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Edited & Published by Shailendra Kesari • For Online News visit: www.safariplus.co.in • Email: info@safariplus.co.in • Jan - Feb 2016 • Vol: 17 Issue: 3

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Growing Importance of

BY: GOUR KANJILAL Now a days, everyone has positive thinking about the importance of Religious Tourism which allows us to safeguard our heritage and contribute to the social and economic development of the area and to the maintenance of the cultural heritage of the people. In India, every region have World Heritage monuments and religious centers of which some of them attract tourists from overseas also like Golden Temple, Amritsar, Tirupati Balaji in Tirumala, Char Dham in Garhwal Hills Varanasi –Rameshwaram –Badrinath- Puri of Char Dham of Shankaracharya, Ajmer Garib Nawaz Sharif and many more. These destinations can also organized through cultural looks with a great tourist attraction specially Hindu Circuits, Sikh

Circuits, Jain Circuits, Sufi Circuits, Islamic Heritage Circuits, Christian pilgrimage Circuits, Buddhist Circuits, Vedic routes, Shiva Circuits (Jyotirlinga visits) Ganpati circuits etc… This wide range of activities with religious content, are based at sometime on the different festive events which generate hundreds of thousands of trip every year like Kumbh Mela, Dussehra, Holi, Gurpurab, Pushkar fair, Budh Purnima so on. All these festivals are sufficiently attractive by themselves and give the visitors the chance of seeing colorful events and religious ceremonies as also enjoying beautiful landscapes at the same time. The existing resources that belong to our history and culture are without a doubt, innumerable and we must exploit them out by looking necessary

measures in order to raise awareness of their existence and to protect them. Already J&K Tourism is doing a big pilgrimage tourism boost at Vaishno Devi with over (4 million devotes per year). Tirupati Balaji visit in Andhra Pradesh (over 7 crore visitors) Sai Shirdi at Nashik over 2 million tourists, Uttarakhand visit to four Himalayan Shrines in Garhwal Hills (over 1.50 million) and states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamilnadu have a large volume of domestic and international tourists to pilgrimage centers, Bihar has good volume of Buddhist traffic. We need aggressive publicity to get increased volumes. Thus in Indian Tourism, a special focus is there on Cultural Tourism with link to Pilgrimage/Religious tourism for touristic purpose and boost festivals

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NEWS FLASH Air India Introduces On the Spot Sikkim's 1st Airport To Be Payment of Cash for Upgrade Operational By December 2016 A ir India has introduced a scheme to upgrade passengers on the basis of spot payment of cash at airports. This information was given by Minster of State for Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma. T he scheme is called 'Get Up Front' and is applicable for both domestic and international sectors. The upgrade at airport is subject to availability of seats and on First Come First Served Basis and also subject to the physical presence of a guest at the check-in counter. The scheme is being publicized through text cards at the airports. T he following measures have been

taken to make Air India competitive with private airlines: i . Induction of brand new aircraft on several domestic & international routes to increase passenger appeal i i. Phasing out & grounding of old fleet i ii. On Time Performance (OTP) is being monitored at the highest level within Air India o n d a i l y b a s i s . A v i d e o conference is anchored by Integrated Operation Control Centre (IOCC) every day in which the representatives of operating departments from four regions participate to review the previous day's operation and evolve process improvement wherever possible.

Executive Lounges at Railway Stations IRCTC has been entrusted with the task of setting up Executive Lounges at 49 locations. These Executive Lounges will provide value added services at a charge, offering facilities such as Wifi Internet, buffet services, wash and change, concierge services for predeparture and post-arrival assistant to passengers. These facilities are similar to the facilities provided at the airports. The locations are New Delhi, Delhi, Nizamuddin, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Jammu, Agra Cantt., Bhopal, Nagpur, Vijayawada, Chennai Central, Bangaluru City, Trivandrum Central,

Madurai, Kozhikode, Ernakulam Jn., Madgaon, Bombay Central, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Bandra Terminus, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kathgodam, Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow, Lucknow Jn., Varanasi Cantt., Kalka, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Pune, Bilaspur, Ranchi, Raipur, Dhanbad, Tatanagar, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Puri, Sealdah, Howrah, New Jalpaiguri, Patna, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, and Kanpur. Executive Lounge at New Delhi Railway station has started operation. IRCTC is in the process of setting up Executive Lounges at other locations.

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The first airport of Sikkim is expected to be operational from December 2016, which will provide a direct connectivity to the land-locked state and also help boost tourism. "Preparation are afoot and we are hopeful that the state will have its first airport operational from December 2016," said Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma. Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said the airport will come up at Pakyong which is 35 km from Gangtok. Currently the nearest airport is Bagdogra in Bengal and one has to drive down to Sikkim from Bagdogra.

Sharma said,"We are proud of Sikkim and the state has great potential for tourism and the Centre is extending all help to promote northeast including Sikkim as a tourist hub.. "The ministry has allocated Rs 98 crore to Sikkim for the development of tourism out of which Rs 90 crore is already released". Sharma said the government has extended e-visa facility to 113 countries and as a result there has been increase of about 40 per cent of foreign tourist arrivals. The foreign exchange has also increased due to more footfalls, the Tourism Minister said.

Railways revises Child Fare Rule Ministry of Railways has decided to revise the child fare rule. Under this revised provision, full adult fare will be charged for children of age 5 years and under 12 years of age if for whom berth/seat (in reserved class) is sought at the time of reservation. However, in case berth/seat is not sought for the children of age 5 years and under 12 years of age at the time of reservation, then half of the adult fare shall continue to be charged subject to the minimum distance for charging. Necessary changes shall be carried in the reservation form so that the passenger

can indicate their option for requirement of full berth/seat for child or not. There shall be no change in the rule for child fare of unreserved tickets i.e. fare for children of 5-12 years for unreserved tickets shall continue to be half of the adult fare subject to the minimum distance for charging. Children under five years of age will continue to be carried free (without berth). The revised child fare rule shall be applicable for travel from April, 2016 onwards. Exact date of commencement of this provision will be notified separately at a later date.

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TRADE PLUS

DOMECTIC NEWS

Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2016 in Chiang Mai After 14 consecutive years of being held in Bangkok, the 15th Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion will be relocated to the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai in 2016. To be held between 8-10 June, 2016, at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC), the event will bear the theme of “Smile with Us.” Organised annually by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the TTM+ is Thailand's largest annual B2B tourism and travel trade event. Over the years, it has proven to be very popular for exhibiting the many creative new travel products and services emerging all around the country and the GMS, especially the small and medium sized enterprises. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said, “The time is right for TTM+ to be moved to another location. Chiang Mai is perfectly suited because it is the closest Thai city to our neighbours in the

GMS with a new convention centre and superb hotel facilities to accommodate all the guests.” He added, “The emergence of Myanmar as a major tourism destination, plus the improving transportation connectivity in the GMS will further enhance the appeal of the entire area, giving buyers and media a chance to explore the many emerging new products and services.” TAT is expecting 400 buyers from 50 countries. This is in line with the strategy to penetrate emerging source markets; such as, Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Middle East, South America and South Africa. Tour operators who do not currently feature Thailand and the GMS countries in their product profile will also get priority in order to interest them in expanding their client base. The registration fee for hosted buyers is 300 USD (9,600 Baht). For non-hosted buyers, the fee for foreign delegates is 200 USD (6,400 Baht) and local delegates 100 USD (3,200 Baht). Late

Kerala's New Jatayu Park Opens in Jan 2016

deciders can register on-site for a fee of 150 USD (4,800 Baht). Applications are open until 15 March, 2016. Amongst exhibitors, TAT is projecting 400 booths from all regions of Thailand and the GMS countries with a special focus on four main niche-market product groups: 1. Ecotourism and Experience Thainess; 2. Wedding and Honeymoon; 3. Health and Wellness, and 4. The 12 Hidden Gems. The rest of the exhibitors will include the normal range of hotels / resorts, tour operators / travel agents; entertainment facilities; transportation; golf courses; travel associations; NTOs and others. Registration fee for exhibitors is 30,000 Baht for early bird participants before 15 February, 2016. After that, the rate will rise to 35,000 Baht. The deadline is 15

March, 2016. Mr. Yuthasak said, “This event will be right in line with the TAT strategy to enhance the marketing profile of the secondary destinations in Thailand and the GMS and better distribute jobs and income around the region. It will also be an excellent opportunity for the excellent range of tourism products; such as, health and wellness centres, ecotourism resorts and national parks to market themselves.” Registrations for buyers and sellers are now open and can be accessed here: Buyer Registration: http://www.thailandtravelmartplus.co m/buyer.php Seller Registration: http://www.thailandtravelmartplus.co m/seller.php

Vibrant Gujarat Kerala Travel Mart 2016 International Travel Mart 19 - 21 February, 2016 Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat - India

Minister for Tourism Govt. of Kerala Mr. AP Anil Kumar officially announces the 9th edition of Kerala Travel Mart scheduled to be held from the 27th 30th September 2016 in Kochi - Kerala. KTM 2016, will take place at Samudrika & Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island, Kochi. Emphasis will be on Responsible Tourism in Kerala and the new slogan will be "Gods Own Country People's Own Tourism". The Kerala Travel Mart Society in partnership with the Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala hosts this mega event which brings together the business entrepreneurs behind the tourism products and services of Kerala on a single platform. It is perhaps the largest gathering in the tourism Industry of Kerala that facilitates the meeting and interaction of the Buyers, Sellers and the Media. Tour Operators, Hotels, Resorts, Homestays, Houseboats, Ayurveda

Resorts, cultural art centres and many others will showcase their products at the Mart. KTM 2016 will reach out to buyers from new markets like Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Middle East, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden and USA. KTM 2016 will focus on raising their quality too. The Mart will highlight responsible tourism in a big way. The pre-registration of Buyers will commence on 05th January, 2016. Each pre-registration form will be scrutinized by a Committee before registering the person as a Buyer at KTM 2016. The Sellers registration will begin by February, 2016. 268 stalls of various sizes will be set up in an air conditioned area of 75000 sq.ft which will also include food courts, press room and other necessary facilities.

Government of Gujarat and Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited in association with FICCI is organizing Vibrant Gujarat International Travel Mart (VGITM) from 19-21 February 2016 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhi Nagar, Gujrat (India) to promote tourism in Gujarat. The exposition is designed to facilitate business interactions among travel professionals from Gujarat and across t h e wo r l d , t h e re by u n l e a s h i n g significant business opportunities between Gujarat-based travel fraternity and International travel trade. The focal components of the event will be the buyer-seller meet, B2C meetings and the travel exhibition. VGITM will specifically promote the vast bouquet of tourist destinations in Gujarat and complement the highly

s u c c e s s f u l promotional campaign featuring M r. A m i t a b h B a c h c h h a n , L e g e n d a r y Bollywood Actor and t h e B r a n d Ambassador of Gujarat Tourism. The event is expecting the participation of more than 100 Foreign Tour Operators (FTO) and almost 125 D o m e s t i c To u r Operators (DTO). Over 1000 key tourism products would be exhibited in more than 150 booths, distributed in thematic zones spread over 10,000 sq.km. There would be B2B meetings for Gujarat -based trade partners and buyers. To experience the destination offering Fam tours are been organised for foreign and domestic tour operators. International and National media are also invited to cover the event.

