Asian Traveller February 2016 by Mediasteps

Vol. 9

No. 5

Pages 32

` 100

US $10 (Overseas)

February 2016

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FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Highlights Vol. 9 I No.5 I February 2016

Top Hill Stations in India

SIKKIM Bordered by China, Nepal and Bhutan, Sikkim has long been regarded as one of the last Himalayan Shangri-las.

Most of the hill stations in India were developed by the British, around a central mall, to get respite from the oppressive summer heat. Many have picturesque lakes as their focal point, making them excellent places for boating activities.

Navaratna Package for Foreign Tourists It’s expected to be a unique package that would lit up the state’s tourism calendar in 2016.

10 18 PHLCVB Launches Philadelphia Specialist Badge The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) launched the Philadelphia Specialist Badge, a bespoke training module for travel agents as part of Brand USA’s USA Discovery Program, at SATTE 2016.

Kerala Beach Guide Kerala beaches are amongst the best in India and are an excellent alternative to Goa. Some of the beaches remain relatively deserted.

26 ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

CHEERFUL OUTLOOK FOR TOURISM

Editor & Publisher : Dr. G Biju Krishnan*

Executive Editor : Sunny Thomas

Chief Mentor : Rajashekharan Nair

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Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. In any economic slowdown, tourism is the first sector to get affected. But Indian Outbound Tourism proved to be an exception. Even when there is an economic slowdown in India its number of outbound tourist is rising year on year. India is the fastest growing outbound market in the world in percentage terms. But in terms of numbers it’s second fastest after China. India Outbound tourists’ number is forecast at a little less than 50 million by 2020. On the other hand India Outbound tourist spending has crossed INR 15 billion by 2011. Thailand is the leader as it accounts for nearly 7% of Indian outbound tourists in 2011. Singapore is following Thailand as over 6% tourists visited Singapore from India in 2011. Malaysia, the US and China were at the third, fourth and fifth place in terms of Indian tourists visits in 2011. Countries like Hong Kong, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada are contributing significantly. Sri Lanka, Nepal and Japan are amongst the top emerging market for India outbound tourism. The US is way ahead from its rivals by controlling more than 30% of Indian outbound tourists spending. The US has spending share of nearly 5 times more than its closest rival Australia. Singapore, Malaysia and the UK are holding the third, fourth and fifth spot respectively in terms of Indian outbound tourists spending. Taking note of the booming Indian Outbound Tourism, many countries including Ireland, Spain, South Korea, UAE, Indonesia, Macau and Poland — have recently opened tourist offices in India. The major hurdle for the Indian outbound tourism is the lack of industry body for outbound tourism in India. Let’s hope that the overall positive developments created by the Government can change this scenario as well.

Dr. G. Biju Krishnan

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The news items and Advertisements published herein have been collected from various source, which are considered to be reliable. Readers are however requested to verif y the facts before making business decisions using the same. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the writ ten permission from the Publisher. FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER 5 All rights reserved. Copyright © 2015 *Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

HILL STATIONS

Top Hill Stations in India

ost of the hill stations in India were developed by the British, around a central mall, to get respite from the oppressive summer heat. Many have picturesque lakes as their focal point, making them excellent places for boating activities. One thing is for sure, you won’t be short of things to do at any of the hill stations in India. And

to add to the adventure, it’s possible to take a toy train ride up to some of the hill stations. You’ll find hill stations all over India. This guide lists 10 of the most popular ones.

Srinagar Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, delights visitors with its lovely lakes and relaxing houseboats. In fact,

lakes and gardens are in such abundance there that Srinagar is often referred to as the “Land of Lakes and Gardens”. The gardens have a distinctly Mughal influence, as many of them were cultivated by Mughal emperors. You’ll find Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar, with a tulip festival held every April. Srinagar is a great place to come if you’re a golf enthusiast, as there are a number of courses there.

Manali Manali, with its soothing backdrop of the Himalayas, offers a blend of tranquility and adventure that makes it one of northern India’s most popular destinations. You can do as little or as much as you want there. Located in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, it’s a magical place bordered by cool pine forest and the 6

raging Beas River, which give it a special energy.

Nainital The hill station of Nainital, in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, was a popular summer retreat for the British during the time they ruled India. It features the serene, emerald colored Naini Lake and action filled strip called The Mall, lined with restaurants, shops, hotels, and markets. Enjoy one of the many

In fact, lakes and gardens are in such abundance there that Srinagar is often referred to as the “Land of Lakes and Gardens”.

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FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

forest walks, explore the surrounding area on horseback, or relax on a boat in the lake.

Lal Tibba (the highest peak in Mussoorie). Mussoorie also offers a superb view of the Himalayas.

Mussoorie

Shimla

Mussoorie, located around an hour from Derahdun in Uttarakhand, is a popular weekend destination for north Indians, as well as honeymooners. One of the reasons for Mussoorie’s popularity is that it has a lot of facilities developed especially for tourists. Take a cable car to Gun Hill, enjoy a beautiful nature walk along Camel’s Back Road, have a picnic at Kempty Falls, or ride a horse up to

Shimla used to be the summer capital of the British Raj when they ruled India. Now it’s the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. This wonderfully cool and charming town sprawls along a mountain ridge, enveloped in oak, pine and rhododendron forests. It’s quite famous for its colonial style buildings and historic railway. The old Christ Church, with its beautiful stained glass windows, is one of

Shimla’s most prominent landmarks. Another is the Viceregal Lodge on Observatory Hill. These can be seen on an historic walking tour of Shimla. There are plenty of adventure sports and short hikes on offer in the vicinity as well. To get there, travel on the toy train to Shimla. Stay at Sunnymead Bed and Breakfast for an unforgettable gastronomic experience

Munnar If you like tea, a visit to Munnar, in Kerala, is a must! The surrounding region is renowned for its sprawling tea plantations. The Kundala Tea Plantations, which border a picturesque lake, offers the best opportunity to see the tea being picked and processed, and to try fresh tea straight from the gardens. The area is blessed with the natural beauty of winding lanes, misty hills, and forests full of exotic plants and wildlife. Adventure enthusiasts can trek to Anamudi, the highest peak in south India, explore Eravikulam National Park, or go rock climbing and paragliding.

Ooty Established in the early 19th century by the British as the summer headquarters of the Chennai government, Ooty is now a soothing place to escape the summer heat in Tamil Nadu. If you travel there during the peak season in April and May, do be prepared for it to be crowded though! Ooty’s most popular attractions include the 22 hectare Government Botanical Gardens (a flower show is held there every May as part of the Summer Festival), boating on Ooty Lake, and climbing Dodabetta Peak for an excellent view of the Nilgiri hills. To get to Ooty, take the scenic toy train from Metupalaiyam. 8

Darjeeling Darjeeling, in West Bengal, is also famous for its lush tea gardens. In addition, it’s blessed with a stunning view of Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak. Some of Darjeeling’s most popular attractions include historic toy train, monasteries, botanical gardens, a zoo, and the Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway cable car (the longest cable car in Asia). Darjeeling is a wonderful place to walk around, and explore the tea estates, villages, and markets. Don’t visit during the monsoon season though -- the region is one of the wettest places in India!

