cagnoni, market coordinator

for Asia, Oceania and Africa, INPROTUR, stated, “Apart from our popular areas, Buenos Aires, Iguazu, and El Calafate, we are also promoting the northern region, as Argentina is a luxury destination with mostly high-end travellers.” He also informed that they have recorded about 5600 visitors from the India market in 2014. “India is a major source market, not just for leisure travellers but also for the MICE segment. And since

Argentina is already well established as a football favourite, we are also targeting the sports and adventure tourism segment,” stated Sampat.

According to Maria Nazareth Vilardo, business development account manager, sales and marketing incoming department, Eurotur, “The peak season to visit Argentina is from September to March, though it is a year round destination.”

KTB promotes Kenya as a safe destination for travel Sudipta Dev Mumbai INDIA IS the fifth largest tourism market for Kenya, and the largest in Asia. Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is focused on taking India to the number three position. In the first nine months of 2014, more than 42,910 Indians had visited the country. Visitor arrivals in 2014 was five per cent less than the previous year due to the many challenges being faced by the tourism sector in Kenya.

Muriithi Ndegwa, managing director, KTB who was in India recently assured travellers from India that his country was a safe destination despite the terrorist attacks last year, and that, it is also an Ebola-free country. “Last year we had challenges with security, but terror-

Muriithi Ndegwa

ism is a global phenomenon. A lot of measures have been put in place to ensure security of not only the citizens but also tourists. A lot of investment has gone into mitigation,” said Ndegwa. Kenya Tourism Feder-

ation has a security division which looks into ensuring safety of visitors.

The other challenge is Ebola. Ndegwa felt that people have misconceptions in the international market and are not aware of the geo-

graphical distances in Africa.

Pointing out that Kenya has not had a single incidence of Ebola, he said, “Africa is not a country – it is a continent.” He assured that travellers to Kenya did not face any risk of contracting Ebola.

Yellow fever is another challenge that tourism in Kenya has had to deal with. Informing that in the last 15 years the country has not had a single incidence of yellow fever, Ndegwa stated that the results have been presented to WHO, and the latter's response is awaited.

After the completion of the new terminal in Nairobi, Kenya expects to become the new hub of Africa. New airports are being constructed or expanded for better connectivity. New roadways are now allowing easy access to the key national parks. Many international hospitality brands are also setting up projects in the country.

Kenya ranks second in Africa when it comes to MICE tourism. There is a lot of focus on creating better MICE facilities.

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MARKETS

Jagsons to host Global Panorama Showcase 2015 from Feb 8 in Nagpur Akshay Kumar Mumbai

IMC,VFS Global & Forvol Travel hosts 5th edition of Heritage Walk Akshay Kumar Mumbai INDIAN MERCHANTS’ Chamber (IMC) in association with VFS Global and Forvol Travel organised the fifth edition of ‘Heritage Walk’ on February 1, 2015 in Mumbai. The Heritage Walk witnessed members from the expatriate community of the city including consul generals of the US, China, Spain and Singapore.

The walk started from the historic Forbes Building and ended at the IMC. Pradip Madhavji, chairman, tourism committee, IMC, stated, “We started this Heritage Walk in 2007 with an objective to enlighten our travel community, to persuade the tourists to extend their stay in Mumbai by a day dur-

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ing their visit to the city’s historical monuments. An additional stay of one night by foreign visitors to Mumbai will increase the foreign exchange earnings for Maharashtra in excess to approximately `800 crore.”

Thomas L Vajda, consul general of the United States for Mumbai, India said, “ We had a wonderful time. The walk was an opportunity for us to learn a lot about Mumbai. I thank IMC and the other organisers for giving us a chance to explore the city in depth.”

The Heritage Walk flagged off from the heritage Forbes Building and passed through some architectural wonders in the city including the Deutsche Bank, Badri Mahal, Commissariat Building, The Shantinath Jain Temple,

Manekji Seth Agiary, Port Trust, The Mint House, Asian Building. The Heritage Walk also included brief visits to The Reserve Bank of India Museum, The Prince of Wales Seamen's Club and The Ballard Bunder- Navy Museum (not open to public) which was the highlight of the tour.

Sumit Mullick, additional chief secretary and chief of protocol, Government of Maharashtra said, “I congratulate IMC for organising such a wonderful and educative walk. Mumbai is a melting pot of architecture, we have a fusion of many international architecture. It was great to know about the visit to the Seaman's Club and the Navy Museum as it was specially opened for the Heritage Walk participants.”

JAGSONS TRAVELS will host its third Global Panorama Showcase from February 8- 10, 2015 at Hotel Centre Point in Nagpur. The theme for this year's show will be 'Explore the Heart of India'. The three-day show will be open for end consumers on its first day, while the second and third day will be dedicated to the travel trade. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Harmandeep Singh Anand, managing director, Jagsons Travels said, “Nagpur, being the heart of India, we want the sellers and buyers to explore this region.

This year we are expecting about 100 plus suppliers with 150 plus products. The venue for this edition will be three times bigger than the previous ones.”

The Global Panorama Showcase 2015 will witness participation from over 100 exhibitors comprising hoteliers, airlines, tourism boards, visa facilitation companies, travel insurance companies, foreign exchange currency providers, tour operators, international roaming SIM card brands, cruise companies, event management companies, online booking engines, etc. Speaking about the participation Anand said,

Harmandeep Singh Anand

“Currently we are in talks with some state tourism boards as well as international boards. The focus will be to get all the products under one roof. This year we have organised 10 presentations on education, which is our main focus. There will be a presentation by Trawelltag.

This year we have IndiGo as our airline partner and we are also trying to partner with Sri Lankan Airlines, Emirates and Oman Air. Speaking about the challenges of central India, Anand explained, “The biggest challenge in central India is that the travel agents cannot afford to attend all the major travel marts and events. The agents also have a fear of communication, to break this barrier and further motivate the agents is our motto.”

MARKETS

UPTravel Mart to promote state as leading tourist destination ETW Staff Mumbai GOVERNMENT of Uttar Pradesh in partnership with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organising the first edition of Uttar Pradesh Travel Mart (UPTM) in Lucknow from February 22-24, 2015. This is the first international travel mart to further Uttar Pradesh as a leading tourist destination in India and in the world.

UPTM 2015 will see 75 fully hosted top of the line foreign tour operators from around 16 focus countries who will have pre-scheduled structured B2B meetings for one

and half days with the sellers of tourism products of Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 25 leading domestic tour operators from key cities such as Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Ben-

galuru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Mumbai and New Delhi will attend as domestic buyers. Around 70 sellers of tourism products occupying around 70 booths/table tops

will be promoting UP as a leading tourist destination for heritage, wildlife, leisure and Buddhist tourism. Sellers will include hotels, palaces, resorts, destination manage-

ment companies, travel agents, tour operators and the department of tourism, Government of UP. There will be an exclusive focus to highlight and promote the Heritage Arc covering three destinations i.e., Agra, Lucknow and Varanasi.