Kerala’s new adventure park will be open in January 2016. The nature park is spread in 65 acre and has the main attraction of the 200 ft. long sculpture of Mythical vulture “JATAYU”. It has been scripted in Ramayana,that Jatayu fought vigorously with Ravana while rescuing Sita, but unfortunately was attacked by Ravana. The park is situated at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district, it is been said it's the same place where

Jatayu was found lying in death by Lord Rama. This park is been developed by privatpublic partnership under the BOT model. In the park there will be an adventure games like trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, ziplining, bouldering, rappelling, archery, paintball, laser tag, air-rifle shooting, trampoline jumping and more. The Jatayu National Park will h a v e a 6D Theatre and an audiovisual based museum. The museum will exhibit the glimpse from Ramayana. There will be also an Ayurveda Cave Resort , which will provide rejuvenation packages of Ayurveda. The caves will have all modern amenities balancing the ambience of

Punjab Tourism soon will launch Double decker buses for tourists Punjab Heritage and To u r i s m P r o m o t i o n Board (PHTPB) will soon launch double-decker buses for the tourists. The official said that the buses are expected to hit the streets from June next year. The project will be implemented in phasewise manner, and in the first phase, four buses will be on road. The buses will take the tourists across the Amritsar city and the nearby places of interest covering the religious places, city is known for, like Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Durgiana Temple, besides other historical places. It will also cover the world famous retreat ceremony at India-Pakistan international border at Attari. PHTPB official said that as per the

preliminary decision, the buses will run from Amritsar international airport, Jallianwala Bagh, and from the Tourism Department’s office near railway station. The buses will have trained tourist guides, and effort would be made to offer assistance in different foreign languages, especially the ones which are largely spoken.

sacred culture. South India's first state of art cable car is being set up in the park. Heli –Taxies services are provided to experience the Jatayu Nature Parks and nearby destinations aerial view. Almost 1.5kms long walkway had been constructed through the lush greenery and jungles from the Jatayu sculpture to enjoy the nature at its best. The giant Jatayus sculpture is acclaimed

to become the World's largest sculpture which is 200ft in length , 150ft in breadth and 70feet in height which will be set on a enormous area of 15,000 sqft. The concept of this park is developed by the renowned film maker Rajiv Anchal. Nearest Airport to reach Jatayu Nature Park is Trivandrum International Airport and the closet railway station is Kollam Junction and also Paravur railway station.

Dharmendra and Hema Malini roped in as brand ambassadors of Haryana Tourism Department Haryana Tourism Minister Shri Ram Bilas Sharma informed that the film actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini would be the brand ambassadors of Haryana Tourism Department. “We have received the consent of Dharmendra and Hema Malini to be state’s brand ambassadors and a formal announcement would be made on the in au gu ratio n o f th e Suraj kund International Crafts Mela from 1 to 15 February, 2016,” said Mr. Sharma. He said that, both the actors would be invited in the upcoming Surajkund International Crafts Mela. And this year

Telangana and China would participate in the fair as Theme State and Theme C o u n t r y , respectively. The government is working out on a plan to promote the religious circuits of the state, the minister added. Haryana Tourism has further diversified and broadened the concept of tourism by focussing on farm tourism, golf tourism, heritage tourism, adventure tourism and MICE tourism. The facility of online booking of rooms at Tourist Complexes is available on www.haryanatourism.gov.in and also through booking portals like cleartrip.com, goibibo.com and travelguru.com.

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Kerala's New Jatayu Park Opens in Jan 2016

Vibrant Gujarat Kerala Travel Mart 2016 International Travel Mart 19 - 21 February, 2016 Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat - India

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TRADE PLUS Fxkart.com recognized as

ICICI Bank Launches Online

one of the top 100 startups in India Rail Ticket Booking On Its Website

Fxkart.com, India’s largest online aggregator of RBI-licensed money changers, announced that it was recognized as one of the top 100 startups in India at the Hot100 Tech Start-up Awards. With start-ups being the flavor of the season, Hot100 Awards celebrated that entrepreneurial spirit in Mumbai recently, seeking to recognize and reward India's most disruptive technology companies in the start-up space. “Fxkart.com, being one of the

exponential companies in the start-up ecosystem, was recognized as one of the Hot100 startups in India,” said Abdul Hadi Shaikh, CEO, Fxkart.com. Fxkart.com is a platform that facilitates foreign exchange trading and simplifies currency exchange for people travelling to and from India. Early this year, the company launched a forex booking mobile app showcasing 650+ forex dealer locations across India. The company claims to be India’s first forex booking app.

Adlabs Imagica launches BEST AC bus services to the park Adlabs Imagica, has launched AC buses to the park in association with BEST. Now, guests can travel to the park and back, by using BEST AC bus service from Mumbai starting @ Rs. 500/- only. The designated pick-up and drop points are located at popular spots and are timed to allow guests to enjoy an entire day of fun at Imagica in Khopoli. Mr. Harjeet Chhabra, CMO Adlabs CST Station Bhendi Bazar (A.H. Ansari Chowk) Byculla Stn.(East) Jai Hind Cinema Lalbaug Parel TT Dadar TT Maheshwari Udyan Arrive at Adlabs Imagica

Entertainment said, “Adlabs Imagica is an international standard family destination offering a world class experience, located just a short drive from Mumbai. This association will be an additional enabler for people to conveniently come to Imagica and spend quality time with their friends and families.

Bhatia Baug Bus Station Route No 1 Bus Stop Route No 1 Bus Stop Route No 1 Bus Stop Route No 1 Bus Stop Lalbaug - Route No 1 Bus Stop Lalbaug - Route No 1 Bus Stop Route 504 ltd Bus Stop

7:15 AM 7:25 AM 7:35 AM 7:45 AM 7:50 AM 8:00 AM 8:10 AM 8:15 AM 10:30AM

ICICI Bank announced the launch of a facility that allows users to book online rail tickets on its website www.icicibank.com. This facility is being offered in association with the Indian R a i l w a y C a t e r i n g & To u r i s m Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC). ICICI Bank is the first bank in the country to offer such a facility on its website. Customers of any bank can use this service to book online rail tickets on the Bank’s website itself, without visiting any other website. This service will soon be also available on the bank’s mobile banking app, iMobile as well as on its digital bank on mobile phone, Pockets. With this service, users can search for

trains, book an e-ticket, cancel a reservation as well as check their PNR status among others. The website will display latest information for services including train options and ticket availability by connecting directly with the reservation system of the Indian Railways on a real time basis. Users can pay for the rail tickets using their internet banking account, debit or credit card of any bank. To avail this service, users have to do a one-time registration on the Bank’s website with their mobile number and user id registered with IRCTC. Subsequently, they can purchase the tickets directly from the Bank’s website.

Vista Rooms launches Business spaces at Rs.299/India's fastest growing online budget hotel aggregator, Vista Rooms has launched Vista Lounge, a network of affordable business centres and meeting spaces at its hotels. Vista Lounge has been launched across select properties in Mumbai and the company aims to cross 200 Vista Lounges in 2016. The focal intent is to provide office spaces and meeting spaces to business travellers, small satellite teams of corporates, SMEs, startups and freelancers who struggle to find convenient, yet affordable places to work from. Partnered with their extensive network of 700+ hotels across 80+ cities, Vista Rooms will help hoteliers set up business lounges with amenities required like printers, scanners and high speed Wi-Fi. Vista Lounges have a flexible fee structure and location options. Customers who register with Vista Lounge can work out of one location on one day and a different location the next day. This will be particularly useful to businessmen who travel frequently and need office space in different locations.

Vista Lounge rates start at Rs. 299 per person daily / Rs. 1,699 per week / Rs. 5,999 per month. Vista Rooms commands the largest inventory for tier II, tier II cities and their latest addition would attract business travellers to big and small cities. The competitive rates were introduced keeping in mind the customers who are on a stringent budget. Amit Damani, Co–Founder and Head of Marketing, commented “We have been constantly striving to create value for our customers. Along with providing basic amenities and special discounts for taxi services, restaurants, gyms etc, with Vista Lounge, we plan to leverage our team’s knowledge and expertise about the startup ecosystem. We would be providing advisory support to startup’s who need advice on different aspects like legal, marketing, fundraising etc. Vista Lounge will make for easy access to affordable business centre facilities across the country and provide with excellent networking opportunities for companies using our service.” More on - www.vistarooms.com

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GURU MANTRA

DOMESTIC NEWS

A Bullish 2016 For Indian Tourism

Madhya Pradesh Tourism all set for 'Simhastha 2016'

By Gour Kanjilal India is poised to benefit from the surge in foreign tourist inflow through etourist visa and better infrastructure. The year 2016 is expected to have a good beginning and there is a positive growth trend in the International tourist arrivals. As per the international tourist arrival figures circulated by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (Market Research Division) upto November 71.3 lakh international tourists came to India. There is a growth of 4.5% with international tourist arrivals as compared to the foreign tourist arrivals of 67.94 lakh over the corresponding period of 2014. However, November arrivals were quite significant when international arrivals reached 8.15 lakhs as compared to foreign arrivals of 7.65 lakh during the month of November in 2014. Even the

global growth is around 3 to 4% as per WTO indication. But with e-tourist visa, 2016 may see a landmark difference in India’s International tourist arrivals. The percentage share of FTA's in India during November 2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (15.76%) followed by Bangladesh (12.27%), UK (11.00%), Canada (4.52%), Australia (4.22%), Malaysia (3.43%), Russian Fed (3.42%), Germany (3.34%), France (2.93%). Sri Lanka (2.89%), China (2.83%), Japan (2.51%), Singapore (2.19%), Nepal (1.77%) and Thailand (1.58%). These top 15 countries account for 74.66% of total FTAs during November 2015. It indicates how new markets have taken over the traditional markets. Unfortunately Foreign Exchange Earnings from tourism in rupee terms during January – November were 1, 12,958 crore compared to the Foreign Exchange Earning of Rs 1,12,958 crore with a growth of 1% during January – November 2015 over the corresponding period of 2014. Foreign Exchange Earnings from tourism in terms of US$ during January – November 2015 were US$ 17.685 billion with a growth of as compared to US$ $ 18,383 billion with a negative growth of 3.8% over January 2014 period. The marginal growth is FEE is really worrying us. Undoubtedly the positive trend in international arrivals is mainly due to the aggressive initiatives by the tourism government of India along with all the stakeholders in the industry since 2013.

