TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2016

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Kerala

GRANDEUR ISSN 2249-4-2461

Hidden treasure of Kerala Revealed

I I I I

Honeymooner’s paradise at the serene backwaters of Kerala.

Our enjoy a holiday with your loved ones in the clam & pristine natural surroundings.

Pamper yourself with Kerala’s own traditional mouth watering dishes, chirping of birds,….

No words to describe. Come, experience and enjoy

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www.vayalarlakeresort.com

Kayalpura Vayalar P.O., Cherthala Kerala, India, Pin : 688536 Tel: +91 9287905163 Email: info@vayalarlakeresort.com

L a ke R e s o r t Cherthala, Alleppey, Kerala, India

Editor's Note

Media, Entertainment and Information

Key to future success

T

echnological and digital innovations are increasingly affected every sphere of our daily life, whether it is personal, professional or socio- political events. Everything depends on how we engage with media, entertainment and information (MEI).They also affect how we connect and interact with one another and as a collective, where newer generations are leading the evolution. The broader cultural consequences are just beginning to be felt. The Shaping the Future Implications of Digital Media for Society project will investigate the effects on humans of increased engagement with and exposure to new media platforms, services, and content.

The digital era is transforming us as individuals, as organizations, and as societies, and the project will provide industry, policy makers, and citizens with key insights into the emerging media consumer’s behaviors and into how hyper-connection to digital MEI is impacting various aspects of our lives.

We now spend more time online each day than we do sleeping. But how does that affect our everyday lives? What effect does it have on how we communicate and interact, how we work and engage with the rest of the world?

In a recent study conducted on behalf of Worlds Economic Forum finds that there are as many positive implications and improvements to our everyday lives as there are potentially negative consequences. The key is to use them in ways that are beneficial. Seize the many opportunities digital media offers and avoid the risks that arise from overuse or maleficent use.

A new project, titled ‘Shaping the Future Implications of Digital Media’, a partnership between Willis Towers Watson and the World Economic Forum, has some answers. But they’re not black and white.

What we’ve found is that there are as many positive implications and improvements to our everyday lives as there are potentially negative consequences. The key is to use them in ways that are beneficial. Seize the many opportunities digital media offers and avoid the risks that arise from overuse or maleficent use.

A survey of 5,000 digital media users across five countries paints a positive picture: half of the respondents agreed that their digital media use had improved their overall quality of life – both socially and professionally. Only one in seven respondents disagreed.

According to the survey, the least positive effects were reported in the personal sphere.

While roughly four out of 10 respondents reported positive effects on long-term memory, attention span, the ability to find a partner, stress and health, about one in 10 respondents found those same areas to be negatively affected.

Travel, Tourism, Aviation and Hospitality sectors are the most improved among the lot and the travel pattern around the globe has changed within three to five years. Survival of the fittest or most adaptable gene will survive in the race. Online Travel Agents and Travel portals has already started swallowing traditional markets, but the better understanding of Technology and digital revolution may take us to the front. So take the advantage and keep move forward.

Ravi Sankar K.V. March 2016

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March 2016, Vol : 17, No. : 11, Pages : 60 Price : ` 75, US$ 4.99, £ 2.99

International tourism reached new heights

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2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

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Odisha Tourism Road Show - intend to attract domestic tourists

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Managing Editor Ravisankar K.V. Executive Editor Rajani A. Sub Editor Deepthi S. Krishanan Art Editor N. Bhattathiri Layout Artist Aju T. Co-ordinator-Circulation Divya N.S

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Legal Advisor Adv. C.P Udhayabhanu Financial Advisor Bhadrakumar FCA Corporate Advisor Krishna Prasad

Business Offices : UK-England : T. Haridas, 86 Tooting High St. London SW 17 ORN.

Mob: +7775833754 Germany-Berlin : Thomas Kannankeril, Reiseburo Skyreisen, Potsdamer

Str. 189,10783 Berlin, Tel:+49 30/82309240. Fax : +49 30/82309241 New Delhi : D. Anil Kumar Tel : +91 011-24634248

Mobile : +91 98681 23311 Mumbai : K.V. Sathyanath, Sanjith Tel : +91 22 29209285 Kolkata: Jayasree Singh Tel : +91 33-24187750, Mob : 9433060333 Hyderabad : Premraj A. Mobile : +91 9446514732 Bangalore : Damodaran. K. Nair Mobile : +91- 9035616040 Pondicherry : K. Ramasubrahmaniam Mob : +91 9894977161 Editorial & Corporate Office: Tourism India Magazine Tourism House PLRA 12/1, Panikers Line Sasthamangalam (P.O.) Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 695 010.

Tel: +91 471 2315256 Fax: +91 471 2315197 Email : editor@tourismindiaonline.com Editorial : editor@ tourismindiaonline.com Mob : +91 98470 60531 Marketing : email: marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob : +91 9947260531 Circulation : circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob : +91 99471 60531

President Pranab Mukherjee: Stress or Highlight cosmopolitanism Kerala State Tourism Advisory Committee Reconstituted

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18 European cities still shining Sanghvi brands expands globally

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Sinclairs Bayview Ranked No. 1

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‘Novotel Hyderabad Airport’ winners of Stars of the Industry Awards 2016

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Internet edition : www.tourismindiaonline.com Digital edition : www.issuu.com/tourismindia No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Tourism India Publications Pvt Ltd All rights reserved. Copyright © 2016 Edited, Printed and Published by K.V. Ravisankar for TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD., Tourism House PLRA 12/1, Panikers Line, Sasthamangalam (P.O.) Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 695 010. at Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam P.O., Thiruvananthapuram - 695 010.

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23 Club Mahindra Virajpet Hosts Sushi skill event March 2016

Cover : Chinese Fishing Net at Kayal Pura Resort, Vaylar, Cherthala, Kerala Photo: Ravi Sankar K.V.

CONTENT

SOTC’s Holiday Essentials Kit

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Sky Teampartners with UNICEO ÂŽto strengthen visibility in the Corporate MICE segment

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Brit tourists enjoy a ride through the bucolic locales of Maradu

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32 IHG Expands Luxury Portfolio

27 Cape Town unidentified potential Spice bagged Top honours

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Air Asia connects KL directly with Shantou China

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Top Indian chefs bring Australias culinary landscape on Twitte

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Holiday IQ perception: What Women Want

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Foreign Tourist Arrivals

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Tourism ministry participates at aravan, Motor, Touristik (CMT), Stuttgart 2016

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ITB Berlin provides strong economic boost to calm fears

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30 Enjoy Kerala with its full grandeur at Kayalpura March 2016

Mind, Body & Soul: Panchakarma Trail at Ayurveda Mana 9

News

International

reached new heights

tourism

I

nternational tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2015 to reach a total of 1,184 million in 2015, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Some 50 million more tourists travelled to international destinations around the world last year as compared to 2014.

2015 marks the 6th consecutive year of above-average growth, with international arrivals increasing by 4% or more every year since the post-crisis year of 2010.

“International tourism reached new heights in 2015. The robust performance of the sector is contributing to economic growth and job creation in many parts of the world. It is thus critical for countries to promote policies that foster the continued growth of tourism, including travel facilitation, human resources development and sustainability” said Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO. “2015 results were influenced by exchange rates, oil prices and natural and manmade crises in many parts of the world. As the current environment highlights in a particular manner the issues of safety and security, we should recall that tourism development greatly depends upon our collective capacity to promote safe, secure and seamless travel.

In this respect, UNWTO urges governments to include tourism administrations in their national

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security planning, structures and procedures, not only to ensure that the sector’s exposure to threats is minimised but also to maximise the sector’s ability to support security and facilitation, as seamless and safe travel can and should go hand in hand”, added Mr. Rifai.

cas and Asia and the Pacific all recorded around 5% growth in 2015. Arrivals to the Middle East increased by 3% while in Africa, limited data available, points to an estimated 3% decrease, mostly due to weak results in North Africa, which accounts for over one third of arrivals in the region.

Growth in advanced economy destinations (+5%) exceeded that of emerging economies (+4%), boosted by the solid results of Europe (+5%).

Positive prospects for 2016

By region, Europe, the Ameri-

Results from the UNWTO Confidence Index remain largely positive for 2016, though at a slightly lower level as compared to the previous two years. Based on the March 2016

News

current trend and this outlook, UNWTO projects international tourist arrivals to grow by 4% worldwide in 2016.

By region, growth is expected to be stronger in Asia and the Pacific (+4% to +5%) and the Americas (+4% to +5%), followed by Europe (+3.5% to +4.5%). The projections for Africa (+2% to 5%) and the Middle East (+2% to +5%) are positive, though with a larger degree of uncertainty and volatility.

2015 Regional Results

across destinations. Oceania (+7%) and South-East Asia (+5%) led growth, while South Asia and in North-East Asia recorded an increase of 4%.

China, the USA and the UK lead outbound travel growth in 2015 A few leading source markets have driven tourism expenditure in 2015 supported by a strong currency and economy.

Among the world’s top source markets, China, with doubledigit growth in expenditure ev-

ery year since 2004, continues to lead global outbound travel, benefitting Asian destinations such as Japan and Thailand, as well as the United States and various European destinations.

By contrast, expenditure from the previously very dynamic source markets of the Russian Federation and Brazil declined significantly, reflecting the economic constraints in both countries and the depreciation of the rouble and the real against virtually all other currencies.

Europe (+5%) led growth in absolute and relative terms supported by a weaker euro vis-Ă -vis the US dollar and other main currencies.

Arrivals reached 609 million, or 29 million more than in 2014. Central and Eastern Europe (+6%) rebounded from last year’s decrease in arrivals. Northern Europe (+6%), Southern Mediterranean Europe (+5%) and Western Europe (+4%) also recorded sound results, especially considering the many mature destinations they comprise.

Asia and the Pacific (+5%) recorded 13 million more international tourist arrivals last year to reach 277 million, with uneven results March 2016

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News

2017

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

T

he United Nations (UN) General Assembly has approved the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The resolution, adopted on 4 December, recognizes “the importance of international tourism, and particularly of the designation of an international year of sustainable tourism for development, in fostering better understanding among peoples everywhere, in leading to a greater awareness of the rich heritage of various civilizations and in bringing about a better appreciation of the inherent values of different cultures, thereby contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world”.

leb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO.

“The declaration by the UN of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is a unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental, while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued” said Mr. Ta-

“As the lead UN agency for this initiative, UNWTO is very much looking forward to proceeding with the organization and implementation of the International Year, in collaboration with Governments, relevant organizations of the UN system, other international and regional organizations and all other relevant stakeholders”, he added.

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United Nations This decision follows the recognition by global leaders at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) that “well-designed and wellmanaged tourism” can contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development, to job creation and to trade.

The decision to adopt 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development comes at a particularly important moment as the international community embraces the new Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), approved by the UN General Assembly last September. Tourism is included as targets under three of the SDGs - SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production and SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

March 2016

Odisha Tourism Road Show - intend to attract

News

domestic tourists

T

he Department of Tourism (DoT), Government of Odisha, in its bid to attract domestic tourists from an important source state and commercial capital of India – Mumbai organised its road show. The objective is to promote the state & its variety of tourism products in the western part of India.

Located on the eastern coast of the country, Odisha is a tourists’ paradise and has many stunning destinations which offer a visual feast to the tourists & visitors.

It also throws an educative and culturally pleasing insight into one of the oldest civilizations of the World. The road show will benefit and provide information on Odisha Tourism to the tour lovers, tour operators, travel agents, travel writers, journalists, decision makers etc.