FAM trips for foreign tour operators will be organised covering the Heritage Arc circuit (Lucknow –Varanasi - Agra), Buddhist circuit (covering Lucknow – Sravasti – Kushinagar – Varanasi - Agra) and wildlife circuit (LucknowDudhwa National ParkChambal Lion Safari) leading to onsite marketing of tourism products of Uttar Pradesh.

Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn appoints Maison de Voyage as India partner ETW Staff Mumbai MATTERHORN Gotthard Bahn (MGB) is one of Switzerland’s largest railway companies extending from Disentis and Goeschenen to Zermatt from Gotthard to Matterhorn.

To strengthen its presence in the India market, Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn has appointed Maison de Voyage (MDV) – a division of Zaka Group - as its partner from 2015. Maison de Voyage will focus on creating further awareness and promote Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn brands namely Gorner-

grat Bahn and Glacier Express in the India market.

Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn has been promoted successfully by Regi Wittwer in the India market. She will continue her sales visits and will work closely with Nikita Amburle of MDV to draw in numbers and promote sales. Speaking on this add on product in the MDV portfolio, Faisal Siddiqui, director, MDV, who recently visited Gornergrat, said, “Switzerland undoubtedly has some fantastic views and unmatched charm. However, Gornergrat is a must-see excursion, as you take in the breathtaking view of

The Glacier Express travels from Zermatt to St Moritz in approximately eight hours crossing 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and over the 2033 m high Oberalppass the Matterhorn surrounded by 29 peaks rising above 4000 m transforming you into a different world.”

Departing from Zermatt,

Gornergrat Bahn, Europe’s highest open-air cogwheel railway, climbs up to the Gornergrat peak at 9339 m away. Helmut Biner, head of markets and

sales, Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn described the travel on Glacier Express as an unforgettable experience throughout the year.

The Glacier Express travels from Zermatt to St Moritz in approximately eight hours crossing 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and over the 2033 m high Oberalppass. The trains consist of two first-class panorama carriages and three second-class panorama carriages, which are all air conditioned. Food is freshly prepared in the onboard kitchen and served at the seat. Indian food is available on board.

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THE MAIN FOCUS

MUSIC TO THE EARS Despite infrastructural and connectivity challenges, Konark, Khajuraho, Elephanta, Sirpur and Modhera, host dance and music festivals that draw thousands of tourists from worldwide for a rich cultural tourism experience. State tourism boards must grow this niche tourism product to put India's cultural legacy on the world map

BY REEMA LOKESH

I

India’s exquisite classical dance and music have enthralled the West.

This land has been the birth place of artists with extraordinary talents and skills who have won accolades far and wide. Though there are a few who truly appreciate the richness of India’s talent in performing arts, the good news is that the numbers of enthusiasts/connoisseurs of art are growing. The country’s rich talent in dance and music is revered overseas and slowly but steadily there has been a change in heart towards this wealth and national possession within our country as well. The recently concluded Sirpur Dance and Music Festival was proof that both national and international

tourists are travelling to these hidden heritage hubs to experience art and culture in an environment which is natural and conducted in open theatres. These tourists are also taking time out to explore the surroundings and other tourism specialties of the state with a promise to come back again to discover more. Experiential tourism is the way ahead with niche tourism gaining strength. Such quality music and dance festivals attract a refined crowd to India’s smaller towns, which need to be developed through a sustainable and responsible route.

These festivals reveal a lot about what we have in store, our wealth in the field of performing arts and also the fact that these festivals have added a lot of value to the tourism potential of the regions.

Sirpur sojourn India’s leading and well established dance and music festivals have evolved qualitatively over time both in terms of talent and performers to that of attracting quality tourism to these places of pure art and heritage. The recently concluded Sirpur Dance and Music Festival in Chhattisgarh was conducted at a place which had the seventh century Laxman Temple as its backdrop. For Santosh K Misra, MD, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, who is the brain behind establishing the Sirpur Dance and Music Festival, the first year was a challenge. He had to build a product in a place that was still unknown on the tourism map - Sirpur. Perched on the banks of Mahanadi, Sirpur is a small town located 85 km away from the state capi-

tal, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. His commitment to establish Sirpur as a tourist destination gave rise to the now known Sirpur Dance and Music Festival. He was clear that Sirpur' sixth century tourism wealth of Buddhism needed to be explored. “The state of Chhattisgarh has lot to offer but is seldom known,” says Misra showing images of the venue of the dance and music festival which was a dried up pond and the work they had to put in to bring it to what it is today.

“Nothing comes easy, but with commitment and dedication there is a lot that can be achieved,” he adds. He feels that the place and time was opportune to introduce a dance and music festival and bring in the best talent of the country.

“The first year was truly a challenge to get artists of the

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cover ) “We are focused on improving connectivity to the region to give the Khajuraho Dance Festival greater strength” Ashwani Lohani, Commissioner Tourism & MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation

“From farm tourism to heritage tourism there is a lot to explore and experience” Santosh K Misra, MD, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board

“We get bookings from our international clientele a year in advance” Benjamine Simon, Founder, Travellinks Tours

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stature of Hariprasad Churasia to an unheard place like Sirpur,” he reveals. But Mahesh Babu, director, Banyan Tree finally shaped the festival.

The festival has showcased art forms from legendary artists namely Kathak dancer and Hindustani classical music vocalist Pandit Birju Maharaj, English percussionist Peter Robert Lockett, American saxophonist and composer George Brooks, Jazz percussionist Phil Maturano, Indian playback singer Anuradha Paudwal, Indian musician and sitar player Shujaat Husain Khan, Indian classical musician and santoor player Rahul Sharma and Vidwan Vikku Vinayakram, the famous Ghatam player. In 2016, the festival will gain international status. He further highlights the unique aspects of the state.

“Chattisgarh is a place for festivals all through the year. The Bastar Dushera festival goes on for 75 days. It is also a place perfect during the monsoons.

From farm tourism to heritage

tourism there is a lot to explore and experience,” states Misra, adding that there are few interesting experiences in the north of Chhattisgarh like the Jaljali village in Sarguja, along with the Tibetan experience to the medical and herbal wealth of the region.

Konark calling The Konark Dance and Music Festival has witnessed an interesting evolution over the years. Since 1989, this festival has been organised in the state jointly by Orissa Tourism and Odissi Research Centre to promote the diverse Indian dance heritage along with the Sun Temple in Konark and Orissa as a tourist destination. The festival is a celebration of different dance forms including Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, Kathak and Chau dance. From a regional to a national and now an international event, this festival has come a long way. Over the years, the dance academy of Guru Gangadhar Pradhan has been involved in this dance festival.