These timely actions helped to contain the negative impact of the global economic slowdown. Tour Operators did their bit to regain the lost ground by holding road shows, workshops, seminars and enhanced participation in international travel exhibitions, which helped send the message that India means business and tour operators are ready to develop long terms business relations. Most of the tour operators and other stakeholders have strengthened their manpower by having special training programs and educational tours within the country to launch new packages taking advantage of the lean period. Tourist Visa-on-Arrival facilities now extended to 113 countries. The visa relaxation coupled with better air connectivity also have ensured steady inflow and this trend will continue all through 2016. With better infrastructure in place India is now perceived as the right holiday destination. There has also been a surge in cruise tourism as well since last year with improved cruise terminal facilities in Mumbai, Kochi, Goa and Visakhapatnam. Many leading cruise liners have included India as Port of Call in their global cruise packages. There have been sincere efforts from the tourism ministry to project India as an important MICE destination. With new convention centers in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai etc, better international air connectivity improved

support services, hotels, rail services, etc. India started attracting big c o n v e n t i o n , P o s i t i v e l y, I n d i a n Convention and Promotion Bureau (ICPB) has taken the lead in MICE operations in a very professional manner. It is estimated that about 25% of the overall traffic to India could be for MICE purpose. Adventure Tourism is also gaining momentum with its season beginning in August. Tremendous growth can be expected in this sector with a series of n e w t re k k i n g ro u t s i n S i k k i m , Uttarakhand and Himachal, Pradesh attracting youngsters interested in ecofriendly tourism. Overall, India is being projected beyond the cultural monuments to more activity-oriented tourism as per the global trends to attract the youth. Sports Tourism potential in India has been well publicized specially golfing holidays. Focus has also shifted to rural tourism, spiritual tourism, medical health and wellness tourism. Our internationally recognized hospitals coupled with various Ayurvedic treatments available in Kerala, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are added advantages. As the recovery pick up in major traffic generating countries, holiday spending will also be up in these countries and India is ready to take its due share. We can look forward to a good season in 2016 (unless no untoward events take place.) We mean business and we are ready to welcome guests.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism is all set for the biggest spiritual event “Simhastha 2016” which will begin from 22nd April to 21st May 2016. As Madhya Pradesh Tourism is celebrating this current year as 'Madhya Pradesh Tourism Year' it is power packed with different activities, events, packages with ex t ra o rd i n a r y c u sto m e r experience. “Special arrangements have been made for all the devotees coming from across the country to have a holy dip. During Simhastha 20,000 administrative, 23 thousand police staff and 60,000 volunteers will be deployed. For holy baths, 7.25 kilometer long ghats will be renovated and constructed with GIS-

based arrangements,” informed Additional Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, Ms Tanvi Sundriyal during the Press Conference in Mumbai on 11 Dec, 2015. The Simhastha Kumbh is an unrivalled celebration in India. 4000 hectare land

has been acquired fo r S i m h a s t h a which is being developed like a city for religious and socioe c o n o m i c activities. The 2-month event will begin in April 2 0 1 6 . F o r a d m i n i s t ra t i v e arrangements in Mela area, 6 zones, 16 sectors and 42 police stations will be created. First holy bath of Simhastha will take place on April 22, Shahi Snan on May 21 while other holy baths will take place on May 9, 11, 17 and 19, 2016. Panchkroshi Yatra will be held from May

1 to 6, 2016. “Different events have been lined up for tourists to Dream, Discover, Explore Madhya Pradesh. We have designed a unique tourism called Caravan Tourism for travellers across India. Promoted as 'Holiday on Wheels' Caravan Tourism gives travelers an access to have an adventure on their own by roads with customized itineraries,'' told Mrs. Leena Karkera, Resident Manager, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, Marketing office, Mumbai. There are all basic facilities available onboard and even Internet connection, thereby offering a comprehensive approach to the product. There are several packages in three circuits with bases in Jabalpur, Indore and Bhopal.

Gujarat Tourism lures the investors in Maharashtra

To promote investment in Gujarat Tourism Industry, Government of Gujarat held investors meet to apprise investors on recently announced Tourism Policy. The new Tourism Policy will be into effect till 31st March 2020. With this new Tourism Policy, it is for the first time that Tourism sector has been granted status of an Industry and with this initiative, tourism sector will now get all the benefits that an industry gets. The new tourism policy will provide investment opportunities in Eco Tourism Projects, Beach Tourism and Water Sports Projects, Heritage Tourism Projects, International

Buddhist Circuit, Wayside Amenities / Cafeteria, Cleanliness Projects and Greenfield Properties for development. Gujarat Tourism is also taking initiatives like PPP in Tourism Projects, Special Tourist Police and annual recognition through Excellence Awards in Tourism Industry. The new Tourism Policy will provide many incentives and concessions such as Capital Subsidy, Interest Subsidy, Registration / Stamp Duty Concession, Exemption from Luxury Tax, Exemption from Entertainment Tax, Exemption from Electricity Duty, Support for Sustainable Tourism, Special Package for Mega Tourism Units, Incentive for Promotion of Innovation, Support for Marketing and Promotion, Incentives for Skill Development, Incentives for ICT Enablement, Assistance for Research in

the Tourism / Hospitality Industry. All new units which commence commercial operations during the policy period and existing Tourism Unit taking up expansion of more than fifty percent of its existing capacities will be eligible for these incentives under new policy. Commenting on this major initiative, Shri Saurabhbhai Patel, Hon'ble Minister of Tourism, Govt. of Gujarat said, “The new Tourism Policy will position Gujarat as a Vibrant tourist destination, with an emphasis on improving visitor experience, livelihood linkages, environmental concerns and enhancing investment opportunities, thus catapulting tourism as one of the most important economic drivers, leading to sustainable development and inclusive growth in the state. “ Shri Kamlesh Patel, Chairman of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd. said, “Our objective is to make Gujarat one amongst the top five tourist states of India in terms of local, national and international tourist footfalls by 2025. We want to unlock the immense

untapped/under tapped potential of tourism in the state. The new Tourism Policy will create an investment-friendly framework and suitably ensure access to requisite tourist infrastructural facilities.” Adding to it, Shri N. Srivastava, Tourism Commissioner & Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd. said, “In 2014-15 the total tourist arrivals in the State was 326.91 lacs which was 13.5% higher than the previous year. Annually the domestic tourism growth rate nationally is 9.6%. Ahmedabad, Ambaji, Dwarka, Surat and Vadodara continue to remain top-draw destinations. These five destinations account for over 41% of gross tourist flow to Gujarat. The major iconic festivals of Gujarat which has put Gujarat on the world tourism map are: Navratri, RannUtsav and International Kite Festival. The State Government focus on Tourism can be gauzed from the fact that the tourism budget has grown exponentially from a mere Rs.100 cores in 2006 to over Rs.500 Crores currently.”

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GURU MANTRA

DOMESTIC NEWS

A Bullish 2016 For Indian Tourism

Madhya Pradesh Tourism all set for 'Simhastha 2016'

Gujarat Tourism lures the investors in Maharashtra

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TRADE PLUS IT&CM China 2016 Keep Track With Market Trends And Meet Partners From The Chinese Industry

IT&CM China 2016 will be held from April 6 to 8 at Shanghai Exhibition & Convention Center of International Sourcing. This will be the 10th edition of the international MICE event that seeks to “Promote China to the World and the World to China”. The 2016 event expects an attendance of 3,000 MICE professionals from sectors including DMCs, PCOs, corporate travel and associations, some 400 hosted delegates, over 10,000 business appointments as well as over 60 business, education and networking sessions. The successful IT&CM China 2015 has spurred returning and new exhibitors to participate at IT&CM China 2016, with many of these exhibitors establishing a bigger presence at the 2016 edition. “The Chinese outbound market is one of

the fastest growing tourism and MICE markets in the world right now. We are in our early stages of promoting Berlin as a leading worldwide MICE destination to the China market, thus it is imperative to gather market knowledge, keep track with market trends and meet partners from the Chinese industry face-toface. IT&CM China has proven to be a good platform in achieving these goals last year, so we are looking forward to be in Shanghai again in 2016,” shared Ralf Ostendorf, Director Market Management of Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH. Elaborating why they have loyally supported the event year after year, Melvyn Yap, Regional Director, Asia of Silversea Cruises said, “We have been a supporter of IT&CM China since its inception. We will continue to support this event as the quality of buyers has been improving over the years.” MEET Taiwan has pledged its support for the show, with a 30% increase in their pavilion. Lily Su, Director added, “The increase in popularity of Taiwan’s MICE environment resulted in a surge of industry partners interested in participating at IT&CM China.”

January - February, 2016

Dimaz Educational Tour for Travel Agents

Dimaz organized two FAM trips to Russia (covering Moscow and St. Petersburg) for travel agents from 2nd-7th October 2015 & 23rd – 28th October. The trip was

led by Mr. Manish Synghal, CMD Dimaz Group who stayed in Russia for more than 12 years. The uniqueness of Dimaz FAM cum Study trips lies in the fact that the travel agents get the c h a n c e to ex p l o re t h e i r destinations in depth. Agents can ask questions, taste the cuisine options that a tourist would experience, meet the managers of hotels, tour operators, guides museums, restaurants & airline-professionals. They can discover what makes a destination special, so that they can recommend these cities to visit to their clients.

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COVER STORY Growing Importance of Religious Tourism Contd. Pg 1

linked to religious flavor. There are many semi – divine beings who have attained power through meditation and have a s h ra m s i n p l a c e s a n d attract devotees to their Mutts. Our renewed thrust to promote domestic tourism has special emphasis on promotion of “Spiritual” tourism. This is the segment which is very essential to balance the seasonality of inbound tourism as pilgrims move round the year. As the pilgrimage centres are often l o c a t e d a t re m o t e a re a s , t h e development of tourism to these centres lead to all round progress of the under developed areas and prosperity of the economy as a whole. Thus pilgrimage tourism contributes for socio-economic development. Since time immemorial India had been attracting pilgrims from all over the world on its divine trail. The range varies from the holiest of Hindu temples to the Buddhist, Jains, Sikh, Jewish, Bahais, Christians, Parasis, Islam, Sufis, Satnamis, Radhaswamis. All these religious sects co-exist in India with perfect harmony and present an unified symbol of the spirit of secularism. All these religions have their own pilgrimage centres located in cities, mountains, besides rivers, seas, on hill-tops; whatever be their size, wealth and all of them share one thing common and that is the intense faith of the devotees. Some of these places need strenuous efforts to reach at pilgrimage point. Similarly some are known for their architectural splendour. Many of these places have been sanctified by visit of their religious heads. Thus, India is rich spiritual centre for all faith, a Potpourri of varied culture. Each state has some religious place to offer. But the states of Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, have houses of Gods and Goddess, Buddhist Monasteries, Sikh shrines, Jain Temples, which attract millions of devotees every year. Infact our d o m e st i c to u r i s m i s b a sed on pilgrimage tourism. Some of the temples attract devotees like Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Jaimatadi Temple at Vaishnodevi, Chardham Temples in Uttaranchal and Dwarka-Somnath in Gujarat to name a few Jyotirlingas – (An aspect of Shiva & there are 12 Jyotirlings) attract good number of devotees. The plan outlay for tourism is now increased for infrastructural development and State

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Governments are being providing support for putting up facilities in the form of Yatri Nivas/ Yatrikas at major pilgrim site with central financial grant. Pilgrimage tourism is being developed on a circuit concept and each state has finalized one circuit for integrated

development. General feeling of the Government is that if we expect a substantially larger number of Buddhist traffic to come to these India from overseas, there should be sufficient air capacity to travel to India without hassle and there should be comfortable and clean accommodation. This implies that pilgrim tourism will be successful, if Quality of services can be offered as much as the quantity of products. This beings the need of the hour, Govt. have allowed under

its open-sky policy to run Charters to Gaya Airport so that Buddhist traffic can reach Bodhgaya hassle free. Even facilitation arrangement at airport have been improved. Facilities at Buddhist sites improved and major developmental activities are in progress at all Buddhist sites. This segment of tourism is now being packaged in overseas as “Spiritual Tourism” and tourists from overseas are also coming in numbers specially NRIs are coming for pilgrims to Shirdi, Tirupathi, Dwarka, Srilanka and Swami Narayan Temple, Christians Pilgirmage at Goa/ Kerla, Muslim Pilgrimage at Ajmer Dargah. In India Pilgrim Tourism is booming and is round the year affair now. INDIA: IT IS SPIRITUALLY YOURS.