Travel to Odisha is truly an amazing experience that attracts people from all parts of the world for its sculptural and artistic heritage. The Sun Temple at Konark, a UNESCO Heritage site, the Temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, one of the four cardinal centres for Hindus (Char Dhams) of India and temple city of Bhubaneswar are important and popular tourist destinations.

The Buddhist heritage of Odisha comprising of Ratnagiri-LalitgiriUdayagiri-Langudi and Dhauli attracts tourists from overseas and March 2016

domestic front.

The serene beaches at Puri, Chandipur, Gopalpur and Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, the second largest mangrove forest in India, Simlipal National Park to name a few are very famous tourist attractions. The rock-cut caves of Khandagiri & Udaygiri at Bhubaneswar depicting Jain heritage throw ample light on the magnificent past of Odisha.

Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia and a Ramsar site of India with 1100 sq.kms area is famous for Dolphins and migratory birds.

Apart from these, Odisha has successfully nurtured three great religions like Buddhism, Jainism & Hinduism. Odisha Tourism De-

velopment Corporation has also been playing a key role in the promotion & development of Tourism in the state. It covers a wide range of facilities to the tourists & visitors with its 22 strategically located hotels & restaurants with fine Odia delicacies, boat riding in Chilika Lake, tour & travels and transport facilities. Above all Odisha is a peaceful state and the people are hospitable. The state capital Bhubaneswar is a modern city having good connectivity (both rail and air) to all major cities of the country. The Airport has opened to international sector and will definitely give a surge in tourist traffic. Hope your journey to Odisha will be a memorable one.

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President Pranab Mukherjee:

Highlight cosmopolitanism

T

he Kerala Tourism’s ambitious Muziris Heritage Project, a mammoth conservation undertaking based on archaeological findings on the ancient Spice Route linking India’s maritime contacts with contemporary ancient civilizations, was recently inaugurated

by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble President of India.

“The project should spread the message of Indian cosmopolitanism far and wide adding to the country’s soft power across the world.

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Kerala has through the ages demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to new traditions and values in every sphere of human thought and endeavour. Participation of people in planning and implementation of the project will further ensure full utilization of the economic and employment prospects that growth in tourism will bring to the region,” said Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble President of India.

The project is an effort to conserve and showcase a cul-

ture that had existed for over 3000 years, when Kerala had established itself as a major centre of spice trade with the ancient port of Muziris as its hub. The port was the centre of trade between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean regions.

Realizing the cultural significance of this ancient maritime trade route, Kerala Tourism has launched the ‘Spice Route’ tourism initiative linking 41 countries in Asia and Europe with India, particularly Kerala.

March 2016

News The President also released a coffee table book on the Spice Route, which in first-ever by a tourism board, is also available on Kindle.

cultural significance of Muziris, the Kerala Government had initiated the Muziris Heritage Project with active support of the Central Government.

Mr. Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister, Kerala said “the project, implemented with active support from the Central government, would define the state’s tradition of accepting and absorbing other cultures from around the world”.

The Muziris Heritage Project includes built heritage like markets, forts, religious structures, palatial residences, archaeological sites and landmarks that represent over 3000 years of world history. After a lot of research, excavation works and consistent efforts to restore a lost heritage, the state has planned to open 29 museums. A hop on-hop-off boat tour of the Muziris Museums has also been developed as a unique way to experience this remarkable heritage.

The port of Muziris is mentioned in the 1st century travelogues, ancient Sangam texts and Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder's encyclopaedic work, Natural History.

Muziris mysteriously disappeared and researches point to the port's location as the mouth of the Periyar river in Kodungalloor.

To reinstate the historical and

March 2016

This initiative aims to revive cultural and academic exchange between these nations for the development of a multi-nation-

al cultural corridor. The next phase of the project is the Spice Route Initiative which will explore the international connections and linkages that the Malabar Coast had with many parts of the world. This phase is to be implemented with the support of UNESCO and United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture had applauded the Kerala Government’s initiative, saying it will not only revive India’s glorious heritage as a destination for travellers and traders but would also give a larger foothold for garnering world tourism revenue. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India is also keen on the idea of promoting the ancient Sea Route used for trade and commerce.

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News

Kerala State Tourism

Advisory Committee Reconstituted

K

erala Government has reconstituted the State Tourism Advisory Committee, headed by the Minister for Tourism, Kerala for next two years with new members and trade representatives on the board.

Magazine, Mr. Riyaz.U.C, MD of Spiceland Holidays, A representatives from the Taj Hotels in Kerala and Mr. Joseph Kuncheria Marattukulam, MD of Ruby Estate, Mampad, Nilambur are the members of the committee.

Mr. Kamal V Rao IASs, Principal Secretary, Tourism will be the Vice Chairman of the Committee and Ms. Anupama TV IAS Director of Kerala Tourism as Convener of the 22 member State Tourism Advisory Committee.

Representatives from prominent Travel Trade Associations in the state were also included in the committee.

Mr. G. Gopinath, President, Association of Approved & Classified Hotels of Kerala ,MD of BTH Sarovaram Cochin, Mr. Anish Kumar. P.K., President, ATTOI- Association of Tourism Trade Organizations of India and MD of The Travel Planners, Trivandrum, Mr. Sejoe Jose, President, Confederation of Approved Tour Operators of Kerala and Chairman of Indian Association of Tour Operators(IATO) , Kerala Chapter and MD of Marvel Holidays, Mr. Chacko Paul, President of South Kerala Hoteliers Forum and MD of Travancore Heritage Resort, Mr. M.P. Sivadattan, Director, Kerala Sate Home Stay and Tourism Society, Mr. N. Kannan, Chairman, Board of Airline Representatives and Station Manager, Air India, Trivandrum, Mr. V.C. Zacharia, President, Kerala House Boat Owners

Mr. Jose Dominic, MD of CGH Earth Hotels and Mr. E.M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry & CMD of Air Travel Enterprises Group, both of them are National Tourism Advisory Board members from Kerala, Mr. Abraham George alias Johny, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society & MD of Intersight Holidays, Mr. Jose Mathew, Hon. Secretary of KTM Society & MD of Rainbow Cruises , Mr. Riaz Ahamed, MD of Abad Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Baby Mathew, CMD of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group, Cdr. Sam T Samuel, MD of Kalypso Adventure, Mr. Ravisankar.KV, Managing Editor of Tourism India

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Federation and MD, Lakes & Lagoons, Alappuzha are the associations representatives in the committee.

Chairman and Managing Director of KTDC are the Ex officio members of the committee. The state Tourism Advisory committee was constituted in 2012 to advise and formulate the policy for Destination development, Product development, marketing strategies, market research etc. The department has successfully implemented many suggestions and, recommendations by the previous committee in the past.

The government has also reconstituted the focus group of marketing consisting of the members includes Mr. Prasad Manjali (Corporate Director of Uday Samudra Leisure Hotel, Kovalam), Mr. Anish Kumar.

P.K. ( MD of The Travel Planners, Trivandrum), Mr. Sejoe Jose ( MD, Marvel Holidays Cochin), Mr. Ranju Joseph, ( Director, Pioneer Personalised Holidays Cochin) , Mr. Jojy Mathew ( Director, Rainbow Holidays, Alappuzha), Mr. Riyaz.U.C ( MD, Spiceland Holidays Cochin), Mr. Shailendran ( Vice President, CGH Earth Hotels), Mr. Roy Chacko ( Head- Sales & Marketing, Vythiri Resort, Wayanad), , March 2016

News Mr. Karan Bhakshi, ( Corporate General Manager, Thomas Hotels & Resorts, Trivan-

drum), Mr. Subhash C Bose( Corporate General Manager, Somatheeram Ayurveda

group), Mr. Pradeep Narayanan( Corporate General Manager, Joys Hotels & Resorts), and Mr. Asish Nair ( Vice President, RP Group of Hotels).

Ms. Anupama TV IAS, Director of Kerala Tourism will be the Chairman of the Focus Group and Mr. Raj Kumar, Deputy Director (Marketing) will serve as the Convener. The tenure of the focus group will be two years

Kamal V. Rao IAS

Anupama T V IAS

Ali Azgar Pasha IAS

Jose Dominic

EM Najeeb

Baby Mathew

Abraham George

Riazhamed

Chacko Paul

Ravisankar K.V.

Jose Mathew

Anish Kumar

Sejoe Jose

G. Gopinath

Riyaz U.C.

Sam T Samuel

Vanchi Easwaran

Zacharia V.C.

Sivadathan S.

March 2016

MD KTDC

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European cities

still shining

E

uropean Cities Marketing announces 4.2% growth in city tourism in 2015. London, Paris and Rome take top slots, China grows by 32%, Italy and Russia struggle to recover.

in 2015. Bednights by international tourists grew at an even faster rate (+4.4%) than the figure for domestic visitors (+4.0%). The prelimi-

nary data is drawn from the results for 61 of 110 cities representing a total of 373.9 million bednights.

(Vienna) European Cities Marketing has demonstrated the dominant and most dynamic aspect of European tourism: city tourism, which for years has continued to grow twice as fast as national tourism. Based on the preliminary results of the upcoming European Cities Marketing Benchmarking Report, European cities maintained their strong growth trend, with total bednights up 4.2%

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March 2016

News Top performing cities London and Paris recorded about 100 million bednights between them, and continued to lead Europe’s city tourism industry in terms of total bednights in 2015. A 2.1% decline for Paris was attributable mainly to the terrorist attacks. Berlin managed to retain third place among the top five cities together with Rome, achieving a milestone of 30 million bednights. In the ongoing neck-and-neck duel for fifth place, after two years of ranking sixth, Madrid overtook Barcelona with strong growth of +8.7%. Of the top 10 European cities in terms of international bednights, above-average growth was achieved by Madrid (+12.8%), Berlin (+9.1%), Budapest (+6.9%), Prague (+7.0%), Vienna (+6.1%) and Rome (+4.7%).

contemporary urban tourism. Cities are therefore the dominant geographical focus of European tourism, especially the lucrative - and hence highly desirable - short break, congress and convention segments. Charts and further data are available free of charge at www.eu-

ropeancitiesmarketing.com.

The 12th edition of the European Cities Marketing Benchmarking Report - the world’s leading source of European city tourism statistics - will be available in June 2016. The report can be pre-ordered with a 20% discount until the end of March.

Main source markets Germany, USA, UK - China still strongest growing market, Italy & Russia in decline. Germany, the USA, and the UK once again topped the list of source markets, representing 28% of bednights in European cities. China continued to be the strongest growing market (+32%), doubling its 2014 growth rate. After a promising recovery in 2014, bednights from Italy again fell by 5.3%.

Bednights from Russia again decreased dramatically (-31%), though this was compensated for by positive growth in bednights from the UK (+8.1%) and the USA (+7.1%).

These results represent compelling evidence of the economic significance of March 2016

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Sanghvi brands

expands globally

A

fter becoming a market leader in India, with 55 signed locations and 27 operational locations, Sanghvi Brands is expanding internationally.

Sanghvi Brands has received the exclusive rights to develop L’Occitane Spas in the United States, Middle East and Indian Ocean. Sanghvi Brands is launching its first L’Occitane Spa in the US at the Ritz Carl-

ton San Francisco, its first L’Occitane Spa in the Middle East with an overwater Spa at the Lagoona Beach Resort in Bahrain, and in the Indian Ocean at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo.

Tricomi Salon at the Fraser Suites Diplomatic Enclave in Bahrain. The company is also expanding its ELLE Spas & Salons to the Middle East. It already has an ELLE Spa operational in Mauritius.