Apart from witnessing the different dance forms, visitors also have the option of visiting the crafts fair which showcases various handicraft items and different cuisine options.

'Konarka', the place bears a name composed of two world elements : Kona meaning corner and arka meaning the sun.

Over the years, there has been a bid to have dances performed in the temple precincts to recreate the ancient charm and glory of these dances.

Dance festivals are aimed at hosting dances against the backdrop of ancient temple monuments. There are two events held at Konark, one in February and other in December every year. Benjamine Simon, founder, Travellinks Tours in Orissa, who has been associated with the event for long, opines, “The event has put Orissa on the global map.

We get bookings from our international clientele from the UK, Germany, USA, France and Japan a year in advance.

This event has also helped develop local tourism. Apart

from the festival, people go about and explore the destination and especially the famous sand art creations." He further mentions that Orissa also has close relations with Indonesia. They have artists from Bali performing at the show. The state has a diverse terrain that offers as many as 321 tourist destinations. Orissa Tourism has been working towards showcasing the cultural and religious heritage of the state and its people through numerous festivals and fairs such as the Konark Dance and Music Festival, Gotipua Dance Festival, Rajarani Music Festival, Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav, Toshali National Crafts Mela, to name a few. Orissa is also closely linked with Buddhism with the Kalinga war region in its fold.

Elephanta experience Celebrating the living heritage of Indian dance, art and sculpture, the Elephanta Festival has gained popularity over the years by creating a wide platform for local and national

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Modhera magic

artists, dancers and musicians to showcase their talents.

Started in 1989, the Elephanta Festival is one of the most prominent festivals in Mumbai celebrated to promote tourism and culture in the city. Organised by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the yearly Elephanta Festival, is usually held at Elephanta Caves, a World Heritage Site and sometimes at the Gateway of India. The day activities, which spans from morning to six in the evening includes guided tours, painting competitions, to name a few.

While the evening cultural programmes which consists of classical dances, plays, skits, instrumental and vocal recitals continues till 10 pm at night.

Apart from displaying myriad talents from across the nation, this festival also promotes local creativity. “We are supporting the local community to have their traditional cultural programmes in the Tarapur village,� opines an MTDC offi-

cial. The festivities start with a folk dance from the local fishermen (Koli).

As for arrangements, there are launches ferrying visitors at intermittent intervals to the heritage site. The highlights of the festival are the several ethnic food stalls displaying the traditional food of the region.

Elephanta Caves is located at a distance of 10 km from Mumbai Harbour. The initial name of Elephanta Caves was Gharapuri which means, 'a peaceful living place of Lord Shiva'. The name Elephanta Caves was given by the Portuguese, after a carved elephant was found on the island.

THE MODHERA DANCE FESTIVAL WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE UTTARARDH MAHOTSAVOR MODHERA UTSAV IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CELEBRATIONS

Khajuraho klassic The Khajuraho Dance Festival is one of the most celebrated festivals of India exemplifying the classical dance traditions of the country. The Khajuraho Dance Festival organised by the Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad is a one week long festival of classical dances held annually against the backdrop of the Khajuraho Temples in Chhatarpur district

of Madhya Pradesh. During the festival, the richness of India's tradition is highlighted through various dance forms such as Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Kathakali. The festival is organised every year in the first week of February. The dances are performed in an open-air auditorium, usually in front of Chi-

tragupta Temple and Vishwanatha Temple.

Speaking about the importance of the festival, Ashwani Lohani, MD, Madhya Pradhesh Tourism Development Corporation says, "This festival has gained international recognition and the destination is a prominent tourism attraction. It is extremely rich in heritage and culture. We are focused on improving connectivity to the region to give the Khajuraho Dance Festival greater strength by effectively connecting Khajuraho to other places within India especially Mumbai and New Delhi as they are our gateway cites." Though the festival brings in international tourists, it has the potential to achieve much more. Khajuraho has become trapped in the mythical folklore of the region. If the myth is to be believed, Khajuraho was known as 'Khajur-vahika' or 'Khajjurpura' in the ancient times because of its golden date palms (known as 'khajur') that lined the gates of this city.

The Sun Temple at Modhera in Mehsana district is situated on the banks of Pushpavati river.

Constructed in 1026-27 AD during the reign of King Bhimdev I of Patan, the temple is dedicated to Surya or Sun deity. It is a specimen of superb artistry of Gujarat's architects of the bygone days. Modhera's Sun Temple is positioned in such a manner that at the equinoxes the rising sun strikes the images in the sanctuary. The outer walls of the temple are covered with sculptures in which the figures of Surya, the sun god are prominent. The Sun Temple also incorporates an amusement park, a museum, a cafeteria, picture gallery and library.

The Modhera Dance Festival organised by Gujarat Tourism, is a major festival that is observed at the Sun Temple.

This dance festival is organised to promote tourism and keep the Indian traditions and culture alive. It is held in the third week of January every year. The Modhera Dance Festival which is also known as the Uttarardh Mahotsavor Modhera Utsav is one of the most famous celebrations of art, music, dance and culture in this part of the country. This festival showcases traditional dance forms of the region as well as acts as a platform bringing together the cultural ethos of other regions expressed in form of dance or nritya. Modhera, the temple of the Sun narrating the history and grandeur of its patrons, the Solankis, is an architectural marvel. This peerless temple space acts as a grandiose backdrop for the dancers. Dance troupes and performers from all regions of the nation bring varied dance forms and styles, interlaced with the essence of their origins. The Modhera festival is an ideal opportunity to experience the living heritage of Indian dance and music. Nearby destinations to explore are, Becharaji temple, Unjha, Patan, Sidhpur and Mehsana.

With inputs from Rituparna Chatterjee

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DESTINATION OUTBOUND

Melaka: A multi-cultural legacy Melaka is a living legacy of a rich diverse heritage with an old world charm that is a great attraction for visitors who can enjoy a relaxed vacation among the sights and sounds of this UNESCO World Heritage city

By Sudipta Dev

T

HE ORIGINS of Melaka is shrouded in antiquity. There are also contradictory versions of how the name Melaka originated - from the Mulagah fish or the pokok Melaka tree.

However, what has remained constant through the ages is the significance of Melaka as a trading post that attracted Chinese, Arab, Indian and Javanese sea merchants. Next came the Europeans, with Portuguese occupation lasting for almost 130 years. This was followed by Dutch suzerainty, who were in turn succeeded by the British.