January - February, 2016

TRADE PLUS IT&CM China 2016 Keep Track With Market Trends And Meet Partners From The Chinese Industry

January - February, 2016

Dimaz Educational Tour for Travel Agents

Dimaz organized two FAM trips to Russia (covering Moscow and St. Petersburg) for travel agents from 2nd-7th October 2015 & 23rd – 28th October. The trip was

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COVER STORY Growing Importance of Religious Tourism Contd. Pg 1

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January - February, 2016

DOMESTIC PLUS Kerala Tourism Finalising Land For Maritime Museum Kerala Tourism is in the final stages of acquiring land for the Maritime Museum which is part of the Muziris heritage project. The 50 acre land bank is estimated to cost INR 10 crore and is located at Paravoor in Kollam district of Kerala. Anupama,T V additional director (general), Kerala Tourism, revealed, “Kerala Tourism is finalising the land for the Maritime Museum. Once the land is acquired, the construction will be given to a government agency. The Maritime Museum will cover information about the boats and ships used on the Spice Route and will be more like an

interactive journey. We have signed up with UNESCO for the Spice Route project and on our behalf UNESCO will invite all those countries who were on the Spice Route to contribute artefacts to the Maritime Museum. We will be submitting the final report of the Spice Route project to UNESCO this month.” Meanwhile the Pattanam Museum, one of the museums in the Muziris Project is expected to open in the first quarter of 2016.

Uttar Pradesh Boosting Religious Tourism The Uttar Pradesh State To u r i s m D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation Limited (UPTDCL) is taking special interest to develop pilgrimage places in Uttar Pradesh. UPTDCL has decided to built ropeways to the most visited pilgrim places like Ashtabuja and Kalikoh temples in Vindhyachal at Mirazpur and Lakshman Pahari at Chitrakoot. UPTDCL Chairman, Mr. Sudip Ranjan Sen, said “Lakhs of tourists visit the temples and pilgrimage sites so it has been decided to facilitate the tourism in areas by developing infrastructure. The corporation has also sanctioned Rs. 20 crore to renovate Ramghat in Chitrakoot. We have also decided to

develop vacant plot of 32 Acre at Fatephur Sikri as recreational spot to attract foreign tourists. He said CCTV cameras would be fitted in the hotels and additional packages tours would be started to boost foreign tourists. A total of Rs. 14 crore has sanctioned to add new facilities at hotels and upgrade restaurants , kitchen among others.”

DOMESTIC PLUS Bihar CM’s Big Plans For Tourism Marking the potential of Tourism as tool to generate employment and promote economic developments, Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar frames a roadmap for promotion of tourism in Bihar. Taking it forward he meet the top officials of tourism department and asked them to work on all aspects of the sector for framing a roadmap for its integrated development in Bihar. State Tourism Minister Anita Devi and a number of senior officials attended the meeting. The Chief Minister directed Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh to include art and culture department in the comprehensive roadmap for tourism

sector. CM said professional experts of tourism industry and others having in-depth understanding of this sector should be consulted for preparation of the roadmap. The Buddhist circuit, Mahatma Gandhi circuit, Shiva Shakti circuit for kanwarias, Ramayana circuit, Jain circuit and other tourist places must be developed for economic growth of Bihar, he added. He also gave his consent for setting up Indian Institute of Tourism and Trade Management at Bodh Gaya for promotion of tourism and asked the tourism department to submit a proposal in this regard.

Eco Tourism Plans For Nayachar Island West Bengal’s Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee reconnoitered the tourist destinations of Haldia NAYACHAR, as a possible ecotourism hub. This she announced on her recent visit to Nayachar traveling through the water route. Located at the confluence of Hooghly and Haldi River in Purba Medinipur, Nayachar Island is an excellent eco-tourism destination. It is located within 10 km off the Sundarbans biosphere reserve which is one of the worlds richest in terms of biodiversity. The 47 sq km area is largely inhabited by fishermen. Nayachar has mangrove swamp, casuarinas and coconut plantation and parts are covered by wild grass. The water around the island is also native to the endangered Gangetic

Dolphins. A 4 km boat ride from Haldia to Nayachar is a wonderful experience for the visitors as giant ships, ferries and other sea animals can be spotted. As per records Nayachar Island is one of the recently formed islands in the world. It is a flat island with the raised soil surface of about 1.5 m above the sea. Island has typical high tides and ecology similar to the Sundarbans.

Udaipur Bird Park To Boost Tourism Home Minister Shri Gulab Chand Kataria had announced development of Tourism in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The zoo at Gulab Bagh would soon be developed as a bird park area which would attract a large number of tourists coming here. He stressed on the need for extending tourist facilities but keeping the environment clean and plastic free so as the visitors coming here take back with them beautiful images of the city. Since The Gulab Bagh building is a heritage one, made in 1862. people visiting the park rejoice the pleasant sight and view of birds could be seen here. A budget of 11 crore rupees has been sanctioned for this project. Gulab Bagh would be the state’s first all Bird zoo park with a variety of local and scheduled species. The construction

work for the bird zoo would be around 51135.45 sq meters. A sum of 184.27 lakh rupees is estimated on infrastructure development while 965.25 lakhs would be spending on enclosures work. There is proposed museum and education center where people could get information on the Avian varieties across the globe. The park will also house a hospital and feed store too.

Chikhaldara To Get Tourism Boost Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the state government will approve a INR 800 crore CIDCO tourism development draft for Chikhaldara within a month to boost tourism. He said that this would be done to give a short in the arm to tourism in Chikhaldara as the place has great potential for it. “We will convert Chikhaldara into the best tourist place,” he said at a function in Amravati. Chikhaldara is located about 100 kilometers north of Amravati and is the only hill station of its kind in the Vidarbha region. It is situated on a m o u nta i n ra n ge b eyo n d w h i c h Maharashtra ends and Madhya Pradesh

begins. At a height of 1,088 meters above sea level, Chikhaldara has flourished in terms of flora and fauna because of the good rainfall it receives as compared to other parts of Vidarbha. But what really adds value to Chikhaldara is that it is surrounded on three sides by the borders of the Melghat Project Tiger Area which is spread over an area of about 1,676 square kilometers.

Raigad Mahotsav 22nd - 24th Jan, 2016 Every part of the Raigad fort, the capital of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Swaraj kingdom, speaks about its glorious history. To showcase this glorious era on the same grand scale to the youth, Raigad Mahotsav is arranged. The festival will be held at Raigad fort and its base from 22 to 24 January 2016. The Raigad Fort will be decorated like a newly-wedded bride for the Mahotsav. Mahadarwaza, sabhamandap, raninivasa, ashthapradhan mandap, bazaarpeth, Holi string, samadhisthal would be decorated. A setup of a village would be recreated showing the glory of Chatrapati Shivaji M a h a ra j . H e re p ro g ra m s l i ke Shivrajhyabhishek, display of coins, letters in the handwriting of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, replica of forts, l e c t u re s , fo l k a r t , d h o l ta s h a ,

storytelling, drsyasravya etc would be held. Online booking in advance is compulsory for entry to the event.

Tadoba Mahotsav To Promote Eco Tourism To promote Eco Tourism in Maharashtra and giving a boost to local communities, the State Forest Department and Tourism Department has planned a 'Tadoba Mahotsav' in Mumbai. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by state forest minister Shri Sudhir Mungantiwar. Other members present in the meeting were forest secretary Vikas Kharage, tourism secretary Valsa Nair Singh and director general of social forestry AK Jha. The festival is expected to be held between last week of February and first week of March. "The focus will not just be on Tadoba but all tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries of the state. Tour operators from all over India will be invited and the main focus would be on promoting eco tourism in a way which

Source: TOI will benefit local communities," said a forest official. Social organizations working for wildlife protection and wildlife conservationists will also be a part of the festival. In the preliminary meeting, it was decided that business meetings and exhibitions will be organized in the day while cultural programmes will be held in the evening. The venue of the programme is yet to be finalized but Gateway of India is being considered as an option.

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storytelling, drsyasravya etc would be held. Online booking in advance is compulsory for entry to the event.

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Thailand This time, my parents, also the editorial team, and I, Vyom Kesari, took a trip to Thailand. Oh! How I love this country! It is vibrant and colourful. It comes alive with an effervescent aura of cultural mixed for numerous sorts. I am three years and just wanted to break that stereotype that most of us have. Thailand serves as a perfect holiday destination for us ‘KIDS’. It is an ideal holiday spot for families, as there is a lot for kids to do. So let me give you a detailed insight on my trip, and tell you how much I have enjoyed on the same... Flying with Thai Airways we arrived to Bangkok from Mumbai, and from

through

Suvarnabhumi Airport we drove to Pattaya, taking a trip alongside the sunny portions of Thailand. We checked into the wondrous Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, Pattaya. After checking into the hotel we take off for some sight seeing at - The Nongnooch Gardens, The Underwater Park, Pattaya. Day two started out on a rather fun note especially for me visited The Cartoon Network Park, Pattaya Park, Art in Paradise and Teddy Bear Museum

and ended with Pizza Party and a long walk on beachside road of Pattaya. Day three where we drive back from Pattaya to Bangkok, on the way we went to Sriracha Tiger Zoo, and also checking in at the very plush, Pathuman Princess Hotel in Bangkok. On day Four I enjoyed the charms of Safari World and Kidzania. And on the last Day shopping, shopping n shopping... Ooooppsss... but in this edition we are

eyes covering only MY FAVORITE places where I enjoyed a lot, that is Teddy Bear Museum and Sriracha Tiger Zoo. So don't miss out to check our Special Supplement of THAILAND (Through Vyom’s eyes). Here is just a snapshot ;) As we wind up, I would only like to state that there is indeed a lot more for kids than for adults. So who ever says Thailand is not for kids, “You must read this one for sure!”