Sanghvi Brands has also received exclusive rights to develop Warren Tricomi Salons in the Middle East and the Indian Ocean. It will be launching our first Warren

In 2016, Sanghvi Brands intends to have 6 Spas in the US operational and 6 Spas and Salons in the Middle East Operational, and 3 Spas in the Indian Ocean operational - while having over 45 locations operational in India.

With a very strong and cost effective back-end operation out of India, and leveraging the global strength of the brands of L’Occitane, Warren Tricomi and ELLE - Sanghvi Brands is now looking to become a global leader in the premium Spa and Salon segment.

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March 2016

Sinclairs Bayview

Ranked No. 1 S

inclairs Bayview Port Blair has been ranked by Trip Advisor as No. 1 hotel in Port Blair, out of 26. The ranking is made on the basis of thousands of reviews and ratings registered on its site during a year from travellers worldwide. There were as many as 419 reviews of Sinclairs Bayview from the Trip Advisor community. Of these 124 rated the property as ‘excellent’ and another 175 as ‘very good’.

Set on a cantilever into the sea, Sinclairs Bayview is Port Blair’s only hotel to offer a mesmerizing 270 degree view of The Bay of Bengal. The hotel is a quiet getaway for those who want to explore the Andamans. The hotel is 15 minutes from the airport and the town’s shopping center. The hotel’s 46 rooms and suites virtually rest on the sea, opening out to the crystal blue Indian Ocean waters.

“We are honoured and humbled by this recognition. As the rankings are based on guest reviews, the recognition is extremely valuable for us. Our goal remains 100 per cent guest satisfaction” said Mr. Swajib Chatterjee, General Manager- Corporate, Sinclairs Hotels Limited.

March 2016

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News

‘Novotel Hyderabad Airport’ winners of Stars of the Industry Awards 2016

T

eam Novotel Hyderabad Airport„ receives the award for “The Most Influential Leaders” in Services & Hospitality Industry, at the Stars of The Industry Awards 2016 Novotel Hyderabad Airport has bagged two awards under the “The Most Influential Leaders in Services & Hospitality Industry” category at the Stars of The Industry Awards 2016.

and the immense dedication that our team puts in to make NHA one of best hotels in the country.

Novotel Hyderabad Airport always works towards creating an

enabling environment to nurture performance and talent within the organisation. “

Mr. Sathyam S.V, Director (Talent & Culture) & Mr. Boby Soumitra, Director (Food and Beverage) have been awarded the Most Influential Leaders in Services & Hospitality Industry Category by Stars of the Industry Group.

Winners of the ‘Stars of the Industry Awards 2016’ were announced at a gala event in the presence of luminaries and stalwarts of the industry. The Awards were constituted to honour various segments of the travel & tourism industry & encourage healthy competition with an aim to promote hospitality sector. These Awards were decided by eminent Jury comprising senior professionals.

Mr. Maverik Mukerji, General Manager- Novotel Hyderabad Airport said, “We want to congratulate Mr. Sathyam S. V (Director of Human Resource) & Mr. Boby Soumitra (Director Food and Beverage) for receiving this award. It is their sheer dedication and hard work which has helped them won the coveted award and recognition. These Awards are a platform to salute the hard work, passion

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March 2016

Club Mahindra Virajpet Hosts

Sushi skill event

T

he Second Edition of the International Training Workshop 2016 Edition organised

by IFCA, JETRO & All Japan Sushi Association was focussed on pushing the boundaries of Sushi as we know it, moving it to new Contemporary realms. The advanced Sushi Skill Event was hosted at the picturesque Club Mahindra Resort, Virajpet Coorg recently under the auspices of Major General Kariappa S K and Mr. Vijay Mohan, Regional Head - Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited.

Organized by IFCA & the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the workshop saw training sessions and live demonstrations conducted by global Sushi March 2016

ambassador, Master Chef Masayoshi Kazato. The sessions were interactive and acquainted trainee chefs with the nuances of authentic Sushi making. The event was attended by 80 chefs from all over the country. Along with trainee chefs, the guests staying at Club Mahindra Virajpet also got a chance to attend the demonstrations and enjoy the amazing spread of Japanese cuisine created during the workshop.

Chef Soundararajan, Corporate Executive Chef, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd and General Secretary, IFCA recounts, said “Learning from the masters has its own advantages. Master Chef Masayoshi Kazato is among the World’s Top 2 Sushi masters and

has visited over 30 countries in Europe, Asia and North & South America, to train chefs on the core techniques of making safe, delicious and authentic sushi.I take this opportunity to thank JETRO, All Japan Sushi Association and Sushi Skills Institute Japan for having helped us to organize this wonderful workshop.”

Mr. Kavinder Singh, Managing Director & CEO of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. noted with pride “We are delighted to host “2nd Edition of International Sushi Training Workshop 2016” at Club Mahindra Virajpet. It is a privilege to host internationally acclaimed Master Chef Masayoshi Kazato and Chef Hideo Kazato at Club Mahindra Virajpet”.

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News

SOTC’s Holiday Essentials Kit

I

n their endeavor to make holidays a priority for every Indian they have left no stone unturned. Having imagined every possible way to make vacations easier, worry free and within reach, they have now introduced the Holiday Essentials Kit. A Family Kit comprising of all the little essentials that makes for a safe and comfortable holiday which would provide our customers greater comfort while on Holiday.

Mr. Daniel Dsouza, Head Sales, India and NRI Markets, Tour Operating, Kuoni India said, “We at SOTC have put together a Holiday KIT of all the Essential Items that a Customer must take along on his Holiday. This Family Kit

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has been designed based on extensive research and also after speaking to many of our well travelled customers and our very own experienced Tour Managers. This is a first of its kind in the Holiday Space and we believe will add great value to our Customers and help him have a comfortable and enjoyable holiday. The Introduction of the Holiday Essentials Kit is part of our journey towards being a Customer Centric Organization, where all that we will do will be keeping the Customer’s needs at heart”.

March 2016

News

Sky Team Partners with

UNICEO to strengthen visibility in the Corporate MICE segment •

Global airline alliance offers 1,057 destinations across its network of 20 member airlines

•

UNICEO® - United Networks of International Corporate Event Organizers is the international association bringing together senior decision-makers in charge of corporate events representing blue chip companies and major associations.

S

kyteam, the global airline alliance, has announced a partnership with UNICEO®, the international association for senior corporate event organizers. The tie-in will further position Skyteam’s Global Meetings product as a competitive and convenient travel solution for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Congresses and Exhibitions) segment, a strategic priority for the alliance and its 20 members.

UNICEO® is the onlyinnovative international association of senior travel managers with responsibility for decision-making for corporate events of major international companies.SkyTeam will now actively cooperate in UNICEO® projects with the aim of promoting the exchange of professional experience and know-how among members. SkyTeam will also become a global sponsor and provide support for the activities of UNICEO, a non-profit international association based in Geneva.

SkyTeam’s Global Meetings product was developed to respond to the specific travel requirements of the meetings industry. With a minimum of just 50 and no maximum March 2016

number of attendees, plus generous discounts on flights operated by its 20 member airlines, SkyTeam is responding to industry demand for travel small as well as large events. Global Meetings is free to use and event organizers can set up their event in a matter of clicks, thanks to a streamlined online registration process.

“Partnering with SkyTeamwas a clear choice given the alliance’s leading position in Greater China, North America and Europe, all areas of strategic importance for UNICEO’s international development,” said Debora Piovesan, Vice President for UNICEO International.”We are confident

Global Meetings will strong airline supply lutionthat meets our needs for all kinds of events.”

deliver a chain somembers’ corporate

“By working with UNICEO, SkyTeam can offer the benefits of Global Meetings to more MICE industry experts, in turn enabling them to deliver a cost-effective, convenient travel solution to their global organizations,” said Mauro Oretti, SkyTeam vice president, Sales and Marketing. “SkyTeam’s extensive network of 1,057 destinations means we can fly attendees to all the world’s meetings hotspots, while offering industryleading flight discounts.”

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Brit tourists enjoy

a ride through the bucolic locales of Maradu

A

group of 29 elderly British citizens, mostly couples took a bumpy and exciting ride on 16 auto rickshaws ride through the locales of Maradu village in Kochi as a part of their sightseeing tour through Kerala.

A bumpy ride in auto rickshaws through the locales of Maradu, sipping a cup-oftea, having some local varieties of snacks and getting a firsthand experience of the local culture, language and tradition all that what made the ‘Explore Kerala’ package a memorable experience to a group of foreign tourists.

“Even though everyone keeps saying Kerala has a lot of tourism potential and we do celebrate our tourism in-

dustry, common people have very little idea that so many tourists come here, especially people in the village areas.

So this was as much a fun trip for the tourists as much as it was a tourism awareness campaign for the people in Kerala,” said Mr. Jagdish, Executive Director, Jayasree Tours and Travels.

“This is the second time we are taking a rickshaw ride, we absolutely enjoyed it. The first ride was when we were in Kochi and it was much more frightening,” said Mr. David Keith, former Mayor, Britain.

The ride started from the Maradu Government School ground in the evening and the rest few hours they remained roaming through the pictur-

esque, fecund landscape of Maradu. It was an equally enticing spectacle for the locals as well as the foreigners.

The Jayasree Tours and Travels, the operators of Explore Kerala, took them to places like Alappuzha backwaters, Anakotta at Guruvayur, Vadakkunathan Temple, Athirappally, Munnar, Thekkedy and Trivandrum. The Explore Kerala package focuses on the culture and natural lifestyle of Kerala instead of taking tourists through regular tourist attractions.

“We take the tourists to the villages and offer them a chance to see what the common people in Kerala look like, provide them Kerala food and a chance to experience our local culture. None of these people knew each other, we curated the tour and brought them together for the trip,” said Mr. Muhammad, tour guide.

The group had been organizing ‘Explore Kerala’ for the past few years and in a year they conduct 15-20 tours. The overwhelming response to the ‘Explore Kerala’ had made the tour company to expand it in the forthcoming seasons.

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March 2016

Cape Town

unidentified potential

A

delegation of the world’s leading conference, meetings and association management companies spent the past week in Cape Town to discuss ways of unlocking Africa’s growth potential to advance the meetings and events sector on the continent. Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau and Minister Alan Winde hosted INCON delegates with other key players in the public and private sector.

Mr. Rashid Toefy, Managing Director, MCI South Africa said that “The conference, meetings and events sector plays a pivotal role in spurring economic growth and job creation in the country and hosting INCON provided an ideal platform to showcase Cape Town’s desirability in terms of its world class conference capabilities and investment potential”.

Mr. Tim Harris Wesgro CEO said that “it is for the city to leverage its leisure destination reputation and to position itself as a conference destination of choice”.

Many of the INCON Partners had not been to Cape Town in some years and were delighted to see how the city is now geared to attract major international congresses.

The INCON Partners collectively manage budgets in excess of €1 billion across 170 destinations were thrilled with their experience.

March 2016

27

Spice Tree bagged Top honours

S

pice Tree Munnar, a boutique resort set in the Chinnakkanal region in the Munnar-Thekkady

route, has been listed in two categories of ‘Top 25 Hotels in India’ by prominent travel website company, Tripadvi-

sor. The Resort is ranked 7th in the category of ‘Top 25 Small Hotels – India’ and 17th in ‘Top 25 Hotels for Service – India’ by the website. The ranking is based on ‘Traveller’s Choice’, the reviews and ratings posted on TripAdvisor by tourists and travelers about the various hotels and resorts across the nation.

“We are extremely delighted with the honour. At SpiceTree, we believe that every guest should have their most comfortable and relaxed time with us and take steps to make sure of it, that’s all. The rest is done by the beautiful nature around us,” said Mr. Hybeen

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March 2016

Thomas, Managing Director.