As a consequence, the architectural legacy of this UNESCO World Heritage site is a unique amalgam of Portuguese, Dutch and British influences. Nothing probably reflects it better than the Dutch Square in Jalan Kota area. The central fountain was established by the British in 1904 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

Nearby is the Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower which was built by a wealthy Chinese family. The Christ Church and Stadthuys were built by the Dutch. The latter being the official residence of the Dutch governor.

Diverse heritage The Dutch Square is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque locations in Melaka, and reflects very well the languid pace of the city and its multi-faceted culture. It is also the location from

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where visitors can hop on to a colourful trishaw, which is in fact the best way to see the city.

The trishaw can take you to the Cheng Hoon Teng temple in Jalan Tokong, also known as the Harmony Street. This is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia, built in 1645. The main deity of the temple is the Goddess of Mercy. The other important deities in the temple are the

Goddess of Sea and the God of Trade. Like in other Chinese temples, people from the same village would come to the temple and seek shelter here. The temple was their haven. Once these very people established themselves in life, they gave their generous contribution to the temple as a result of which it has been a rich place of worship.

Devotees who visit the temple

DESTINATION OUTBOUND

burn effigies of BMW, luxury goods, hell money so that these goods go to their ancestors in the 'other world'.

The Kampung Keling Mosque in Melaka is also one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia.

Indian visitors would find the architectural feature interesting as the mosque does not have a dome that marks Islamic edifices, but a pagoda.

The ruins of A’Famosa tops the list of Melaka's tourist attractions. Nearby is the Melaka Sultanate Palace, a wooden replica of Sultan Mansur Shah’s seven-tiered 15th-century palace. It is today a cultural museum with a rich repository of artefacts. On top of the hill is the St Paul's Church, where St Francis Xavier was buried before his body was moved to Goa in India.

Inside the home of Baba & Nyonya A highlight of a trip to Melaka is the visit to Baba & Nyonya House Museum. Baba Nyonyas are the ethnic Chinese-Malays.

The house was built in 1896 and was converted into a museum in 1985. The current owners are the seventh generation of the family. The museum takes its visitors to a journey of late 19th

and early 20th century Malaysia. It is an interesting depiction of the culture and traditions of those days.

The guest hall has an exquisite mother of pearl round table.

Century old Chinese silk embroidery hang on the walls, each depicting a story. For example the painting of a 100 birds and a phoenix symbolising respect to the ruler, peace and prosperity.

There is a dark hall in the house from where girls would peep outside and see the guests in the outer chamber. An interesting part of the museum is the ancestral worship hall. Variety of food is served here during the ritual of ancestral worship. The current generation still comes to pay homage to their forefathers here.

The most striking part in the house is the beautiful staircase, which has been built without any nails. In fact, no nails are driven anywhere in the wooden structure of a home as it is considered inauspicious. The furniture also has no nails as the Chinese believe that nails should be used only for coffins.

Jonker Street in China Town relives the Baba-Nyonya heritage, with its quaint shops selling antiques and bric-abracs. For shoppers, Jonker's

Once popularised as the 'Venice of the East' among European settlers, the Melaka River winds through a 10 km stretch

Street is a perfect place for delightful bargains. The night market takes place every Saturday and Sunday, and is a highlight for visitors.

While Baba and Nyonyas were the early Chinese, the Chettis were the first Indians who came to live here. They were the moneylending community. The Little India locality in Melaka has many well stocked shops catering to the Indian-descent populace. There are many restaurants offering Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, served on banana leaf.

Venice of the East Once popularised as the 'Venice of the East' among European settlers, the Melaka River winds through a 10 km stretch. The 45 minute night river cruise is a perfect way to wind up a day of hectic sightseeing and shopping.

In fact, the evening river cruise is a highlight of a visit to Melaka.

The river cruise gives an important insight into the development of Melaka. You pass through houses in the Morten Village, which is a national heritage site, a living museum. The government has put in a lot of effort and investment to beautify the village and the vicinity so that the cruise is a panoramic experience for the visitors. There are 80-90 homes in the area, some of which have been converted into homestays and are popular with tourists. There are interesting paintings on the walls of the houses on the banks of the river. These paintings have been created by students to beautify the riverscape.

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IN FOCUS

ISRAEL: WARMTH NOT WAR Israel goes beyond just the Holy Land. A tiny speck on the world map, this country has been blessed with all the charms of nature, from mountains to the seas.

Discover the hidden and the obvious at your own pace in Israel, an interesting blend of the classic and the contemporary

By Reema Lokesh

T

HE IMAGE THAT Israel reflects in the general psyche is that of a land that is war stricken and dangerous, with gunmen and the army being the ones who dominate the streets. Tourism to a region

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with such an image is definitely a far cry. But the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) decided to go ahead and experience what Israel has to offer and interestingly so what they saw and experienced was a country that is an

antithesis to the preconceived image. Bearing this in mind, they decided to hold their annual convention this February in the country. There is no denying that the Promised Land has its share of anti-social elements but it is also a

place that is high on security giving you a sense of safety without feeling claustrophobic. I was on a trip with the TAFI team led by its president Zakir Ahmed Kalarikkal who interestingly noted, "There were no cops on the streets or

armed personnel to make us feel intimated or rather unsafe. I feel totally safe here like any other tourism designation."

A safe destination, Israel is ready to offer the tourist an insightful experience into its

IN FOCUS From Poland to Persia and from Chile to Casablanca, Israel is home to every nationality and is a classic melting pot of cultures. For the tourist, Israel is a perfect blend of the ancient and modern. It is more than just a pilgrimage hotspot

world of culture and cuisine.

From Poland to Persia and from Chile to Casablanca, Israel is home to every nationality and is a classic melting pot of cultures. This experience begins in fact from the start of the journey itself, as the national carrier El Al's slogan declares itself as 'It's not just an airline it's Israel'. As airline partners, the Israeli experience starts from the sky. After completing the ground formalities with the airline it is time to say Shalom (peace and greet-

ing in Hebrew, the country's official language). While on board, it is clearly apparent that Indians are adored in Israel. From warm smiles to genuine admiration for India, the Israeli Sabra (Israeli by birth) or the immigrants consider India and Indians as special. Urvashi Dogra, committee member, TAFI, rightly adds, “Israel is exotic and Indians are truly loved here. Ani Oevet Hodu, (I love India) is what a lot of Israelis told me on few of my casual walks on the streets of

Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, at the Dead Sea or at Tiberias in the north.�

Diverse offerings To strengthen the bonds of friendship further, the TAFI team was welcomed by the Indian national anthem and the Indian flag being hoisted at one of the tourist spots in the north of Israel. The magical experience of seeing your country's flag fluttering alongside the Israeli flag on a catamaran in the Sea of Galilee was patriotic. Is-

rael has a unique significance for three faiths of the world, for the Jews it's their promised land, for the Christians it's where Christ was born and for the Muslims it is a place that is special. But for the tourist, Israel is a perfect blend of the ancient and modern. It is more than just a pilgrimage hotspot.