Kodaikanal Secluded Kodaikanal is nestled 120 kilometers from Madurai in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu. Its name means “Gift of the Forest”, and you’ll find many varieties of flora and fauna there. Orchards of pear trees, and charming buildings with gabled roofs, will greet you as you enter the town. There’s an annual horticultural show at the landscaped botanical Bryant Park in May, waterfalls where you can enjoy a picnic beside, boating on the lake, and plenty of walking trails. Herbs and aromatherapy oils are some of the more interesting things to buy in Kodaikanal, with the eucalyptus oils being particularly popular.

Matheran The closest hill station to Mumbai in Maharashtra, Matheran offers plenty of walking trails and lookouts. The most unique thing about it and what makes it so special, is that all vehicles are banned there -- even bicycles. It’s a soothing place to relax away from any noise and pollution. Get there by taking the scenic toy train and then ride a horse around.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

SIKKIM

ordered by China, Nepal and Bhutan, Sikkim has long been regarded as one of the last Himalayan Shangri-las. The state was an independent kingdom up until 1975, when it was taken over by India following a period of anti-royal riots and political unrest. Because of its remoteness and the fact that permits are required, Sikkim isn’t the most accessible area to visit in India. However, it certainly is one of the most energetic and refreshing. There’s something very soothing to the soul about the mountainous beauty and ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture in Sikkim. Although the state is only small, its vertical terrain makes it very slow to traverse. Keep in mind that it can take hours to travel

what looks like a short distance. Here are the top attractions and places to visit in Sikkim to include on your itinerary.

Gangtok Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is constructed on a cloudy ridge 5,500 feet above sea level. When the clouds clear, it’s possible to see all the way to Khangchendzonga’s soaring peaks (it’s the world’s thirdhighest mountain). The city is refreshingly clean and well organized, and most tourists spend a couple of days there to make travel arrangements and see the sights. It’s a popular base for those heading off on treks.

in Pakyong near Gangtok and it’s scheduled to open in 2016). Getting to Gangtok requires a four hour drive from Siliguri in West Bengal, where the nearest train station is. The nearest airport, at Bagdogra, is about 45 minutes from Siliguri.

Monasteries In testament to the fact that Sikkim is a marvelous place for meditation, almost 200 monasteries dot the divine hilltops. The most visited monasteries in Sikkim are Rumtek (overlooking Gangtok),

Unfortunately, Sikkim currently doesn’t have an airport (one is being built ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

The trek from Yuksom to Dzongri Peak and Rathong Glacier, and further on to Goecha Peak if you’re up for the challenge, is the most popular trek in Sikkim. Pemayangtse (near Pelling in West Sikkim), and Tashiding (also in West Sikkim). Other monasteries that are worth visiting include the Karma Kagyu monastery with its 200 year old murals (in Phodong in North Sikkim), the Enchey monastery (in Gangtok), and the old Sanga-Choeling monastery (only accessible on foot from Pelling). The monasteries hold many festivals, particularly around Losar in February/ March. Tse Chu, in July, features Buddhist dancing at Rumtek. Enchey also hosts a Chaarm festvial in December/January.

Nathu La Nathu La, three hours east of Gangtok on the Chinese border, was a major passageway on the Old Silk Route between India and Tibet before it was closed in 1962. The border consists of a lone barbed wire fence, and you’ll get the strange thrill of seeing the Chinese soldiers on the other side. Unfortunately, only Indians are allowed to travel this far though, and only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. A special permit is also required and can be obtained through a registered travel agency in Gangtok. With a permit, foreigners can go up to Tsomgo Lake, also called Changu Lake, 27 kilometers (17 miles)

short of Nathu La. This spectacular high-altitude (12,400 feet) glacier lake remains frozen until May. For a quirky experience, ride a yak there!

Flora and Fauna Sanctuaries Sikkim is renowned for its astounding variety of birds, animals, and flowers -- over 450 species of birds, 400 species of butterflies, 450 varieties of orchids, and 40 species of rhododendron. Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, situated in the Singalila Range in the southwest corner of West Sikkim, is a must-visit place during late spring. You’ll find Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary near Ravangla in south Sikkim. The Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary is also a highlight near Lachung. Closer to Gangtok, there’s the Deorali Orchid Sanctuary in south Gangtok (visit from March to early May and the end of September to early December), and Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary around an hour west of Gangtok. Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary is located about an hour east of Gangtok, on the way to Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La (vist from June until October).

Yuksom and the Dzongri Trail Sikkim is a trekker’s paradise and historical Yuksom is the gateway for treks towards Mount Khangchendzonga. The trek from Yuksom to Dzongri Peak and Rathong Glacier, and further on to Goecha Peak if you’re up for the challenge, is the most popular trek in Sikkim. It passes through the unspoiled forests, magnificent rhododendron gardens, and powerful rivers of Khangchendzonga National Park. Allow seven to 10 days from Yuksom

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to Goecha Peak and back. March to May is the ideal time to go. Additional permits are mandatory for foreigners. If you want to go on an organized trek, Mountain Tours gets excellent reviews and is recommended. It’s run by the family of mountaineer Late Da Namgel Sherpa, who was part of the first successful Everest expedition team in 1953.

Lachung, Lachen and Yumthang Valley In far North Sikkim, six hours from Gangtok and 9,000 feet above sea level near the Tibetan/Chinese border, Lachung and the Yumthang Valley dazzle visitors with dramatic pristine scenery. Lachung served as a trading post between Sikkim and Tibet

before Tibet was annexed by China. Now, it’s the base camp for the renowned Rhododendron Valley Trek from Yumthang Valley to Lachen Valley. Other attractions in the area are Lachung monastery, Yumesamdong (Zero Point), and the astonishing highaltitude Gurudongmar Lake (it’s one of the world’s highest lakes, at more than 17,000 feet above sea level). North Sikkim is a restricted area and it’s necessary to obtain a special permit to visit it. You’ll need to make your travel arrangements through a registered tour company, which will also organize the permit for you. This can be done in Gangtok. Note that the Yumthang Valley is closed from December and March due to heavy snow, and foreigners are 11

only permitted as far as the Chopta Valley (they cannot visit Gurudongmar Lake).

Pelling Pelling, three to four hours drive west of Gangtok, may be a rather charmless small town but it’s the place to go for unparallelled views of Mount Khangchendzonga at dawn. Apart from the views, monasteries are the main attraction, along with the ruins of Rabdentse. Previously the royal capital of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814, not much remains of Rabdentse these days. However, its location on a ridge provides a spectacular viewpoint. Overnight and day tours depart from Pelling by jeep and cover the major sights in the area. It’s also possible to do a threeday combination jeep and hiking trip from Pelling to Tashiding (which has an atmospheric monastery on a hilltop) via Khecheopalri Lake. Alternatively, jeeps run from Pelling to Yuksom via Khecheopalri Lake, and you can hike from Yuksom to Tashiding in a day.

Ravangla On the way from Gangtok to Pelling, Ravangla is most notable for its Buddha Park with a towering 130 foot golden Buddha statue surrounded by manicured gardens. Palchen Choeling Monastic Institute (also known as the new Ralong Monastery) in nearby Ralong also houses a substantially sized golden 12

Buddha. It’s home to more than 100 monks, and you can hear them chanting in the early morning and mid afternoon. There are number of other monasteries that can be visited in the area as well. Halfway between Ravangla and Namchi, you’ll find picturesque Temi Tea Garden. It’s only tea garden in Sikkim and the tranquil Cherry Resort is nestled amidst it.

