TOURISM INDIA APRIL 2017 by TOURISM INDIA

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Global Tourism and India

pain once again emerged as the undisputed leader of Global Travel and Tourism sector and France and Germany maundered their second and third position in World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017. The real surprise from the results in this prestigious and most authentic report in Global Tourism industry is the emergence of Asia countries to top spots. The report clearly predicts that at last, the Asian Tourism Century has arrived as Japan, China, South Korea and India Boost Region’s Tourism-Friendliness. India now ranked 40th position by improving 12 slots from previous rankings. The report ranks 136 countries across 14 separate dimensions, revealing how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector. The ranking highlights the world -class natural and cultural resources, outstanding infrastructure and hospitality services of the global leaders. Traditional strong travel and tourism destinations, including Japan (fourth), the United Kingdom (fifth), the United States (sixth, down two places), Australia (seventh), Italy (eighth), Canada (ninth) and Switzerland (10th), have also made it in the top 10. Switzerland, however, made a steep fall from sixth to 10th place, while Japan (fourth, up five) gained most places. The four key findings emerge from the results of the 2017; First, T&T competitiveness is improving, especially in developing countries and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. As the industry continues to grow, an increasing share of international visitors are coming from and travel to emerging and developing nations. Second, in an increasingly protectionist context—one that is hindering global trade—the T&T industry continues building bridges rather than walls between people, as made apparent by increasing numbers of people travelling across borders and global trends toward adopting less restrictive visa policies. Third, in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, connectivity has increasingly become a must-have for countries as they develop their digital strategy. Finally, despite the growing awareness of the importance of the natural environment to tourism growth, the T&T sector faces enormous difficulties in developing sustainably, as natural degradation proceeds on a number of fronts. The tourism sector in the country has been on a growth trajectory in recent years. India’s ranking in the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TTCI) moved from 65rd position to 52nd position in 2015. Now India has moved up by another 12 positions and ranked at 40th position. In the last three years India has cumulatively improved its ranking by 25 places which is a significant achievement. The primary reasons for India’s jump in the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index 2017 should be attributed to the pro-active steps taken by our Governments with the support of Travel and Tourism industry in India, in terms of development of tourism infrastructure, easing of entry formalities for tourists by introducing the e-visa facilities in November 2014 and aggressive marketing initiatives. If we can continue this growth trajectory, then our future will be bright as usual. Athithi Devo Bhava!. Ravisankar K.V. Tourism India | April 2017 | 5

April 2017 Vol No. 19 No. 12 Price: India ` 75 US$ 4.99 ÂŁ 2.99 Managing Editor Ravisankar.K.V Executive Editor Rajani A Consulting Editor Biju Thomas Art Editor N Bhattathiri Management Executive Divya Consultants Adv. C.P. Udhayabhanu ( Legal) Baby Mathew ( Hospitality) Dr. S.G. Pandalai ( Editorial) Asokan CV ( Production) Bhadrakumar FCA( Financial) Ravi D FCA (Financial) KrishnaPrasad ( Company Affairs) Business & Editorial Associates T. Haridas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; London, UK Thomas Kannenkeril- Berlin- Germany Santhosh Joseph- Australia New Delhi: D Anilkumar, Mob: +91 9868123311 Kolkata: Jayasree Singh, Mob: +91 94330 60333 Pondicherry: Ramasubramanian, Mob: +91 98949 77161

8 Global Tourism ranking Spain, France & Germany in top position

Editorial and corporate office: SEKT 52, Tourism house,Thamarakulam lane, Sasthamangalam P.O Trivandrum, Kerala, India - 695010 Tel: +91 471 2315256 Fax: +91 471 2315197 info@tourismindiaonline.com www.tourismindiaonline.com Editorial: editor@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9847060531 Circulation: circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 99471 60531 Marketing: email: marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9947260531 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Tourism India Publications Pvt. Ltd. All right reserved. Copyright@2017 Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar.K.V on behalf of Tourism India Publications Pvt. Ltd, SEKT 52, Tourism house,Thamarakulam lane, Sasthamangalam P.O Trivandrum, Kerala, India - 695010 Printed at Chakkala Printers, Trivandrum for Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695 010 Editor: Ravisankar.K.V

6 | Tourism India | April 2017

Development of Coastal Areas under Swadesh Darshan

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Cover photograph T Narayanan

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Sangla Valley Switzerland of India

India's Alcohol sale Ban Harms Tourism supports Tourism 1 in 10 jobs

Rameswaram The Divine Destination

Tourism India | April 2017 | 7

India improved its position to reaches 40th up 12 ranks

he Asian Tourism Century is Arriving as Japan, China, South Korea and India Boost Region’s Tourism-Friendliness Asia has most improved its tourism-friendliness of all regions, the 2017 World Economic Forum’s global Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index reveals Japan (fourth, up five places), China (15th, up two) and India (40th, up 12) are Asia’s exponents in the global index led by Spain, France and Germany; the United States (sixth, down two places) and Switzerland (10th, down four) fall back • The travel and tourism sector in many countries around the world remains a bright spot in economic and job growth, but technological and sustainability challenges are growing Spain, France and Germany continue to top the travel and tourism rankings in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017, released recently, but Asia steals the show as the region’s largest economies show the greatest rise in tourism-friendliness. The 8 | Tourism India | April 2017

report ranks 136 countries across 14 separate dimensions, revealing how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector. Apart from the ranking, the report also shows how the industry is a force for good in an otherwise largely stagnant global economy. The global travel and tourism sector accounts for 10% of global GDP, grows faster than other sectors and provides one in 10 jobs. Underpinning this growth is the increasing accessibility and affordability of travel, although environmental challenges remain and many countries underperform in making technological strides. The top three in the ranking – Spain, France and Germany – have secured their position thanks to world-class natural and cultural resources, outstanding infrastructure and

The Asian Tourism Century is Arriving as Japan, China, South Korea and India Boost Region’s Tourism-Friendliness Asia has most improved its tourism-friendliness of all regions, the 2017 World Economic Forum’s global Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index reveals Japan (fourth, up five places), China (15th, up two) and India (40th, up 12) are Asia’s exponents in the global index led by Spain, France and Germany; the United States (sixth, down two places) and Switzerland (10th, down four) fall back • The travel and tourism sector in many countries around the world remains a bright spot in economic and job growth, but technological and sustainability challenges are growing Spain, France and Germany continue to top the travel and tourism rankings in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017, released recently, but Asia steals the show as the region’s largest economies show the greatest rise in tourism-friendliness. The report ranks 136 countries across 14 separate dimensions, revealing how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector. Apart from the ranking, the

report also shows how the industry is a force for good in an otherwise largely stagnant global economy. The global travel and tourism sector accounts for 10% of global GDP, grows faster than other sectors and provides one in 10 jobs. Underpinning this growth is the increasing accessibility and affordability of travel, although environmental challenges remain and many countries underperform in making technological strides. The top three in the ranking – Spain, France and Germany – have secured their position thanks to world-class natural and cultural resources, outstanding infrastructure and hospitality services. Traditional strong travel and tourism destinations, including Japan (fourth), the United Kingdom (fifth), the United States (sixth, down two places), Australia (seventh), Italy (eighth), Canada (ninth) and Switzerland (10th), have also made it in the top 10. Switzerland, however, made a steep fall from sixth to 10th place, while Japan (fourth, up five) gained most places. While advanced economies still hold the top spots in the ranking, 12 of the top 15 most improved countries are emerging markets, with Asia’s as exponents. Asia’s largest