Teddy Bear Museum Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya is the first and only museum of its own kind in Southeast Asia. The Museum is build under the concept of “Travel Treasure Hunting with Teddy Bear”. So, the museum has been designed as a dragon boat. Spread as large as 40 meters and designed by a Korean designer. The museum is divided into 12 zones as follows. 1. Inca Zone 2. Dinosaur Zone 3. Fossil Zone 4. Africa Zone 5. Thailand Zone 6. Under the sea Zone 7. Eskimo Zone 8. Santa town Zone 9. Space Zone 10. Fairytale Zone 11.China Zone 12. Europe Zone. It's a best location to click n numbers of selfies....with the cute Teddies.

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great place to meet the King!!! TIGER The Sriracha Tiger Zoo This place would be in my memories forever, as I had an close encounter with my favourite animal Tiger and here I touched and took tiger's cubs on my lap. I absolutely adore animals, and this zoo was just the place for me. The

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zoo is just two kilometres off the Bangkok-Pattaya Highway No.7. There is a natural habitat that has been recreated in an attempt to rear the Royal Bengal Tigers, and retain them from going extinct. The park homes to some 400 royal Bengal Tigers. Park is open to

an array of activities these famously include the tiger show, crocodile show, elephant show and the intelligent pig show. One can also take a picture with the tiger cubs as you feed the little felines. Enjoy an elephant ride around the park.

Feeding animals especially tigers and crocodile is a feature that cannot be missed. There are numerous eateries within the park serving a variety of cuisines. There is a shuttle service that the park provides to pick and drop visitors from famous hotels. Adult Ticket is 450 Baht and Child 250 Baht.

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HOSPITALITY PLUS Pride’s Luxury Hotel at Aerocity, New Delhi Pride Group of Hotels continues to grow its impressive Hotel Portfolio with the launch of their flagship hotel - Pride Plaza Hotel, Aerocity, New Delhi. The 385 rooms luxurious hotel is a blend of contemporary style, warmth and sophistication. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Satyen Jain, CEO, Pride Group of Hotels said “Pride Plaza Hotel is an exciting addition to the Pride Group of Hotels portfolio. This property embodies the brands drive to enable its guests experience unparalleled luxury”. The Pride Plaza Hotel boasts of 385 Designer Rooms and Suites, Oriental Spice - The Pan Asian Restaurant, Café Pride – Round The Clock Cafe–, Angare Pool Side Barbeque, Stallion – Lounge Bar, Mr. Confectioner – Deli Counter. The hotel features a state-of-the- art wellness center equipped with the finest fitness equipments. The wellness center also features an exclusive SPA to offer a

unique SPA experience. Extensive Banqueting and Convention facilities have been provided at the hotel to take care of events, conferences, gettogether, celebrations, product launches, seminars, or any kind of banqueting requirement. A well equipped business center takes care of all the business needs of corporate and leisure travelers. A delightful swimming pool along with its private deck area offers the ideal

venue for unwinding. Ideally located close to The International and Domestic air terminals and just 1 kilometer away from the Aerocity Metro Station the Hotel has an easy access to the corporate and the

JW Marriot Hotel Introduces MAX for kids JW Marriott Hotel, has launched MAX, a Marriott International’s awardwinning loyalty program exclusive for kids which aims to enrich the travel experiences of children through holistic activities that inspire and nurture. The program will be available to Members staying at participating Marriott International properties throughout the Asia-Pacific region starting from the 21 Dec, 2015. Created for children ages 5 to 12 years old, MAX! is founded on four activity pillars: Be Active offers action-packed sessions, ranging from pool activities to dance lessons; Stay Curious encourages intellectual curiosity with activities such as cooking and arts-and-crafts;

Go Explore will appeal to children’s sense of adventure; while Just Relax offers more tranquil pursuits. The four pillars are consistent throughout all offering properties; however, the specific activities will be curated by each property, making the experience authentic to the location and culture.

commercial hubs of Delhi, Gurgaon and The NCR region. Pride Group of Hotels are currently running hotels at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Nagpur, Vadodara and resorts at Goa, Jaipur and Dharamshala.

The St. Regis Macao Raises the Bar in Luxury Hospitality St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the muchawaited debut of The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central in Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 450 years of history and cultural exchange between China and Europe. Owned by Venetian Orient Limited, an affiliate of Sands China Ltd, the 400-room hotel is set to elevate Macau’s luxury hospitality landscape with its uncompromising experiences, signature butler service, exceptional culinary venues and grand design – all underpinned by the St. Regis brand’s legacy.z The opening of The St. Regis Macao

HOSPITALITY PLUS Aiana Hotels & Resorts L.L.C Sinclairs Tourist Resort Burdwan forays into Karnataka

Sinclairs Hotels & Resorts launches

Sinclairs Hotels & Resorts announces the opening of Sinclairs Tourist Resort Burdwan, its 7th property in the Sinclairs chain. Out of the seven properties, five are in West Bengal. This makes Sinclairs one of the leading hospitality groups in West Bengal. Located on the Golden Quadrilateral NH-2, the resort is spread over nearly four acres of land. The resort is an ideal getaway for those visiting Burdwan, Santiniketan and Durgapur. The resort has 19 luxury rooms and a splendorous Maharaja suite. The rooms and the suite are a fine statement of luxury and comfort. Other facilities include a fitness center, yoga room,

s w i m m i n g p o o l , s q u a s h co u r t , badminton court, playzone and a reading lounge. Food and beverages offer a number of choices. The Palm Terrace is a multi cuisine restaurant with an outdoor seating. Saffron is a fine dining Indian specialty restaurant and O3 is a lounge bar serving a variety of drinks. Gardenia is a fast food cafe, good for a quick bite. A defining feature of the property is the large banqueting and conferencing facilities. Banquet hall Regal l & II together with the adjoining lawns can host parties up to 2,000 persons. The resort is fast emerging as a popular banqueting and wedding venue.

Aiana Hotels & Resorts L.L.C. today announced the signing of an agreement with Bengaluru-based Ferns Estates & Developers to manage and operate 4 new resorts in Karnataka. Scheduled to open in 2019, the first resort is set in 45 acres of verdant, hilly coffee plantation land in the district of Sakleshpur, approximately 3 hours away from Bengaluru. With special care taken to preserve the natural flora, fauna and topography, the resort will feature a 100 villas in the Phase I, set around 5 acres of lake front, uniquely designed using locally sourced material and ethnic architecture. In addition to a full service resort development with recreational, spa and banqueting facilities, holiday home villas will also be sold under a fractional ownership model. Targeting weekend retreats, other destinations identified by the partners for expansion of the portfolio in Karnataka include a 30 acres site with direct frontage on the river Hemavathi and other hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries within a four hour driving distance from Bengaluru.

Both partners, Aiana Hotels & Resorts and Ferns Estates & Developers are set to offer unique experiences to their guests and will also offer them (lucrative investment opportunity) with their fractional ownership business model that delivers real estate and hospitality on the same platform. Commenting on the development, Amruda Nair, Joint MD and CEO, Aiana Hotels & Resorts L .L .C said, “We believe t h e re i s i m m e n s e p o te nt i a l i n destinations that are driving distance from key cities and are looking forward to expanding our presence in South India with this partnership.” According to Errol Fernandes, CMD, The Ferns Group, “We are delighted to partner with Aiana Hotels & Resorts to bring a dynamic, new-offering to the resort market. This is the first time we are introducing a hybrid business model and believe that Sakleshpur is the perfect destination to announce our first resort. With our combined expertise in service and development and our commitment to innovation, we are confident that our fresh take on resort development will create lasting memories for our guests. ”

Vivanta By Taj - Guwahati, Assam Debuts In The North East

marks the brand’s seventh hotel in Greater China, and will be followed by the unveiling of five new St. Regis hotels in 2016 in the world’s most coveted destinations, including Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi in Malaysia, the Maldives, Changsha in China and Cairo, Egypt. For more info - www.stregis.com/macao

Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces announced its latest addition with the opening of the highly anticipated Vivanta by Taj Guwahati, Assam. This hotel will be a doorway to the unexplored and magical North East India. Mr. Tarun Gogoi, Honourable Chief Minister of Assam formally opened the hotel by unveiling a plaque in the presence of Mr. Cyrus P. Mistry, Group Chairman, Tata Group. Vivanta by Taj-Guwahati, Assam features 150 beautifully appointed guestrooms styled with elegant

sophistication. The hotel is spread over five acres of shaded courtyard gardens, verdant lawns and plants that are

reminders of the forest trees and tea gardens of Assam. The hotel's signature oriental restaurant Umami, serves Japanese and Chinese cuisine; Allday dining at Seven is an ode to the seven sister states of the North East. The Tea Lounge promises the finest exploratory tea experience for its guests. The bar, Octave pays tribute to the rich musical heritage of the region with a showcase stage for

promising local musicians. The hotel offers one of the largest banqueting spaces in North East India with over 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible conference and meeting space, including a pillar-less ballroom of over 6,000 sq. ft., it is the ideal venue for select meetings, conferences and private events. Vivanta by Taj-Guwahati is home to Jiva Spa, offering signature treatments and couples therapies to calm and reinvigorate guests. To soothe tired travellers, the hotel also offers a salon, a well-equipped fitness centre, a large outdoor pool with manicured lawns and a restorative bar set in green spaces.

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HOSPITALITY PLUS Aiana Hotels & Resorts L.L.C Sinclairs Tourist Resort Burdwan forays into Karnataka

Sinclairs Hotels & Resorts launches

Vivanta By Taj - Guwahati, Assam Debuts In The North East

sophistication. The hotel is spread over five acres of shaded courtyard gardens, verdant lawns and plants that are

Best Destination Management company (B2B)

Web: www.shahtour.com

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INTERNATIONAL PLUS

Airports Of Thailand Open New Domestic Terminal At Don Mueang International Airport

The Airports of Thailand (AOT) open Terminal 2 at the Don Mueang International Airport for domestic flights on 24 December, 2015. The facility has a capacity to handle 11.5 million passengers per year, and is equipped with six rows of check-in counters, totalling 70 counters, including 10 counters for passengers

with disabilities. The 24-December soft launch date follows the successful implementation of a three-day thorough trial operation which simulated real check-in conditions, luggage loading, immigration, and boarding of passengers. Public transport, including taxis and airport express buses, are available.

In order to ensure smooth experience for passengers, AOT is currently finetuning the final details of some other areas; such as, washrooms, restaurants, and shops. The new domestic terminal is set for a full opening in February 2016. AOT has ensured that the new terminal as well as current facilities on operations

are renovated, maintained and operated in line with the international airport safety and security standards. Don Mueang International Airport c u r re n t l y s e r v e s d o m e st i c a n d international flights by low-cost carriers, including Thai Smile, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Orient Thai Airlines etc.