The Resort is located in a very scenic locale at Chinnakkanal, on a slope facing the ‘Bison Valley’ and forests up ahead and the famous peak ‘Chokkran Mudi’ to its right.

The area is part of the ‘Kannan Devan Hills’ region of the Western Ghats Mountain Range and is a prominent tourist spot in South India.

Games area, a beautiful restaurant, and a swimming pool are other major attractions at the resort.

The resort offers various activities the guests can take part in such as spa rejuvenation therapies, yoga and meditation facilities, tea-tasting ceremonies, soft treks, plantation walks, ethnic cooking classes, village tour,

nature expeditions, photography and so on. One of the most popular activities is the visit to the ancient ‘Dolmens’ (burial spots) of the Megalithic era, which lay a soft trek away from the resort. All the above said qualities, along with the standard of service, are attributed to the success and popularity of the resort.

ww.spicetreemunnar.com

Spice Tree Munnar was founded in the year 2012 and has grown fast into a major tourist destination for people seeking a quiet, relaxed, nature getaway, especially honeymooners. The resort has two Pool Villas, along with several Honeymoon Spa Suites and Classic Rooms with Jacuzzi for accommodating guests. A spa called ‘The Bliss’, a Coffee Shop plus Bakery called ‘300 BC’, a Book Bar, an Indoor March 2016

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Stay Inn

Enjoy Kerala with its full grandeur at

Kayalpura

N

estling in a tranquil fishing village on the shores of Vembanad Lake is the secluded resort of Kayalpura. One of Kerala’s best kept secrets, this unspoilt hideaway offers you the chance to have an exclusive romantic escape on your own island complete with your personal Chinese fishing net and surrounded by the calm waters of the lake.

Kayalpura is an ideal spot to relax, unwind and recharge your mind, body and soul.

It’s really a haven for honeymooners, soul searching partners, writers, nature-lov-

30

ers or those who just want to kick off their shoes and swing in a hammock Kayalpura is a place where you can leave the stresses of life behind Located in the one of the most scenic backwat e r v i l l a g e of Kerala named Vayalar, which is also famed through Late Vayalar Rama Varma,

the most versatile poet and lyricist of the Malayalam Literature and cinema in the yesteryears. Kayalpura Resort offers you an opportunity to

March 2016

Stay Inn sample traditional Keralan life and cuisine and explore the surrounding countryside with its rich variety of flora and fauna and well away from the usual tourist haunts of Kerala.

The resort comprises two traditional wooden huts each set on their own small island, an open dining area and a working Chinese fishing-net where guests can try their luck at catching their own dinner!

Transport to and from the island is by local wooden boat.

The cottages are built in wooden stilts with wooden walls, bamboo floors, and thatched roof with coconut leaf. The interiors of the resorts will give you a warmth of freshness and purity almost similar to the exterior world of the resort which comprise the varied hues and colours of Green from the nature, turquoise blue from serene Vembanad lake and Orange and golden yellow from the dawn and dusk in the horizon.

The resort will provide you the luxury comfort in the rooms, each hut comes with western style bathroom with hot water, mosquito net, fan and private sit out area. The huts are double occupancy

March 2016

but we can provide supplementary beds if required.

The hammock, swing and wooden benches will give you extra comfort and relaxation area if you look something different from cozy interior facilities provided.

All food is freshly cooked Keralan cuisine using local produce whenever possible.

The host Vinod and Leena are always ready with smiling faces to welcome and serve the guest with Kerala delicacies or adjust the spices and aroma to your taste!

tappers at work. If you are feeling brave you can also try some of the toddy bar’s notoriously spicy snacks – guaranteed to give you a thirst.

Kayalpura Vayalar po cherthala Pin : 688536 Tel: 9287905163 info@vayalarlakeresort.com www.vayalarlakeresort.com

Kayalpura has also some interesting activities like Cycling, Kayaking, Village visits, angling and volunteerism.

Rent a cycle and take a tour of the area with local guides.

Their experienced Kerala holiday consultants will give you a great insight into this fantastic region and its culture through cycling holiday.

Go on a guided village walk where you will see coir-making, mussel collecting, traditional fishermen and learn about the medicinal properties of the area’s diverse flora. Even you can visit a local toddy bar to sample Kerala’s famous (or infamous!) coconut toddy and see the toddy-

31

IHG Expands

Luxury Portfolio I

nterContinental Pattaya Resort to open along Pattaya Bay beachfront InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of world’s leading hotel

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companies, has signed a management agreement with Amburaya Resort Company Limited to rebrand the Sheraton Pattaya Resort, a luxury

resort nestled in the Phratamnak Hills south of Pattaya Bay, to InterContinental Pattaya Resort.

March 2016

News an array of relaxing treatments at the spa. In the months following the opening, the resort will also feature a Club InterContinental lounge and Planet Trekkers, a dedicated space for young guests, as part of the new offerings to reposition the property to an InterContinental Resort.

Guest rooms will be renovated including the creation of Club InterContinental rooms on a dedicated floor. InterContinental Pattaya Resort will join Holiday Inn Pattaya to be the second resort managed by IHG in the popular beach destination.

The Resort will be operating under the InterContinental brand in April 2016. The 156-room beachfront resort located five-minute walk from the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Center, will offer a selection of superior, premium rooms and villas, in a lush, exotic locale, coupled with unparalleled service.

Guests can look forward to a variety of cuisine at the hotel’s all day dining and signature restaurant, and unwind by the three lagoon swimming pools, work out at the fitness centre or indulge in March 2016

Mr. Clarence Tan, Senior Vice President, Development, AMEA, IHG said: “As one of Thailand’s top beach destinations, Pattaya attracts both international visitors and locals from other Thai cities looking for an idyllic weekend getaway. Phratamnak Hill is a prime location and one of the most exclusive areas along the coastline, which is perfect for the first InterContinental resort to cater to guests who want a luxurious experience. We’ve had a great partnership with Amburaya Resort Company Limited who we launched our Holiday Inn Express brand in Bangkok with, and we are delight-

ed to work with them again to provide guests with exceptional experiences in Pattaya.”

Amburaya, who owns Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam, has a proven track record in high quality hotel developments and continue to expand its portfolio of hotels and resorts in key cities across Thailand.

Sunny Bajaj, Managing Director, Amburaya Resort Company Limited, said, “The InterContinental brand is globally recognised for its consistency in delivering topnotch luxury travel standards.

With the growing popularity of Pattaya amongst luxury travellers, partnering with IHG is a strategic decision for us to bring our property up to the next level catering to guests seeking luxurious experiences. We are confident InterContinental Pattaya Resort will be one of the most highly sought-after hotels in Pattaya, and look forward to a great partnership with IHG for many years to come.”

InterContinental Hotels and Resorts is one of the world’s leading hotel brands with a long and successful heritage since the first InterContinental was founded in 1946.Globally, IHG operates 184 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, with 52 hotels due to open in the next three to five years.

In Thailand, there are three InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: InterContinental Bangkok, InterContinental Hua Hin Resort and InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort, and 15 other hotels across Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Hotel Indigo. The company has 15 hotels and resorts in its development pipeline, due to open in the country within the next three to five years.

33

Air Asia connects

KL directly with Shantou China

A

ir Asia launches its brand new four times weekly direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Shantou, China. This will be the airline group’s 14th exclusive route into China from Malaysia, and flights will commence operations on 25 March 2016. The route is operated by AirAsia Berhad (airline code AK) on the Airbus A320 with 180 seat capacity.

The promotional allin-fares from RM88* one way a r e available for booking online at airasia.com, as well as the AirAsia mobile app on iPhone and Android devices from now until 22 February 2016.

The travel period for this promotional all-in-fare will be from 25 March 2016 until 5

34

February 2017.

the country.”

Mr. Spencer Lee, Head of Commercial for AirAsia Berhad said, “We are very happy to add Shantou into our list of destinations in China. There has been a demand for this route, and we are pleased to announce this four times weekly direct flight. We are positive that this route will further add towards the number of Chinese

Located on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, Shantou is one of the primary hometowns of Chinese who are living abroad. Long coastal lines and a pleasant subtropical marine climate provides the city with many charming tourist attractions.

Nan Ao Island, Qing Ao Bay, Lotus Peak, Queshi Scenic Spot, Chen CiHong’s former residence, Symbolic Tower of the Tropic of Cancer, Zhongshan P a r k

tourist arriv als into Malaysia, especially with the recent announcement by the government to relax visa policies for China visitors into

and Rainbow Shadows in the Harbour are collectively known as the Eights Sights of Shantou not to be missed.

March 2016

News

Top Indian chefs bring

I

Australias culinary landscape on Twitte

ndia’s leading food personalities such as Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef Vicky Ratnani, Chef Ranveer Brar, food consultant Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, food critics Vir Sanghvi, Rashmi Uday Singh and Marryam Reshii, will bring Australia’s food tales alive on Twitter throughout March.

With Sydney becoming the focal point of food discussions during the month with the recent opening of the NOMA Australia pop-up, food enthusiasts in India who can’t the event can follow the updates on Twitter. They will also get a chance to engage and connect with their favourite chefs and critics. Engaging live tweets, photos and videos from the chefs’ daily food capers across Australia, live Periscope masterclass broadcasts, and Twitter Q&As, the platform will can be accessed by following #TasteOfAus.

Mr. Nishant Kashikar, country manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia, said, “Tourism

Mr. Nishant Kashikar March 2016

Australia has a strong digital media strategy to inspire consumers to holiday in Australia.

The influence of social media networks within Tourism Australia’s target segment of affluent, mid-life travellers is significant and we are keen to use this medium to actively engage with potential travellers. It is an honour for us to receive support from leading Indian food influencers for NOMA Australia and we are eager to offer them a diverse taste of Australia, through this epicurean journey. The sessions in the Twitter office, delivered as part of the partnership, will help us engage with Indian travel and food enthusiasts, bringing them closer to Australia.”

Keya Madhvani, head, youth and emerging media partnerships, Twitter India, said, “Whether recipes, food videos, quizzes or more, we aim to drive many innovative engagements

and create unique experiences for all the Indian food enthusiasts on our platform.

Through this association with Tourism Australia, food lovers will follow India’s biggest food experts in their journey across the world of Australian food and produce through Twitter – a first of its kind engagement opportunity in our country, bringing the best of food content and conversations on the platform.”

Chef Ranveer Brar Chef Sanjiv kapoor

Chef Vicky Ratnani

35

News

Holiday IQ perception:

What Women Want O

n account of Women’s Day, HolidayIQ has conducted a survey investigating Women Traveller expectations and insights on Indian tourism and has created India’s first crowdsourced Women Traveller Declaration, titled “What Women Want” presented though a report.

The concept of What Woman Want was to derive key findings and insights from the community on what makes one truly happy as a Women Traveller and what does the Indian Women Traveller wish for. The survey saw more than 20,000 participants from over 30 Indian cities and towns. Some of the questions as part of the survey were central based questions like better safer accommodation options, better transport and expressways, safe solo travel and better accessibility to off-beat destinations amongst others.

As a result; the findings speaks volume on what the Indian Woman Traveller truly desires. Below are the eight top demands put forth by Women Travellers: Safe Solo Travel - 72 % Better Access to Remote Destinations - 61% Clean Buses and Trains - 55% More Women Tourist Guides - 49% Wi-Fi Hubs - 47% Women Taxi Drivers - 45% Women Only Buses and Trains - 28% Safe Accommodation Options – 18% Safe Solo Travel Solo women travel is increasing

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and so are group, family and couple holidays planned by women.