markets are not only becoming larger source markets but also more attractive destinations. Almost all of the region’s countries improved their ranking. Except for Japan, Hong Kong (11th, up two), China (15th, up two), Republic of Korea (19th, up 10) and Malaysia (26th) also made it to the top 30, while India made the largest leap in the top 50 (up 12 places) to land in 40th place. “The rise of Asia’s giants shows that the Asian Tourism Century is becoming a reality,” said Tiffany Misrahi, Community Lead of the Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industries, World Economic Forum. “To reach their potential, the majority of countries still have more to do, from enhancing security, promoting their cultural heritage, building their infrastructure and creating stronger visa policies.” The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 finds that the increasingly protectionist global context, one that is hindering global trade, is not holding back international travel. Travel and tourism’s resilience is clear as the industry continues to build bridges between people and stronger visa policies are being developed to enhance security

while facilitating travel. In light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, evidence suggests that, connectivity has increasingly become a must -have for countries as they develop their digital strategy. “The increasing importance of demand from emerging markets and technology are changing the travel and tourism sector’s landscape at a fast rate,” said Roberto Crotti, Economist, World Economic Forum. “The capacity of countries to respond to and embrace these structural shifts will determine the future success of destinations.” The report contains detailed country profiles for the 136 economies featured in the study, including a comprehensive summary of their overall positions in the index and a guide to the most prominent travel and tourism competitive advantages and disadvantages of each. Also included is an extensive section of data tables that cover each indicator used in the index’s computation. The World Economic Forum produced the report in collaboration with our data partners Bloom Consulting, Deloitte, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the UNWTO and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Tourism India | April 2017 | 9

r. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism & Culture shared the news about the improvement in ranking of India in the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TTCI) of World Economic Forum released on 5th April 2017. India has moved 12 places up in this ranking from 52nd to 40th position. He acknowledged the vision, guidance and support of Prime Minister for the tourism sector of the country that is the driving force and motivation for all of us to continuously work for the growth of Tourism in India. The tourism sector in the country has been on a growth trajectory since the present government came into power in May, 2014. India’s ranking in

the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TTCI) of World Economic Forum moved from 65rd position to 52nd position in 2015. Now India has moved up by another 12 positions and ranked at 40th position. In all, in last three years India has cumulatively improved its ranking by 25 places which is a significant

10 | Tourism India | April 2017

achievement. India continues to charm international tourists with its vast cultural and natural resources with a ranking of 9th and 24th respectively which are the USP’s of Indian Tourism product. In terms of price competitiveness advantage, we are ranked 10th. India continues to enrich its cultural resources, protecting more cultural sites and intangible expressions through UNESCO World Heritage lists, and via a greater digital presence. In terms of International openness, India is ranked 55th, up by 14 places. This has been possible through stronger visa policies. Implementing both visas on arrival and e-visas, has

enabled India to rise through the ranks. The T&T sector benefited from improvements in the country's ground transport infrastructure, which has traditionally been a challenge (29th). India is taking small but important steps in the right direction. The Indian T&T sector presents significant opportunities that are yet to

be reaped. The World Economic Forum has, for the past 11 years, engaged leaders in travel and tourism to carry out an in-depth analysis of the Travel and Tourism competitiveness of 136 economies across the world. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index measures “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the travel and tourism sector, which in turn, contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country”. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index enables all stakeholders to work together to improve the industry’s competitiveness in their national economies. At a macro level, the primary reasons for India’s jump in the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index 2017 should be attributed to the pro-active steps taken by our Government in terms of development of tourism infrastructure, easing of entry formalities for tourists by introducing the e-visa

facilities in November 2014. Some of the key achievements of the Ministry of Tourism in the last 3 years are as follows:4Two new schemes for development of tourism infrastructure in the country with a holistic coverage of an entire circuit instead of individual tourist spots. PRASAD Scheme is targeted towards the development of tourism

infrastructure in and around famous religious and pilgrimage cities. The Swadesh Darshan Scheme aims at the development of a complete circuit on a specific theme. 456 projects covering 29 States /UT’s worth Rs. 4,823.91 crores have been sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme since its launch on 1st January 2015. 13 thematic circuits have been identified under which projects are sanctioned. 418 projects worth Rs. 488.45 crores have been sanctioned under the PRASAD Scheme since its launch on 1st January 2015. 25 religious cities have been identified under the scheme for development. 4Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) which were 6.97 million tourists in 2013, increased to 7.68 million in 2014, 8.03 million in 2015 and 8.89 million in 2016. FTA has grown with a CAGR of 8.45% against the international growth rate of 4 - 5%. 4FTA registered a growth of 16.5% in January 2017 compared to January 2016. FTAs during the period January- February 2017 were 19.40 lakh with a growth of 14.7%, as compared to the FTAs of 16.91 over January -February 2016. 4Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) which were US$18.45 billion tourists in 2013, increased constantly, to

US$20.24 billion in 2014, US$21.07 billion in 2015 and US$23.15 billion in 2016. FEE has grown with a CAGR of 7.86% against a contraction of 5% in international tourism receipts. FTA has registered a growth of 16.3% in January 2017 when compared to January 2016. 4The e-Tourist Visa was introduced in September 2014 for 46 countries. This facility is now called e-Visa. It is now available for nationals of 161 countries and allows visits for business and medical treatment. The process of obtaining the e-Tourist Visa has been simplified significantly by addressing issues like more than one entry and longer lead period for applying for e-Visa.10,79,696 tourists visited India on the e-Tourist Visa in 2016. 4Incredible India Tourist Helpline was launched on 8th February 2016. The helpline provides assistance and information to tourists in 12 major languages of the world including Hindi & English. The helpline is available 24x7 and can be accessed on the Toll-free Number 1800- 11-1363 or on a short code 1363. The languages covered are Hindi, English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. 4The Ministry of Tourism has launched a ‘Welcome Card’

for distribution at immigration counters to tourists arriving at international airports. From 15th February 2017 the Ministry has introduced free SIM Cards with pre -loaded talktime and data to all tourists arriving in India on the e-Tourist Visa. 4The Indian Culinary Institute (ICI) at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh was set up and commenced its academic session with the 3-year regular B.Sc. course (Culinary Arts) from August 2016. 4The Ministry of Tourism created a task force for Cruise Tourism on 24th November 2015 to formulate a common Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for promotion of Cruise Tourism in India. 4The Ministry of Tourism set up a Medical and Wellness Tourism Promotion Board on 5th October 2015 for the promotion of Medical and Wellness tourism in India.

Tourism India | April 2017 | 11

or Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has launched Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15. Under the scheme, thirteen thematic circuits have been identified for development including Coastal Circuit. The State/UT-wise details of the projects sanctioned under the Coastal circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan 12 | Tourism India | April 2017

Scheme including Andhra Pradesh is as under: For Andhra Pradesh two projects are in line (a) Development of Coastal Circuit: Kakinada Beach FrontHope Island- Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary- Vodalarevu- AdurruSyanam- Chirra YanamKotipally (2014-15) (69.83Cr ) and Development of Coastal Circuit: Pulicat LakeUbbalamadugu Water FallsNelapattu Bird Sanctuary-

Nellore Tank/Lake- Kotha Koduru Beach- Mypadu BeachRamatheertham Temple & Beach- Iskapally Beach- in Sri Potti Sriramalu Nellore under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Andhra Pradesh. (2015-16) (60.38 Cr.). In Pondicherry Development of Union Territory of Puducherry as Tourist Circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. (2015-16) (85.28Cr,) and in West Bengal

Development of Beach Circuit – Udaipur - Digha – Shankarpur – Tajpur – Mandarmani – Fraserganj – Bakkhlai -Henry Island in West Bengal. (201516) (85.39 Cr,) .In Maharashtra Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit in Maharashtra under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. (2015-16) (82.17 Cr.) and Development of Coastal Circuit (Sinquerim-Baga, Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort and Aguada Jail) in Goa. (2016-17) (99.99Cr) are the sanctioned projects.