Namchi Namchi is also famous for its giant statutes. It currently has two of them -- one Buddhist and one Hindu -- and a third one is apparently being planned. The Buddhist statue, of Guru Padmasambhava (credited with introducing Tantric Buddhism to the Himalayan region), reaches around 140 feet tall. It has a commanding position on Samdruptse Hill, 7,000 feet above sea level. Not quite as tall but perhaps more impressive is the white 108 foot high Lord Shiva statue at Solophuk Hill, five kilometers south of Namchi. The epic complex surrounding the statue contains guest houses and temples, including replicas of the holy Char Dham.

Teesta River Rafting River rafting is the latest adventure activity to arrive in Sikkim, and the Teesta River offers some world class opportunities. The major

route is Makha-SirwaniBardang-Rongpo. Grade II to IV rapids are interspersed with placid patches to float along, and plenty of white sandy beaches exist for overnight camping. High cliffs and gorges, along with boulder-strewn river beds, add to the thrill. The Rangeet River, with its more turbulent waters, also offers advanced rafting opportunities from SikipJorethang-Majitar-Melli. The best time for rafting in Sikkim is from March to May and October to December.

Zuluk An unexplored destination for those who want to get off the tourist trail, Zuluk is a tiny village nearly 10,000 feet above sea level in East Sikkim. It was once part of the Old Silk Route for traders, connecting Kalimpong in West Bengal to Tibet. Now, it’s the first village along this route to offer homestay accommodations for visitors. The main attraction

is the sight of Mount Khangchendzonga from Lungthung and Thambi View Point. Those who get car sick might want to avoid it though, as the very winding road has more than 30 hairpin turns! The landscape varies greatly depending on the time of year. It’s carpeted in wildflowers from August to September and covered in snow from January until April. After the snow clears, there’s abundant bird life. As Zuluk is a militarycontrolled area near the Chinese border, it’s offlimits for foreigners. Indians require an Inner Line Permit to visit it, which needs to be obtained from the police station at Rongli in West Bengal. The permit will allow travel to Gangtok via Zuluk, Gnathang Valley, Kupup, Baba Mandir, and Tsomgo Lake. (If you want to visit Nathu La, a separate permit must be obtained in Gangtok). Travel agencies offer Old Silk Route tour packages.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

BEACHES

Kerala Beach Guide

erala beaches are amongst the best in India and are an excellent alternative to Goa. Some of the beaches remain relatively deserted. Yet, in case you don’t want to relax, you’ll find plenty going on at others. This Kerala beach guide will point you in the right direction of the most suitable beach for you. The best time to visit, weather wise, is from December to March. However, you’ll get some fantastic off season discounts (often 50%) during the monsoon.

Kovalam Beach If you want action, you’ll definitely find it at Kovalam beach -- the most popular and most developed beach in Kerala. Often likened to Goa’s Calangute and Baga beaches, Kovalam is located not far from the capital, Trivandrum. It’s actually made up of two main coves -- Hawa (also referred to as Eve’s beach) and Lighthouse. Lighthouse is the biggest and busiest of the two, with its promenade lined with open air restaurants. Kovalam is a popular surfing destination in India. If you’d prefer somewhere a little

more secluded, you’ll find nearby Samudra beach to be a better option.

Varkala Beach Varkala beach is the pick of the beaches in Kerala, in terms of ambiance and facilities. Although more and more tourists are flocking there every year, it’s still less crowded than Kovalam and the scenery is striking. The beach lies at the bottom of a long stretch of cliff that’s bordered by beach shacks and shops. You can stay right on the cliff, overlooking the ocean, or set back from it. It’s incredibly romantic! Lots of young foreigners and couples enjoy this beach.

Marari Beach Quiet Marari beach is located not far from Alleppey, making it convenient for those who’d like to spend some time at the beach in between going on a houseboat trip along the backwaters. A big attraction there is the earth conscious Marari Beach Resort. It’s set on a sprawling property filled with coconut groves and lotus ponds, and amongst other things offers Ayurveda

treatments and yoga classes on the beach.

Kannur Beach Off the beaten track in India, the small town of Kannur, in northern Kerala, is known for its secluded beaches, mysterious masked spirit-possession theyyam rituals, and hand loom weaving. The theyyam season runs from October until May and Kerala Tourism has a comprehensive calendar of theyyam events. There are some delightful, laid back (and inexpensive) beach houses in the Thottada beach area, such as Kannur Beach House, Waves Beach Resort, Chera Rock Beach House, and KK Heritage Homestay. Kannur district is also home to Muzhappilangad Drive-In Beach. You can drive all the way along its 4 kilometers of sand.

Bekal Beach Bekal beach, in far north Kerala (around one hour’s drive from Mangalore airport in Karnataka) is famous for its old fort -apparently the largest one in Kerala. The beaches are clean and unspoiled, but

luxury hotels have already started moving into the area, making it the place for a pampered getaway. The most popular resort is the gorgeous Taj Vivanta. It’s possible to stay there for under $200 per night, depending on the season. The secluded Lalit Resort and Spa Bekal is located on a private beach with backwaters running through it. However, it’s pricey. Room rates are around $400 per night.

Cherai Beach The 10 kilometer long Cherai beach makes an appealing side trip from Kochi. It’s located on Vypeen Island, which can be reached from Kochi by ferry and then a bus or auto rickshaw ride through the villages and paddy fields -- yes, it is isolated. A substantial portion of the main beach was recently beautified, which included the addition of a new walkway. One of the remarkable sights there is beach and lagoon so close together. If you explore some of the surrounding lanes, you’ll get great views! Stay at Les 3 Elephants, a peaceful backwaters eco resort.

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FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

TAMILNADU TRAVELLER

Temple Towns

Dr. S. Bakthavatchalam

Additional Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism

cclaimed as the ‘temple state of India’, interwoven with its culture and tradition, Tamil Nadu is a unique destination for pilgrimage tourism. It is one of the hotspots of pilgrimage tourism by virtue of the plethora of historic monuments, temples with intricate carving and humbling gateways. For pilgrims who await a religious experience, each attraction has a religious or artistic story attached to it and it will leave them spellbound. The major destinations of the northern region in Tamil Nadu consist of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram and Pondichery.

Temples are part of Tamil Nadu's cultural milleu. Besides being the centre of religious activities temples played a role in socio-cultural synthesis too.