A woman travelling alone in India has increased with a share of 29% of holidays planned as compared to 18% the previous year. As a solo road trip is seen gaining momentum with more and more women travelling, 72% woman demand safe solo travel. The top destinations that are most preferred by solo woman travelers for road trips in Bangalore include Coorg, Chikmaglur, Kabini, Mysore and Nandi Hills.

Safe Accommodation options Growth of information, ease of access & bookings, growth of mobile as a preferred device for holiday researching accommodation options has vastly contributed to the Solo Women Travel trend. Hotels and resorts continue to be the popular choice as a holiday accommodation option accounting for over 60% of trips planned.

However, in the last 18-24 months there is an interest in alternate accommodation options such as homestays, experiential resorts, camps, serviced, apartments, jungle lodges and the like. On HolidayIQ we receive a review every minute. Concerns about safety or accessibility are unfounded because you can read reviews of an accommodation option by other travellers like yourself who have been to that hotel/homestay a while ago. 18% demand safe accommodation options.

Better Access to Remote Destinations

Woman travelling are seeking the rare experiences and 61 % feel the necessity for better accessibility to remote destinations. While they are heading out on multiple weekend getaways throughout the year, exploring and discovering possibilities for adventure activity holidays around the city.

More interest is seen in off-beat destinations where women travellers are exploring pop culture tourism/jet-setting and other experience led activities.

Clean Buses and Trains India direly needs a toilet revolution if it needs to bring in revenue from tourism. Of the 2.4 billion people in the world who have no toilets, India accounts for nearly 600m. Those who have travelled the country will understand the fuss about toilets in India too well. Where more is the need of the hour, it was noted that women travellers are increasingly turning away from train journeys as compared to last year due to the hygiene aspects. 55% of Women Travelers want Clean Buses and Trains.

More Women Tourist Guides Today, age is no longer considered a stigma and women of all ages are feeling more confident about travelling. As destinations such as Kerala, Goa, Pondicherry, Manali, Auli, Shimla, Corbett, Bandipur, Coorg are favorites among women travellers; it is imperative to have more women tourist guides. 49% of Women Travelers demand more women tourist guides. Interestingly from the March 2016

News booking patterns on HolidayIQ it was witnessed that the holidays planned by women is of a 17% higher budget than holidays planned by men.

Wi-Fi Hubs The proliferation of smartphones, better internet penetration and arrival of a plethora of travel apps has created a new era in travel.

Today travellers expect to be able to use their mobile devices to access travel-related information, to smooth their journey and enhance their experience while on

March 2016

the move. Top 3 uses for wi-fi is Travel research, Maps / Navigation and access to social media. On the HolidayIQ app, for every photo reviews submitted via a desktop, 8 are submitted via the app and today 47% Woman travellers demand for Wi-Fi hubs as women turn to internet and apps more than people for Holiday advice.

Women Taxi Drivers Indians are starting to take their holidays seriously, in a large part due to mobile apps. As easy-touse on-demand and sharing econ-

omy apps make getting around and staying in new cities convenient, 45% of Women Travelers want Women Taxi Drivers.

Women Only Buses and Trains With more Indian woman travelling and while they share their travel experiences of conquering all parts of India, safety and security are a prime concern while planning any kind of holiday. As woman trips continue to gain momentum in 2016 and the average trip length has also increased to be 5 - 7 days’ 28% woman travellers demand woman only transport.

37

News

Foreign Tourist Arrivals M

inistry of Tourism compiles the data of foreign exchange earned through foreign tourists. The Ministry does not compile the data of earnings through domestic tourists. The Foreign Exchange Earnings (provisional) through Tourism in India during 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were Rs.94, 487 Crore, Rs.1, 07,671 Crore, Rs.1, 23,320 Crore, and Rs.1, 35,193 Crore, respectively.

The State/Union Territory - wise number of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) during 2012, 2013 and 2014 are below. This information is not available for the year 2015.

The State/ UT-wise number of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) during 2012, 2013 and 2014 are as below: S. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

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State/ UT

2012

2013

2014

Andaman & Nicobar Islands Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Assam Bihar Chandigarh Chhattisgarh Dadra & Nagar Haveli Daman & Diu Delhi Goa Gujarat Haryana Himachal Pradesh Jammu & Kashmir Jharkhand Karnataka Kerala Lakshadweep Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Odisha Puducherry Punjab Rajasthan Sikkim Tamil Nadu Tripura Telangana Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand West Bengal Total

17538 292822 5135 17543 1096933 34130 4172 1234 4607 2345980 450530 174150 233002 500284 78802 31909 595359 793696 580 275930 2651889 749 5313 744 2489 64719 52931 143805 1451370 26489 3561740 7840 NA 1994495 124555 1219610 18263074

14742 69552 10846 17638 765835 40124 3886 1582 4814 2301395 492322 198773 228200 414249 60845 45995 636378 858143 371 280333 4156343 1908 6773 800 3304 66675 42624 204074 1437162 31698 3990490 11853 153966 2054420 97683 1245230 19951026

17235 66333 5204 21537 829508 28365 7777 1799 4620 2319046 513592 235524 547367 389699 86477 154731 561870 923366 514 316195 4389098 2769 8664 836 3679 71426 83291 255449 1525574 49175 4657630 26688 75171 2909735 101966 1375740 22567650

March 2016

March 2016

39

News

Tourism ministry participates at aravan, Motor, Touristik (CMT),

Stuttgart 2016 I

ndia was the Partner Country in one of the World’s largest public trade fairs for Tourism, Leisure Caravan, Motoring viz. the “Caravan, Motor, Touristik (CMT), Stuttgart 2016”.

The Ministry of Tourism participated in the fair through the India Tourism Office in Frankfurt. The India Pavilion was inaugurated by Mr. Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Sevala Naik, Consul General of India in Munich and Mr. Richard Bleinroth, CEO Messe Stuttgart.

The Event was organized in conjunction with a TV Station (SWR) and hosted by them. During the 20 minute slot given to India, a 5 minute visual presentation of the Film “Find what you seek” was followed by a speech made

by Mr. Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and a spectacular performance by the Cultural Troupe from Rajasthan (sponsored by ICCR), which was appreciated by one and all.

Prior to the commencement of the Fair, India Tourism Office, Frankfurt had sponsored the visit of 10 travel

40

journalists on a familiarisation trip to India. The articles written by these journalists were published before the Fair in various newspapers which not only enhanced the visibility of India as a tourist destination, but also contributed towards instilling the consumers’ confidence in the destination.

To announce India’s presence and attract visitors to the India Stand at fair, the India Tourism Office, Frankfurt had launched an outdoor advertising campaign on buses, bus stops, railway stations as well as at the fair ground in and around Stuttgart.

The India Tourism stand at the Fair was a “crowd puller”. The India stand reflected the theme of “Meena Bazaar”, with the ambience of the famous bazaar at Delhi’s Red Fort. A variety of activities like henna painting (Mehandi), palm reading, food tasting, arts and crafts display, Yoga, Ayurveda, bollywood dances and performances by Rajasthan folk dance artistes sponsored by ICCR, gave the visitors a true taste of India. The consumers that visited the India Pavilion were given information on the diverse tourism products and packages by the eight co-exhibitors (tourism

stakeholders from India and Germany) who participated at the India Stand. To appeal to the younger audience, a Photo Booth was set up which enabled the visitors to get their pictures taken against the backdrop of various Indian scenes enabling them to make a virtual tour of India. This was combined with a contest on Facebook where people from various parts of Germany can send their pictures from India with the hash tag #IncredibleIndia Stuttgart to win prizes including the grand prize of two tickets to India sponsored by Air India.

There were many activities held on the sidelines of the fair which included a Seminar on Wellness and Ayurveda under ‘Make in India’ organised by the Consulate General of India in Munich .As a tradition with CMT fair to organise an event every year themed on one partner country at the fair, the Commerzbank organised an ‘India evening’ themed on India for their clients which attracted the largest ever audience with the Rajasthani folk troupe enthralling all those present with their great music and colourful dances.

March 2016

March 2016

41

ITB Berlin

provides strong economic boost to calm fears

T

he Maldives is the official partner country of ITB Berlin 2016. With its glistening white beaches, turquoise lagoons and unrivalled diving opportunities, this island nation is a nature paradise, and one of the last on the planet. Situated in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has been exhibiting at ITB Berlin since 1984 and is a model of eco-friendly and carefully controlled tourism development.

Over the last half-century ITB Berlin has had a decisive impact on tourism, and on the eve of its fiftieth anniversary it enjoys an excellent standing. Around 10,000 exhibitors from 187 countries and territories will be exhibiting the latest products and trends of the global tourism industry on 1,069 stands. It presents itself as a model of sustainable tourism and European debut for robot hostess at the south entrance. ITB Berlin Convention focuses on Travel 4.0 and Travel Technology continues to expand. The focus on China at ITB Berlin and announced the of new event ITB China.

Over two-thirds of the exhibitors are from abroad. The organisers expect around 100,000 international trade visitors and public attend-

42

ance to reach tens of thousands on the weekend. They will be able to obtain an overview of the industry’s wide range of products in 26 halls.

The ITB Buyers Circle gathers travel buyers from Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Australia, more than 40 % of whom do business in the order of about 50 million euros each. Exhibitors will be able to meet new buyers at the ITB Speed Networking event, or international bloggers at the Blogger Speed Dating event on 10 and 11 March respectively in the CityCube.

During the event around 260 exhibitors will be presenting the many products and services. Dr. Christian Goke, CEO, Messe Berlin GmbH: “We are delighted with the consistently high numbers of exhibitors, particularly from abroad, at the anniversary edition of ITB Berlin, which once again will provide outstanding opportunities for global business. In the face of terrorist attacks at popular travel destinations and palpable consumer fears the industry needs a strong boost to kick start the travel season. ITB Berlin is the industry’s leading marketplace and as the meeting place of the global travel industry can set the tone for change. At

the ITB Convention we will be discussing the challenges currently facing us and providing some initial answers.

Thus, under the heading of Travel 4.0, debate will not only focus on the digital transformation of business processes in travel enterprises. Experts will also be highlighting the impact the global flow of refugees will have on tourism and how they can be integrated as a workforce and with their skills into many areas of employment.”

Near the south entrance visitors to ITB Berlin will be able to gain a glimpse of the fuMarch 2016

News ture of travel. Dressed as an elegant trade fair hostess, Toshiba’s humanoid robot will be providing information at the ITB Berlin help desk.

This is ChihiraKanae’s first appearance in Europe. Since April 2015 her “sister“has been welcoming visitors daily in Tokyo. The question as to whether customers approve of robots was analysed by an exclusive, representative and global study by Travelzoo at the Marketing and Distribution Day of the ITB Berlin Convention. Society is likely to accept this new technology. The majority 77% of those polled in nine countries were convinced that robots will play an important role in the near future. 73 % said it would improve their lives, and the majority said they would approve of robots if they did the job well, at help desks in tourism information centres, hotel check-ins, airports, or serving customers in restaurants. At an onstage live demonstration of Toshiba's ChihiraKanae, trade visitors will be able to make up their own minds about humanoid robots in the travel industry. Afterwards, one of Toshiba's experts managing the project will have more information about the technology giant's future plans.

Demand by exhibitors remains unabated at the fiftieth edition of ITB Berlin.

ITB was able to secure a newcomer with the participation of the Vatican Museums from the Vatican City.

Last year, the Turkish Village made its first appearance.

This year, for the first time, Turkey will be represented in its own hall and will be showing its colours despite turbuMarch 2016

lent times. For many years, growth and dynamic expansion have been the hallmarks of the Travel Technology Halls and the eTravel World.

Every year, international attendance increases.