From the exhilarating nightlife in Tel Aviv to the soul stirring spiritual warmth of Jerusalem, from an experiential stay in the Kibbutz to a must do floating act in the Dead Sea, the coun-

try is compact enough to experience it all.

Israel can have its own significance to people. For Teddy Thomas, committee member, TAFI and Gladvyn Pinto, executive secretary general, TAFI its significance is both touristic as well as spiritual, for Bharat Shah, chairman, TAFI Jerusalem Convention and Pradip Lulla, national general secretary, TAFI the country is historic yet modern with stateof-the-art technology and services, while for foodies it offers diverse cuisines that are a treat to their taste buds. Primarily Mediterranean in its appeal, the Israeli cuisine gets its inspiration from a host of regions.

From falafel and shawarma to cuisines from Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, you can find it all in the region. As for wine lovers, they should definitely enjoy the home grown red and white wines. Take a wine, pilgrim or education route along with the Kibbutz experiential journey or just stay afloat in the Dead Sea, the choice is yours.

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IN FOCUS

TOP 10 MUST DO'S IN ISRAEL 1||

Visit Jerusalem - the land of creation, history, heritage and hope

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Visit Nazareth, Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee for its history and charm

Israel is waiting to pleasantly surprise you at TAFI 2015 The Israel Ministry of Tourism, India office, which set base in Mumbai in 2014 are the new kids on the block representing a region and culture which is regarded as the Land of Creation. The Mumbai team led by Hassan Madah, director, India, Israel Ministry of Tourism along with Judah Samuel, director of marketing-India, Israel Ministry of Tourism are all set to welcome the TAFI delegates to their 2015 convention in Jerusalem from February 22-25 and are glad to showcase Israel to a potential delegation for tourism enhancement between India and Israel. Madah states, "Come over to our small country with big attractions. From history, culture, art, architecture, nature, agriculture, wilderness to the night life we have it all.

Our size is an advantage as you can travel from north to south and east to west soaking in varied experiences rather seamlessly. Lior Zoref ,a motivational speaker, has confirmed his presence at the convention." Samuel adds, "The Holy Land is blessed and we are awaiting our TAFI delegates to showcase the wonders of this unique country on

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The Bahá'í Gardens in Haifa, comprise a staircase of 19 terraces extending all the way up to the northern slope of Mount Carmel

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Stay afloat in the Dead Sea region. Indulge in some therapeutic treatments, which work for your skin. Definitely rub the black mud before you venture into the sea. Remember - no swimming, only staying afloat at the lowest point on the earth

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Enjoy the Tel Aviv buzz, from its nightlife to the beach promenade and activities along the coast. It is also recognised by UNESCO as the white city. Once in Tel Aviv, the old Yafo city visit makes for some interesting ancient walks and trails

Hassan Madah

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The Kibbutz is an experience indeed. Living at one gets you up close and personal with its life and living

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A trip to the local markets ‘Shukah Carmel’ in Tel Aviv takes you into the heart of the local flavours and aromas

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Visit the historic fortress of Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stories of bravery and sacrifice awaits you in that region. Enjoy the picturesque journey into wilderness and the Judean deserts to reach Masada

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If time is on your hand, then the north of Israel is unique - from the snow capped experience in Mount Hermon to a visit to Acre, its heritage, culture and nature

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In the southern most tip of Israel rests Eilat, a resort city at the Red Sea

Zakir Ahmed Kalarikkal

earth." Though new entrants in the space, they have a clear vision to build tourism interactions between the two countries from MICE to leisure. Speaking about the convention, Zakir Ahmed Kalarikkal, president, TAFI, says, "Who would have imagined that TAFI would have

Judah Samuel

organised its annual convention in Jerusalem, Israel. But such is the enormous power of change, that what earlier seemed impossible, has today become a reality. TAFI has always believed in being a path breaker and it is under this guiding principle that it has scheduled its annual convention in Israel, which has for long been a historical, spiritual and cultural international hub. The people of Israel are warm, sincere and friendly.

TAFI has received letters of endorsement and support from the Israel Tourist Board, the Mayor of Jerusalem, the Indian ambassador to Israel, assuring us and promising a heartfelt welcome. TAFI 2015 convention is scheduled to be held at the ICC (Jerusalem International Convention Centre), with Dan Jerusalem and Crowne Plaza as hospitality partners.

EVENT ROUNDUP

Glimpse of change IITT 2015 held in Mumbai brought into focus several key industry requirements ranging from technological significance in today's business to bringing innovations in domestic and outbound tourism

By Rituparna Chatterjee and Akshay Kumar

T

HE SECOND edition of India International Travel & Tourism (IITT) 2015 trade exhibition and conference, reinforced its position as one of the most promising travel expositions in India, serving inbound, outbound and domestic markets. The show held from January 15-17, 2015 at Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai was inaugurated by Girish Shankar, IAS, additional secretary, ministry of tourism, Government of India along with other delegates namely H E Erdal Sabri Ergen, consul general of the republic of Turkey, Christopher Rodrigues CBE, chairman, Visit Britain and Kangana Ranaut, Indian film actor. Also present at the inauguration ceremony were leading industry professionals including Guldeep Singh Sahni, president, Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI); SanJeet, secretary, PATA India Chapter; Sarabjit Singh, vice chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) and senior vice president, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO); Biji Eipen, national president, IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI); Harmandeep Singh Anand, hon secretary general, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI); and Abhijit Arun Khadilkar, national joint secretary, Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA). IITT 2015 witnessed more than 300 international and domestic buyers from across 40 countries and 30 Indian cities. The event focused on hosting buyers from

Tier II and III cities of India.

Engaging discourses Apart from providing a networking platform, IITT 2015 also organised a series of panel discussions across the first two days of the exhibition to bring into focus key industry issues being addressed by distinguished stakeholders from the travel industry in India. The discussions were followed by interactive Q&A sessions between the panel and the B2B audience. The panel discussion on the first day titled - 'Innova-

tion in Domestic Tourism & Visa on Arrival Contributing to India's Economic Growth' was moderated by SM Shervani, MD, Shervani Group and the panelists were Sarabjit Singh, senior VP, IATO and VC, FAITH; Jay Bhatia, chairmantourism council, TAAI; Rajan Sehgal, chairperson- northern region, TAAI; Har Shay Meena, IAS, MD, TTDC; Girish Shankar, additional secretary, ministry of tourism, Government of India. Shankar highlighted the importance of ETA and the future potential of the

Phase II. The visa on arrival scheme was regarded by Bhatia as the most innovative move by the government. Rajan threw some light on golf tourism which has been very well received by international operators and he stated that India has some of the best courses down south and in Gujarat.