Kanchipuram is known for Ekamareshwara Temple, which has a 200 ft tall gopuram and the Kailashnath Temple with exquisite sculptures of Shiva. Kanchipuram is called the ‘City of a 1000 Temples’ and is also famous as a center of silk weaving in India. Mahabalipuram is a heritage centre consisting of prominent temples and monuments and is also famous for its sunny beaches which are a popular destination for tourists who want to relax. The southern region of Tamil Nadu consist of an attractive view of the surrounding hill ranges as well as the charming

feeling of lush green lands. Madurai, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari are well known destinations in the southern side of the state. Rameshwaram, a popular place among pilgrims, is considered a holy place for devotees of Lord Shiva as

Rameshwaram temple is one of the Jyotirlinga Temple. Curiously, most of the Jain monuments are concentrated in and around Madurai. There are about 26 caves in Anaimalai, Alagarmalai, ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

Tiruparankundarm, Muttupatti, Vikramangalam, Karungalakkudi, Kongarpuliyankulam, Mankulam, Tiruvatavur and Varichiyur belong to the second and first centuries B. C. The names of monks who live in these cave – dwellings are engraved on these monuments. Thiruvannamalai, a pilgrim town, is also the headquarters of the district by the same name. It is located 82 km south of Vellore and 187 km away from Chennai. Thiruvannamalai is famous for the Arunachaleswarar Temple, one of the oldest and most famous Shiva Temples in South India. It is located at the foot of the Annamalai hill/ Arunachal Hill, and a short distance from the famous Sri Ramanashram. It is built between the 9th and the 10th centuries by the Chola kings of the Tamil empire. The four Rajagopurams of the 60m high which are positioned on the four sides of the complex dominate the centre of the town. Besides these four gopurams, there are more than 3000 towers. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is worshipped in the form of fire and sprawls over an area of 25 acres of land. The temple’s walls runs to a lenght of 1,320 metres pierced with gates and towers. Inside the complex, there are many shrines, mandapams,

The Madurai Meenakshi temple is one of the largest complexes in India. Meenakshi presides over the ancient city. The temple covers over an area of six hectares.

corridors, enclosures adorned with massive pillars with intricately carved sculptures. These temples are proof of the architectural genius of the bygone era. The temples at Mahabalipuram and Tajore belong to this category. Besides, the town is dotted with more than 100 small shrines dedicated to different deities, ashrams including those of Ramana Maharshi and Seshadri Swamigal and around 360 holy water sources in and around Thiruvannamalai. The Murugan temple at Tirupporur, Tamil Nadu built during the reign of the Pallava ruler is one of the major temples dedicated to Lord Muruga and is situated at a distance of abot 45 km from Chennai. According to legend, Skanda enunciated the principle of pranava or reality to the Devas. Pranavam is said to have worshipped Skanda and the hill behind the temple is known as ‘Pranava Malai’. Lord Vishnu worshipped Shiva on the Pranava hill and legends also say the Skanda worshipped Shiva as Vanmeekeswara to rid himself of the sin of having killed Soorapadman. He is also enshrined in the form of a child, expounding the meaning of the oneness of creation Om to his father Lord Shiva. The Madurai Meenakshi temple is one of the largest complexes in India. Meenakshi presides over the ancient city. The temple covers over an area of six hectares. It has 12 gopurams or gateways, ranging in height from 45 to 50m, the tallest being the southern gateway. The gopurams are crowded with the images of gods, goddesses, gargoyles, and gryphons and one can experience a myriad of colors atop these gateways. The Ramanathaswamy Temples is one of the most sacred shrines of the Hindus in India. The Jyotirlingams

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

at the Ramanathaswamy temple is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India. It is considered as holy as Varanasi. Whoseever visits Varanasi, is supposed to make a trip to Rameshwaram to consider his pilgrimage complete. Rameshwaram is said to be the place where Lord Rama offered thanks to Lord Shiva in return for his support in defeating King Ravana. This makes Rameshwaram an important pilgrimage destination for devotees of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The Swamimalai Temple is one of the six Shrines dedicated to Lord Subramanya and is associated with the legend of Skanda having re – initiated his father shiva, with the concept of the oneness of creation of Omkaram. The temple is

built on an artificial hill, approached by a flight of steps. Velankanni a picturesque town situated amidst the shores of Bay of Bengal termed as the ‘Mecca of South Asian Christianity’ and is famous for the shrine Basilica that is dedicated to ‘Lady of Health’. The shrine draws pilgrims from all faiths and from all over the world. It is about 350km south of Chennai, on the Coromandel Coast and 12km south of Nagapattinam. Kanayakumari, a legendary place at the southern most tip of India and the meeting point of three seas – the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, is one of the popular destinations. This important pilgrim centre is also well known for its beaches. 17

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Tourism New Zealand STB Organizes 4-City Road show in India participation from our trade and Close on the heels of the recent Intensifies Brand travel partners and we are grateful to announcement of Singapore them for making this road show an welcoming 1 million visitors from Campaign in India

Recently in Mumbai, Sidharth Malhotra, Brand Ambassador for Tourism New for India, and Steven Dixon, Regional Manager, South and South East Asia, Tourism New Zealand, unveiled the video encapsulating Malhotra’s experiences of the destination. They also presented the first look of the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign which was launched in India. According to Dixon, 46,000 tourists from India visited New Zealand in 2015, which is 23% higher compared with the year ago. India has emerged as an important source market for Tourism New Zealand for number of reasons. Indians want to explore many destinations and not just restrict themselves in one area. “Tourists from India on an average spend two weeks in New Zealand and enjoy some of the bigger cities and go places located outside the main hubs. They also explore beaches, natural forests etc,” said Dixon. According to him, India ranks among the top 10 source markets for New Zealand. “Our number one source market is Australia, followed by China, US, UK, Germany, Japan and Canada,” he said. Throwing light on their marketing strategy, Dixon said that apart from roping in Sidharth Malhotra, they have undertaken a combination of PR activities, combination of trade engagement and of course brand campaign. “We also closely work with travel agents and do joint venture campaigns with them.” In order to increase the number of tourists, Tourism New Zealand also closely work with several carriers like Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Thai Airways. As of now their key focus is on Delhi and Mumbai. “The population of India is huge and it is not possible to target such a huge market. Hence, our approach is on research based and look at various aspects like people’s income and their desire to travel to New Zealand etc.,” said Dixon. 18

India in 2015, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) kicked off its 4-city roadshow to engage key trade partners in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai from 27 January – 3 February 2016, bringing in a 39-member delegation comprising of key industry partners & attractions from Singapore. Trade engagement in key markets has always been an integral part of Singapore Tourism Board’s strategy for the Indian market. Chee Pey Chang, Executive Director, South Asia, Middle East & Africa - Singapore Tourism Board said, “India continues to remain in the top 5 markets in terms of visitor arrivals and this year, we welcomed the largest delegation of hotels, attractions, cruises and DMCs. We are excited to see the enormous

outstanding success. We continue to encourage first time visitors to Singapore, and also increase the re-visits from Indian tourists by promoting our new offerings and events. We are also targeting the (Free Individual Traveller) FITs with unique and exclusive offerings. We want to give our Indian friends a million more reasons to visit Singapore and the role of the travel trade will be an important one to keep this momentum going.” After Mumbai, the delegation will travel to the national capital of Delhi where they will also participate in SATTE 2016, followed by Bangalore trade networking session and then concluding the India leg of the circuit in Chennai on 3 February 2016.