Travel Technology companies from China will be well represented at the show. A number of Chinese online services providers, including Baidu, the newcomer Tuinu, Marco Polo Travel and Hotel Consolidator Shenzen Dida Travel will be appearing at ITB Berlin. This corresponds with more and more Chinese companies registering for independent stands in Hall 26, the hall featuring China.

Thus, China Southern Airlines and several Asian tour operators are represented with their own stands for the first time. In order to attract attention to the Chinese travel market, this year ITB Berlin is organising a networking event, the ITB Chinese Night.

The show itself also aims to increase its presence on the Asian market. Following the successful 2008 launch of ITB Asia in Singapore the brand is to be exported for a second time. Starting in May 2017, ITB China will take place annually in the pulsating mega city of Shanghai. The world’s leading travel trade show will provide China’s fast-growing travel market with its own platform, which is the combined product of strong partners. Corresponding agreements will be signed on 9 March, day one of ITB Berlin.

Arab nations will be strongly represented, as in every year.

The airline Emirates will be taking part with a brand new stand at ITB Berlin. Among

the exhibitors representing Africa and Central America there will be several newcomers as well as companies returning after a break. Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Burundi and Sierra Leone, which is promoting itself as a safe destination after the ebola crisis, are all back following an absence, as are St. Lucia and the Turks and Caicos Islands from the Caribbean.

Now hosting larger stands, Cuba and El Salvador will be even more strongly represented at the show.

ITB Berlin is not just a place to kickstart one’s career. This is where, by taking only a few steps, members of the public can switch from one continent to another, find out about almost any country in the world, and get inspiration for their next trip. Launched in 1966 as a minor exhibition, ITB rapidly became the world’s largest travel trade show. This success is being celebrated with a campaign that brought about emotional travel encounters, relived important moments in the history of tourism, and can provide inspiration for one’s own trip for anyone who is interested. In collaboration with its partner Airberlin the world’ largest travel trade show sent 50 Berliners as ambassadors to 50 travel destinations around the world, where they met local representatives with whom they shared a common interest or experience. The ambassadors presented them with a Berliner Buddy Bear and thanked the various figures representing tourism for their commitment and major contribution to the industry.

43

Mind Body & Soul: Panchakarma Trail at

Ayurveda Mana T

he weather in Germany was sunny and at the same time raining on the 1st of August.

During the last days was also the same like Sunny and rainy. Caya (accumulation) and prakopa (aggravation) of doshas were on every day depends on this changing climate.

My appintments and meetings were no ends during the last months. In one way the life was so hectic and not even a time to think for relaxation. The body and mind was just working to attend the sheduled appointments and to find new projects. But the

44

planned panchakarma at kerala is on 3 rd of August for 21 days.

That was the only motivation to go on working in Germany even my joints were paining a lot.

And at last on 2 nd of August, early morning I started my journey to the Munich Airport. It was hardly one hour from my home at Raubing- Rosenheim.The other side of the highway was so crouded, may be beacuse the whole Germans were going to Austria or Italy beacuse of summer holidays.

I parked my car at Munich Park

&Fly and proceeded with another shuttle service to Munich airport.

Since I checked online with Ethihad flight to Kochi International airport, I have to drop only my luggage. The airport and the flight was overcrouded. The holiday mood. People were flying mostly to Turkey and Italy. Mainly for the beach tourism for a beer and meat holidays and to end up again in stress or diseases. But I was ready to escape from this mechanised country for a calm and quite holidays with teas and veggis at Ayurveda Mana.

March 2016

Travelogue Perumes to Gold for the beloveds and dears to show a tocken of love.

I just proceeded to the gate number 3 A, for my next flight to Kochi.

A lot of people were waiting and I found familiar faces from my gods own country- Kerala. Small kids and children were a lot comparing to the previous Munich flight.

People were already communicating, greeting and laughing. Actually I felt like I have been already reached in my country even I am in Abudabi airport.

The flight journey was abour 3.30 hours. Afterhalf an hour of flying the airhostess served the dinner.

Now the body & mind is in German coffe & Cake time but the body stands at Abudabi dinner time but flying towards Indian midnight time! But any way I got my vegetarian meal beofre others since I have booked previously the asian vegetarian meals while taking my online ticket. The rice and bindi masala was tasty. A temptation of drinking wine or beer, I just avoided beacuase after one day I am going to do my Panchakarma and not to overload my system again with acidic foods.

The Ethihad was flying from Munich to Abudabi with 5 hours 20 minutes. At the Abudabi airport is the same crazy people who just want to buy the materials from

March 2016

I woke up when the flight landed at Kochi international Airport. The people were jut standing up and ready to take the luggages even before the flight was reaching in the poper position. I was thinking that such type of fantacies can only seen or happens in my India

but not in any other countries.

After the imigration, customs and baggage collection I went to change some Euros to ruppees.

Instead of 80 rupees per Euro which is the todays currency rate, I got only 76 rupees per Euros.

Even there are State Bank of Travancore or Thomas cook all were selling different rates. But kochi is much better than Trivandrum airport, since there is only one currency exchange and they cheat as much as possible from the passangers. Even if they haveto give some small changes they will politely tell that we do not have this small changes. They know that we will not wait for this small changes. Cheatig capital of Kerala.

After my currency exchange I went to take a pre paid taxi inside the airport. The destination of Ayurveda Mana is at Guruvayoor, a well known township in Kerala where the famous temple of Lord Krishna is located. It is a combination of Guru and Vayu a best place for treating Vata diseases.

The drive from Kochi airport to ayurveda mana was like 1.30 hour.

It can be more if the travel is after 8 AM. But I was in the taxi arod 4 AM and I reached at 5 AM at Ayurveda mana.

Dr. Vaidyamadhom Rajeev Namboothiri consulted me with his assistants and decided the treatments. They discuused what kashayam I should take for Ama pacha-

45

Travelogue na- detoxification, what ayurveda oil treatments for the mobilisation of toxins and what panchakarma is good to cleanse the mobilised toxins. The same day morning I got my first Abhyanga and Sirodhara. The flow of Sankar Mahadev instrumental music along with sirodhara at the same time, 4 hands abhyanga washed out my thoughts completely away.

The touch of their hands on exact painful points of my body and massaging the areas of my knee joints etc were a great feeling. First I concentrated with my mind the movemnents of their hands. Slowly I completely forgets and went into a diiferent world. As previously dreamt in Germany, monsoon rain started exactly during my oil treatments . The warm oily hands massage and the sounds of rain taken me in extreme ecstacy. I didn't notice that one and half hours were over.

They wiped off the oil from my head, feet and taken to the bath room. The water is alraedy ready with the preferred temperature in a bucket. And a paste of mungbean powder with water is also made for applying on the body to remove the oil. No soap or shower gel. Complete natural. One of the therapist Mr. Mohanan, I call him Mohanettan aroud 62 years old helped me to sit in a wooden chair. He applied the mung powder cream on my back and washed with warm water. It almost takes out the excess oil from my body.

I felt like a child and I missed my mother during this time. After shower I changed into new cloths, and mohanettan is ready with Rasnadi powder to put on my crown.

This is to prevent cold and sneezing which can come during the time of Panchakarma. It works like an absorber, and Rasnadi churnam is very famous in Kerala for applying on the crown after shower. A small pinch also has to be inhaled

46

Jahangeer. P.K., Owner, Perumapayil Mana & MD, Bitmax Graphix,

Doha Qatar

P

erumbayil Ayurveda Mana, which used to belong to a family that was the hereditary administrator of the Zamorin of Calicut, and famous Ayurvedic practitioners as well. Perupmayil mana was a dream place in my child hood. We never had the permission to enter this place during our school days. Even then I always admired the beauty of the old traditional building in a vast compound surrounded by paddy fiend and big trees.

After my schooling I went to Gulf to seek my bread and butter.

When one of my trip to my home, like a snuff. It opens the blockages of the cranial cavity and also wakes you up.But the smell is horrible like cow dung.

Now Mohanettan put the sandal wood paste on my third eye to

I heard that this mana is planning to sell by its owner. Immediately I pitched and succeed. Every one in our village thought I will demolish this old dilapidated building for a new palatial bungalow, for my future home. As an artist I always has dream to conserve and restore to its original state and if possible to convert as a traditional resort. When I started restoration, Mr. Sajeev approached me to convert this an Ayurvedic resort. Happily I agreed and do the necessary correction and alteration. We built a new guest wing and treatment centre, in traditional architectural style, blend harmoniously with the stately original Mana.

Now I feel blessed and happy to be a proud owner of this beautiful place. Also feels honored by a piece of history and traditional of Kerala- God’s Own Country.

March 2016

cool up. A symbol of satva, a mark of purity, beloved for lord Krishna or Vishnu and so on....

When I just came out from the bath room through the treatment room , I felt light like a butterfly.

But at the same time I also recoganise I have hunger and appetite. A rare feeling usually what I had. I always had appetite but the hunger was rare in Germany.

I just went into the Ayurveda resturent near to the same treatment building. There were five round tables and twenty chairs.

Already 2 tables were occupied.

Most of them are from Europe and one from East Africa.

I also taken a seat with one of the group. I noticed that the vessals of breakfast is made with Brass - combination of metals which was in the olden days used in the Kings palace. The breakfast was with boiled banana which is a special kind again in Kerala commonly used and essential during PK, which will not make any constipation like the bananas in Europe.

The main dish was prepared with rice and urd dhal flour and known as Dosa not dosha which is like a pancake. There was an excellet chutney made with fresh cocconut grinded with mint and a small piece of Ginger. And also a mung March 2016

dhal curry, curry means sause not the meaning like in Europe. It can be mung dhal curry, banana curry, vegetable curry so on... Another important one is the herbal water made with khadira, padmaka, ginger, sariba, vettiver and sandalwood. The taste is so natural but the action is to improve the digestion and to cleanse the blood. In Europe we only use ginger water, but according to Ayurveda you need combinations of plants to balance the negative effects of plants by combining it.

My hunger was really too much , but when I started eating I only ate 2 dosas. I was satisfied with that. This was one of the anotherpositive thing which I noticed after the first treatment. Eat what you need !

Oh thank God now comes the chai made with black tea, milk, jaggerry syrup, ginger and cardamom.

Normally better to avoid all kinds of black tea and coffee. But tea is not so bad like the coffee and that is must for me. At least a small drug to start my day. Jani was talking about her positive results already happened in her diseases. Actually she is suffering from Scleroderma with dried up skin and muscles. After this wonderful medicinal oil application, she has a good sleep and the tightness of

the skin is reduced.

Another lady is suffering from polymennorrhoea and fibroids.

The excess menustration is also under control with in one week of ayurveda treatments.

Instead of talking and understanding and polluting my brain with new problems I slowly went to the verandha of the Ayurveda mana. Sitting on the cane chair and looking towrads the entrance of the building where there is a yoga hall made above an arch building, in malayalam Patippura, I just relaxed.

I started reading the Bhagavatam, one of the 17 puranas completely dedicated to Lord Krishna. Three kilometers away is Guruvayoor the famous temple of Lord Krishna. It is also called as Vatalayesan.

A diety for Vata diseases. Siva permitted B᚛haspati and Vayu to perform the consecration rites and blessed them that this place would be known as "Guruvayoor" (since the installation was done by guru ("master") B᚛haspati and Vayu). Siva with Parvati then left to the opposite bank to Mammiyoor. Ayurveda Mana has such a vibration that the center is located very near to this temple.

Guru means preceptor and vayu is wind. The idol was installed by Bri-

47

Travelogue haspati, the guru of the gods and Vayu, the god of wind. The word also has an esoteric meaning. It stands for the body of the human being which is the abode of wind.

The five pranas or vital breaths are what sustain the body and make it function properly.