KENYA bags “World’s Leading Safari Destination” at World Travel Award

Cozumel to become the first

Qatar Airways Starts

“Smart Tourist Destination” in Mexico

Non-stop Daily Doha -Nagpur

The beautiful island of Cozumel, located to the East of the Yucatan Peninsula, right in the Mexican Caribbean, is getting ready to become the first “Smart Destination” in Mexico. The project, that has been inspired on an initiative recently implemented by the Spain’s Ministry of Tourism, is intended to give the destination a fresh transformation under the premises of accessibility, innovation, sustainability and technology. Spain and Mexico have been working together by sharing each other’s strategies for tourism development; Mexico shared their “Pueblos Mágicos” (Magic Towns) initiative, and Spain shared with Mexico the “Smart Destination” project in which the main

idea is to focus the tourism industry development through technology and sustainability. Cozumel as the first Mexican Smart Destination will bring the island to a new level of tourism d e ve l o p m e nt i n which the most important thing is to m a i n t a i n sustainability and ease the interaction of all the visitors with the environment. Some of the necessary actions to be taken in the next few months are to improve the communications infrastructure, create a technological platform that can coordinate the proper interaction between the three levels of government along with the tourism service providers, and therefore establish new innovative business and operation models. The main idea of transforming Cozumel into a Smart Destination is to keep the island as innovative as possible, increase its competitiveness and attract broader markets. Source: The Yucatan Times

Qatar Airways, now offers non-stop flights to Nagpur from Doha, effective 1 Dec, 2015 taking the airline’s total weekly passenger flights from 95 to 102 across 13 key cities in India. Qatar Airways will operate an A320 daily between Doha and Nagpur with an average flight time of just over four hours. The aircraft will feature 144 seats in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy. Residents of Nagpur can now travel to more than 150 destinations worldwide through seamless connections offered

at Hamad International Airport in Doha Qatar Airways connects 13 cities in I n d i a to an exciting choice of destinations via its hub in Doha including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Miami, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Barcelona, Rome, Washington D.C. and many more. Doha-Nagpur Daily Schedule - 1st December 2015 onwards: QR 588 Depart 19:55 Arrival 02:15+1 Nagpur-Doha Daily Flight Schedule 2nd December 2015 onwards: QR 589 Depart 03:45 Arrival 05:55

Kenya bags ‘World’s Leading Safari Destination’ award at World Travel Awards 2015 (WTA) held in El Jadida, Morocco. Kenya emerged the winner against country nominees of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. While announcing the awards, WTA President Graham Cooke said, “We congratulate Kenya on this deserving win and encourage the country to continue their commitment to preserving the unique heritage bestowed to the country for the sake of generations to come”. Besides beach and safari attractions, Kenya excels in other tourism products including culture, archaeology, and palaeontology (cradle of mankind). Furthermore, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E) facilities avail tourism opportunities for business and leisure travellers. Kenya’s commitment to enhancing wildlife conservation and upholding best practices in managing properties within conservation areas was rewarded through accolades in safari, ecoand green facilities. Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) was voted Africa’s leading tourist board for the fourth time in a row. Masai Mara National Reserve and Diani Beach were named for the third and second time respectively as Africa’s leading National Park and Africa’s leading Beach destination. In the Travel and leisure category, Port of Mombasa for the second time was voted Africa’s Leading Cruise Port while, Abercrombie & Kent was Africa’s best Luxury Tour Operator. National carrier Kenya Airways became the Africa’s leading Airline – Business Class.

January - February, 2016

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January - February, 2016 19

INTERNATIONAL PLUS

Airports Of Thailand Open New Domestic Terminal At Don Mueang International Airport

KENYA bags “World’s Leading Safari Destination” at World Travel Award

Cozumel to become the first

Qatar Airways Starts

“Smart Tourist Destination” in Mexico

Non-stop Daily Doha -Nagpur

January - February, 2016

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January - February, 2016 19

AVIATION PLUS

Jet Airways Will Fly Daily On Air Arabia and Sharjah Tourism Amsterdam-Mumbai & Delhi-Toronto Jet Airways, has announced the launch of daily non-stop services between India and Amsterdam. With effect from March 27, 2016, Jet Airways will operate two daily non-stop flights to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one each from its home hubs in Mumbai and New Delhi. Jet Airways will also operate a daily flight from Toronto to Amsterdam. Schedules of all three flights have been planned to allow quick and convenient connections between India and Toronto over Amsterdam. These flights will be available for sale across all booking channels from December 15, 2015. Jet Airways will deploy its modern Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 34 seats in Premiere and 259 seats in Economy on these routes. With the objective of providing convenient connections for its guests to key destinations across Europe and North America over Amsterdam, Jet Airways has entered into a strategic

agreement with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Under this agreement and subject to government and regulatory approvals, Jet Airways will codeshare to 30 European destinations for travel between India and Europe via Amsterdam. Key destinations include Brussels, Berlin, Copenhagen, Munich, Madrid, Geneva and Vienna operated by KLM. Jet Airways will also codeshare with KLM and Delta on 11 destinations between India and the United States and Canada including New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Montreal. The codeshare partnership will give Jet Airways guests a single ticket, through check-in of bags to their final destinations and co-ordinated customer service at airports. Members of Jet Airways’ frequent flier programme JetPrivilege will also be eligible to earn and redeem JP Miles on codeshare flights operated by Delta and KLM.

Road shows in New Delhi & Mumbai Air Arabia and Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority organized road shows in New Delhi and Mumbai on 9th and 10th of December 2015, respectively. The road shows helped to foster and develop a closer working relationship with key members of the travel industry. The purpose of the road show was to promote the airline and the destination's tourism offerings. Sharjah received more than 123,010 visitors from India last year, registering 41% growth. These numbers are expected to grow steeply in months and years ahead. Sharjah has always enjoyed a special place in Indian hearts due to its cultural heritage and endless shopping. "Sharjah is known to Indians as the cricket capital and we are creating awareness about the destination and its offerings as a vibrantly cultural, colourful and eventful destination for the Indian tourists, through road shows

and by meeting travel trade in the country," said H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah National Tourism Authority. Air Arabia started operations in India in 2005 and now flies to 13 cities - Jaipur, K o c h i , N a g p u r, C o i m b a t o r e , Thiruvananthapuram, Goa, Kozhikode, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. It operates over 112 weekly flights from its hub in Sharjah to the thirteen cities in India. Elaborating on the services of airlines Mr. Sachin Nene, Regional Manager India, Air Arabia, said, “Air Arabia has a fleet of new Airbus A320 aircraft with a 32 inch seat pitch, which gives the best leg room of any economy class travel. The airline also provides visa assistance to passengers from India. With Air Arabia Holidays, the airline offers attractive packages to a wide range of international holiday destinations.

IndiGo Inducts Its 100th Airbus A320 Aircraft IndiGo celebrates a significant milestone taking its fleet size to a 100 Airbus A320 aircraft. IndiGo took delivery of the 'VT – IDR' aircraft to join its ever growing fleet on 23rd December, 2015. With 653 daily flights connecting 39 destinations, IndiGo promises its customers the best experience that the aviation industry has to offer. At a small but heartfelt ceremony surrounded by his team members, Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo said,

"10 years ago we had dreamt of one day being a part of 100 aircraft airline. Our sincere gratitude to over a hundred million customers who have chosen IndiGo and are the reason for us to have reached this milestone!” IndiGo is India's largest airline with a market share of 36.8% as of October 2015, as well as the country's largest low fare carrier. IndiGo's On Time Performance is one of the best in India. With its fleet of 100 new Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline offers 653 daily flights connecting 39 destinations -

Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, S r i n a ga r, Tr i va n d r u m , U d a i p u r, Vadodara, Varanasi, Vishakhapatnam. IndiGo currently operates International flights to five destinations, namely, Bangkok, Dubai, Kathmandu, Muscat and Singapore. IndiGo has flown over 95 million passengers till date.

The experience at the exclusive First Class (FC) section is akin to a five star hotel with highly personalized service and care to details. The service concept is based on maximum comfort, providing exclusive and the highest level of attention without compromising privacy. FC travellers enjoy high-class amenities such as à la carte dining, individual spa treatments, relaxation rooms, shower facilities, concierge services, etc.

British Airways’ inaugural Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight to New Delhi witnessed a grand celebration treating guests with an experience like never before! Speaking on this momentous occasion, Robert Williams, British Airways’ head of sales for Asia-Pacific, said, “Today marks a very special day for us at British Airways as we bring our state-of-the-art Boeing 7879 Dreamliner to New Delhi complete with a brand new First cabin. We invite our customers from New Delhi to experience our luxurious new Dreamliner series whilst enjoying British Airways’ awardwinning on board services. ! The 787-9 is 20ft longer that its 787-8 predecessor (of which the airline has eight), so as well as offering World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and Club World (business class), there’s also room

for a new First class cabin – a first for the airline’s 787 fleet. ! The First cabin has just eight seats in comparison to the 14 seats available on other British Airways long-haul aircraft, giving even more exclusivity and privacy to customers. ! Created specifically for the Boeing 7879, the new First suites have been painstakingly designed based on feedback from First customers, to put comfort at the heart of the experience and make the very best use of the more intimate space.

Offers Complimentary Ticket To Singapore Tigerair and ICICI Bank are offering a complimentary one way fare to Singapore on purchase of round trips. All debit, credit and prepaid card holders of ICICI Bank can enjoy this exclusive offer. The offer will be available from December 21, 2015 till January 03, 2016 for travel between January 17, to April 15, 2016. Passengers can avail this offer through a special portal created for ICICI Bank cardholders on the airline's official website - www.tigerair.com/promo/icici The complimentary journey excludes airport taxes and other charges and is applicable for flights departing from Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Tiruchirappalli and Lucknow. Commenting on the offer, Mr. Teh Yik Chuan, Director (Sales and Marketing), Tigerair Singapore, said, “Since the commencement of our operations in India, Tigerair has always strived to provide best in class service and affordable fares to our Indian travellers. Singapore is one of India's favourite holiday destination and we invite ICICI Bank cardholders to avail this offer and celebrate this festive season with their loved ones with joy.” Speaking about this exclusive offer, Mr. Rajiv Sabharwal, Executive Director, ICICI Bank, said, “ We are delighted to have partnered with Tigerair and are sure that our customers would be very excited to avail this offer. We strongly believe that initiatives like these will only make their banking experience a rewarding one."

IITE Vijayawada - 26 to 28 February, 2016 IITE Raipur - 11 to 13 March 2016

January - February, 2016

The GVK Lounge at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Mumbai has been selected as the‘World’s Leading Airport Lounge – First Class 2015’ at the recently concluded World Travel Awards in Morocco. The GVK Lounge stands tall amongst some of the world’s best airport/airline lounges, which were nominated in this category. The GVK Lounge qualified for nomination in the world category by virtue of winning the award for ‘Asia’s Leading Airport Lounge’ at the ‘World Travel Awards - Asia and Australasia’ in Hong Kong on October 29, 2015. The GVK Lounge is operated by Travel Food Services Limited (TFS) and Performa. Mr. G.V. Sanjay Reddy, MD, Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd said, “The GVK Lounge blends the finest of Indian hospitality with luxurious, world-class design and amenities. We are setting new global benchmarks in hospitality within airports and we will keep raising the bar in the years to come. Our efforts should guide us towards a time in near future when passengers will look at the airport not merely as a stop, but as a destination in itself.”