Navaratna Package for Foreign Tourists It’s expected to be a unique package that would lit up the state’s tourism calendar in 2016, a tour in which the foreign tourists could start experiencing the ‘God’s own country’ by breaking a coconut at a temple, then travel in boats through the lakes and rivers with local people, savour a mouthwatering lunch with a Syrian Christian Orthodox family of central Kerala, climb the coconut trees, do fishing in the lakes and make coir with village women. It’s more about giving an insight into village life, community interactions and promotion of sustainable tourism practices. The ‘Navaratana Experiessential Holidays’, the unprecedented tour package by the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI), a consortium of about 100 tour operators in the state and outside, would feature nine ‘gem-like’ days of essential experiences in Kerala. Launching the package that offers ‘99 experiences in nine days’, the ATTOI office-bearers said a total of 500 tour packages would be offered for foreign tourists initially.

“It is the first time in India that tour operators are gathering under one umbrella for joint promotion of a package,” tourism minister A P Anilkumar said while releasing the package brochure by handing over the first copy to tour operator and travel writer from Sweden Marianne Hard Af Segerstad. “The state government’s plan allocation to the tourism fund has been increased from Rs 100 Crores to Rs 225 Crores in the course of five years. This will be further increased in the coming budget session,” he added. The nineday package, which will begin from Kochi and cover Muziris, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Aranmula and Konni before concluding at Kovalam, has also envisaged interactive cooking demonstrations to experience Kerala’s famous culinary culture, eating dosa at local restaurants, having coffee with a Brahmin family to echo the tradition of ‘agraharam’ visits, walks through the wavy, lush green paddy fields, and bullock cart rides. A tour of the Muziris heritage project reviving Kerala’s more than two-millennia-old trade and cultural ties with the rest of the world will be another attraction. ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

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Odisha Organizes Roadshows to Woo Domestic Tourists In an attempt to attract domestic tourists from Western region, the Department of Tourism (DoT), Government of Odisha, recently organized its roadshow in Mumbai. The objective was to promote the state and its variety of tourism products in the western part of India. The Department has been focusing to woo domestic tourist from across India. “It has already organised various roadshows last year and this year we are organising 10 roadshows. It is a happy coincidence that one of such roadshow is being organised in this great city of Mumbai,” stated a release to media. According to release, a progressive and investment friendly Tourism Policy has been in operation since April 2013. “As per the policy a State Level Single Window Committee has been created for speedy implementation of the projects; several incentives have been announced for the Tourism stake holders as part of promotional initiatives. In August last year, the Light & Sound Show (SEL) has been started at Dhauli and to follow in at Konark and Khandagiri-Udayagiri,” the release said. Apart from these, the DoT is also organized a number of events like Konark Festival (1st – 5th December), International Sand Art Festival (1st – 5th December), Parab Tribal Festival (16 – 18 November), Dhanu Yatra Festival (Dec – Jan) Rajarani Music Festival (18 – 20 January), Mukteswar Dance Festival (14 – 16 January) etc. to attract more of domestic and international tourists. Odisha Tourism Development Corporation has also been playing a key role in the promotion & development of Tourism in the state. It covers a wide range of facilities to the tourists and visitors with its 22 strategically located hotels & restaurants with fine Odia delicacies, boat riding in Chilika Lake, tour & travels and transport facilities. Above all Odisha is a peaceful state and the people are hospitable. The state capital Bhubaneswar is a modern city having good connectivity (both rail and air) to all major cities of the country. 20

J&K Tourism Department Plans To Woo Trekkers Jammu and Kashmir tourism department has turned its focus on adventure tourism, and plans to open up some hitherto inaccessible spots to attract trekkers. “This year has been declared adventure tourism year. We are creating facilities for trekking, paragliding and rafting,” Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Secretary Farooq A Shah said. He said, “We recently started heli-safari in Srinagar and helicopter services to major tourist destinations.” “We are the best in the country and we don’t have any competitor in tourism. People need not go outside the country for tourism. You have your own Switzerland,” the Tourism Secretary said. As many as 8 million pilgrims

visited Vaishno Devi temple in the state last year, he said. Pahalgam golf course has been rated as the most beautiful in the world, while Gulmarg has the world’s highest skiing point, Shah said. The state is also planning to promote Dachigam wildlife sanctuary, he said, adding Gurez has also emerged as an adventure tourism destination. “We get 47 flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Srinagar and 20 flights to Jammu. We are also thinking of having some chartered flights,” Shah said. On complaints of fleecing by pony owners at Gulmarg, he said, “We won’t allow anyone to fleece the tourists.” Director, tourism, Mahmood Ahmed Shah said efforts were being made to popularise trekking to lakes.

Luxury Hotels Group Signs 20 New Hotels in India

Luxury Hotels Group (LHG), a UK-based hotel company which provides sales and marketing support to luxury hotels, boutique properties and luxury residences, announced the signing of 20 new hotels in India. The new properties are located in popular leisure tourism destinations like Agra and Goa, as well as commercial hubs of Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. The India news follows the signing of a number of hotels by Luxury Hotels Group, in Europe as well as the announcement of its first hotel in Taiwan, a company release said.

Amarpal Chandok, Director of Business Development, Luxury Hotels

Group – Asia, said the expansion of the group’s presence is an indication of the increasing importance of the India market and LHG’s determination to further boost its presence in the market. “India is growing as a destination both for tourism and business. With visitor numbers continuing to rise, we have our sights set on growing our presence to meet this demand over the coming years. The suite of services that we offer our hotelier partners will help them to enjoy an enhanced profile, powerful global reach and bespoke business growth without compromising the character that sets them apart.”

Novotel Hyderabad Airport Bags Two Awards Novotel Hyderabad Airport has bagged two awards under the same category - “The Most Influential Leaders in Services & Hospitality Industry” by the Stars of The Industry Awards 2016. Sathyam S V, Director (Talent & Culture), Novotel Hyderabad Airport and Boby Soumitra, Director (Food and Beverage), Novotel Hyderabad Airport have been awarded the Most Influential Leaders in Services & Hospitality Industry Category by Stars of the Industry Group. Speaking on the occasion Maverik

Mukerji, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Airport said, “We want to congratulate Sathyam S V and Boby Soumitra for receiving this award. It is their sheer dedication and hard work which has helped them won the coveted award and recognition. These Awards are a platform to salute the hard work, passion and the immense dedication that our team puts in to make NHA one of best hotels in the country. Novotel Hyderabad Airport always works towards creating an enabling environment to nurture performance and talent within the organisation.” ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

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Bhutan Holds Tourism Roadshow in Gujarat