Sajeev Kurup, Managing Director, Paithrukom Hospitality

M

y team in Perumbayil Ayurvedamana, Guruvayoor...with a short span of Two years...they set the standards as per my expectations.90% local staff trained and used in areas like Housekeeping, Kitchen, medicine rooms.... .etc. catering the need for clients from world over. Proven example of actual Responsible Tourism initiative. It started in the year 2000 on my entry year to Tourism from HR in Kairali Ayurveda Resort in Palakkad .Under the advise of Dr. Venu and other friends of RT, done it in full scale at Poomully Ayurvedamanam Peringode in 2005, and it continues in all my properties. In 2010 KITS identified Poomully Ayurvedamana as the RT organisation from Ayurveda sector. Thanks to the support of all it happens.....So it is possible in Kerala..if approached... properly....!

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The Krishna temple in the town of Guruvayoor in Kerala is one of the five famous Krishna\Vishnu temples in India. The others are Jagannath Puri in Orissa, Tirupati Venkatachalapati in Andhra Pradesh, Nathdwara in Rajasthan and Dwaraka in Gujarat.

The time is one o clock and I am slowly hungry. When I reached the Ayurveda resturent the other westerners were already waiting for the lunch. Krishnadas with his smile comes with a soup made out of vegetable cooked and filtered the clear part. Garnished with fresh curry leaves and shallots. Usually I am not a souppy. But this is fantastic. The taste buds were stimulated with the mild spicy soup.

After the soup he bring a bowl of Kerala red rice, beans upperi, kachiya moru- boiled buttermilk with curcuma, ginger and curry leaves, chutta pappadam- pappadam fried on fire without oil. The amla- gooseberry in salt water was so tasty which was made by the cheif cook... Valasala.

I ate queitely, enjoying the taste

and concentrating the food. I found that there is no tomatoes or potatoes in any of the dishes which are the common food in Europe which make the tridoshakara.

The warm khadira herbal water from the mud jug is interesting to drink together with the food.

I never missed the mineral water, gas water, beer or wine.

The mild devotional instrumental music of Sai Madhukar makes me more calm during the lunch time.

After the food I came to my Room.

The abhyanga, Sirodhara and the food made me so tired. Actually I would like to sleep, but the resident doctors Salini & Gopil already instructed me not do that. At 2 pm immedietely after lunch Dr. Gopil and the therpist came with Dhanwantharam mezhupakam to do a matra vasthi. This was the first application of medicinal oil into my colon, a therapy known as matra vasthi which is a basic treatment of Vata diseaes. I was told to hold minimum half an hour the oil in my colon. The also massaged my stomach in anti clockwise and bend my legs etc as a normal procedure after this matra vasthi.

I was laying down on the bed more than half an hour. The lubrication of oils on the body, head and inside and the mild food is the underlying treatments during the first week.

Why? I think that we are dried up,

March 2016

Travelogue burn out with the modern life style. The oilness which is called as sneha or the other meaning Love is failed in all of us. The caring people here as therapists, cook, service, reception doctors and the oils makes us again in smoothness, softness which is essential for an easy movement of life.

since this month is a speciality to do that in Kerala. Karkataka- cancer month is full of rain and darkness.

Reading the story of Rama which is called as ramayana or Ra , darkness ,mayanam remove is specialitty for Kerala people. I got some sandal wood paste and tulasi leaves as prasad from the temple.

Mohanettan is infront of my door.

He told that I have manjal Kizhi treatment. A blous made with turmeric powder, dill seeds, puffed rice etc which is good for my knee joint and neck pain. The warm Kizis came to my neck and calf muscles one by one. Rain started again as I wished. And I went in to my ecstacsy. Mohanettan told me that he will only dry up the powder from body. but I nsisted to take again the shower as previously with the mung powder and warm water. After the kizhi and shower I am compltely relaxed and think to do nothing. Just came to the verandha of Ayurveda Mana and watched the rain which is still continuing.

After coming back from temple I started looking my emails, since I get the w - lan connection only in the reception area. After replying back my e mails I was so exahusted and realised that better to no involvement in any worldly affairs during Panchakarma.

Nearby the Mana there is a Vishnu temple. At five o clock I went there alone. A very nice small temple for 5 minutes walk. Now I realised again that what. I am really missing in Germany. The temple. This quiet atmosphere. The smell of of this old oil, the jasmin flowers, the tulasi leaves. There was one Lady who is reading Ramayana

The time is seven in the evening.

Time for dinner. May be one glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, whole wheat dark bread and some cheese is waiting for me. But on the other hand there was a warm soup made with navara rice, ginger ( karkataka kanji) another specility of kerala during the month of monsoon or karkataka, a medicinal gruel. Chutta pappadam, soursalty Amla, 2 chappatis, vegetable korma. My thought of wine and cheese went away. In another way I was slowly convinced by the simple food and the mild taste that I am no longer having a craving for the wine and cheese. And also in another way I was slowly swithicng into a simple life with high thinking which I lost somewhere in my past western life. May be I

am re discovering my child hood and the simplicity again during my stay at Ayurveda Mana.

Without much talk to the others I just came back again to my room.

The room was fumigated by Mr. Dino against mosquitos. He uses kunthirukkam for fumigation, a natural plant base product. The smell is so sweet and resembles like I am in a temple. There are many ways to use frankincense, which is an herb that comes from the resin of the Boswellia tree. It’s most common uses in Ayurvedic or Western medicine stem from its therapeutic properties as an analgesic, antidepressant, and sedative. However, in addition to being a powerful healing herb, frankincense is also an important ingredient in stress-reducing incenses and exotically scented perfumes. This fumigation is against mosquitoes that was one of the terrible problems at Kerala. But in one way mosquitoes also wants to live somewhere in this world.

I switched on the TV. Immediately I seitched off also. Either it is some bollywood dances or some political news. Both of them has no place in my brain.

I have taken again the Bhagavatam and continued reading.

Early morning aroud 5 AM , Mr. Dino Came with one glass of milk mixed with Gomutra and Hingutrigunam. The milk and

Travelogue the gomutram were from the Vechur cow is a rare breed of Bos indicus cattle named after the village Vechoor in Kottayam district of of Kerala. With an average length of 124 cm and height of 87 cm, it is the smallest cattle breed in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records, and is valued for the larger amount of milk it produces relative to the amount of food it requires.

The Vechur cow was popular in Kerala until the 1960s, but became rare when native cattle were crossbred with exotic varieties. In 2000, the Vechur cow was listed on the FAO's World Watch List of Domestic Animal Diversity, in its ‘Critical-Maintained Breeds List', pointing to imminent extinction as About 200 cows are supposed to exist today, nearly 100 of them with the Veterinary College.The anti-bacterial property of the protein was found to be more than ampicillin. Even though the medicinal property of the Vechur cow's milk had been accepted traditionally by Ayurveda but in so many centers the cows are not available. All cattle have higher fat and total solids in the milk compared to crossbred cows.

But in dwarf cows the size of fat globules is small which makes it easy for human body to digest.

In that case Goats milk is superior than vechur because size of fat

globule in goats is much smaller compared to dwarf cows but very light and in Vata diseases it is not so recommended.

Mr.Dino handled me the Gomutra Ksheeram, and I gulped without thinking that how the taste will be. Not bad!

I brushed my teeth again and went to the verandha of Ayurveda Mana. The yoga master is preparing the Yoga hall. I accompanied him. Slowly the other guests also came to join for Yoga. After the prayer, He started with Surya Namskar and some breathing exersises in various postures. And last with AUM meditation. The yoga was so simple and not much complicated.

In one way it is not adviced to do any complicated postures since it is contra indicated during Ayurveda treatments. The body will be more flexible and sensitive so the extreme asanas are not good at this time. But meditaion and breathing are the main preferred parts from Ashtanga Yoga. But for westerners it is very difficult to understand this concept. They belive that the body should be moved as much as possible for attaining health! But on the other hand you are subsiding or balancing mainly the Vata dosha during Ayurveda treatments and any exertion will only exagerate again the doshas.

It was almost one hour we were

doing yoga asana, pranayama and dhyana. Now it is time for my treatment again. 8 oclock Mr. Dino came and taken me to the treatment room. Today was classical devotional music. Mohanettan is ready with head oil and he massaged my head. And the four hand massage is again on the flow. I slowly went in to the ecxtasy. The rain started again. Treatment finished with 1.30 hours.

Mohanettan taken me to the bath room. Put the mung bean powder on my back. And washed me like a baby. The thing what I had yesterday repeated again. The breakfast, my routine Bhagavata, lunch, matra vasthi, manjal kizhi, evening temple, dinner, fumigation and so on... The breakfast can be chiratta puttu or dosa or idiappam or rava uppuma. But always will be cooked and ripe banana and mungdhal curry.

Lunch will be always with a soup, 2 chappatis and rice. Along with one fried vegetables with less fat. Vegetables can be patavalam (Snake gourd), ilavan(Ash gourd), vendakkai (okra),vellarikai (Cucumber), mungakai (drumstick)or ethakai ( raw banana).

Dinner will be 2 chappatis, rasam, vegetable curry and pomgranate as sweet.

Dr. Shalini came and looked my blood pressure. She smiled and

Travelogue told everything is ok. Just 110/70.

I know that my pressure is low after the six days of treatment.

Dr. Shalini explained me that tom,orrow will be a Virechana, one of the main Panchakarma for Pitta. Since the last 6 days with abhyanga, sirodhara and manjal kizhi, the morbid doshas are having Utklesa or mobilsed with the ama and that should be cleansed out. Morning you will get 8 drops of Misraka sneha. Please drink also hot water. No break fast and if you are hungry after the purgation you can have rice soup. Dr. Shalini is a young girl who is the assistant of Vaidyamadham Dr. Rajeev. Still she is small or young she has a special commanding power or authority in what she is doing.

This should be the great quality of a doctor, to be authoritive which is lacking in western doctors. Dr. Shalini is everwhere with Dr. Gopil who is also her classmate and col-

the temple standing in long ques.

So I dropped my idea to go to the nalampalam and went inside the temple only through west gate.

legue. But for me Dr. Gopil is more than a friend not an authority.

padam.

Evening I only had a light abhyanga.

Today I have nochai. I really missed it.

I was thinking that tomorrow is purgation so better to go outside today for a while and visit the Guruvayoor temple. The receptionist Miss. Aswathy called an autorikshwa and I went to Guruvayoor temple. I see the crowd of people who wants to enter in March 2016

Several people from different parts of the country with children, parents and grand parents are assembled in Guruvayoor. At least to have a small darsan of Lord Krishna. Elephants for seeveli, infants for anna prash, long ques for prasadam etc were too much me. After staying 30 minutes in temple I realised that this crowd and sounds make me crazy during my panchakarma. I was quite and calm at Ayurveda mana and within 30 minutes my calmness is ruined.

My question is the God is in this crowd with sounds and chaos or the God is within you when you are calm?

I retuned. Back to Ayurveda mana with a slight head ache.

The virechana day was quite normal for me.

Even in Germany once in a month I used to do a virechana to balance my Pitta. After virechana Krishnadas served me rice soup and chutta pap-

hapana. Drinking of Mahakayanakam ghee. Snehapana is a procedure to internal oleation to bind the fat soluble toxins and expels it out with proper panchakarma procedure. Sneha paana , interesting word.. Oily substances to drink or love drink.

This is done in incresing doses as sadya snehana. So I get 30 ml, 45 ml, 60 ml, 75 ml and 100 ml at 7 am mixed with rice water. After that I should take one bowl of Kanji, rice soup. And if the hunger comes at lunch time or after again rice soup. Evening also rice soup.