In Karnataka, Development of Coastal Circuit in Dakshin Kannada Dist, Uttar Kannada Dist & Udupi Dist in Karnataka. (2016-17) (95.67 cr.) and Development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara as Coastal circuit in Odisha. (2016-17) 76.49Cr.). Development of Coastal Circuit (Long Island-Ross Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair ) in Andaman & Nicobar under Coastal thematic circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

(2016-17) (42.19Cr,). Tamil Nadu Development of Coastal Circuit (ChennaiMamamallapuram – Rameshwaram – Manpadu – Kanyakumari) in Tamil Nadu under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. (2016-17) (99.92Cr.) The work under these projects is going on. Tourism India | April 2017 | 13

Travel & Tourism generated 1 in 10 of the world’s jobs in 2016 as the sector grew by 3.3%, outpacing the global economy for the sixth year in a row, reads a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

ccording to the research conducted by WTTC’ in conjunction with Oxford Economics in the economic impact of Travel & Tourism impact on global level, for 25 regions, and 185 countries. Travel & Tourism grew by 3.3% in 2016. Through generating US$7.6 trillion worldwide, which is 10.2% of global GDP when the direct, indirect and induced impacts are taken into account. The sector supported a total of 292 million jobs in 2016, which is 1 in 10 of all jobs in the world. Additionally, global visitor exports, which is money spent by foreign visitors, accounted for 6.6% of total world exports, and almost 30% of total world services exports. Mr. David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “This is the sixth year in a row that Travel & Tourism has outpaced the global economy, showing the sector’s resilience, and the eagerness of people to continue to travel and discover new places, despite economic

14 | Tourism India | April 2017

and political challenges across the world. The continuous growth of our sector underlines the significance of business and leisure travel in driving economic development and job creation throughout the world.” Southeast Asia (8.3%) was the region with the fastest growing Travel & Tourism sector in 2016, driven by the expanding Chinese outbound market and the countries own growing markets. Latin America (0.2%) was the slowest growing region. Some countries performed well above the world average, but the Brazilian economy dragged down the whole region. The other regions registered the following growth: South Asia (7.9%), North East Asia (4.6%), Oceania (4.4%), the Caribbean (3.2%), North America (3.1%), the Middle East (2.7%), Sub -Saharan Africa (2.4%) and Europe (1.6%). Travel & Tourism is expected to grow by 3.8% in 2017, generating US$ 7.9

trillion. This growth is slower than previously forecast, as a result of a downgrade to the global economy and a dampening of consumer spending. Scowsill continued “The future prospects for Travel & Tourism are good, but the sector continues to face challenges. The impact of terrorism and the rise of populism pose a severe risk to the ability of people to travel efficiently and securely. The sector itself needs urgently to address the impact of growth on destinations and its own contribution to climate change if it is to be sustainable in the long term. The UN’s 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is a perfect opportunity to explore solutions together. We look forward to welcoming delegates at our upcoming Global Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, 26-27 April where these challenges will be addressed.” Over the next decade the sector is forecast to grow at an average of 3.9% per year. By 2027 it will generate more than 11% of the world’s GDP and employ a total of 380 million people. One quarter of all jobs created in the next decade will be supported by Travel & Tourism

he UK Travel & Tourism sector is expected to hold up in 2017, despite continued uncertainty due to Brexit, reduced consumer spending power, and the weaker pound, says new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Report 2017. With the fall in value of the pound after the Brexit vote, visitor exports, which is money spent by foreign visitors in a country, is forecast to grow by 6.2% this year, as we see the impact of the UK having become a cheaper destination for overseas visitors. In 2016, business and leisure travel’s total contribution to the UK economy rose by 2.6% to £209 billion or 10.8% of GDP. The sector supported over 4 million jobs, which is 11.9% of the country’s total employment, according to the research. The economic impact of the Brexit vote is expected to have diverging implications for domestic and international business and leisure travel spending in 2017. Whilst the spending of international visitors is expected to increase, domestic and outbound spend in the UK will suffer.

Due to higher inflation and weakened consumer spending prospects, the domestic spending outlook for 2017 has been downgraded from 3.2% to 2.6%. Furthermore outbound expenditure is forecast to decrease significantly in 2017 (-4.2%), as the drop in value of the pound will continue to impact UK citizens’ spending power and their propensity to holiday abroad. Brexit advice Mr.David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “There is still widespread uncertainty on the exact impact Brexit will have on the Travel & Tourism sector. While we generally expect business to hold up, we call on the UK government to focus on four key issues, so that this sector can continue to create jobs and to boost the country’s economy”: MOBILITY OF LABOUR: The sector is highly dependent on foreign workers, especially

from the EU and its ability to continue to employ workers from around the world is critical. WTTC urge the government to take into account the specific needs of the industry for labour mobility. VISAS: Since the clear evidence that visas are a barrier to travel, and current infrastructure could not cope with the processing and issuing of visas for travellers between the UK and Europe. WTTC urge the government to protect visa free travel. OPEN SKIES: The advent of the European Single Aviation Market had an immediate and far reaching impact on air access between the UK and Europe, opening up a plethora of new routes and driving ticket prices down. WTTC urge the government to remain part of the European Single Aviation Market. BORDER SYSTEMS: Entry and exit systems at airports and ports need take into account the increasing numbers of travellers moving. WTTC urge the government to invest in processes, systems and infrastructure to meet the demand.

Tourism India | April 2017 | 15

Outbound travel to take the hit, domestic travel slowing down

India’s Travel & Tourism sector ranks 7th in the world in terms of its total contribution to the country’s GDP, shows a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

ravel & Tourism generated INR14.1 trillion (USD208.9 billion) in 2016, which is the world’s 7th largest in terms of absolute size, the sum is equivalent to 9.6% of India’s GDP. Additionally, the sector supported 40.3 million jobs in 2016, which ranks India 2nd in the world in terms of total employment supported by Travel & Tourism. The sector accounts for 9.3% of the 16 | Tourism India | April 2017

country’s total jobs. India’s Travel & Tourism sector was also the fastest growing amongst the G20 countries, growing by 8.5% in 2016. A further 6.7% growth is forecast for 2017. India’s strong Travel & Tourism figures are predominantly generated by domestic travel, which accounts for 88% of the sector’s contribution to GDP in 2016.