An undeniable disruptive force in the global travel space at the moment is mobile. With the growth of mobile, travel brands are aligning their entire strategy to keep up with the fast paced and tech savvy con-

sumer. Echoing the same thought was a panel discussion held on the topic - 'Travel Technology, Mobile Applications & Robust Websites Providing Real Time Solutions to Global Tourists'. Moderated by Parikshit Sawhney, managing director, Fore Representations & Travels, the panelists for this discussion included Amit Madhan, COO – IT and E services, Thomas Cook (India); Avijit Arya, founder and CEO, Internet Moguls; Ankush Nijhawan, co-founder and CEO, Travel Boutique Online; Gaurav

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EVENT ROUNDUP The discussion brought into focus the growing size of outbound tourism in India, the need to target high-end travellers to grow this segment further and finally adopt a 360 degree marketing approach

Chiripal, CEO, Quadlabs; and B Niteen, DGM – corporate sales, Clay Telecom. Starting the discussion Arya highlighted the need for adopting mobile based-technology and investing in training, while Chiripal

pointed out that 85 per cent of the travel content in India is still not digitised but with technology costs expected to go down in the next few years, an increasing number of travel agents, operators and aggrega-

tors will be able to adopt it. The discussion also brought into focus the exponential growth of the e-commerce sector, the importance of social media marketing to drive traffic towards websites and the need to

specialise in particular areas like culinary tours, airport pickup to get an edge above competitors.

The third panel discussion on the topic - 'How Can Outbound Tourism Complement Inbound Tourism in Contributing to Increment in Inbound Numbers?' was moderated by Sahni and witnessed panel participation from Karan Anand, head- relationships, Cox & Kings; Suneela Patil, founder and director, Veena World; SanJeet, and Susanne Pereira, sen-

ior VP, trade relationships and communications, Thomas Cook (India).

The discussion brought into focus the growing size of outbound tourism in India, the need to target high-end travellers to grow this segment further and finally adopt a 360 degree marketing approach. “To tap India's potential even further, foreign tourism boards are aggressively promoting their destinations and pushing the capacities,” highlighted Anand.

SPOTLIGHT

Uniting North East, Nepal and Bhutan The recently held Sikkim Association of Adventure Tour Operators (SAATO) conference was aimed towards strengthening ties amongst the North East states of India. It also extended its focus to include Nepal and Bhutan within its plan

By Reema Lokesh

A

region that is unlike any other in India, the North East, has its own unique charm and culture. From the place to its people, both are distinct in style and sensitivity. Warm and welcoming they are truly in sync with nature and its offerings. The SAATO conference was held recently in Sikkim, known as the eighth brother of the seven sisters. The chief minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling, was the chief guest and he clearly identified tourism sector as the state’s engine for growth and economic enhancement. Apart from declaring the state as completely organic in the agricultural

space, he also spoke about hospitality investments in the state as well as touched upon human resource management, training of the youth in the service industry. He also shared his commitment towards sustainable and responsible tourism as part of the state’s agenda. His commitment was once again emphasised by Rup Naranyan Rai, chairman, Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation, wherein he spoke about the need for skilled human resource and capacity building in the sector. Holistic tourism with a clear direction of strengthening the North East and making it ready for the global market is what they aim to achieve. The theme of the SAATO conference this year was 'Joining hands regionally

and promoting the North East tourism globally', which was earnestly delivered over the two-day conference. The event highlighted the challenges as well as the achievements of the region. There has been a remarkable progress in product development and design but there is a lot more to be done in terms of transportation and logistics. The state is working towards improving connectivity to the North East and with the support from the central government they are aiming to get their act in place.

The conference also played host to articulate speakers. MP Bezbaruah, former secretary tourism, government of India and honorary member, North East Council (NEC) highlighted

some extremely thought provoking and crucial ideas and solutions for the development of the region. He clearly stated that the implementation of policies can take things forward. It is the time of action and not to think and only draft policies. The council, he said was working towards transformation through tourism. It is the time for regional cooperation and global thinking and outlook. He highlighted the importance of e-commerce, the need to have proper signage, PPP in the right way, linking the North East website to the Incredible India website and also to use the power of the social media in the most effective way. He also highlighted the need for circuit development and connections

with ASEAN. The Look East policy is what is being discussed and it is important for PMO to understand what the North East needs. He also made a strong and crucial statement that without a sustainable approach, tourism will become an evil for this region. Training the locals and involving them in the system will only help sustain tourism.

He also highlighted the importance of attracting Buddhist tourism traffic for vital course markets in the Asia Pacific.

There is a major movement from Thailand into Myanmar for Buddhism, which can easily be tapped into the North East region and further. He also complimented the state for its cleanliness initiatives, the results are for everyone to see.

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SPOTLIGHT

The Nepal connect The magnificent Kanchenjunga mountain range is shared by both Nepal and India. Apart from this world tallest mountain, the Himalayan mountain range is a complete heaven for trekkers both amateurs and professionals. Ramesh Dhamala, president, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) spoke about the connect between Sikkim and Nepal and how can both the regions leverage from each other’s strengths. He mentioned that the close ties are in terms of religion, culture, adventure and especially in the field of mountaineering. There are 33 peaks on the border and it is time to profile the same to the world as a joint effort towards mountaineering tourism. He stated that mountaineering is serious adventure and it should by no means be treated casually. It is crucial to have minimum standards for guides and trainers. There has to be strict rules and regulations in place. When asked about the recent Anapoorna tragedy he was forthright in mentioning that the calamity was mostly due to human error and little can be blamed on nature.

“Mountaineering is not for fun.

In Nepal, tourism is a national industry and all entrepreneurs and associations related to tourism are working as a com-

mon voice called Joint Tourism Coordination Committee (JTCC). From rafting associations to the airlines and tour operators all are part of JTCC. The team is working on policy making, reviews, destination development, marketing and training. “India is our big market and our major focus is to develop the product as per the need of tourists. We hope to work with India closely and we want to exchange expertise in education in mountaineering. Our focus is on quality tourism,” added Dhamala. He also shared an interesting fact, i e, mountains less than 5,800 m are trekking trails, upto 7,000 m are peak climbs and over and above that is mountaineering.

A representative of the Kingdom of Bhutan was also present at the conference.

Dipendra Giri, director, Zampling Tours and Travels, Thimphu also highlighted the need for strengthening regional ties.

Sikkim sojourn The conference in south Sikkim in Namchi region highlighted some special tourism spots.