In a bid to attract tourists from Gujarat, the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) held a first-ever tourism roadshow in Gujarat in a hotel in Ahmedabad. More than 100 tour operators and travel agents of Ahmedabad participated in the event along with around 10 travel operators of Bhutan. “India continues to be our number one source market for tourism. With the latest regional arrivals touching 1,09,052, it demonstrates an impressive growth of 57% percent over last year. For us, India remains the biggest market for both regional and overall arrivals,” said Tashi Tenzin, head, services, TCB. As part of its India agenda, TCB has focused on Gujarat as a key source market to enhance its Indian footprint in the year 2016, through a road show targeted at key travel agents in Ahmedabad. “This would be the first of many initiatives to tap the Gujarat market. The western region of India accounts for 20% of tourists’ traffic from India to Bhutan,” added Tenzin. He further said that we are focusing on travellers on honeymoon and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) tourism from Gujarat to Bhutan. Unlike visitors from other countries, Indian visitors don’t require visa to visit Bhutan. TCB will soon launch an online permit system for the Indian travellers, wherein if they come through a Bhutanese tour operator or hotelier, they can process the permits online in advance. A group of 300 people is likely to travel from Ahmedabad to Bhutan by chartered flight for a conference next month. FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Tamil Nadu Participates in FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair is held once in two years. It is a popular Tourism Fair in Europe apart from WTM and ITB. Tamil Nadu Tourism participated for the first time with mega pavilion in the 36th International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR, Spain held from 20th January to 24th January, 2016. A separate pavilion was fabricated colourfully in the fair venue. Thiru Har Sahay Meena, I.A.S., Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director, TTDC attended the Tourism Fair and held discussions with the tourism stakeholders and tourists at Spain. As a cultural promotion activity, Bharathanatyam dance performance was arranged at the exhibition hall near tourism pavilion to showcase the

Tamil Culture among the international tourists. All have appreciated and enjoyed the performance. The tourism publications and pen drive were distributed for publicizing the Tamil Nadu Tourism potential. A Tourism Passport booklet was also brought out especially for distribution to the tourists and it got overwhelming appreciation among the tourists. Many tourists thronged Tamil Nadu Tourism pavilion to collect the Tourism Passport booklet. During the Fair period about 700 tourists visited Tamil Nadu pavilion. The private tourism stakeholders from Tamil Nadu were encouraged to participate in the fair which could help in a big way to boost their business activities.

Eco-villages In Goa to Promote Hinterland Tourism Eco-villages may be a way for the future of eco-tourism in Goa, a state known for its beach tourism and nightlife. The forest ministry was working on the possibility of setting up eco-friendly villages in the rural areas of Goa and that the project would help deliver the benefits of tourism to the hinterland, away from the congested beaches, Goa Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar said. “We have to balance revenue generation as well as keeping the environmental balance of the state. Setting up eco-villages will help us greatly promote eco-tourism in rural areas,” Arlekar told. The minister also said eco-friendly villages would help rural youth as far as revenue generation was concerned. “The concept of eco-villages will have multiple benefits for Goa,” Arlekar said.

Goa is one of the most famous beach and nightlife tourist destinations in India. The state attracts more than three million tourists every year. Successive governments in Goa have promised to promote hinterland tourism via backwater cruises, spice farm tours, kayaking, white water rafting, ornithology etc. in order to de-congest the coastal area, in which a majority of the tourism activity is located. 21

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Thailand Celebrates 1,000,000 Arrivals from India

Reiterating India’s importance for Thailand, its Minister for Tourism & Sports, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Mumbai to announce the statistics to travel agents, wedding planners, stakeholders and corporate entities. Thailand has recorded a milestone of 1,000,000 arrivals from India in 2015, with India emerging as its sixth largest global source market. With this development, Thailand has now set a target of 8% increase in arrivals for 2016. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi will be targeting specific quality-focused segments such as getaways for women groups, family holidays, and leisurely breaks for senior citizens and youngsters, and niche segments like golfers, divers and road-trippers this year to achieve the target. On her second consecutive visit to India in two years, Wattanavrangkul said, “We welcomed 1.06 million Indian travellers to Thailand during 2015, putting India at sixth position globally, up from seventh position last year. Indians spent THB 47,827 million in Thailand last year. I must thank you – our friends in the travel trade, the wedding planners who weave dreams in Thailand, Bollywood producers who tempt people to return to Thailand and corporate entities who reward employees with incentive travel to Thailand – for your support, without which this amazing milestone would not be possible. I count on your support in the years to come too – we see India as having the capacity to double this figure by 2022.” 22

JNTO Concludes ‘Visit Japan Trade Seminar’ in New Delhi Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) successfully concluded the ‘Visit Japan Trade Seminar’ in New Delhi on Monday, February 01, 2016. The JNTO delegation comprised Daisuke Kobayashi- Director & Masahito Sawamura- Deputy Director from the Singapore Head Office and Takeshi Komura- Senior Assistant Manager from the Tokyo office. Whereas, Partners from Japan included Japan Airlines,, Kailash Co. Ltd. , Hana Tour Japan, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau and Ayabex Inc. The seminar proved to be a great platform for the delegation from Japan as they got an opportunity to interact with around 100 Indian Travel Trade partners and present their latest offerings. Their objective was not only to understand the changing trends in the Indian market but also to update the travel agents with new trends and products in Japan.

The Seminar had presentations by Takeshi Komura- Senior Assistant Manager Southeast area section Inbound promotion department, JNTO Tokyo office, Hana Tours and Japan Airlines. JNTO had also invited Jayita Bandyopadhyay- Editor, Shubh Yatra In-flight magazine for Air India to give a 15mins presentation on her experience of traveling in Japan on a Familiarization trip organised by JNTO in December 2015. The year 2015 has been a great year for Japan tourism as it crossed the 100,000 mark for Visitor Arrivals from India. During this period, Japan welcomed 103,200 visitors from Indian, which is a growth of 17.3% and 19,737,400 tourists from all over the world, a growth of about 47% compared to the previous year. The next Visit Japan Trade Seminar will be held in Mumbai on February 22 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Worli.

The Best of World Tourism at OTM Mumbai 2016 The world is set for the biggest travel trade show in India - OTM 2016, to be held in Mumbai, India’s largest source market of travel, from 18 to 20 February 2016 at the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tourism within and out of India provides huge opportunities for the thousands of trade professionals from around the world attending OTM 2016 to buy, sell and be updated. As per data released by India’s Tourism Ministry, it is estimated that in 2015, over 20 million Indians travelled abroad, close to 10 million foreigners came to India and over a billion trips were taken by Indians within the country. The Governments at the Federal and State levels have prioritised tourism as a key area for the economy. With generous support from Wonderful Indonesia, over 500 trade professionals from Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur and Pune have been pre-qualified for participation in India’s largest hosted buyer programme, to visit the OTM 2016. Additionally, over 3,000 trade visitors have registered their

participation online, underscoring the real business value of OTM. The number of such committed buyers is increasing daily in the lead-up to OTM. For the very first time in trade show history, the United Arab Emirates is leading their participation with all its 7 emirates, making them the largest destination exhibitor in OTM 2016. They are joined by several global destinations at OTM 2016 with the keenness to carve a piece of India’s projected 50 million outbound pie – Indonesia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Thailand, New Zealand, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, Bangladesh, Philippines, Maldives, Oman, Bhutan, Seychelles, Israel, Rwanda, Romania, Fiji and Greece are all in place at India’s biggest travel show. Major Indian destinations are perfectly complementing their international counterparts with Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and many other states, present with large number of sellers from each, to showcase India at its best. ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