Visitor exports, money spent by foreign travellers in India, only represents 12% of tourism revenues and in 2016 totalled INR1.5 trillion (USD22.8bn). This is 5.4% of the country’s total exports, compared to a global average of 6.6%. Data from the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) shows that India received only 9 million international arrivals in 2016, placing it 40th in the world, and a tenth of those received by top-ranking France. Mr.David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “India is a tremendous Travel & Tourism economy and I am pleased to see the sector GDP is growing. However, we believe that these numbers could be even higher, and that the positive impact of our sector could be more wide-ranging. India has a huge potential to increase its international visitors and, in doing so, it can create more jobs and drive economic growth. We encourage the Indian government to continue to adopt policies that encourage travellers, such as the new visa regime, enable investment in vital infrastructure, and allow companies to do business. India is a beautiful and diverse tourism destination, with the right policies in place it will no doubt continue to grow towards ranking even higher in terms of its tourism economy.” However, there is a lot of potential for India to grow their visitor exports. Over the past few months India has already starting to address this gap and made significant changes to visa facilitation, which will help to boost international arrivals. WTTC data suggests that visitor exports will grow by 5.4% in 2017.

he World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) urges the Indian government to co -ordinate a countrywide response to the Supreme Court ruling, which has banned the sale of alcohol within close proximity of highways in the country. The unintended consequences of this ban are that it will have a significantly negative effect on hotels and restaurants in this zone, and will curtail future job creating investment in the industry. On 1 April 2017, the Indian Supreme Court passed a ruling which bans the sale of alcohol within 500 metres from a national or state highway, which will have a serious impact on businesses in the Travel & Tourism industry. Mr. David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “While we acknowledge the importance of implementing policies that address the abuse of alcohol when driving, we call on the Indian Government to reverse or amend the current ruling. I do not believe that this ban was aimed at the travel industry. It is an unbalanced approach that will have negative consequences for the country’s economy, as business and leisure customers cancel their bookings in those

establishments affected. The impact of the ban on drunk driving is impossible to measure, as businesses beyond the stipulated 500 meters will still be allowed to sell alcohol. Businesses within the proposed banned distance, including many hotels, restaurants and bars that serve tourists, will lose customers and revenue. This not only means less income but also means that many people will lose their jobs as a direct result.” Scowsill continued: “Travel & Tourism is an extremely important income stream within the country, the sector contributed INR14.1 trillion

(USD208.9 billion) or 9.6% of India’s GDP in 2016 and supported over 40.3 million jobs, which is 9.3% of total employment in the country. India’s Travel & Tourism sector is forecast to be the third fastest growing in terms of total GDP over the next decade. However, this will only be achieved if the government continues to recognise the importance of business and leisure travel in the country. Blurb: The liquor will have a significantly negative effect on hotels and restaurants in this zone, and will curtail future job creating investment in the industry.

Tourism India | April 2017 | 17

The Rickshaw Run offers a great way to break up a trip and a novel method of traversing one of the most culturally and

he Adventurists are at it again, romping around the world in true swashbuckling style with the latest edition of their series of unprecedented and unpredictable adventures. The launch of the Rickshaw Run on April 2nd sees Eighty six teams will thunder along the Indian subcontinent from Jaisalmer to Cochin with two

18 | Tourism India | April 2017

weeks to make it. Their prize is inclusion into a noble and eclectic group - the Rickshaw Run Veterans. Starting in the Rajasthani desert and driving south to the tropics of Kerala, this adventure pits people from around the world against the

wild landscape of India - all in the most illogical vehicle possible, the auto-rickshaw. The finish-line party will be held on April 15th 2017, falling conveniently around the Easter holiday period for those outside of India. In essence, the humble rickshaw is not a very good idea. It's not very fast, it smells, it falls over when you go round corners and it breaks downs more often than an emo teenager; but somehow all this makes them better. With the Arabian Sea to your right and the Western Ghats to your left, the only route is the one that gets you from the start to the finish and anything else in-between. The entrance fee to the adventure not only includes

full use of the tuk-tuk, but also three days of test driving, a day of vehicle maintenance and repair, a snazzy pimp job, and some chunky emergency insurance in case you’ve had wax in your ears during those few days. The Adventurists know how to throw a decent shindig too, so each end of the adventure is capped with a cricket match against a local team plus a ginormous blowout with all the other teams. Teams are comprised of up to three people meaning the adventure could cost just under £550 per person to enter. Teams are also required to raise a minimum of £500 for The Adventurists’ partner charity Cool Earth, along with £500 for a charity of their choice. So far the Rickshaw Run has raised nearly £2,000,000 for charities across the globe.

he number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India on Medical Visa in the past three years is 75,688 (2014), 1,34,344 (2015), 2,01,333 (2016) In order to simplify and speed up the procedure of obtaining Visa for tourists coming to India for medical purposes, the Government of India has extended the facility of e-Medical Visa. Other measures taken by the Government to facilitate the tourists coming through e- Medical Visa are as below: Extension of duration of stay for upto 6 months may be granted on case to case basis on merits of each case by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)/ Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned. Triple entry will be permitted as against single entry earlier. In case of emergency, if Medical Visa is recommended by an accredited hospital in India, Indian Missions/ Posts abroad should decide on such request within 48 hours of getting the application.

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From Mumbai to Madurai and Bagdogra

ew, non-stop flights offers Also starts multiple connections to/ Jaipur and from the SAARC/Gulf/ Europe/ Chandigarh Domestic India via Mumbai route Stronger domestic network to provide greater choice to guests by connecting Emerging and Metro cities Jet Airways has launched a three new daily direct flight from Mumbai to Maduari and Bagdogra along with direct daily flight between Jaipur and Chandigarh, further expanding its connectivity across southern, western and eastern India. Jet Airways also became the first airline to connect the country’s financial capital to Madurai and with a non-stop flight. Ahead of the launch of its inaugural service from Madurai Airport, Jet Airways lit a

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symbolic lamp to mark the occasion wherein key guests and dignitaries from the industry, including Mr. N. Jagatheesan, President, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Madurai; Mr Arun Tiwari, Chairman & Managing Director, Union Bank of India, Mr. Paresh Gajjar, Head Administration, Sterlite Copper & Vedanta Ltd., Tuticorin; Mr. Henry Tiphange, Executive Director, M/s People’s Watch; Madurai Airport including Mr. M Naorem Cha, Dy. Commandant, CISF; Mr Dawood, Head- Fire Department, AAI, and the airline, including Mr. V Raja, Vice President Sales, and Mr. U Shenoy, GM Sales, South India participated, along with the airline’s Special guest, Mr. R.

Gopalakrishnan, Member of Parliament from Madurai, who kindly consented to grace the occasion. The airline’s check in counters looked resplendent festooned with colour-coded balloons and floral decorations, including an artistically created ‘Rangoli’, for this auspicious occasion. Mr. Raja and Mr. Shenoy along with the dignitaries handed over boarding passes cto the first Premiere and Economy guests checking in for the flight. The guests were further felicitated with floral presentations by the airline staff. Mr. Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, said “The introduction of this new service is in keeping with the growing popularity amongst our guests, for seamless connectivity between high demand tourist destinations in India and metro cities, such as Mumbai. This underpins our core network strategy of connectivity, choice, convenience and comfort." One of India’s oldest cities situated on the Vaigai River,

Madurai also ranks as one of its holiest for millions of pilgrims and tourists who visit its popular and world famous temples including the renowned Meenakshi Amman Temple, Koodal Azhagar Temple and Pazhamudircholai. In fact, the city’s skyline is dominated by the 14 unique and colorful gopurams (gateway towers) of the Meenakshi Ammam Temple, that lend it a characteristic look and appeal. Renowned for Jasmine flowers, Madurai is also an important industrial and educational hub in the southern part of Tamil Nadu with tremendous potential for air traffic growth. Bagdogra is a major gateway for travellers to eastern India, especially to scenic Himalayan destinations like Darjeeling and Sikkim, accounting for significant amount of tourism-related traffic. Jet Airways is offering special inaugural, all-inclusive fares of INR 19,999 for Premiere travel on the sector, till March 31st, 2017 for travel until September 30th, 2017. The airline will deploy a state-of-the-art Boeing 737800 Next Generation (NG) aircraft on this two route, offering Premiere and Economy guests the best in-flight product and services along with award-winning in-flight Entertainment (IFE), as also meals that are regional favourites. The new flight, 9W 357 departed with a full complement of guests at 1335 hrs. from Madurai, to arrive in Mumbai at 1535 hrs. It continues onwards to Delhi and is therefore especially advantageous for guests intending to travel from Madurai to Delhi. Being a turnaround flight, the flight from Mumbai to Madurai, 9W 336 starts from Delhi at 0800 hrs., departing from Mumbai at