Tigerair & ICICI Bank

IITE Nagpur - 22 to 24 January, 2016

New Delhi Welcomes British Airways’ New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ‘World’s Best First Class Lounge’ In True British Style!

GVK Lounge, Mumbai bags

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January - February, 2016

AVIATION PLUS

IITE Vijayawada - 26 to 28 February, 2016 IITE Raipur - 11 to 13 March 2016

January - February, 2016

Tigerair & ICICI Bank

IITE Nagpur - 22 to 24 January, 2016

New Delhi Welcomes British Airways’ New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ‘World’s Best First Class Lounge’ In True British Style!

GVK Lounge, Mumbai bags

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January - February, 2016

Dive Into Tioman Waters

For An Aquatic Adventure The Malaysian island of Tioman has always been very popular with aquatic adventurers. Tioman is a small island in Pahang, although it is geographically closer to Johor. The island treasures some of the best Tioman's majestic reefs and undersea wonders. The marine life in Tioman waters is abundant with big school of fishes, turtles, rays, reef sharks and beautiful coral reefs. The marine area around Tioman Island and eight other nearby islands have been declared as marine parks and marine reserves. Apart from its diverse marine life, the inland rainforest area was protected in 1972 as the Pulau Tioman Wildlife Reserve. A famous spot for scuba divers is the Tiger Reef, with a brilliant variety of hard and soft coral. Most of the coral is in good shape and the reef is shallow and

accessible by all divers. The topography of the dive sites is fascinating with swimthrough between granite boulders, and small caves and canyons like the Fan Canyon spot. Tioman Island is a favorite amongst divers as well as international visitors. There are some great holiday resorts to stay and people have a good time on the beaches, when not diving or snorkeling. Ranked amongst the best islands to visit in Malaysia. Tioman Island adds to the fun and adventure, Malaysia has to offer. PulauTioman is also a good diving destination for underwater photography as the coral gardens are very colorful and one can easily find a vast and exotic sea life to capture through the lenses. Some of the popular diving sites in Tioman Island include Bahara Rocks, Renggis Island, Malang

January - February, 2016

Rock, Tulai Island, PulaiLabas, Soyak Island, TelukKador and Soyak Wreck. Best time to visit Tioman for diving is March to May and from September to November. While the island attracts divers from across the globe, Tioman has also been listed by CNN travel as one of the top best islands for a Malaysian Holiday. Also referred to as one of the world's best kept travel secrets, the island shot to fame, when the dramatic topography of its teardrop- shape in the South China Sea was used as a backdrop in 1958 movie 'South Pacific' starring Mitzy Gaynor. Tioman lies off the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia, an hour's flight from the capital Kuala Lumpur. The best way of reaching and moving around the island is to use the Mersing / Tioman Bluewater expressway ferry service.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS Visit the Philippines Again this 2016! Following the success of the Visit the Philippines Year (VPY) 2015 campaign, the Department of To u r i s m ( D OT ) , P h i l i p p i n e s continues its campaign for 2016 with Visit the Philippines Again (VPA) 2016. The Philippines registered a total of 2.6 million international visitors from January to June 2015 alone and has total earnings generated from tourism activities of 111.05 billion Pesos (£1.57 billion approximately) for the first six months of 2015. VPA 2016 is a retail based campaign to drive urgency and excitement among foreign travelers to visit the Philippines and return in 2016 for more fun, friendship, feel-good adventures, and fabulous memories to cherish. Offering more fun that keeps foreign travellers coming back for more, returning visitors will also be given exclusive travel deals and special incentives. They can avail of special discounts on flights, hotel accommodations and tour packages after simply presenting proof of previous visits. Many rip-roaring, top-notch events will also make their stay in the country worthwhile and productive, including

the Asian Tourism Forum 2016 and Routes Asia 2016. SanJeet, Tourism Attaché, Philippines Tourism Marketing Office, India said, “Tourists will once again behold the beauty of the Philippines and experience a year of even bigger and more thrilling events and attractions with the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board’s (TPB) campaign. The Indian market has continued to be one of the important contributors of international visitors to the Philippines. India has jumped up to the twelfth position for tourist arrivals in the Philippines till September this year, with over 22.40% more Indians choosing the country as their preferred travel destination. The month of February in 2015 showed the impressive growth of arrivals of almost 40 percent.”

India is the No. 1 Overseas Source Market for Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is continuing its surge as the preferred outbound destination for the up-market and aspirational Indian traveller. Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) recently organized a highly successful trade interaction in the key gateway of Kolkata. Top-of-the-line travel professionals representing Kolkata and Eastern India Market were present and interacted with the TCA Abu Dhabi team for developing new itineraries and packages. Abu Dhabi welcomed 200,015 Indian hotel guests in January to September 2015, at a growth rate of 23% over the same period last year. Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager India, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, “We endeavour to consolidate the destination’s growing popularity amongst the leisure, luxury and lifestyle holiday segment. We are here to present

a diverse mix of Abu Dhabi attractions and expand our profile with the Indian travel trade, to stimulate further increase in Indian visitors to Abu Dhabi in 2016. Abu Dhabi is fast becoming the new hot-spot for the high-end Indian traveller and as we continue with our marketing and promotional activities the response from the Indian market has been extremely positive. We want to showcase Abu Dhabi as the perfect choice for Family Holidays, Duty Free Shopping, Arts & Culture, Destination Weddings & Honeymoon, Golfing, Formula 1 Racing and MICE facilities.” Abu Dhabi is closer than ever for the Indian market, with a huge choice of flights and customised packages. The Etihad-Jet Airways combine operates daily direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kolkata, providing excellent connectivity in a short span of just over three hours.

Germany has a lot to Changes in Schengen visa application process offer the Indian traveller The German National Tourist Office, India (GNTO) successfully concluded its annual 4 city roadshow in India. 13 German partners were thrilled to see the enthusiastic response from the travel fraternity in Mumbai. The Roadshow gave the German partners an enhanced understanding of the Indian perspective, further aiding in the development of customized products suitable to the Indian market. The Indian trade partners on their part, walked away with more knowledge of the multitude of products offered by destination Germany, especially with regards to the products of the partners present. Mr. Romit Theophilus, Director Sales & Marketing, said “Germany has recorded over 4, 70,000 overnights from India for the period of January-August, 2015. Since the inception of the German National Tourist Office in India in 2006, Germany has seen a 73% growth in visitor overnights from India. This

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phenomenal growth stands testament to the increasing interest in Germany as a favorable destination for the discerning Indian travelers.” “We only see the interest increasing in the coming years” added Theophilus. The core Marketing Theme for GNTO in 2015 has been “ Traditions and Customs”, further reinforced in the o rga n i za t i o n ’s p ro m o t i o n s a n d communication. With the support of the Indian partners the GNTO, has been able to bring forth the Cultural magnificence of the destination. “We believe Germany has a lot to offer the Indian traveller looking at experiencing European Culture with something to enthral everybody’s senses” said Theophilus. The roadshow also held in Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Mumbai facilitated interactions between German partners and the Indian travel trade on latest offers, highlights and attractions for the Indian travelers.

As part of the worldwide introduction of the Visa Information System (VIS)1 , the Schengen States launched the VIS in India (and in the neighbouring countries2 ) on 2 November 2015. The purpose of this global VIS introduction process is to better protect applicants against identity theft and to prevent document fraud and socalled "visa shopping". Fingerprints are widely used within the EU as a more secure means of identification. The use of biometric data for identification purposes of a visa holder is a faster and more accurate way to identify a visa holder by border police. From 2 November 2015, Indian citizens requesting a Schengen visa will have to appear in person in order to provide biometric data (fingerprints and digital photography). This concerns the applications for the short-term Schengen visas (max. 90 days in 180 days). For subsequent applications

within next 5 years the biometric data will be copied from the previous visa application included in the VIS4. Apart from that, there will be no change in current procedures such as visa fee or forms. However, the applicants should be aware that due to provisions of biometric data, which might cause at the beginning some disruptions, the first visit to their respective Schengen State Consulate after 2 November 2015 might take a little bit longer. Exemptions from the obligation of fingerprinting are provided for the following - • categories of applicants only: Children under 12 • Persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible; • Sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, Heads of State and members of the national Governments (with their official delegations and spouses) if they travel for official purposes. FURTHER INFORMATION European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/vis

January - February, 2016 23

Amazing Wildlife Experience @ The MasaMarai

There are only certain places on the planet that allow you to get as close to wildlife as possible. These areas are considered to be treasure troves for those who love exploring different varieties of wildlife and their habitats. And if you are one of those individuals who absolutely love the idea of traveling to exotic locales just to view the wildlife, then here are some must visit destinations for you!

in Kenya

The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador

Located about 600 miles off the Ecuador coastline are the Galapagos Islands that have been practically left out from the rest of the world for years now. Extremely sheltered and secluded, thanks to the very few visitors they get, the islands have actually become homes to some really unique species of animals that cannot anywhere else in this part of the world. Think we are kidding? Visit the island to know we are not. You will be awestruck to see giant tortoises, tiny finches, swimming iguanas and even penguins. What’s more, the Galapagos Islands are home to these creatures who consider humans as visitors. So don’t be surprised if the animals don’t scurry away in fear upon seeing you. They will continue with their work, giving you plenty of scope to take some amazing pictures. And if you are lucky enough, you can pose alongside them (at your own risk of course)!

The KhaoSok National Park in Thailand

Opened in 1980, the KhaoSak National Park is considered to house the largest area of protected wildlife in the region and is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world (dating back to millions of years ago). The park borders the KhaoSok River and contains several species of flora, fauna and wildlife. The best way to explore the park would be via a canoe ride that would take you along the KhaoSok River. And in addition to witnessing the amazing varieties of flora and fauna adorning the banks of the river, you can catch glimpses of some exotic tigers, leopards, elephants and bears if you are lucky enough.

Vancouver in Canada If you have a fascination for giant marine animals, namely killer whales, then Vancouver is the best places to catch up close and personal glimpses of these magnificent mammals. Each year, between the months of April and August, Vancouver is visited with several varieties of whales on their way back to the sea. The most popular visitors are Orcas, and it would be possible to spot at least one Orca pod during your visit which would most probably be a boat ride spanning from 35 hours. Expect to see at least one expert naturalist on board who would offer you tips on where to look and when. You can also opt for repeat trips until you spot these beautiful creatures.

January - February, 2016

Visit the MasaMarai to witness what can only be considered as one of the greatest spectacles in the world; the annual migration of millions of wildebeest across the MasaMarai and Serengeti plains. Watch as these creatures battle all odds to complete this journey that spans over thousands of kilometers, including rough weather, hungry lions and the last lap through crocodile infested waters! Apart from this, the Masai Mara Game Reserve is also home to the ‘Big Five’, considered to be the elephant, lion, buffalo, rhinoceros and the leopard. You can also catch glimpses of plenty of zebras, hippos, giraffes and several species of birds on the vast open plains and green hills.