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Gujarat Eyes Rs.3,000 Crore Investment In Tourism Sector The Gujarat government is expecting investments of Rs.3,000 crore in tourism sector in the next five years, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said. “The state tourism sector has got the status of an industry and as a result investors from 50 countries have shown interest for investing Rs. 3,000 crore in coming five years,” a statement from her office said. The state is hosting a three-day Vibrant Gujarat International Travel Mart that was inaugurated by Patel. Officers from tourism department disclosed that investors have shown interest in setting up hotels, resorts, theme parks in 18 districts of the state and the government is expected to sign MOUs worth Rs.1,500 crore in this regard during the conclave. “Gujarat aims to double its share in national tourism industry. Currently, the state attracts 2.4 percent of the foreign visitors and we aim to take the figure to at least five percent by 2025,” principal secretary to Industry and Tourism Department S.J. Haider said. “To facilitate the foreign travellers who wish to explore our country we have provided e-tourist visa to 130 countries. As a result, the number of foreign tourists has increased. Medical tourism has also increased through e-medical visa,” union tourism secretary Vinod Zutsi said while interacting with selected mediapersons on the second day of the travel mart. “The state is already organising various festivals including Rannotsav, Saputara Monsoon festival, Navratri festival, Heritage festival, Bird Watcher conference, Tarnetar fair, Mango festival, Beach festival to attract tourists,” Patel said. The event, organised by Gujarat government has brought together 225 tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, destination management organisation, medical service providers and IT companies associated with the tourism industry. The focal point of the event has been the buyer-seller interactions, business to business meetings and travel exposition. 24

Jammu & Kashmir Attends TTF In order to boost tourism in the state, J&K Tourism Department is organising road shows and participating in travel marts across the nation, for interacting with stakeholders like Travel & Tour operators as well as media persons. In this direction a high profile delegation of J & K Tourism officials consisting of Secretary Tourism Farooq A Shah, Director Tourism Jammu, R K Verma, and Director Tourism Kashmir, Mahmood A Shah,CEO Yousmarg Development Authority, Bakshi Javid Humayun, and Financial Advisor, J&K Tourism, Manav Gupta, among others are in New Delhi to attend TTF. They also participated in a J&K Tourism Roadshow at The Lalit where leading travel and tour operators, travel association heads, and representatives of the media attended. The Secretary Tourism Farooq A shah while interacting with the travel & tour operators announced that an aggressive 360 degree promotional campaign is being launched to create awareness about the mesmerising destinations of all the three regions of the state – Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh. The Secretary Tourism, who is also MD JKTDC, had comprehensive brain storming session with the travel trade representatives wherein he announced that as part of an aggressive marketing campaign 10

food festivals, travel trade roadshows & golf road shows are being organised in prominent and important leisure and MICE markets. The Secretary said that in all these cities road shows will be held in order to boost tourism in J & K state in upcoming summer and prevailing winter season by showcasing the immense tourism potential of the state. Prominent citizens, media and relevent travel trade bodies will be invited to these road shows. The Secretary also said that the department is organising different events to attract tourists to Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop & other destinations. He said that former Chief Minister, Late Mufti Mahammad Sayeed’s vision and dream to see J & K as one of the best tourism destinations in the world can be realised only when all in Govt and private sector in the state co-ordinate and cooperate for providing best service ,safe atmosphere and traditional hospitality to the visiting tourists, in keeping with the culture of hospitality inherent in the people of J & K.

Keys Hotels Associates with Paytm Wallet Berggruen Hotels Pvt. Ltd., a leading chain of business and leisure hotels which operates with the brand name of Keys Hotels in the country announced its association with mobile commerce platform Paytm wallet as its partner. The partnership will enable customers of Keys Hotels to manage their bookings & payments using Paytm which is a leading brand in the online wallet space. Currently 20- 25% bookings are on online platform and this association will further push the online bookings. The customer can use this facility for all the brands under the Berggruen Hotels umbrella namely Keys Prima,

Keys Hotels & Keys Lite. Keys Hotels has been constantly investing in technology & digitization which is helping the brand grow on a fast pace in multiple customer segments. “At Keys, we aim at consistently delighting our customers by providing the options to choose at every touch point in his/her journey with the Keys brand. Our association with Paytm is yet another humble attempt to bring smiles to our customers by providing swift & easy new age payment option. With the association of both brands, we hope to exceed & do exemplarily well thereby exceeding customer expectations”, said Vikas Chadha, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer. ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

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Kerala Tourism Focusing 2nd OTOAI Convention to Be Held In Bali The Outbound Tour on Tier II & III cities Operators Association of In order to expand its foot print, Kerala Tourism is targeting newer markets both on the domestic and international fronts. “We are very aggressive in promoting Kerala in our traditional as well as newer markets,” said Nandakumar K.P., Deputy Director, Kerala Tourism. Till recently, Kerala Tourism’s target was metros and Tier-I cities in India, but now they are concentrating Tier-II and III cities as well. “We are also targeting smaller cities since they have tremendous potential to infuse growth in our tourism. Recently we have started our marketing activities in cities like Patna, Guwahati, Bhubenswar and Northern states,” he said. Additionally, Kerala Tourism has declared the period from April 2015 to April 2016 as ‘Visit Kerala Year’ and accordingly an array of activities are planned as part of the campaign. “We will extend the Visit Kerala Year till April 2017 as we want do something more,” said Nandakumar. In the wake of the fresh initiative, Kerala Tourism will explore new markets like China and Sri Lanka. Apart from this, aggressive campaigns will also be carried out in traditional markets like United Kingdom, France and Germany through trade fairs and roadshows. Leveraging the increased air connectivity, a focused Ayurveda and monsoon campaigned will be conducted in the Middle East where 90% diaspora are from Kerala. On domestic front, the marketing strategy for 2015-16 aims at value-ofmoney off season packages, targeting cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Pune, Patna, Surat etc. Plans are also afoot to promote Kerala as a major ‘Wedding and MICE destination’ through an online campaign. Last year, Government of Kerala has rolled out seaplane project and Project Muziris to enhance travel experience. On the seaplane front, the immediate plan is to provide service initially in the priority circuit, consisting of three airports of Trivandrum, Kochi and Calicut and the prime destinations like Astamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Bolgatty and Bekal in the state. In 2015 (from January to October), a number of foreign tourists that visited Kerala was 7,75,390 which up by 6.60%. 26

India (OTOAI) has announced their 2nd Mega Convention from March 17-21, 2016, at Bali, Indonesia. Bali is the most popular island holiday destination in the Indonesian archipelago. Making the Convention announcement at a press conference, the Convention Chairman from OTOAI, Riaz Munshi, disclosed that the venue would be the beautiful Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort. The conference attendees would fly in on a combination of Airlines ranging from the official partners Malindo and Malaysia Airlines from Delhi and Mumbai and, Singapore Airlines from pan India cities.

The first three days would be spent

in Bali at the Convention venue, busy with business sessions, net-working, shopping and local sight-seeing. The fourth day would see a day trip to the stunning hill resort of Ubud and the delegates would return back on March 21, 2016. OTOAI would be working on this Convention with their local partners PACTO! Around 300 delegates, invitees, speakers and media persons are expected to attend the Convention.

PHLCVB Launches Philadelphia Specialist Badge The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) launched the Philadelphia Specialist Badge, a bespoke training module for travel agents as part of Brand USA’s USA Discovery Program, at SATTE 2016.

Badge for our travel trade partners in India. This is a unique platform for travel agents to learn more about our beautiful city so they can sell Philadelphia more effectively to their customers”.