1055 hrs and arriving in Madurai at 1300 hrs. Bagdogra is a major gateway for travellers to eastern India, especially to scenic Himalayan destinations like Darjeeling and Sikkim, accounting for significant amount of tourism-related traffic. Jet Airways is offering special inaugural, all-inclusive fares of INR 19,999 for Premiere travel on the sector,

serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Rajasthan such as Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Mount Abu. Popular attractions include the Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Birla Mandir, Sanganeri Gate and the Jaipur Zoo. Chandigarh – the capital of Punjab and Haryana, is globally

till March 31st, 2017 for travel until September 30th, 2017. The new flight 9W 972 Bagdogra – Mumbai, departed with a full complement of guests at 1335 hrs., Bagdogra Airport, to arrive at Mumbai at 1635 hrs. This is a turnaround flight, where flight 9W 971 departed Mumbai at 1005 hrs and arrived at Bagdogra airport at 1300 hrs. Jaipur – Rajasthan’s capital also known as the ‘Pink city’, is a major tourist hotspot and

identified as an emerging outsourcing and IT services destination. Apart from being an administrative and business hub, the city also has several popular tourist attractions such as Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden and Rose Garden. Jet Airways will deploy an ATR 72 aircraft on Jaipur Chandigarh route, offering guests its famed and award -winning in-flight product and service mix comprising meals that are regional favorites. Tourism India | April 2017 | 21

Guests of Jet Airways, including its growing number of mobile and data savvy, smartphone users, can now enjoy greater choice, added convenience and ease of payment.

irline first in India to offer UPI as a payment mechanism Jet Airways, India’s full service, premiere international airline, announced that its guests can now buy tickets online on its website jetairways.com, mobile site and mobile app by using the industry’s latest payment mechanism - Unified Payments Interface (UPI). With the introduction of this option, Jet Airways becomes the only Indian airline to provide guests with this convenient payment solution. As a revolutionary payment system, UPI allows money to be transferred instantaneously between any two bank accounts instantly, using a smartphone. Launched by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to further RBI’s vision of migrating towards a less-cash and a more digital society, UPI employs standard application programming interfaces (APIs) that provide an interoperable

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system for seamless transfers on top of the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) platform. UPI becomes Jet Airways’ 21st digital payment option to be offered to guests and represents the airline’s extensive and relentless emphasis towards embracing technology and deploying it first in the form of innovative solutions that provide its guests with superior value and choice. Mr.Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, said “We are continuously exploring ways to embed technology by way of smarter solutions to provide value to the connected traveler. Our latest payment interface - Unified Payments Interface (UPI), backed by leading banks is yet another smart solution that is simple, convenient and secure." Transacting via UPI is extremely easy for guests who must opt for the ‘UPI payment

option’ during the booking process in order to transact via a Virtual Payment Address which acts as their financial address and is linked to their bank accounts. UPI does away with guests having to remember and enter their bank details online to enable transactions and guests only have to remember their M-Pin for facilitating any payment. The integration of UPI as a mode of payment on Jet Airways’ website and app is a bold step that complements the nation’s drive towards a transparent, digitized economy, on the back of over 250m smartphone connections and record breaking consumption of data via the internet. In the recent past, Jet Airways has introduced many innovative customer-centric solutions such as ‘Seat Select', ‘Fare Lock’, ‘JetAdvance’ and ‘Fare Choices’ in its efforts to make travel increasingly convenient for its guests, in line with its philosophy of enhancing its overall value proposition. Jet Airways also introduced ‘JetScreen’ – its WiFi-enabled streaming solution which lets guest’s enjoy in-flight entertainment on their personal devices. In another first, the airline recently partnered with Uber to offer seamless travel solutions from doorstep to

irbus is setting up a greenfield training facility at Aerocity, New Delhi, to support India’s growing need for Airbus aircraft pilots and maintenance engineers. The ground-breaking for the Airbus India Training Centre was performed by Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Minister of Civil Aviation and Mr.Tom Enders, CEO, Airbus in the presence of Mr.Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Civil Aviation,Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that India’s rapidly growing passenger aircraft fleet must be matched by adequate availability of skilled pilots and maintenance engineers. Airbus’ pilot and maintenance engineering training center is the type of facility which will help augment the talent pool of such personnel and thus be a force multiplier for the Indian aviation sector. He also wanted Airbus to think of creating MRO facility in India to take forward the Make in India policy of the Government, as this would create employment opportunity. Mr. Tom Enders, CEO, Airbus said that we have only scratched the surface when it comes to the growth of civil aviation in India. This training centre will be the first such facility fully owned by us in Asia. It is a symbol of our enduring partnership with this country. India is the fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world and is expected to continue to grow at an annualised 9.3% over the next 20 years, outpacing the world

Mr.P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Mr. Tom Enders, CEO, Airbus unveiling the Airbus India Training Centre."

average of 4.6%. The number of trips per capita in India is expected to quadruple by 2035 due to a combination of economic and demographic factors. To cater to this huge demand, Airbus forecasts a requirement for at least 1,600 new passenger and freighter aircraft by 2035. The consequent increase in Indian in-service aircraft fleet will lead to an accompanying need for over 24,000 new pilots and maintenance engineers. The almost 7000 m2 Airbus

India Training Centre will be built in a modular concept in order to become operational by end-2018 with two A320 full flight simulators, increasing to four and potentially to six simulators in due course. It will start with an initial capacity to train over 800 pilots and 200 maintenance engineers annually. The centre will cater primarily to Airbus operators in India and the region. Airbus has more than 250 aircraft in service in India and over 570 are on order by Indian airlines.

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7000 m2 Airbus India Training Centre will be built in a modular concept in order to become operational by end-2018

iving up to the legacy of innovation, The Beer Café has launched India’s first PYOB (Pour Your Own Beer) wall to begin with at Saket and Biggie, CP in Delhi. The PYOB wall provides the beer lover a unique interactive experience which will soon trickle to the length and breadth of the country. One can access PYOB through the mobile app. The “Pour Your Own Beer” is a sight to pause and ponder with digital screens mounted on the wall and glorious silver taps tempting one to pour liquid sunshine in pre- chilled mugs! Don’t worry, for this is not just meant for the tech savvy. Quirky step by step instructions guide you through 24 | Tourism India | April 2017

this one of a kind pour ritual. As soon as one scans the unique code residing in The Beer Café app, the screen welcomes you with your name and wallet balance – Brewbucks. Yes, this beer destination just doesn’t have beer but its own currency too! This can be easily linked to your plastic cards or mobile wallets. Feel free to sample as little or as much as you wish. You could even become a brew master with customized blends; mix wheat, pilsners, lagers or stouts and make your own magic potion. For those who like it slow, fill just half a mug and come back for more, later. Being your own ‘pourtender’ comes with the benefit of no service charge

on the invoice too. Now aren’t you spoilt for choice to spend that money you just saved? For there is not a few but 16 varieties to sip and savor! Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Rahul Singh, founder and CEO, The Beer Café, said “We bring yet another revolutionary concept in India. This will entirely change the way we drink and experience beer. Witness the technology exclusively at The Beer Café, as we take you closer to a truly global beering experience! We will extend this unique service to our outlets across the country; for this is rare and next to none." The taps of this heavenly potion time you for 25 seconds to taste, fill a glass or a mug.