Borneo Island in Malaysia

Borneo is the third largest island in the entire world and enjoys a common boundary between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The island is also a part of the famed Malay Peninsula, and is a natural home to the largest population of the nearly extinct species of orangutans. The island also houses over 400 different species of birds, with the list growing bigger every year as new species continue to arrive here every year and make the island their home. You can also catch glimpses of the famous Sumatran rhinoceros and plenty of Asian elephants. Sabah, a Malaysian state is located on the north end of the island and houses Mount Kinabalu which is open for climbers. The seas surrounding the mountain are treasure troves for avid snorkelers and scuba divers, and house countless varieties of marine life. A short boat ride would also take you to the nearby Selingan Island where you can actually witness sea turtles lay eggs on the beach, unmindful of visitors. The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center on the island also warrants a visit for the wildlife lover.

The Sea of Cortez in Mexico

Another place where you can catch some exotic marine life is the Sea of Cortez in Mexico which is located between the Mexican mainland and the Baja California peninsula. Considered to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the sea attracts several species of marine animals, including over 10 different whale species, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, sea lions and plenty of shorebirds. You can opt for boating, kayaking or snorkeling tours that would take you as near these animals as possible. Article by: A multi-faceted man, Dr Prem, an acclaimed speaker, global traveller, successful entrepreneur, chartered consultant author and publisher. Utilizing his vast global experience and diverse knowledge, he has written and published a series of life improvement guidebooks, which intend to improve all aspects of our life and has a wellinsulated network of 50 websites that are popular with readers and prominent search engines.

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India’s 1st Travel Directory published by

AIRLINES Air Mauritius Austrian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines

INTERNATIONAL Tourism Authority of Thailand Cruise Professionals Dubai Tourism Lama Tours (Dubai) Star Cruises True Luxury Tours Savan Vegas Hotel & Casino (Laos) Binton Resort (Singapore) Y S Travel (U.K) Grand RusTour (Russia)

STATE TOURISM Chhattisgarh Tourism Goa Tourism Gujarat Tourism Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Board Madhya Pradesh Tourism Maharasthra Tourism (MTDC) Uttarakhand Tourism (GMVN)

TRAVELS AGENTS 7Seven Star Aviation, Mumbai ABC Adventure (P) Ltd, Nepal Amazing Holidays (Goa) Anjali Travels & Tours (Varanasi) Apna Holidays (Udupi) Balaji Travels & Tours (Pune) Barter Imp-Ex (Bangalore) Bharat Travel Point (Nagpur) ATD India, Mumbai Bombay Delhi Travels Pvt Ltd (Mumbai) Book My Trip.com Cenin Travels (Nagpur) Diamond Tours & Travels (J&K) Dimaz Group (Mumbai)

Discover Indian Journey (Kashmir) Fiesta Holidays (Goa) Fishtail Tours & Travels (Nepal) Free My Trip.com (Mumbai) Glassapple (Mumbai) Globe Trotter (Mumbai) Go Amit Holidays (Mumbai) Go India Holidays (Delhi) Hana Travels Pvt. Ltd. (Mumbai) Harvey India (Mumbai) Holiday Box (Mumbai) Holiday Shop.in Hop Tours & Travels (Mumbai) Horizon Holidays (Nagpur) ITH - International Travel House (Delhi) Intersight Holidays (P) Ltd (Cochin) Invitation Travels (Mumbai) Island Holidays (Mumbai) J P Tours & Travels (Nagpur) Jatak Travels (Varanasi) Kesari Tours (Mumbai) K V Tours & Travels (Mumbai) Kwik Travels Network (Mumbai) Ladakh Holidays & Adventures Lohanas Holidays (Mumbai) Make Plans Travel Services Pvt Ltd Narayani Holidays (Bangalore) Navkar Holidays (Mumbai) Nepal Holiday Maker Tours & Travel Nepal Vision (Mumbai) Neptune Holidays Pvt Ltd (Kolkata) Odyssey India Holidays (Jaipur) Olympia Travels N Tours (Mumbai) Raja Rani Travels Pvt Ltd (Mumbai) Rattan Tourist Service ( Delhi) Ravine Trek (Mumbai)

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Kris Resort (Goa) Kurumba Village Resort (Kurumbadi) Mahua Tiger Resorts (MP) Pagoda Resorts (Kerala) Paradise Village Beach Resort (Goa) Quality Inn Resort (Chiplun) Rajdhani The Hotel (Pune) Ramsukh Resort (Mahabaleshwar) Sanda Hotels Baywatch (Goa) Shervani Hospitality Limited Swosti Group Hotels The Pride Group of Hotels Thomas Cook (Mumbai) Travel Designer India Pvt Ltd (Gujarat) Travel Lounge (Mumbai) Travel Unlimited (Goa) Trichur Towers Hotel (Kerala) Vijay Villas- The Heritage Hotel (Gujarat)

Refresh Holidays (Aurangabad) Ritz Safari (Nagpur) Russia Holiday Tour (Mumbai) Rama Hospitality Services (Mumbai) Sea Bird Tourists See you in Goa Holidays (Goa) Shah Tour N Travels (West Bengal) Shangloo Travels Pvt Ltd (Kashmir) Sai Bless Holiday Services Pvt Ltd Sampoorana Yatra (Haridwar) Shree Rajdhani Holidays (Mumbai) Shree Tours (Rajasthan) Shreenathji Holidays (Mumbai) Shubh Yatra (Uttarakhand) Spirit of India Tours & Travels (Delhi) Spandan Tours (Mumbai) The Departures (Mumbai) The Traveller’s Point (Guwahati) Travel Today (Mumbai) Virgin Tours & Travels (Mumbai) Visit Kashmir (J & K) Wingspan Holidays (Mumbai)

EXHIBITION ORGANIZERS Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) Holiday Expo IITE - India International Travel Expo IITM - India International Travel Mart IT & CM Asia CTW (Bangkok) IT & CM China (Shanghai) IT & CM India (Noida) ITM - India Travel Market (Times Group) TTF & OTM

HOTELS & RESORTS Avisa Vila Alcon Victor Group(Goa) Country Inn Suites by Carlson (Mysore) Gayathri Group Of Hotels HHI Hotels Basant Vihar Hotels Pvt Ltd (Rajasthan) Bonn Habi Resort (P) Ltd (Assam) Hotel Ambar N Holiday Resort (M P) Hotel Celebration (Raipur) Hotel Citizen (Aurangabad) Hotel New Bengal (Mumbai) Hotel Sandesh - The Prince (Bangalore) Hotel Sandesh -The Prince (Mysore) Hotel Sheetal Regency (Mathura) Indien Hermitage A Resort (T N) Kanha Village Eco Resort (M P)

ON EDITI

OTHERS Jalaram New Media Pvt Ltd (Mumbai)z Kinjal Foods (Mumbai) OTOAI (Delhi) Safari Plus (Mumbai) Holiday IQ (Bangalore) TopNotch Entertaiment (Pune) Travel Soft (Pune) E Billing Solutions Pvt Ltd (Mumbai) HI Spirit Events (Mumbai) Vora Hotel Services (Mumbai)

DITIO

E 10th

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January - February, 2016 25

TRADE PLUS InTALK with H.E. Ramon R. Jimenez, J.R. Philippines Secretary of Tourism, WHAT ARE THE KEY POINTS IN PROMOTING THE PHILIPPINES FOR ATF 2016? Playing host to the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) for the fourth time is the perfect opportunity to show the new Philippines, which the international community alternatively calls, 'Asia's New Tiger', 'Asia's Bright Spot', and 'The Next Asian Miracle'. The Philippines that first played host to ATF in 1987 and subsequently in 1998 and 2006 has gone far, and has now entered a new era marked by strong growth and potential. Getting tourism recognized as one of the sectors at the top of the national economic agenda is certainly a huge feat. Today, Philippines' tourism industry is the 5th growth driver of the country's economy. Since the entry of a national leadership that believes in tourism as key to inclusive growth, it has become an

important pillar of this government administration's core objective of good governance. WHAT CAN THE BUYERS EXPECT DURING ATF 2016? AND HOW MANY BUYERS ARE YOU EXPECTING TO BE ATTENDING ATF 2016? The ATF 2016 is a major turning point for Philippine tourism by bringing focus on several 'treasure product' innovations to suit newer markets and target groups. The buyers are expected to participate in two full days of one-to-one appointments with industry international and local buyers, conduct business, and provide networking opportunities based on their specific business objectives. 400 international buyers from different parts of the world and 50 domestic buyers are expected to participate in this much awaited event in 2016.

H OW C O U L D T H E P H I L I P P I N ES CAPTURE MORE OF THE CRUISING MARKET, AS THIS MARKET HAS THE STRONGEST GROWTH? The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) has geared up its promotion of the country as a destination for the once Europe-and-US-dominated lucrative cruise ship market, seeing strong interest from international cruise lines increasing their ports of call and expanding visits to more islands in the country. Our country's proximity to major cruise source markets like China, Japan and Hong Kong positions us at a competitive and comparative advantage in the AsiaPacific region. It is interesting to note that the number of cruise calls has increased dramatically from only 10 vessel calls in 2011 to a total of 54 recorded in 2014. And this year, there

H.E. Ramon R. Jimenez, J.R. are already 66 cruise calls scheduled. The ongoing development of the Cruise Tourism Development Strategy seeks to provide a blueprint for positioning the Philippines as a major cruise destination in Asia and the Pacific. HOW IS THE PHILIPPINES ABLE TO COLLABORATE BETTER WITH ASEAN TO CAPTURE MORE VISITORS? In addition to the Philippine participation in travel fairs in the ASEAN region, the Philippines continues its collaboration with ASEAN-related marketing programs and activities as well as product development and implementation of ASEAN programs geared towards a strengthened regional tourism industr y. Our lines of communication with other countries from ASEAN are always open for c o o p e ra t i o n a n d s h a r i n g v i t a l information for mutual growth. In the end, it is the common goal of achieving sustainable tourism development through a responsible ASEAN economic community. The Philippines has also initiated joint promotion of a particular local destination plus an ASEAN tourist attraction, as part of the larger goal of making ASEAN a single tourism destination. The country has likewise been actively involved in initiatives of the ASEAN Promotional Chapter on Tourism (APCT) in Australia and India. Among the continuing projects of APCT Australia are the production of a mini magazine on food, the management of Webjet, a digital platform to promote ASEAN destinations, the Intrepid project that invites bloggers to write about the adventure travel opportunities in the region and the National Tourism Industry Awards Night which gives distinction to National Tourism Organizations (NTOs). The Philippines certainly takes pride in hosting the 35th edition of ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) embracing the vision and mission of the ASEAN with strong position in meeting the challenges of tourism. The Philippine government works together with various local government units and private sectors from different provinces of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, including committed tourism prime movers and shakers, to draw on potential assets and resources and assert the country's claims to be the rising tiger in the global tourism arena. ATF 2016's theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Community for Sustainabilityâ&#x20AC;? serves as a springboard for integration, solidarity, and unity as one single tourist destination and to build a strong competitive foothold in the global tourism market.

January - February, 2016

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January - February, 2016 27

January - February, 2016

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January - February, 2016 27