This is really horrible. Just rice, rice rice. My chai, breakfast with ripe banana, chappatis, vegetable curries etc are now a dream only.

No spices. Only the taste of salt from chuttaappadam. On the other hand my system adopted slowly to have this non spicy soup with overdose of ghee. My agni started working to digest the ghee. And as a simple rice soup as food, most of my system taken rest, produced less amount of enzymes, gastric juices etc. I am in a 'Holy day'. The waste products were smooth and no smell at all. Eyes were getting more clear and less reddidh. The total energy was kept inside and a small part is used for the survival. I touched my self. I reacted less. I just relaxed. And I found I am sweet and I fallen in love with me. A great feeling which I never in my life experienced. The body, senses, mind, breath all were in

The next day onwards for the consecutive 5 days I had sne-

51

Destination/Outbound the food is one if the main pillar in the life. And if it is not pleasing you can get anger. You show your reality during that time. But if the food is good for you not pleasing, you accept it. This was our situation now. We just accepted it. In our normal life we only searched for pleasures not the things what were good for us.

Nityam hitahara vihara sevi Sameekshyakari vishayeshu asakta datapara satpara kshamavan aptopasevi cha bhavatyaroga.

Today is my 4 th day of snehapana.

60 ml and my rice soup. The rain is almost getting away and the Sun is gazing. Today is also the 29 th of Karkatakam- cancer month according to moon calender and 14th of August. Tomorrow is the indepandance day of India. Another holiday for remembering the 68th birthday of independant India.

Early morning around 7 AM , Mohanettan, Basheer, Mani, Saju , dr.

Gopil, Dino and all other therapists and workers decorated the front portion of Ayurveda mana with indepandence flag and flowers. Prime Minister Mr. narendra Modi, the first RSS prime minister of India is now hosting the flag at Red fort Delhi and giving a speech just from his heart.

calm. I was thinking that the ghee or medicated ghee is having such an influvence on my body-mind machine? Yes. Brahma arpanam brhama havir.

Havis is Brahma. An end product of every food is fat which is stored and break down when you need energy. An immovable and movable properties like Shiva and Sakti. Purusha and Prakruti. So

52

the havis is really brahman, purusha, Atma , the pure conciousness and it movement or breakdown is Sakti or prakrti. So this snehapana was like a ritual with ghee inside my jadhara agni!

Everytime when I reach the resturent the rice soup can make you angry, but me and Iris laughed always since she is also having snehapana. Even we discussed that

Here in Ayurveda Mana on this occasion I got a previlage to host the flag. After Vande Mataram with respect and devotion hosted the flag infront of this small group of Ayurveda Mana team.

I was just quoting the sentances from Jawaharlal Nehru, the first speech after independance.

Freedom and Power makes a lot of responsibility. The responsiblity is to see and act against poverty, ignorance and diseases. Apart from religion, cast colours , politics we all should work together March 2016

Travelogue to fullfill the dreams of our bappuji- gandhiji. A new genaration means who works hard till we see and wipe of the tears of others.

We should remember at this time our big leader gandhiji for attaing this freedom, freedom for action. freedom for responsibilty.

We should be proud to be an indian in so many ways. As a new generation, I can say that India is exporting software to 60 countries. The next one is the the health science what we should proud of and propagate and that is Ayurveda.

The national flag has a meaning according to Dr. S.Radhakrishnan who was the first vice president and second president of Bharat.

"The saffron color denotes renunciation or disinterestedness.

Our leaders must be indifferent to material gains and dedicate themselves to their work.

The white in the center is light, the path of truth to guide our conduct.

The green shows our relation to (the) soil, our relation to the plant life here, on which all other life depends.

The "Ashoka Chakra" in the centre of the white is the wheel of the law of dharma. Truth or satya, dharma or virtue ought to be the controlling principle of those who work under this flag.

are over. And this week is with snehavasthi and Kashaya vasthi.

The last part of Panchakarma for balance and establishment of Apana Vata. Sneha vasthi is not a big issue for me. But for Kashaya vasthi, I have little bit of fear. It is also called Niruha vasthi means you cannot judge the positive or negative aspects of it. It is a mixture of different herbal cocktail.

Honey, rock salt, dill seeds, Dhanwantharam mezhupakam oil and Ricinus root decoction.

While Mohanettan and Basheer is doing Abhyanga, Dino is sitting on the floor and preparing my cocktail. He is mixing the contents one by one in a steel vessel with wooden rod. The mixing is also in the clock wise direction which is essential for the energy. I was expecting that they will sing a dhanwanthari mantra for the energization like in the ancient times.

After the abhyanga, I was sitting in the swedana box for 5 minutes.

They massaged me again with a bottle of Hot water. That was really nice. The deep pressure with hot water bottle helped me to open my all channels before the Kashaya vasthi. Around 300 ml was introduced today into my

colon. Other than expected, I was not having any problems after the introduction of Kashaya Vasthi.

Within 10 minutes I went to toilet to put out my Ama. Mohanettan came again into the bathroom and washed me again like a baby.

So today I had no chai, no breakfast, only Kashaya vasthi but on the other end of my body. After the shower they have given me diluted cow milk.

I was not so tired. I had a lot of enthusiasm to talk and euphoria to show. The lunch was again rice soup. But this time the kanji is with milk and little bit raw sugar. Pal kanji in malayalam. No sour salty amla. Only chutta pappadam!

Iris and me sit together and enjoyed the lunch. No complain no wishes. Just we ate what we got.

After lunch I had again the sneha vasti. The kashaya vasthi dries up you little bit. But the snehavast lubricates you. Slowly after the snehavasthi I was tired and slept for one hour in my bed. It is only to take rest according Dr. Smart Shalini, but I could not control my Vega- the urge to sleep.

Evening was quite normal. The

The wheel denotes motion. There is death in stagnation. There is life in movement. India should no more resist change, it must move and go forward. The wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change."

I will conclude my speech with Gandhis words. If you want to change the world first change yourself.

People clapped. We got boiled banana with honey, raisins and cashews as sweet.

The days are running. 2 weeks March 2016

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Travelogue bite of mosquitoes, the sallaki fumigation repeated.

Dinner was served at 7 pm and the rice Vasthi curry a special dish prepared with cucumber and beans.

Sour salty amla, chutta pappadam. Irena and me looked at each other. For us it was like a feast. So many days of snehapana, we only had rice soup and now? Wow. We have no word to talk. We just concentrated on the food and ate completely without uttering a word. In really we wanted to cry after the food. Sometimes the small pleasures after a long time will be the biggest presents in the world. We told at last we are satt, a word in German which means really satisfied.

Today is my second Kashaya Vasthi. Dr. Gopil increased the cocktail dose to 500 ml.

Abhyanga, swedana box and vasthi preparation, warming up my stomach etc were done as usual. After that the Vasthi fluid came into my bowels. Dr. Gopil introduced the warm cocktail not so fast and not so slow. I just opened my mouth and breathe slowly so that the fluid can enter without any pressure. Even it was 500 ml; I just felt not so difficult to hold for some minutes. Slowly I evacuated the fluids and my Ama. But the tendency of evacuation is different than yesterday.

I felt little bit dizzy. Dr. Gopil and Mohanettan were knocking and asking me that everything is OK? I replied that everything is OK. After my most of the bowels are empty, Mohanettan came and washed me. I become again a baby. Just behaved like a baby without struggle and enjoyed the warm shower. Today I was not able to go to the restaurant since I was dizzy and speechless.

So I drank the milk water in front of the treatment room. My mind

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was so subtle and alert and young.

As usual I would like to talk and enjoy this day. But the body was so tired and not ready for what the mind insists. I have seen a clear separation and difference of opinion for a particular time about mind and body. Dr. Gopil accompanied with me to the room and catch my hand until I reached my bed.

Slowly I slept for a while.

From the mouth up to anus is a long highway which we call Koshta or Gastro intestinal tract. If any blockages / endogenous or exogenous toxins are there in this highway the body try to expel this either though mouth or anus. This is what we say vomiting or diarrhea. When you induce this with different herbal combinations or slightly toxic plants combinations the body does the same procedure which ayurveda tells Vamana or Virechana. If you want to expel through anus then it is Vasthi. A wonderful, systematic, plant based, not too much or not too less cleaning procedure. Panchakara.

Depends on the area of toxins where it lodged in the body they also do cranial cavity cleaning or sirovireka with introducing the herbal compounds through nose- nasya. May be the toxins are in blood through bloodletting, Rakta Moksha.

I found this is very interesting procedure. You just clean the high way with proper cleaning plants in oil or powder or ghee forms which are suitable for each toxins or extra accumulation. You really no need to know each name of the toxins as the triglycerides, cholesterol, albumin, glucose, thyroid hormone, enzymes etc. you just clean it. If the toxins are not in the highway it is in the inside parts or tissues of the body, in Ayurveda it is called Dhathus, you just mobilize it with oil or powder application and different kinds of passive body movements which is known as Abhyanga and the sweating along with this abhyanga known as swedana.

With this procedure there can be a backward movement of the toxins from the tissues to the GIT and they do the induced cleaning. Any procedure on the body along with proper food and calmness affects the mind and the toxins from the mind are also expelled. The word ama or Mala is also interesting which are the excess waste products what we are carrying every day which are responsible for various kinds of Malady or Malatya in Italian. And there can be a malfunction of our organs. In Italy the waste product carrying vehicle is called AMA. And if the there is an industry nearby which pollutes the March 2016

Travelogue air, they will write Mala.

I feel now like a cleansed body with all these subtle action of the normal cleaning therapy, Panchakarma. Along with rice soup, milk like simple food items my complete system is again like a baby.

The breath, the sweat and other waste products are odor free. I am not able to take any kind of spices, meat, alcohol etc. even that thoughts makes me irritating. How long I do not know. But presently I am so sensitive. Now to continue this body to keep it clean inside and outside is the duty of my mind.

The last 2 days followed By Kashaya vasthi were again snehavasthi.

Just after the lunch to nourish my body from up and down. My joint pains are almost Nil. Today I went to the Guruvayoor temple with Saju, Dr.Gopil and Dr.Shalini. We reached at 8.45 in the evening and the elephants were ready for seeveli (Procession carrying idol on top of elepahnt).

Lord Krishna is carried on one of

the elephant and done a procession. The temple owns quite a lot of elephants and many are offerings from the devotees to their dear God as Guruvayurappan who is believed to be a lover of elephants . There are Seevelis both in the morning and late in the night just before the temple closes. I was fortunate enough to witness the Seeveli in the evening and there were four elephants for the procession. The procession was with colorful parasols, aalavatom , venchamaram and panchavadayam ( percussion instruments).

I was lighting the oil lamps around the temple with Saju and others.

May be around 5000 oil lamps were situated in the four sides of the temple. So many devotes were lighting the lamp during the time of procession. I was in a particular mood with the internal exernal purification which happened by the panchakarma and a mental purification by these rituals. My internal and external agni were just like this temple, shining without

any fumes. In one way temple represents the body and the Agni was the power of Action.

Before going to rest Lord Krishna wants to go for a walk with lighted temple luxurious colors and music on an elephant. After seeveli we also came back to Ayurveda mana and went to bed.

I am totally convinced about this panchakarma treatments. The physical, mental and philosophical and spiritual components what I learn during my stay at Ayurveda mana.

Thanks to the doctors Thanks to the therapists Thanks to the kitchen staff Thanks to the cleaners Tanks to the manager and receptionist.

Thanks to the pharmacists.

And thanks to Guruvayoorappan.

I dedicate this small story to Lord Krishna- the yogi who shows the way that how to lead a good way of LIFE. Dr. Jeevan E.P. (Ayurveda Physician)