Once the session expires the beer stops pouring. Thanks to The Beer Café’s cloud server, these codes will be valid across outlets and all transactions will be highly secured and a first in the world concept. "The PYOB system installed at The Beer Cafe in India is the most innovative and advanced

beer technology on the planet. The interactive user experience coupled with ease of use make the system truly world class” said Jose Hevia, CEO/Founder, Draftserv Technologies, LLC. Not only is the outlet a techie paradise but a treat for the eyes as well. The café boasts of quirky décor of

artifacts capturing the brewing process with wooden barrels and casks. Offering a global gastronomic treat to the customers, The Beer Café, over the years, has become the most awarded beer chain in the country.

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Text & Photographs by

T Narayan

angla Valley known as the Switzerland of India with Baspa river flowing along is in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh close to the Indo Tibet border. In Tibetan, the term Sangala means â&#x20AC;&#x153;pass of lightâ&#x20AC;? which refers to the valley receiving sunlight during the day. Sangla Valley begins at Karcham and ends at Chitkul the last village along the Indo Tibet border. Sangla is the major town in the valley and is surrounded by forested slopes and with magnificient views of the snow capped mountains and lies in the greater Himalayan Range. Till 1989 outsiders were allowed only with special permits in this valley for its close proximity to the china border. The Baspa River flows in the Sangla Valley which is rich in apple orchards, apricot, Wall-nut, Cedar trees, and glacial streams with trout. The main village in the valley being Chitkul, Rakcham, Batseri, Themgarang, Kamru. The nearby Baspa hydel -project has been completed in 2004. Besides the natural beauty of Great Himalaya Kamru Fort, Mata Devi Temple & Bearing Nag Temples are the main attractions of the Valley. Sangla Valley is a part of

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Kinnaur and inhibited by Kinnauris. The main livelihood is agriculture while apples are a major cash crop here. The apples grown here are considered to be the finest in the world. The valley remains closed for six months during

T Narayan has served as senior photographer with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest read English daily The Times of India and as the national photo editor of The Hindustan Times. He has also been the photo editor of the top two news magazines of India-India Today and Outlook. Presently Narayan conducts tours and workshops through his venture TNSS Photography Tours and Workshops. www.tnssphotography.com

winter when the snowfall is heavy. Sangla valley can be reached from,either Delhi or Chandigarh. From Delhi, Sangla Valley is more than 500kms away. From Chandigarh, it is around 350kms one to pass through Shimla. From Shimla it is another 6-8 hours away as one has to drive through the most dangerous motorable roads as described by the National Geographic channel. Spread over an area of over 40kms, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a magnificent sight to behold. Snow clad mountains surround you and you get to see the Kinner Tourism India | April 2017 | 27

One can also join various Photography Workshops counducted by PhotoRoutes for details visit www. photoroutes.in Enjoy undisturbed walks across the valley where one gets to admire the flora and fauna including Apple orchards. For adventure one can try rappelling, rock climbing, River Crossing and Angling. 28 | Tourism India | April 2017

Day treks are a good option one can get to see the beautiful Kinner Kailash peak up-close. There is a glacier trek which will take you to the snowy regions of the mountains though by late summers they more or less disappear, which is a must. The Kamru Fort is over 800 years old. It houses the famous Kamakshi Devi Temple and the Bering Nag Temple is

dedicated to the snake of Lord Shiva. Visit to the Chitkul village is a must as it is the last town on the Indian borderwith Tibet where one can still see the traditional houses though they are being modernized at a rapid pace. Also visit Batseri, Karchem, & Kalpa, all of which are located close to Sangla. Best time to visit: sangla Valley is anytime between March to November. So hurry block your date for Sangla Valley as it opens up this season for the tourist. Tourism India | April 2017 | 29

Kailash peak. The Baspa River flows through the valley and that is why it is also known as the Baspa Valley. Sangla Valley has many things to offer and one can enjoy it all by staying at the Kinner Camps run by two brothers Pradeep and Dalip Negi excellent host with comfortable stay in swiss like

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tents with awesome food. Kinner Camps provides all facilities that the tourist need to enjoy the valley. For details visithttp://www.kinnercamps. com/stay at Kinner Camps is highly recommended. Pradeep and Dalip can be reached on +91 9805378324 and +91 9805841273

yatt Place hotel located in one of India’s holiest pilgrimage destinations Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Place Rameswaram, the first Hyatt Place hotel in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the fifth Hyatt Place hotel to open in India. Developed by JKR Enterprise Limited, the hotel offers guests a convenient base for pilgrimages and leisure travel in the southernmost tip of India. “The opening of Hyatt Place Rameswaram is a significant milestone for the Hyatt Place brand as it continues to expand in India and across the globe,” said Kurt Straub, Hyatt’s vice president of operations, India. “Rameswaram’s first Hyatt Place hotel will be a vibrant and dynamic hotel that combines comfort and style that fits right into the region’s religious tourism.” Hyatt Place Rameswaram is

situated in the heart of the Rameswaram, close to the holy Ramanathaswamy Temple and Agni Theertham, one of Rameswaram’s sacred bodies of water, as well as the house of former Indian president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalamvarious. The holy city of Rameswaram is located on an island connected through the famous Pamban Bridge to mainland India. It is one of the four renowned “Chaar Dham” pilgrimage spots in the country and a place of great interest for both domestic and international travelers. “We are delighted to announce the opening of Hyatt Place Rameswaram in South India. The Hyatt

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Hyatt Place Rameswaram offers:

Place brand offers an innovative service concept and a modern design, and we are confident this hotel will provide a Utsa Majumder General Manager wonderful new lodging option to those visiting the area. JKR remains highly committed to providing modern and affordable accommodation and services that cater to the needs of those visiting the holy city,” said Sharda Deepa, managing director, JKR Enterprise Limited.

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101 spacious guestrooms and suites, all of which feature a swiveling 42-inch HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed and Cozy Corner sectional sofa Gallery Kitchen Breakfast stocked with South Indian and international vegetarian specialties 24/7 Gallery Menu and Market serving made-to -order vegetarian entrees and appetizers around the clock Coffee to Cocktails Bar featuring specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines, cocktails and mocktails by the poolside Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel 24-hour Gym Outdoor swimming pool 4,757 square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting/ function space “The Hyatt Place brand is designed to offer seamless experiences for travelers, and we know that our guests will appreciate the

comfortable and functional amenities offered at Hyatt Place Rameswaram,” said Ms. Utsa Majumder, General Manager, Hyatt Place Rameswaram. Hyatt Place Rameswaram is under the leadership of General Manager Utsa Majumder and Director of Sales Deepak Sharma. In her role, Utsa Majumder is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the hotel, including overseeing the hotel’s 100 associates and ensuring guests encounter the thoughtful service for which the Hyatt Place brand is known. Deepak Sharma is responsible for providing sales service and support to travelers and meeting planners frequenting the Rameswaram and Madurai areas. HYATT PLACE RAMESWARAM Madurai-Dhanushkodi NH Road Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India, 623526 Tel: +91 457 323 12 34 Email: rameswaram.place@ hyatt.com

ameswaram is one of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most visited Shiva shrines, dedicated to Sri Ramanathaswamy, situated in Tamil Nadu State. Rameswaram is the closest point from which to reach Sri Lanka from India, and geological evidence suggests that the Rama Sethu was a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka. It is also intimately associated with the life of Lord Sri Rama, the hero of the Indian epic Ramayana. Rameshwaram is an island in the Gulf of Mannar and a major pilgrimage centre. Belief is that those who go to Varanasi (Kashi) have to consummate their pilgrimage at Rameshwaram. It is a holy site, where Lord Rama of the epic Ramayana performed a puja (worship) to Lord Shiva on his return from Lanka after killing Ravana. Rameswaram is administered by a municipality established in 1994. The town covers an area of 53 km2 (20 sq mi) and had a population of 44,856 as of 2011. Tourism and