With information on Philadelphia’s dining, nightlife, accommodation, tax-free shopping, unique historical attractions and ease of access, the badge is an educational tool for travel agents to learn everything they need to know on the destination and become accredited Philadelphia specialists.

Sunil Puri, Executive Director Sartha Global Marketing representing PHLCVB in India said, “The USA Discovery Program allows agents to develop expertise on a variety of themed aspects on travel to the U.S. An agent becomes a USA Specialist by completing a US destination module and receiving an official badge as recognition of their expertise on that destination. With Philadelphia recently being honored as the first and only World Heritage City in the United States, there is no better time than this to highlight this wonderful destination”.

Brian Said, Executive Director of Tourism, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau said, “We are thrilled to launch the Philadelphia Specialist

The USA Discovery Program is an online training program for educating travel agents on the diverse offerings of the United States of America. Agents who complete the Philadelphia Specialist badge can also participate in a contest, jointly organized in partnership with British Airways, to win prizes ranging from cash vouchers to a trip for two to Philadelphia. ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

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TAT launches Amazing Munich Airport Wins Best Employer Award Romance in Thailand industries, posed such questions Munich Airport ranks among

Couples, honeymooners and those still enjoying the romance of wedded life are invited to visit Thailand in February, the month of love, and avail of a truly memorable experience in the “Land of Smiles”. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is launching the “Amazing Romance in Thailand” activity in cooperation with Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Immigration Division to make their visit extra special. Couples coming to Thailand to get married, enjoy a honeymoon, or even propose to a loved one will find romance is all around, starting right at Suvarnabhumi Airport itself. TAT has set up two special photo booths and registration counters in both the East and West Concourses of Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Arrival and Departures Halls, so that the couples can get a memento of their trip. Suvarnabhumi Airport and Immigration Division have also arranged a premium lane to provide a fast-track immigration process for couples. After a brief registration process, couples will be given special souvenirs and privileges, and their names will be entered into a lucky draw making them eligible to win prizes; such as, domestic air tickets and accommodation. The lucky winners will be announced on www.tourismthailand.org/ romanticthailand and on Instagram (IG) romanticthailand. The campaign will continue throughout February. It will be open every day during the month from 04.00 to 24.00 Hrs. On 13-14 February, 2016, from 10:00 to 18:00 Hrs, a special activity called “Romantic Thailand, Land of RelationSHIFT” will be held. Couples can participate by taking photographs and circulating them via Instagram (IG) with the Hash Tag to #romanticthailand, #LandofRelationSHIFT, #AmazingThailand. Participants will get a FREE Thai scarf as a souvenir. 28

Germany’s top employers. That is one of the results of a recent study conducted by the German news weekly Focus. At a special ceremony in Berlin, the airport’s operating company FMG was honored as the “Best Place to Work in the Transportation and Logistics Sector”. “This outstanding rating for the entire country shows that FMG is known as an extremely attractive employer all over Germany, and not just in our region. In view of the demographic trends we face in the coming years, this is enormously important to us as a growing company that will need more and more staff,” said Michael Kerkloh, the President and CEO of Munich Airport, who was on hand to accept the award. In Germany’s biggest study of this kind, Focus teamed up with the career-based networking site Xing and the employer rating portal kununu to identify the most attractive employers in 22 industries. In the overall scoring, covering all sectors, Munich Airport posted an outstanding number 13 ranking. The study, which garnered responses from 70,000 employees in a wide range of companies and

as: “What are your top priorities and what companies do you see as attractive places to work?” “Would you recommend your employer to your friends?” As the responses submitted to kununu showed, Munich Airport’s staff give their employer top marks for such criteria as working atmosphere, team spirit and generational management. Robert Scharpf, FMG’s head of HR, sees the award as the outcome of across-theboard digitalization of the airport’s employer marketing efforts: “We are now well established on all of the key online platforms,” he says. In view of challenges that lie ahead, he welcomes the airport’s selection as the number one employer in its industry as an inspiration to try even harder: “Competition to attract talented people will intensify in the coming years. We must make it our future goal to maintain our strong position as an employer and to continue building our reputation in the global job market to compete for talent worldwide. That’s another benefit of the Focus ratings: They give us valuable insights into the areas where we have room for improvement.”

Jet Airways Launches Booking Feature ‘Farelock’ Jet Airways introduced a booking feature FareLock, allowing customers to retain a select fare for a limited period before confirming the purchase at a later date. FareLock is applicable for flights across the Jet Airways’ network. It offers customers the opportunity to plan their travel with greater ease and convenience, a statement said. “This unique feature allows guests to have greater flexibility in planning their travel while locking fares in advance of the actual purchase. It will transform the way guests book tickets using our online platforms”, said Gaurang Shetty, Senior Vice President – Commercial, Jet Airways. FareLock is available on the airline’s online platforms, its website

jetairways.com, the mobile site and the mobile app. Once a customer selects the FareLock option, they will need to pay a nominal fee of Rs 350 for a domestic ticket and Rs 700 for an international ticket to lock the available fare. They can then return to any of the airline’s online platforms within the next 72 hours to purchase the tickets and confirm their booking at the preselected fare. ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016

NEWSLINE

Flydubai Witnesses 25% Increase in Passenger Numbers flydubai has reported profits of USD 27.4 million for 2015 following a stronger second half-year which saw increased numbers of passengers travel across its network. Total revenue for the full year was AED 4.9 billion (USD 1.33 billion), an increase of 11% compared to 2014. The overall yield, in terms of fils per Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPKM), was under pressure attributable to the strong dollar; the challenging trading environment across the network; disruption resulting from the suspension of flights on some established routes and a large number of recently launched routes with a lead time required to reach maturity. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said: “2015 was an important year for flydubai. It was a year in which through determination and commitment we continued to realise our vision to increase connectivity in support of the UAE’s economic development. The year culminated in two achievements: the delivery of our 50th aircraft; and our fourth full-year

FEBRUARY 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

of profitability.” Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of flydubai, added: “The overall trading environment has remained challenging but we have maintained our growth story and ended the year positively. Our robust passenger growth of 30%, in terms of RPKM, underlines the demand for travel within our geographic focus; the continued appeal of Dubai as a destination; and the popularity of our service.” Since its launch, flydubai has opened 59 destinations on its network that were previously underserved or that did not have direct air links to Dubai. 2015 saw flydubai increase connectivity offered by Dubai’s aviation hub and contributed 29 per cent of the total increase in passengers using Dubai’s airports.

Starting in May, flydubai will take delivery of 16 new aircraft over the next 24 months. This includes five new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft due to arrive in the second half of 2017. In line with its strategy to maintain a young and efficient fleet these aircraft will support flydubai’s continued growth as well as replace some of the original aircraft in the fleet. During this period, seven aircraft will be retired. The continued focus on cost improvement and efforts to increase operational efficiencies are expected to contribute further cost savings to the airline. The airline’s route network will continue to strengthen as it sees all the 41 new routes launched in the last two years mature. flydubai has a network of 89 destinations in 43 countries.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE CONTEST - 96

Debopriyo Sen

appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing, Starwood Westin, Chennai

Dhananjay Kumar

appointed as General Manager The Suryaa, New Delhi

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ASIAN TRAVELLER | FEBRUARY 2016