From Char Dham to the wish fulfilling hill or Samdruptse, guru Padmasambhava statue, the Temi tea garden and a little tour to the under construction Bhaichung Stadium of

The state is focused on positioning itself as an organic tourism product, from wilderness tourism to adventure tourism

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Baichung Bhutia, the place gives you a close insight into Sikkimese life. Ugen T Gyatso, minister, tourism and civil aviation, government of Sikkim and C Zangpo, secretary tourism and civil aviation, government of Sikkim, stated the plans which are in the pipeline for the state in their department. From helipads to ropeway plans, they are working with the DGCA to get things going. The state is focused oo positioning itself as an organic tourism product, from wilderness tourism to adventure tourism. The minister is keen to set up accommodation experiences in complete wilderness and call it Ekanta Vas and Agyat Bas. The state is also working on an extensive skywalk project at Bhaley Dung amidst others. A state themed food experience is also being built for an authentic Sikkim culture experience. The state is developing new trekking routes and is focussed on showcasing its natural wealth in fauna, organic foods, monsoon tourism, festival tourism amongst others. They are also ready to offer the state for fossil study and hydro project study.

Apart from Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya were also present to showcase their products. P K Dong, consultant, Sikkim Tourism, along with the SAATO president, Y Dorjee, were confident that the efforts of SAATO will reap benefits for the state and the North East in general, in keeping with the theme of the convention. At the end of the session, we were also informed by Bezbaruah that the chief minister has promised to set up restrooms at every 20 km distance on the Sikkim tourism routes.

LIFE

Skill development transforms lives Ministry of Tourism's Hunar Se Rozgar Tak initiative is transforming the lives of many young men and women from Panvel, Pen and other Maharashtra villages, who are looking ahead to join the hospitality industry as cooks and in F&B services

By Sudipta Dev

F

or Santosh Desale from Jalgaon in Mahrashtra, life turned completely within a few months, after he decide to do the six week course in F&B Service (waiter) under Ministry of Tourism's Hunar Se Rozgar Tak (HSRT) programme. The young man, who used to do farming with his family in his village and earned almost nothing, is today working in The Park Navi Mumbai, earning a decent salary and looks ahead at life with great optimism. He is from the first batch of participants of HSRT free skill development programme that was launched about a year ago at Apeejay Institute of Hospitality in Navi Mumbai, in association with India Tourism Development Corporation (MoT, Govt of India).

Kiran Ashok Shelar who is also from the first batch of participants is working in the hotel with Dasale in the banqueting department. “There is a lot for me to learn after which I might go overseas,” states Shelar. Both Shelar and Dasale got the jobs in the hotel only after they were successful in the interview. "I have learned a lot, how to give good service to guests, do cluster set up, theatre set up in banqueting. I am getting a good salary now and I am happy,” states Dasale.

The six to eight week programme is offered to youngsters between the age of 18 to 28 years.

The six week course in F&B Service (waiter) and housekeeping (housekeeper), and eight weeks course in food production (cook).

The participants get free uniform and lunch and a stipend of `1500 (six weeks) and `2000 (eight weeks). Joint certification is awarded by Apeejay Institute of Hospitality and ITDC following the completion of the course.

Joining the organised sector Acknowledging that mobilising people for the first batch was a challenge, Bhuvan GM,

principal, Apeejay Institute of Hospitality, mentions once they understand the value of the programme they recommend it to others in the village. “They have come from an unorganised sector to the organised sector, which is a very good thing. The minimum wages have to be paid to them as per the rules of the government, along with PF, ESIC. Medical insurance, accident insurance, duty meals and doctor facilities are provided to them. Women get maternity leave,” informs Bhuvan.

From the current batch of food production, there are many girls who are from different villages in vicinity of Panvel area,

mostly the PAP (projected affected people) of the upcoming international airport. These girls have been encouraged by CIDCO to do the programme, which might help them in getting a job. Quite a few of them aspire to become professional cooks and work in hotels and restaurants.

Manoj Patkar, associate professor and HOD (food production), Apeejay Institute of Hospitality, who also happens to be the course coordinator for HSRT programme, says, “Personality development is one key factor which we want to instill in them though it is not in their syllabus.

The second important aspect is

English speaking skills as we want them to be employable and crack the interviews.” He points out that most of the participants are clear about employment and are hard working. Attendance is almost 100 per cent.

The placement cell of the institute helps them in getting a job.“A few of them have however left the first job on account of hardships in the hotel industry, but we did not leave them there.

We made them understand that the industry is tough, particularly for the first two years, and gave them another job offer,” adds Patkar. Those who were not ready to take up jobs in hotels are now working in QSRs, for instance McDonald's in Kalamboli.

A few are also placed in facility management companies.

Currently seven HSRT programme participants are working in The Park Navi Mumbai.

Giving the employer's perspective, Ravi Rawat, general manager, The Park Navi Mumbai says, "Many of those who were working with us have gone for better prospects. This shows the kind of willingness they have.

They appreciate that the opportunity has given them a good future.” He believes that once people get to know about how the lives of those participating in the programme have been transformed, many more will get motivated.

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MOVEMENTS MTDC

Hawaiian Airlines

PARAAG JAIIN NAINUTTIA (IAS) has been appointed as managing director of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). An exCEO of Maharashtra Maritime Board, Nainuttia is a senior IAS officer of 1996 batch. He took charge from Valsa Nair Singh, who was having additional charge of MD, MTDC. She will continue as the secretary of tourism, Government of Maharashtra. With more than 18 years of experience in responsible roles in the spheres of management and administration, Nainuttia brings in expertise in team, project leadership, administration and management.

Hawaiian Airlines has appointed SHANNON OKINAKA as senior vice president and interim chief financial officer, filling a vacancy left by the departure of CFO Scott Topping. In her new role, Okinaka will have oversight of all the airline's financial planning, accounting, treasury and compliance functions. Okinaka has served as vice president - controller of Hawaiian Airlines since 2011.

She joined the company as a senior director in charge of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and special projects. Prior to joining Hawaiian Airlines, Okinaka worked for Hawaiian Electric Company and Coopers & Lybrand/PricewaterhouseCoopers. A native of Hilo, Okinaka holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

MGTO The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has appointed VFS Global as its new representative office for India.

ARZAN KHAMBATTA is the newly appointed general manager of the MGTO representative office in India. On January 28, 2015 MGTO held an inauguration in New Delhi to officially unveil the new representative office and highlight the promotional activities Macau has planned for India.

Sustainable Travel International Founder BRIAN T MULLIS will be Sustainable Travel International’s new chairman of the board, and DR LOUISE TWINING-WARD will take Mullis’ place as CEO. Mullis has always nurtured a senior leadership team and will work closely with Twining-Ward to expand the organisation’s ability to harness the power of travel and tourism as a force for global good. Sustainable Travel International is now based in Washington, DC with an annual budget of US$ 2.4 million, a full time staff of 12, and a global network of NGO, government and private sector partners.