Tourism India | April 2017 | 33

fishery employ the majority of workforce in Rameswaram. It is located on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 40 kilometres from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar, at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. Both Saivites and Vaishnavites devotees in India is consider every grain of Rameswaram’s sand very sacred. There is a traditional belief among the Hindus that a pilgrimage to Kashi will be complete only after a visit to Rameswararn, also hailed as “Benaras of the South”. Pilgrims aspire for a holy dip in the sea at Dhanushkodi, revered as Sethu Theertha, where the Mahodathi (Bay of Bengal) meets Ratnakara (Indian Ocean). Rameshwaram is the abode of one of the 12 Jyothirlingas of India. It is also considered one among four most sacred pilgrim centers of India. They are Rameswaram in the South, Badrinath in the North, Puri in the East and Dwaraka in the West. Among these, Rameswaram is dedicated to Shiva, while the other three are dedicated to Vishnu. 34 | Tourism India | April 2017

The sanctity and antiquity of Rameshwaram is summed up in the old saying Aa Sethu Himachalam. The merits of Sethu Yatra are described in the Vedas and in almost all the Puranas -- Agneya, Bhagavatha, Padma, Shiva and Skanda Puranas, to mention a few. Numerous literary works in Sanskrit and Tamil from the period of Valmiki Ramayana extol the significance of Sethu Yatra. The four Saivite saints Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manickavasagar have sung in praise of Lord Rarnanathaswamy. Saint Thayumaanavar was a staunch devotee of Goddess Parvathavardhini. Rameswaram is an acclaimed Parihara Sthala, where it is believed all sins get absolved. Devotees take holy dips at Sethu Theertha, Agni Theertha and other sacred waters, offer pujas to get progeny, perform Shraadha for their ancestors and do Naga Prathishta (installing serpent deity).

dedicated to god Shiva. The main activities in the town are centered on this temple. The main festivals celebrated are the Car Festival (February/ March) and Thirukalyanam (July/August). It is a gem of Dravidian architecture, famous for its impressive corridor with massive sculptured pillars lining it. The 53m high

gopuram and 22 theerthams (tanks) within the complex are the later additions to this originally the 12 century shrine, started by the Sethupathis. enquiry Phone: +91 4573 221223. +91 4573 221 223). Timing 5.00 to 13.00 and 15.00 to 20.00hr daily.

Agnitheertham

One of the 64 sacred baths

Ramanathaswamy Temple

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is One of India's holiest shrines. The temple is Tourism India | April 2017 | 35

in Rameswaram. Every day thousands of pilgrims take a bath in this holy sea. Agnitheertham, the calm, shallow water spread of the sea, hardly 100m in front of the magnificent temple gopuram is sacred to pilgrims. They take a bath here before entering the temple. A dip here I believed to remove the sins of the pilgrims.

Gandhamathana Parvatham

A hillock situated 3km north of the temple is the highest point on the island. There is a two-storied mandapam, containing an imprint of Rama's padham (feet) on a chakra that attracts pilgrims. The view of the entire island from this elevated point (30 m high) is excellent. It is also believed to be the spot from where Hanuman took his leap across the narrow Palk Strait to Lanka.

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Jada Theertham

It is believed that the Lord Rama washed his jada (hair) here to purify himself before worshipping Sri Ramalinga, on his way back after killing Ravana. 3km from the main temple is the Hanuman Temple, a place where Hanuman told Rama about Sita's well being. The floating stone, 'sethu bandanam' used in building the Sethu Bridge is worth a visit.

Kothandaramaswamy Temple

About 12km southeast of Rameshwaram, this temple dedicated to Vishnu was the only structure that survived the 1964 cyclone, which washed away the rest of Dhanushkodi. The legend marks it as the spot where Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, surrendered to Rama. The temple has the icons of Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman, and Vibhishana.

About 6km beyond the southernmost tip of this island, Dhanushkodi, has a fine beach and a lovely bathing pool. Buses ply (hourly departure) from the local bus stand for this place. Auto rickshaws are also available.

Lakshmana Tirtham

Constructed in the memory of Lord Lakshman, brother of

Lord Rama. The temple has statues of lord Rama, goddess Sita and lord Lakshmana.

Gandhamadhana Parvatham

Famous for its beautiful sunrise and sunset. Pilgrims come to worship Lord Rama’s footprints, which can be seen within the premises of the shrine.

Villoondi Theertham Beach

Best known for its sweet clean holy water. This is the place where Lord Rama quenched the thirst of Sita by dipping the bow into the sea.

House of Kalam

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s house where he was born and brought up. The house holds several pictures, certificates, doctorates, honours, and awards right from his childhood to his scholarly works. (+91 4573 221365)

Burial Place of APJ Abdul Kalam

Burial site of Former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Pamban Bridge

Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge – The Annai Indira

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Rameswaram is the terminus of the railway line from Chennai and Madurai. Together with Varanasi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus, and part of the Char Dham pilgrimage. It is said that this is the place from where the Hindu god Rama built a bridge across the sea to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from her abductor Ravana. The Ramanathaswamy Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, is located at the centre of the town and is closely associated with Rama. The temple, along with the town, is considered a holy pilgrimage site for both Shaivas and Vaishnavas.

Kothandaramaswamy Temple

Gandhi Road Bridge or Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge on the Palk Strait that connects the town of Rameshwaram to mainland India. A beautiful spot to take in the scenic beauty of Rameshwaram. the 2.2 long bridge is the longest bridge in India constructed over a bay. Similarly, the railway bridge connecting the island is noted for its unique opening to pass the ships through the sea. Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge.

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The Kothandaramaswamy Temple is a shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama. The temple has the deities of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman and Vibhishana.

Dhanushkodi Rama Sethu Point

A chain of limestone shoals 48 km long that once linked Rameswaram with Mannar in Sri Lankaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northwest.

Ariyaman Beach

A pristine beach with a children's park, watchtower, and water sports like wind surfing and water scooters. Tourists can also visit the aquarium and museum near the beach.

he Seven Sisters, as the North Eastern Indian states are commonly known, are where lush green forests, picturesque valleys and vibrant cultures come together to create magic. Each state has something special to offer and we are sure that these places will be the high points of your trip to the vibrant North-East. Starting with Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang River is a must visit. A tributary of the mighty and ferocious Brahmaputra River, it’s a great spot for river rafting, an adventure that few can match up to in terms of thrills.

Moving on, situated in the valley of the Tawang River in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery in India and second largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Tibet. Founded in 1680-1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, it is known as in Tibetan as Galden Namgey Lhatse, which translates to ‘celestial paradise in a clear night’. Surrounded by lush green hills, the monastery provides a visually colourful contrast with the colour-rich murals on its walls, exquisite architecture and vibrant atmosphere. With peaceful serene Tourism India | April 2017 | 39

atmosphere so strong, the monastery possesses an otherworldly quality to it that drives away all worries and stress you had. From the ferocious avatar, we move on to Brahmaputra’s calmer side in Majuli. The biggest river island in the world, it is home to a number of tribes, each with a colourful vibrant culture that will enchant you on your visit here. While there, you can enjoy yourself with fun activities like pottery making, mask making or just soak in the natural beauty of its magnificent sunsets. Talking of Meghalaya, you have your pick of nature with lush green hills and breathtaking views, quite a refreshing break from the city’s chaos. But look closer and you’ll find an experience that much richer. Littered among these hills are limestone deposits and a number of caves that will enthrall the explorer in you. Considering that many of these caves are some of the longest and deepest found in India, you are sure to feel all Indiana Jones during this once in a lifetime trek. While travelling through the North East, also experience a safari with a difference on yaks. Get a chance to explore the breathtaking beauty of Sikkim on one of the colourfully-adorned yaks, an experience definitely beyond compare! Viren Batra, CEO & Co Founder of nirvana excursion said, “all the destinations and exciting activities mentioned here are just the tip of the iceberg,” There’s so much more to do, see and discover in the northeastern states, right from Tsomgo lake to Pelling, Darjeeling and the famous shrine of Baba Harbhajan Singh.“ Viren added. 40 | Tourism India | April 2017

he third edition of the magnificent international plant and flower event’ s theme will certainly arouse your curiosity : Fruits & Flowers, a welcome dash of coolness in the height of Summer! You will no doubt remember Flowertime’s second edition of the colourful floral decoration in 2015, which was themed on Baroque Art. This event taking place on the Grand-Place of Brussels and in the City Hall every 2 years was a tremendous success, which drew many visitors from all around the

world in four day’s time! The event will take place from 11 to 15 August 2017 on its traditional and illustrious location: the Grand-Place and in the City Hall of Brussels. The City Hall will be accessible to the public and groups and several nocturals will be organised, with tastings and festive activities related to the theme of the event. Flowertime is a biennial initiative by the City of Brussels and the nonprofit organisation Flower Carpet of Brussel, organiser of the renowned Brussels flower carpets.

The Ministry of Tourism has taken various steps to increase the number of in-bound tourists in the country which

inter-alia includes i) The nomenclature of existing e-Tourist Visa has been changed to e-Visa with three

sub categories i.e. e-Tourist Visa, E-Business Visa and e-Medical Visa for citizens of 161 countries. ii) Development and promotion of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Niche Tourismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; products. iii) Generating sufficient manpower to meet the requirements of the tourism and hospitality industry. iv) Launch of 24x7 toll free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline. v) Providing Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for various tourism projects including fairs, festivals and tourism related events as per the relevant scheme guidelines. vi) Ministry of Tourism is offering free Pre- loaded SIM Cards for tourists on e-Visa at the ITDC counter at IGI Airport. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism has also taken the steps for the development of Tourism as i) Launching theme based tourist circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for integrated development of tourism infrastructure and facilities. ii) Launching the National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) to beautify and improve the amenities and infrastructure at pilgrimage centres of all faiths. iii) Promoting India as a holistic tourism destination including the various tourism sites and products of every State/Union Territory of the country in the domestic and international markets. Foreign Tourists Arrivals (FTAs) in India during the year 2015 were 80,27,133 with a growth rate of 4.5% over the year 2014 and during the year 2016 were 88,89,784 with a growth rate of 10.7% over the year 2015. Tourism India | April 2017 | 41

• Coney Art Walls – Brooklyn, New York

or some, seeing art can be a meditative experience worth doing alone. Going at an individual pace allows for intimate moments, reflection and extra time to sketch or write, for the creatively inclined. While the U.S. has no shortage of galleries, beyond the museum walls lays a sprawling canvas of incredible sculpture parks, street murals and public installations that are prime for solo exploration. Here are few must-see attractions.

•Poydras Corridor – New Orleans, Louisiana

The largest city in Louisiana is considered one of the greatest crossroads of culture in the world. It’s where American jazz was born, Creole cooking was invented and Mardi Gras was perfected. Now, the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition is putting New Orleans on the map for its visual art. Created after

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Hurricane Katrina to lift the spirits of residents, the outdoor rotating exhibit features more than 26 sculptures from contemporary artists, allowing solo visitors to enjoy the works while strolling Poydras Street.

Better known for its famous corn dogs and iconic Cyclone roller coaster, Coney Island, the popular boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York, is becoming a destination for its latest amusement: the Coney Art Walls. Take your time wandering this outdoor museum alone to appreciate the detail poured into lively murals and graffiti from 20 renowned street artists.

Nevada, strip need a final resting place, they head to the Boneyard. This outdoor exhibition space (part of The Neon Museum) features more than 200 bygone signs including the Bow & Arrow Motel, The Silver Slipper and the Hacienda horse and rider. Solo travelers have a better shot at squeezing into a spare spot on a guided tour, whose ongoing popularity makes tickets high in demand.

•Olympic Sculpture Park – Seattle, Washington Afterward, head down to the beach to take in the colorful locals and spend an afternoon of inspiration on the shore.

• Midtown Viaducts – Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan , once the capital of the U.S. automobile industry, is revitalizing its forgotten byways into illuminated works of art at the Midtown Viaducts. Three once-deteriorated viaducts in the city’s TechTown District are

prime for solo photography enthusiasts. The viaducts are outfitted with colorful reflectors, LED light boxes and interactive installations that light up with the movements of cars and pedestrians. Afterward, check out the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, both in the area.

• Neon Boneyard – Las Vegas, Nevada

When those giant, flashing signs on the Las Vegas,

Get to know Seattle, Washington, with a leisurely solo art crawl through Olympic Sculpture Park, in close quarters with nearby attractions Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Seattle Art Museum and the Asian Art Museum. Stroll through roughly 20 works from renowned artists at this free, 3.4-hectare plot situated along the waterfront that’s open sunrise to sunset daily. And make sure to grab a selfie with the city’s architectural gem, The Space Needle.

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Ozen by atmosphere at maadhoo wins the prestigious connoisseur circle award, for the “best hospitality indian ocean hotel – 2017

onnoisseur Circle, the leading Luxury Lifestyle Magazine with the German speaking markets has just held its Annual Awards ceremony during ITB 2017, in Berlin, Germany. During the Awards Ceremony, OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo was awarded the “Best Hospitality Indian Ocean Hotel” for 2017, as a recognition for the fantastic positioning the resort

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has been successful in achieving since opening in July 2017. The selection committee acknowledged the wonderful positioning and consistency in service delivery that OZEN has been able to achieve within such a short span of time since opening. OZEN by Atmosphere is the first “Luxury All -Inclusive” resort in the Maldives and has been

receiving strong sales support from key Luxury Tour Operators worldwide. OZEN by Atmosphere is the third resort under the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Mr.Venkata Giri, General Manager who accepted the Award on behalf of OZEN, said “It is just an absolutely fantastic recognition for the wonderful work, done consistently by the OZEN team, and a great compliment indeed to be recognised so quickly within the German travel fraternity! We are truly swimming with the big Luxury boys now!”

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40 Years | 6 Countries | 57 Global Awards | One Passion

INDIA

NEPAL

SRI LANKA

www.creative.travel | engage@creative.travel

Tourism India

Vol. 19

No.12 April 2017

RNI. No.: KERBIL/1998/7642