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Conferma Conferma, experts in Virtual Card Number (VCN) technology for the corporate travel sector, has appointed ANDRES ROJAS as business development director – Americas, to spearhead its future growth across Latin America.

Reporting directly to Conferma CEO Simon Barker, Rojas will be responsible for managing Conferma’s banking and travel technology partner relationships to support the continued growth of VCN technology in the region. Rojas joins Conferma from Concur where he was director of business development and strategic alliances for Latin America, responsible for Concur’s strategic banking and travel technology relationships in the region. Prior to that he spent 10 years at BCD Travel where he was director of technology operations - Latin America.

Travelport Travelport has appointed NICHOLAS KONG as general manager for Malaysia. Effective immediately, Kong will

Tourism Malaysia AZMAN BIN SAMSUDIN has been appointed as director for tourism Malaysia, Chennai. In his new role, his primary responsibilities include promoting Malaysia as a destination of choice among South Indians travelling abroad through innovative marketing campaigns and strategic tie-ups to increase footfalls from the region to Malaysia. With a wealth of experience in Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Samsudin has Azman Bin Samsudin an accomplished career spanning 20 years having worked at Kota Kinabalu- Sabah, Putrajaya, and later in Indonesia overseeing the operations at Tourism Malaysia, Medan.

lead in the delivery and rollout of Travelport technology, as well as oversee Travelport’s commercial operations to drive growth across the region. In his new role, he will report into Carole Oh, Travelport’s commercial director for Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines. A seasoned industry professional with 20 years of account management and sales development experience, Kong joined Travelport in 2011 and has since then become an integral member of the Travelport Malaysia team. Prior to joining Travelport, he worked for a number of other technology companies in sales and account management including Abacus, Amadeus, Creative Advances Technology and E-globalfocus.

Ryanair Ryanair has appointed CAROL ANNE O’NEILL as head of sales and marketing. She is joining Ryanair from Falcon/Thomson, where she was head of Ireland. She has over 28 years of experience in the travel industry, having also worked for XL Airways and

Wings Abroad. In her new role, she will oversee Ryanair’s sales and marketing team and activities across 30 countries in Europe and North Africa.

Airberlin Group STEFAN PICHLER has officially taken up his position as chief executive officer of the airberlin group. He was appointed by the Board of Directors. With 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, Pichler has experience in managing low-cost, charter and classic airlines with profitable route networks.

Up through the end of January he worked for Fiji Airways, where he implemented a turnaround programme to lead the airline back to profitability.

Before joining Fiji Airways he was managing director and chief executive of Jazeera Airways.

AirAsia X DATUK KAMARUDIN MERANUN has been appointed as group CEO, AirAsia X, while BENYAMIN BIN ISMAIL has

been appointed as acting CEO of AirAsia X Berhad, as part of an on-going reorganisation exercise. In this newly created role, Meranun will spearhead developing the overarching strategy for AirAsia X Group, which encompasses AirAsia X Berhad, AirAsia X Thailand and Indonesia AirAsia Extra.

Ismail joined AirAsia Berhad in 2010, heading up the investor relations team and most recently played the role of group head of corporate development, implementation and investor relations.

Etihad Airways Etihad Airways has appointed JORDI PORCEL CORTES as general manager for Spain.

Cortes will be based in Etihad Airways’ new Madrid office, where he will lead the airline’s Spanish commercial operations.

Bringing a wealth of industry experience to the airline, Cortes previously worked for Vueling Airlines, where he served as chief sales officer, responsible for sales for the past three years.

Prior to joining Vueling Airlines, he worked in various managerial positions at British Airways, lastly as regional commercial manager of Spain, Portugal and Latin America.

IHG TASH TOBIAS has been appointed as general manager of the InterContinental Singapore, and taken on an expanded role as regional general manager for Singapore, Malaysia and Batam. Tobias will be responsible for driving strategic growth and operational excellence for 10 hotels across four brands including InterContinental Singapore, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay, Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road, Holiday Inn Resort Batam, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie and Holiday Inn Melaka.

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E V E N T S

SELECT GATHERING Tourism Toronto recently hosted an exclusive VIP invitee thanksgiving dinner for its travel trade partners and select corporate companies in Mumbai

CRICKET CONNECT TakeMe2NewZealand, the Qualmark-endorsed visitor service, in association with former Black Caps player Jacob Oram and NZ Community Trust Cricket Centre recently launched an exclusive sports tourism product for school and corporate groups from cricket-playing nations

NETWORKING OVER LUNCH Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) recently organised a luncheon for its members at The Park New Delhi

EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS Visit California, as part of the Brand USA ‘DiscoverAmerica’ outreach programme, recently organised educational seminars in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad

NOBLE CAUSE The Shotover Jet Christmas Cracker community show featuring dance performances and live music from local artists was recently held in New Zealand and raised US$ 16,655 for the Wakatipu Youth Trust

LEARNING EXPERIENCE ICS Travel in association with Jet Airways and Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon recently organised a FAM trip to Vietnam for travel agents from Mumbai and Ahmedabad

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E V E N T S

STRENGTHENING RELATIONS Trafalgar recently hosted a seven day FAM trip covering north of Spain for its trade partners in Asia

BUSINESS TALK R-L: Cmde (Retd) R K Okhandiar, director - commercial and marketing, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC); Trinath Behera, director – finance, ITDC; Girish Shankar, CMD, ITDC; Mahesh Sharma, union tourism minister; Dr Lalit K Panwar, secretary, ministry of tourism; Usha Sharma, additional director general - tourism; and Suman Billa, joint secretary tourism at ITDC's 49th Annual General Meeting held at The Ashok, New Delhi where ITDC handed over a cheque for `3.73 crore to the Government of India towards five per cent interim dividend payment for the period 2013-14

CLASSICAL FEST A P Anil Kumar (right), tourism minister, Government of Kerala recently unveiled a brochure for the nine-day long Nishagandhi Festival being held at Kanakakkunnu in Thiruvananthapuram

DESTINATION SHOWCASE Outbound Travel Roadshow (OTR), a multi-city destination roadshow, was recently organised across five locations in India, starting with Mumbai

HOLY JOURNEY SriLankan Airlines recently flew His Holiness Pope Francis to

CRICKET FEVER Tourism Ireland recently announced its sponsorship of the

the Philippines, Manila, for the second leg of his Asia Tour

Ireland cricket team for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

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REGD.WITH RNI UNDER MAHENG/15993/05, MH/MR/SOUTH-156/2013-15 PUBLISHED 11th OF EVERY MONTH AND POSTED ON 12, 13 & 14 OF EVERY MONTH POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE.