TOURISM INDIA JUNE 2016

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National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 Kerala aims High with New Govt

Steep Growth in FTA

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Yoga and Ayurveda as a tool of Brand Promotion

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he entire World along with the host Nation is waiting for second edition of International Yoga Day on June 21 st , after a successful initiative by our country to bring the attention of Yoga as a tool of world peace and wellness. United Nations and most of the countries across the world has already joined in the mega wellness event. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has involved personally in this initiative to propagate Yoga as a wellness tool to forge global peace and harmony.

India is a leading wellness destination which taps the potential of traditional wellness systems, developed through centuries of wisdom. This is being done by positioning India as a centre of Ayurveda, yoga, siddha, naturopathy and spiritual philosophy, which has been integral to the Indian way of living.

The Ministry of Tourism has highlighted wellness in a through publicity and promotional activities. The growth of tourism sector in the country and demand for wellness centers has led to a sudden surge in wellness centers across the country. This gave rise to the concern for quality service and standards to be followed. This is why a system of uniform accreditation, nationwide has been developed by NABH and AYUSH. The Ministry of Tourism has extended its market development assistance scheme to wellness tourism service providers including accredited wellness centers.

India has a large market in preventive healthcare that is yet to be tapped and promoted. According to industry experts, MoT needs to promote wellness as a package and must differentiate it further. Sri Lanka has been given as a reference to show how it has promoted and positioned itself as a destination for Ayurveda, something that India has not being able to do despite being the birthplace of Ayurveda. Sri Lanka had a small campaign that was cohesive and effective. Simultaneously, it was felt that there is a need for synergy between the MoT, state tourism boards and private stakeholders in the wellness segment (be it tour operators, hotels/resorts, standalone spas, rejuvenating centres and so on). Through a synergy, a strong marketing communication strategy could be made based on market/private players' suggestions. A suggestion was made to form a group or a society for wellness. This could then be guided by the ministry to create strong linkages between various trade associations and public entities at state, regional and national levels with the sole vision of creating the right environment for the wellness segment to flourish in the country.

India needs to be promoted as a wellness destination and a common brand for multiple areas like yoga, Ayurveda, lifestyle, spirituality, art and culture, etc, to be all included, but have different specifications along with focus on environment protection, education and quality control, various means of Promotions and development of quality infrastructure and trained manpower.

Our potential in wellness tourism is immense but the way forward is very tough. Hope this International Yoga day will be a good beginning for the ultimate aim.

Ravisankar K.V. Tourism India | June 2016 | 5

June 2016 Vol No. 19 No. 02 Price: India INR 75 US$ 4.99 GBP 2.99

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8 Exports from International Tourism rise by 4% in 2015

Editorial and corporate office: PRL A 14/1, Tourism house, Panickers 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@2016 Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar.K.V on behalf of Tourism India Publications Pvt. Ltd, PRL A 14/1, Tourism house, Panickers lane, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum, Kerala, India - 695010 Printed at Amarakerala Industries, Ernakulam for Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695 010 Editor: Ravisankar.K.V

6 | Tourism India | June 2016

10

Fly High with New National Civil Aviation Policy 2016

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National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 Kerala aims High with New Govt

Steep Growth in FTA

Cover photograph of Yoga

by Vivek R.Nair

16

High Level Commitment for Kerala's Tourism market

42

36

AIRLINE Industry

Pledges to Fight Against Wild life Trafficking

30

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Eco Tourism around Freshwater lakes

Enhancing Beauty with Yoga

The Universality of Yoga Yoga for a healthy Nation

Tourism India | June 2016 | 7

The United States, China, Spain and France remain the world’s top tourism destinations The United States (US$ 178 billion), China (US$ 114 billion), Spain (US$ 57 billion) and France (US$ 46 billion) continue to be the top destinations both in international tourism receipts and tourist arrivals.

F

or the fourth consecutive year, international tourism grew faster than world merchandise trade, raising tourism’s share in world’s exports to 7% in 2015. The total export value from international tourism amounted to US$ 1.4 trillion.

International tourism receipts in destinations around the world grew by 3.6% in 2015, in line with the 4.4% increase in international arrivals. Income generated by international visitors on accommodation, food and drink, entertainment, shopping and other services and goods reached an estimated US$ 1,232 billion (euro 1,110 billion) in 2015, an increase of 3.6% accounting for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation.

8 | Tourism India | June 2016

International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 4.4% in 2015, reaching a total of 1,184 million.

Alongside international tourism receipts (the travel item of the balance of payments), international tourism generated US$ 210 billion in exports through international non-resident passenger transport services, bringing the total value of tourism exports up to US$ 1.4 trillion, or US$ 4 billion a day on average.

“Tourism is today a major category of international trade in services,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai addressing the 60th Regional Commission for the Americas meeting in Havana, Cuba.

“Despite a weak and slow economic recovery, spending

on international tourism grew significantly in 2015, proving the sector’s relevance in stimulating economic growth, boosting exports and creating jobs for an increasing number of economies worldwide,” he added.

International tourism represents 7% of total world exports and 30% of services exports. The share of tourism in overall exports of goods and services increased from 6% to 7% in 2015 as for the fourth consecutive year international tourism outgrew world merchandise trade, which grew 2.8% in 2015 according to recent data reported by the World Trade Organization.

As a worldwide export category, tourism ranks third after fuels and chemicals and ahead of food and automotive products. In many developing countries, tourism ranks as the first export sector. Unusually strong exchange rate fluctuations in 2015 seriously influenced receipts for individual destinations and regions, expressed in current US dollars. Taking into account exchange rate fluctuations and inflation, receipts in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East all grew by 4%, while in Europe they grew by 3% and in Africa by 2%.

The Caribbean, Central and South America show strong growth in international tourism receipts.The Americas continued to enjoy robust results both in international arrivals and receipts in 2015, with a strong US dollar fuelling outbound travel from the United States and benefiting many destinations across the region. The Caribbean, Central America and South America all recorded 7% growth in receipts, while North America saw a 3% increase.

“As prices of raw materials have decreased, tourism has shown a strong capacity to

compensate for weaker export revenue in many commodity -and oil-exporting countries,” said Mr. Rifai. “Tourism is increasingly an essential component of export diversification for many emerging economies as well as several advanced ones,” he added.

The United States, China, Spain and France remain the world’s top tourism destinations The United States (US$ 178 billion), China (US$ 114 billion), Spain (US$ 57 billion) and France (US$ 46 billion) continue to be the top destinations both in international tourism receipts and tourist arrivals.

The above data is preliminary and subject to revision. 2015 has shown some unusual strong appreciation of the US dollar to many currencies, rendering receipts earned in these currencies lower in US dollar.

Furthermore, China revised both its international tourism receipts and expenditure series substantially in 2015 and retrospectively for 2014 due to

outbound travel after double -digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004, benefitting Asian destinations such as Japan and Thailand as well as the United States and various European destinations. Spending by Chinese travellers increased 25% in 2015 to reach US$ 292 billion, as total outbound travellers rose 10% to 128 million.

Tourism expenditure from the world’s second largest source market, the United States, increased by 9% in 2015 to US$ 120 billion, while the number of outbound travellers grew by 8% to 73 million.

Expenditure from the United Kingdom, the fourth largest market globally, increased 8% to US$ 63 billion with 65 million of its residents travelling abroad, up 9%. By contrast Germany, the world’s third largest market, reported a small decline in spending (US$ 76 billion), partly due to the weaker Euro. France’s expenditure on outbound tourism reached US$ 38 billion,

Russia’s US$ 35 billion and that of the Republic of Korea a total of US$ 25 billion.

methodological changes.

China, the United States and the United Kingdom led outbound tourism last year, fuelled by their strong currencies and economies.

China continues to lead global Tourism India | June 2016 | 9

S

ince independence it is for the first time, an integrated Civil Aviation Policy has been brought out by the Ministry of civil Aviation. Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raj, Union Minister of Civil Aviation has released the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 in New Delhi. Mr. Raju said that the centre-piece of the policy is to make regional air connectivity a reality and aims to take flying to the masses by making it affordable and convenient, establish an integrated eco-system which will lead to significant growth of the civil aviation sector to promote tourism, employment and balanced regional growth, enhance regional connectivity through fiscal support and infrastructure development and enhance ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and e-governance.

Areas covered in the Policy: i. Regional connectivity ii. Safety iii. Air Transport Operations iv. Route Dispersal Guidelines v. 5/20 Requirement for

10 | Tourism India | June 2016

International Operations vi. Bilateral traffic rights vii. Code-share agreements viii. Fiscal Support ix. Airports developed by State Govt, Private sector or in PPP mode x. Airports Authority of India xi. Air Navigation Services xii. Aviation security, Immigration and Customs xiii. Helicopters xiv. Charters xv. Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul xvi. Ground handling xvii. Air-cargo xviii. Aeronautical ‘Make in India’ xix. Aviation education and skill development xx. Sustainable aviation xxi. Miscellaneous xxiii. Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968 Regional Connectivity Scheme will come into effect in the second quarter of 2016-17.

Airfare of about Rs2500 per passenger for a one-hour flight

is accounted in this scheme.

This will be implemented by way of Revival of airstrips/ airports as No-Frills Airports at an indicative cost of Rs.50 cr to Rs100 cr. Demand driven selection of Airports/airstrips for revival in consultation with State Govts and airline, Viability Gap Funding(VGF)to airline operators , RCS only in those states which reduce VAT on ATF to 1% or less, provide other support services and 20% of VGF, Concessions by Stakeholders are some other features. Under this scheme there will be no airport charges and reduction of Service tax on tickets (on 10% of the taxable value) for 1 year initially and Excise duty at 2% on ATF picked at RCS airports .

State government will provide police and fire services free of cost. Power, water and other utilities at concessional rates.

Creation of Regional Connectivity fund for VGF through a small levy per departure on all domestic flights other than Cat II/ Cat IIA routes, RCS routes and small aircraft below 80 seats at a rate as decided bythe Ministry from time to time and VGF to

be shared between MoCA and State Governments in the ratio of 80:20. For the North Eastern States, the ratio is 90:10.

Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG)

Category I to be rationalized based on a transparent criteria, i.e., flying distance of more than 700km, average seat factor of 70% and above and annual traffic of 5 lakh passengers. The percentage of Cat.I traffic to be deployed on Cat.II, and IIA will remain the same while for CATIII it will be 35%. Routes to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh included in Category II . Revised categorization to apply from winter schedule of 2017and the re view of routes will be done by MoCA once every 5 years. Withdrawal or revision of domestic operations to and within North East Region etc, subject to full compliance of RDG, can be

Tourism India | June 2016 | 11

The 5/20 rule for commencement of international flight in operation since 2004 is replaced by a formulation which provides a level playing field and allows airlines, both new and old, to commence international operations provided they continue to meet some obligation for domestic operation.

done under prior intimation to MoCA at least three months before withdrawal or revision of the service

5/20 Requirement

Replaced with a scheme which provides a level playing field all airlines can now commence international operations provided that they deploy 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity (in term of average number of seats on all departures put together), whichever is higher for domestic operations.

Bilateral Traffic Rights

• GoI will enter into 'Open Sky' ASA on a reciprocal basis with SAARC countries

• Whenever designated carriers of India have utilised 80% their capacity entitlements, the same will be renegotiated in the usual manner.

Ground Handling Policy The Ground Handling Policy/ Instructions/ Regulations will be replaced by a new framework. The airport operator will ensure that there will be three Ground Handling Agencies (GHA) including Air India's subsidiary/ JV at all major airports as defined in AERA Act. At non-major airports, the airport operator to decide on the number of ground handling agencies, based on the traffic output, airside and terminal building capacity. All domestic scheduled airline operators including helicopter operators will be free to carry out self-handling at all airports through their regular employees. Hiring of employees through manpower supplier or contract workers will not be permitted for security reasons.

Airport PPP/AAI

Ashok Ganapahty Raju

and countries located beyond 5000 km from Delhi • For countries within 5000 km radius, where the Indian carriers have not utilised 80% of their capacity entitlements but foreign carriers /countries have utilised their bilateral rights, a method will be recommended by a Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for the allotment of additional capacity entitlements 12 | Tourism India | June 2016

Encourage development of airports by AAI, State Governments, the private sector or in PPP mode is another feature in the new policy. Future tariffs at all airports will be calculated on a 'hybrid till' basis, unless specified otherwise in concession agreements. 30% of non-aeronautical revenue will be used to cross- subsidise aeronautical charges. Increase non-aeronautical revenue by better utilisation of commercial opportunities of city side land and AAI to be compensated in case a new greenfield airport is approved in future within a 150 km radius of an existing unsaturated operational AAI

airport (not applicable to civil enclaves)

Aviation Security, Immigration and customs

sMoCA will develop 'service delivery modules' for aviation security, Immigration, Customs, quarantine officers etc in consultations with respective Ministries/ Departments which allow Indian carriers to provide security services to other domestic airlines subject to approval of BCAS. Use of private security agencies at airports for non- core security functions to be decided in consultation with MHA and such agencies should be registered under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 and will also be separately accredited by BCAS. Subject to minimum benchmarks being met, security architecture at the different airports will be proportionate to the threat classification and traffic volume.

Helicopters and Charters

Separate regulations for helicopters will be notified by DGCA after due stakeholder consultation.

MoCA will coordinate with Govt agencies and other helicopter operators to facilitate Helicopter Emergency Medical Services.

Helicopters will be free to fly from point to point without prior ATC clearance in airspace below 5000 feet and areas other than controlled or prohibited or restricted airspace. Airport charges for helicopter operations will be suitably rationalized. The existing policy of allowing Inclusive tour package charters will be further reviewed to

include more categories of passenger charter flights recognised globally.

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul The MRO business of Indian carriers is around Rs 5000 crore, 90% of which is currently spent outside India. In the budget for 2016-17, customs duty has been rationalised and the procedure for clearance of goods simplified. Further incentives proposed in the policy to give a push to this sector: MoCA will persuade State Governments to make VAT zero- rated on MRO activities.

Provision for adequate land for MRO service providers will be made in all future airport/ heliport projects where potential for such MRO services exists. Airport royalty and additional charges will not be levied on MRO service providers for a period of five years from the date of approval of the policy

Aviation Education and Skill Building

Estimated direct additional employment requirement of the Civil Aviation Sector by 2025 is about 3.3 lakh. All training in non licensed category will conform to National Skill Qualification Framework standards. MoCA will provide full support to the Aviation Sector Skill Council and other similar organisations/agencies for imparting skills for the growing aviation industry. There are nearly 8000 pilots holding CPL but who have not found any regular employment. MoCA will develop a scheme with budgetary support for Typerating of Pilots. The detailed scheme will be worked out separately. The policy is very comprehensive which covers 22 areas of the Civil Aviation sector.

The Policy aims at India to become 3rd largest civil aviation market by 2022 from 9th position.

• Domestic ticketing to grow from 8 crore in 2015 to 30 crore by 2022 • Airports having scheduled commercial flights to increase from 77 in 2016 to 127 by 2019 • Cargo volumes to increase by 4 times to 10 million tonnes by 2027 • Taking flying to masses – Enabling Indians to fly at Rs. 2,500 per hour under Regional Connectivity Scheme at unserved airports • Requirement of 5 years of domestic flying for starting international operations removed • Flexible and liberalized ‘open skies’ and ‘code share’ agreements • Incentives to MRO sector to develop as hub for South Asia • Ensuring availability of quality certified 3.3 lakh skilled personnel by 2025 • Development of green-field airports and heliports • Enhancing ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and e-governance • Promoting ‘Make In India’ in Civil Aviation Sector

Tourism India | June 2016 | 13

i. The Viability Gap Funding (VGF) will be funded by a small levy per departure on all domestic routes other than Cat II/ Cat IIA routes, RCS routes and small aircraft at a rate as decided by the Ministry from time to time. A detailed scheme will be put up in the Public domain for stakeholders’ consultations. ii. The 5/20 rule for commencement of international flight in operation since 2004 is replaced by a formulation which provides a level playing field and allows airlines, both new and old, to commence international operations provided they continue to meet some obligation for domestic operation. All airlines can commence international operations provided they deploy 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity (in term of average number of seats on all departures put together) whichever is higher, for domestic operations. iii. Necessary administrative and financial flexibility will be provided to Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for an effective 14 | Tourism India | June 2016

aviation safety oversight system and for creating a transparent single-window system for all aviation safety related issues. iv. The Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG) have been rationalised by making the criteria for declaring a route as Category I (trunk route) more transparent, while the traffic to be deployed on Cat II and IIA expressed in terms of a percentage of CAT I traffic remains the same. The criteria proposed for a Cat I route are a flying distance of more than 700

km, average seat factor of more than 70% and annual traffic of 5 lakh passengers.

The percentage for CAT III will be reduced in view of the Regional Connectivity Scheme coming into operation. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have been included as part of category II routes. v. The regime of bilateral rights and code share agreements will be liberalised leading to greater ease of doing business and wider choice to passengers. “Open skies� will be implemented on a reciprocal basis for SAARC countries and countries beyond 5000 kms from Delhi. A method will be recommended by a Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary for the allotment of additional capacity entitlements wherever designated Indian carriers have not utilised 80% of their bilateral rights but the foreign airlines/

countries have utilised their part and are pressing for increase in the capacity. vi. The Ministry will continue to encourage development of airports by the State Government or the private sector or in PPP mode and endeavour to provide regulatory certainty. Future greenfield and brownfield airports will have cost efficient functionality with no compromise on safety and security. vii. Airport Authority of India (AAI) will continue to develop and modernise its airports and upgrade quality of services. AAI will be suitably compensated in case a new greenfield airport is approved in future within 150 km radius of an existing operational AAI airport which is not yet saturated. viii. Upgradation and modernisation of Air Navigation Services will continue in line with global trends. AAI will provide a fully harmonised Air Navigation System considering International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan, Aviation system Block Upgrade and modern performance based

technologies and procedures. ix. The Government will promote helicopter usage by issuing separate regulations for helicopters and development of four heli-hubs initially. Ministry of Civil Aviation will also coordinate with all the agencies and stakeholders concerned to facilitate Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. x. In the budget for 2016-17, the customs duty for MRO’s has been rationalised and the procedure for clearance of goods simplified, in particular duty on tools and tool kits. Further incentives have been proposed in the policy to give a push to this sector :• MoCA will persuade State Governments to make VAT zero-rated on MRO activities • Provision for adequate land for MRO service providers will be made in all future airport/heliport projects where potential for such MRO services exists.

• Airport royalty and additional charges will not be levied on MRO service providers for a period of five years from the date of approval of the policy. xi. The existing ground handling policy is being replaced with a new framework to ensure fair competition. The airport operator will ensure that there will be three Ground Handling Agencies (GHA) including Air India's subsidiary/JV at all major airports as defined in AERA Act 2008. At non-major airports, the airport operator to decide on the number of ground handling agencies, based on the traffic output, airside and terminal building capacity.

All domestic scheduled airline operators including helicopter operators will be free to carry out self -handling at all airports.

Hiring of employees through manpower supplier will not be permitted.

Tourism India | June 2016 | 15

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Mr. E.M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry, Mr. Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society, Mr. Riyaz Ahamed, MD of Abad Hotels, Mr. Jose Dominic, MD, CGH Earth Hotels, Mr. Jose Pradeep, Treasurer, KTM Society, Mr. Sejoe Jose, Chairman, IATO Kerala Chapter and Mr. Jose Mathew, Secretary, KTM Society are at State Tourism stake holders meet.

roviding assurances of resolute top-down support to Kerala’s tourism initiatives, Mr. A.C. Moideen, Minister for Tourism, Kerala said that the newly elected state government is well aware of the industry’s importance, particularly in revenue and employment generation.

“Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala has agreed to take the lead in co -ordinating the various government departments to push through approvals for the implementation of many tourism projects in the state,” the minister added.

Speaking at a meeting in Mascot Hotel on June 08, 2016 that received around 50 representatives from leading industry players and saw a host of topics come under discussion, the minister said all support would be given to ensure towards the positive growth of the industry and called for fresh concepts and ideas to attract more tourists to ‘God’s Own Country’.

“Dr T.M. Thomas Issac, Minister for Finance, Kerala has graciously extended the support of his ministry to the growth of Kerala Tourism,” Mr. Moideen said, adding that greater focus would be paid to raise the profile of lesser known destinations in the state as also the Malabar region.

Lauding the minister for convening the meeting immediately after assuming

Mr. A.C. Moideen, Minister for Tourism, Kerala

16 | Tourism India | June 2016

office, the attendees mooted a number of important points: Taxation and infrastructure, responsible tourism, Ayurveda and wellness, waste management, a tourism friendly liquor policy, the South India Tourism circuit, air connectivity, home stay taxation and licensing, the Gulf market, backwater and houseboat operations, Kerala Travel Mart 2016 and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016.

Apart from all these, a number of written proposals were submitted. The Minister also promised that the government would review each concern in depth and take appropriate and decisive action.

The minister had earlier written a letter to Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for Tourism to reconsider the implementation of new biometric requirements for Saudi nationals to avail a visa to India, citing concerns about the policy’s effect on tourist arrivals from the Gulf state to Kerala.

“Kerala Tourism is committed to helping the state move towards greater heights by giving due importance to employment and revenue generation,” said Dr Venu V. IAS, Principal Secretary (Tourism). Mr. U.V. Jose IAS, Kerala Tourism Director also attended the meeting Among the prominent trade

organisations in attendance were Kerala Travel Mart Society, Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Confederation of Approved Tour Operators of Kerala (CATO), South Kerala Hoteliers Forum (SKHF), Malabar Tourism Consortium, Wayanad Tourism Organisation, Houseboat Owner’s Federation, Home Stay Owners Association, Home Stay and Tourism Society and Houseboat Operator’s Association.

Tourism India | June 2016 | 17

Mr. Sreekumara Menon, Secretary, Association of Tourism Trade Organisation of India, Mr. Ross Masood, Chairman, TAAI Kerala Chapter, Mr. Riyaz UC, MD of Spiceland Holidays, Mr. M.P.M. Munawar, Coordinator, Malabar Tourism Consortium, Mr. Chacko Paul, President, South Kerala Hoteliers Forum at Stake Holder’s meet.

Mr. A.C. Moideen, Minister for Tourism, Kerala addressing the State Tourism Advisory Board and Stake meeting in the presence of Dr. Venu V IAS, Principal Secretary and Mr. UV Jose IAS, Director of Kerala Tourism

Dr Venu V IAS New Kerala Tourism Secretary Kerala Tourism Industry leaders with Mr. PInarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala. Mr. S. Swaminathan, Managing Committee Member and Mr. Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry, Mr. Riyaz Ahamed, MD of Abad Hotels, Mr. Jose Dominic, MD, CGH Earth Hotels and Mr. M.R. Gopalakrishnan, Managing Committee Member. KTM Society

Kerala Tourism Industry leaders with Dr. Thomas Issac, Finance Minister of Kerala

18 | Tourism India | June 2016

Mr. Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society handing over a flower bouquet to Mr. A.C. Moideen, new Minister for Tourism, Kerala in the presence of Mr. S. Swaminathan, Mr. Jose Dominic, Mr. M.R. Gopalakrishnan, Mr. E.M. Najeeb and Mr. Riyaz Ahamed.

Dr. Venu Vasudevan IAS, has assumed office as the Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism. Dr. Venu is a 1990 batch Kerala cadre officer in the Indian Administrative Service hailing from Kozhikode. He is also holding the charge of the Principal Secretary SC, ST and Back Community Development in the state.

He was Tourism Secretary in the State from 2006 to 2011 and Director for Tourism from June 1998 to June 2001.

During his term that Accreditation for Ayurveda Centers and House Boats were introduced and IT initiatives of Kerala Tourism has also launched for the promotion of tourism in the state. Dr. Venu Known for his progressive ideas has played role to implement Kerala Tourism’s popular Rural and Responsible Tourism initiatives, which received global acclaim in recent times.

He was also served as the Secretary, Department of

Cultural Affairs, Kerala, and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Government of India.

It was during his tenure as the Director General of the National Museum, Delhi that the museum underwent a structural as well as organisational transformation.

Dr. Venu also played a major role in the Incredible India campaign during his time in the Ministry of Tourism,

Government of India.

The Tourism Trade of Gods Own Country is on the upbeat and highly recharged with the news of the return of one of its mentors who gave new directions to Kerala Tourism taking it to the Pinnacle during his tenure. The industry has pledged all their support to him and welcomed him back to the helm of affairs of Kerala Tourism.

Tourism India | June 2016 | 19

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he Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities.

Under the scheme thirteen thematic circuits have been identified for development, namely: North -East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit & Heritage Circuit.

Year-wise allocation of funds and expenditure incurred during the last three years for Ministry of Tourism is as follows: A number of projects have been received from various State Governments/Union Territory Administrations under the thematic circuits identified in the Swadesh

20 | Tourism India | June 2016

Darshan Scheme. Projects are sanctioned subject to availability of funds; liquidation of pending utilization certificates against the funds

released earlier, submission of suitable detailed project report and adherence to the relevant scheme guidelines.

(Rs. In crore)

Year Budget Estimates 2013-14 1282.00 2014-15 1882.00 2015-16 1503.21 (provisional)

Revised Estimates Expenditure 980.00 971.23 1100.00 910.39 850.00 823.56

thereby enabling hotel projects to avail credit at relaxed norms and reduced interest rates. Hotel and Tourism related industry has been declared a high priority industry and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed up to 100% under the automatic route.

The Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India has also included the ‘Harmonized list of Infrastructure sub Sector’ to boost supply of hotel rooms in the country. Three Star or higher category classified hotels located outside cities with population of more than one million. Hotels with a project cost of more than Rs.200 crore each in any place in India and of any star rating.

A

s per the Report of the “Working Group on Tourism” for the 12th Five year Plan(2012-17) set up by the Planning Commission, for a projected annual growth of 12% in Foreign Tourist Arrivals, the requirement of additional hotel rooms under classified category in 2016 over 2010 is estimated to be 1,90,108.

Construction of hotel is primarily a private sector activity. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India only classifies operational hotels under its voluntary scheme of classification/ approval of hotels.

In order to give stimulus for construction of new hotels, the Government of India extends the incentives to hotel industry as Five Year Tax Holiday for 2, 3 and 4 Star category hotels located in all UNESCO declared World Heritage sites (except Mumbai and Delhi) and for hotels operating w.e.f.

01.04.2004 to 31.03.2013.

Extension of Investment Linked tax incentives under

Section 35AD of the Income Tax Act to new hotels of 2-Star category and above anywhere in India, which will facilitate growth of accommodation in the country. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has de-linked credit for hotel projects from Commercial Real Estate (CRE),

Tourism India | June 2016 | 21

Mr. UV Jose IAS, Director of Kerala Tourism with Tourism trade participants at BITE China,. Mr. Rajesh Nair and Mr. Mathews ( Eastend Hotels) Mr. M.R. Narayanan ( Poovar Island Resort) and Mr. Biju George ( Somatheeram Resort)

A whopping 120 million of Chinese tourists travelled worldwide in 2015, an increase of 12% in comparison with the year-ago period. With most of these tourists preferring to holiday in Asian destinations, Kerala is well positioned to experience a surge in Chinese visitors.

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Further capitalizing on its initial forays into China, Kerala Tourism showcased the very best of ‘God’s Own Country’ at the Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) 2016, one of the world’s most prestigious travel and trade fairs.

It was for the second time the south Indian state was featured at the annual forum in the Chinese capital which was held during May 20-22.

This brought together major players in the hugely lucrative Chinese outbound tourism market, widely considered the worlds largest by volume.

A whopping 120 million of Chinese tourists travelled worldwide in 2015, an increase of 12% in comparison with the year-ago period. With most of these tourists preferring to holiday in Asian destinations, Kerala is well positioned to experience a surge in Chinese visitors.

This fact was highlighted again by the presence of a

high-level Kerala delegation at BITE 2016. Lead by Mr. U.V. Jose IAS, Director of Kerala Tourism, the team saw judicious representation from the state’s leading hoteliers, Ayurvedic resorts and tour operators.

According to Mr. Jose, the state “aspires to augment the strong destination pull it already enjoys”. “The modern traveller in general and the Chinese visitor in particular, is always expanding his/her horizons, seeking out ever newer experiences,” he said.

“The objective of such tourism facilitation initiatives and participation in such high-profile industry events is to highlight the wondrous possibilities on offer in Kerala,” the official added. “In this respect, China is a top priority for us because its citizens are worldly and, more to the point, especially well-versed in Kerala and its offerings.”

To this end, the expansive

Kerala pavilion sought to renew the focus on the state’s rich legacy of martial arts, holistic medical traditions, the beauty of its backwaters and its snake boat races. Driving home the point where attractions from the private partners: Eastend Hotels and Resorts, Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort, Poovar Island Resort, Somatheeram Ayurvedic Resort and Spiceland Holidays.

As was the case last year, the display was an instant hit with the hosts, resonating deeply with Chinese visitors who enjoy a similarly bountiful heritage. The stand saw an impressive number of footfalls as also inquiries particularly about Ayurveda, underscoring the great potential of its products, therapies and wellness packages in a market welcoming to alternative medicine.

“It speaks to the successful branding and marketing of Kerala that most of the visitors to the state pavilion knew about our Ayurveda, Kalaripayattu and our backwaters,” Mr. Jose said.

“That they wanted to know about our intellectual attractions like the Kochi -Muziris Biennale and our film, culture and dance festivals speak also to the worldliness of the Chinese traveller.”

As well, following a visit to Kochi last year by the Chinese Ambassador to India, the city became the first in India to gain membership to the Beijing-headquartered World Tourism Cities Federation Council, a 135-member league of leading tourism cities from across the globe.

An honour for the state that should pay immediate dividends: Foreign tourist arrivals to Kerala in 2015 have been provisionally tallied at nearly 9.8 lakh over the previous year’s figure of roughly 9.2 lakh.

With visitors, inquiries and interest in Kerala on the rise, the state’s star looks to soar in the Middle Kingdom.

Mr. Bandaru Wilsonbabu, First Secretary of the Indian Embassy in Beijing, visited the Kerala pavilion and offered the mission’s full support in helping to promote the state in China. Tourists from China are considered the highest -spending in the world. In 2014, Chinese tourists to India numbered nearly 2 lakh. The same period saw an increase of Chinese tourist inflow to Kerala.

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Bangladesh accounts for highest share of tourist arrivals followed by USA and UK in April 2016.

Rs. 11, 637 crores Foreign Exchange were earned through tourism in April 2016.

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he growth of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) has shown a steep growth by 10.7% growth in April 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015.

Bangladesh accounts for highest share of tourist arrivals followed by USA and UK in April 2016. Around Rs. 11, 637 crores Foreign Exchange were earned through tourism in April 2016.

The Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on the basis of Nationality -wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration

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(BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India.

The following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEEs from tourism during the month of April, 2016.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs): • FTAs during the Month of April, 2016 were 5.99 lakh as compared to FTAs of 5.42 lakh during the month of April, 2015 and 5.35 lakh in April,

2014. There has been a growth of 10.7% in April, 2016 over April, 2015.

• FTAs during the period January- April, 2016 were 31.08 lakh with a growth of 10.1% as compared to the FTAs of 28.23 lakh with a growth of 3.0% in January- April, 2015 over January- April, 2014.

• The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during April, 2016 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (18.09%) followed

by USA (12.24%), UK (9.58%), Sri Lanka (3.71%), Malaysia (3.23%), China (3.14%), Australia (3.05%), Germany (3.02%), France (2.86%), Canada (2.83%), Russian Federation (2.81%), Japan (2.50%), Nepal (2.07%), Singapore (1.85%) and Thailand (1.61%).

USA Continues to occupy top slot followed by UK and China amongst the countries availing e-Tourist Visa facility during May 2016. A total of 43,833 tourists arrived in May 2016 on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 15,659 during the month of May 2015 registering a growth of 179.9%.

Commencing from 27th November 2014 e-Tourist Visa facility was available until 25th February 2016 for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 Airports in India. The Government of India has extended this scheme for citizens of 37 more countries

w.e.f 26th February 2016 taking the tally to 150 countries.

During January- May, 2016, a total of 4,34,927 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1,10,657 during January - May 2015, registering a growth of 293.0% . This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 43 countries. The percentage shares of top 10 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during May, 2016 were USA (18.52%), UK (15.63%), China (8.17%), France

(5.16%), Germany (4.91%), Australia (4.50%), Canada (4.49%), UAE (3.01%), Russian Fed. (2.79%) and Malaysia (2.12%). The percentage shares of top Ten ports in tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during May, 2016 were New Delhi Airport (45.11%), Mumbai Airport (22.50%), Bengaluru Airport (9.00%), Chennai Airport (6.63%), Kochi Airport (3.68%), Goa Airport (2.86%), Hyderabad Airport (2.75%) Kolkata Airport (2.63%), Trivandrum Airport (1.42%) and Ahmadabad Airport (1.26%).

Tourism India | June 2016 | 25

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he stars from the Indian film fraternity will experience Qatar Airways’ award-winning hospitality while attending IIFA in Spain. Qatar Airways is the official airline sponsor of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) celebrations, the 17th edition of the awards, which honour excellence in Indian cinema across the global stage, will take place in Madrid on June 23 – 27.

To celebrate this sponsorship, Qatar Airways is offering an exclusive promotion for those travelling to Madrid to attend IIFA 2016.

Special promotional discounts will be offered on flights booked before June 26 for a travel period until July 6.

Passengers can benefit this special discount by making their booking through qatarairways.com/iifa2016-es and by entering the promotional code “MADIIFA16”.

Qatar Airways’ global has a network of more than 150 destinations, spanning six continents, puts Madrid and IIFA within easy reach for film fans and travellers from around the globe. The award ceremony will be attended by Indian and International movie legends, notable guests and dignitaries from across India as well as the world media.

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Europe, Mr. Jonathan Harding said: “We are delighted to be partnering

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with IIFA to promote this event around the world, to every destination we serve. This partnership truly reflects our core brand value of Going Places Together.

“The popularity of Indian cinema has grown exponentially over the years, reflected in the scale and extravaganza of the IIFA awards. As one of the fastest growing global airlines, operating two flights a day to Madrid and connecting to more than 150 destinations, Qatar Airways is well -positioned to offer its award -winning services to those attending the IIFA awards this year.”

Together Madrid and IIFA 2016 are getting ready to present guests with an incredible combination of India and Spain – two of the world’s most richly diverse countries and cultures. Popular Bollywood stars Farhan Akhtar and Shahid Kapoor will be hosting the IIFA awards this year, and the event will also feature spectacular performances from leading stars Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Sonakshi Sinha and Tiger Shroff.

Qatar Airways connects 13 destinations in India to Madrid via Doha and also offers seamless connecting flights from countries with large Indian communities such as the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, UK, Canada, South Africa and Australia.

Passengers travelling to Madrid will enjoy a quick and convenient transfer at Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, one of the world’s top 10 best airports. Within HIA, Qatar Duty Free offers travellers one of the most diverse travel retail and dining options available globally,

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Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to the MOU between India and Maldives for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism

he Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi granted ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Maldives for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism.

The Memorandum of Understanding with Maldives will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this important source market. In recent years, Maldives has emerged as an important tourism generating market for India.

The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are Expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector , Exchange information and data related to tourism, Encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders, including hotels and tour operators, Establish exchange programme for cooperation in Human Resources Development, Invest in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors, Exchange visits of Tour Operators/Media/ Opinion Makers for promotion of two-way tourism, Exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management, Participate in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country and promote safe honourable and sustainable tourism.

Tourism India | June 2016 | 27

Sanjay Kumar

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he holy bath of Kumbh equals to Punya or Religious merit to thousands of Kartik Snanas, hundreds of Magh Snanas, and crores of Narmada Snasas during Vaishakh month. It is believed that the holy Kumbh Snan equals to thousands of Asvamedha Yajnas, hundreds of Vaipaiyee Yajnas and lakh of journeys around the earth”. Skand Purana.

Simhastha, the celestial drama that unfolds every twelve years at Ujjain finds mention in the Hindu mythological tale of churning of the cosmic ocean by the gods and the demons. It is believed that the ocean bed first yielded fourteen gems, then Laxmi, the goddess of

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wealth and finally a vessel of Nectar.

In the scramble for immortality with the demons chasing the Gods across the skies, a few drops of the nectar spilled from the vessel fell at Haridwar, Nasik, Prayag and Ujjain. Therefore, the Kumbha Parva is celebrated at the interval of every twelve years at these places.

At Ujjain, Kumbh Mahaparv is called Simhastha Kumbh Mahaparv because the Sun is in the zodiac Aries and the Jupiter in the zodiac Leo when it takes place. There are ten unique and uncommon ‘Yogs’ which exits and facilitate the organizing of Simhastha Kumbh Mahaparv.

The specific feature of Kumbh or Simhastha is its association with Leo, thus

being famous as the Simhastha Parva. Following ten unique incidents happen on this occasion:• The month of Vaishakh • The bright fortnight • The full Moon day or Purnima • The Sun in the Aries or Mesha Rashi • The Brihaspati or Jupiter in Leo • The Moon in the Libra or Tula Rashi • The Vyatipata Yoga • The pious Monday • The holy Kshetra Avantika Millions of pilgrims and tourists from within India and abroad take the holy dip during the month long mega fair.

Procession of the Seers and Sages from various sects proceeding to take the holy dip in the Kshipra with their holy

machine has gone millions of years back. Another unique thing about the procession is that many of the seers and sages taking part in it come out of their places of penance only on this occasion. Entire city will drench in supreme bliss.

All the mundane differences and diversities disappear during the festival.

There is a sea of humanity surging like one organic whole, driven by the common desire to be one with the divine. They

Nishanas or Sartorial banners on specific ceremonial and ritual bath days is the most peculiar feature of the Simhastha. This gives a rare opportunity to the pilgrims to

have a glimpse of the kaleidoscopic religious and spiritual traditions of the Sanatan Dharma.

The seers and sages attired in their prescribed costumes take part in the procession. The Naga Sadhus are a special draw on the occasion. All of them follow in letter and spirit all the rituals and traditions of their respective sects prescribed thousands of years ago. The city reverberates with the chanting of mantras and hymns singing the glory of Shri Mahakaleshwar. The devotees and pilgrims lined up on either side shower flower petals on the procession, thereby paying their respects to the saints and sages. This is, indeed, a sight for the gods to see. The spectators feel as if the time

present a scene where they themselves become divine and anybody who joins them become one with the divine.

They get unified in one existence, the ultimate.

An age old tradition of brainstorming and exchange of views by saints and scholars during the Simhastha on contemporary world issues will also take place during the time.

During Simhastha, seminars on value-based life and other relevant subjects like essential unity of religious environment act are also organized in the State. Based on the conclusion of these seminars, the ‘Maha -Sangoshthi’ (main seminar) will be held at Ujjain. At the final leg of this brainstorming the Simhastha declaration is issued to give the world the message of peace, harmony and co-existence.

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or development of tourism infrastructure in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme - Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits, in 2014-15.

Eco Circuit has been identified as one of the thirteen thematic circuits for development under the scheme. The Ministry has sanctioned Rs. 80.37 Cr for Integrated Development of Eco-Tourism, Adventure Sports, and Associated Tourism related Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings as New Destination-District Tehri in , Uttarakhand and Rs. 99.22 Cr for Development of Pathanamthitta – Gavi – Vagamon – Thekkady as Eco Tourism Circuit in Idduki and

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Pathanamthitta Districts in Kerala. Telengana will also get Rs 91.62 Cr for Integrated Development of Eco Tourism Circuit in Mahaboobnagar district under Swadesh Darshan scheme.

The Ministry of Tourism has also sanctioned Rs. 722.15 Cr for various project from the North East States under the themes of North East India Circuit, Wildlife Circuit and Tribal Circuit of Swadesh Darshan scheme. Arunachal Pradesh will get Rs. 49.77 Cr for Development of Bhalukpong-Bomdila-Tawang circuit during 2014-15 financial year and Rs 97.14 Cr. For Integrated Development of Adventure Tourism in the state in 2015-16 period.

Manipur will get Rs 89.66 cr for Development of Tourist

Circuit in Manipur: Imphal -Moirang-Khongjom-Moreh and Sikkim got Rs 98.05 Cr for Development of Tourist Circuit linking – Rangpo (entry) – Rorathang - Aritar Phadamchen – Nathang – Sherathang – Tsongmo – Gangtok – Phodong – Mangan – Lachung - Yumthang – Lachen – Thangu Gurudongmer – Mangan – Gangtok – Tumin Lingee – Singtam (exit) circuit while Tripura state will get Rs 99.59 Cr for Development of North East Circuit : Agartala – Sipahijala – Melaghar – Udaipur – Amarpur – Tirthamukh – Mandirghat – Dumboor- NarikelKunja – Gandachara – Ambassa circuit during 2015-16 financial year period.

Nagaland will get Rs. 97.36 Cr for Development of Tribal Circuit Peren –Kohima-Wokha under Tribal circuit scheme and Rs 94.91 Cr allotted to Mizoram for Integrated Development of New Eco -Tourism at Thenzawl, Reike& South Zote under Eco Circuit plan. Rs. 95.67 Cr is the Assam’s share to develop a new Wildlife Circuit in the North Eastern hub.

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ith the objective of promoting Cruise Tourism in India, a Task Force on Cruise Tourism has been constituted by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The Task Force comprises members from the Central Ministries, State Governments, various Port Trusts and Private sector.

The maiden Maritime India Summit, 2016 (MIS-2016) was organized by the Ministry of Shipping in April 2016. The objective of the Summit was to create awareness of the untapped potential of Indian maritime sector and showcase investment opportunities. The focus was on presenting India

as an attractive investment destination and encourages potential investors for investing in the Indian Maritime Sector.

As per the decisions taken by the Task Force on Cruise Tourism, Port Level Facilitation Committees have been set up

by Port authorities under the Chairmanship of respective Port Trust Chairman for coordinating logistic issues with all concerned agencies prior to the landing of cruise vessels.

Tourism India | June 2016 | 31

Dimora is an Italian word which means ‘dwelling’ and the hospitality here gives a feeling of home away from home.

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‘feel at home’ abode is the basic desire or rather a wish of every human, when he/she steps out from their home.

Apollo Dimora, a new entrant in the hospitality sphere of Capital of God’s Own Country, will give such a cosy atmosphere and give you a homely feeling. Dimora is an Italian word which means ‘dwelling’ and the hospitality here gives a feeling of home away from home.

Located at Thampanoor in Thiruvananthapuram, Apollo Dimora is a high-end luxury hotel which is set to become a distinct and recognizable icon for the capital city.

Thampanoor being the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, Dimora gains an added value of being in a convenient location for the travellers who opt for a comfy hotel for their comfort. It has a beautifully designed facade with seven storied twin towers and ultra-modern features, located just opposite to Central

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Railway station and adjacent to Transport bus station.

Dimora parades four star luxuries with 135 rooms, including 10 suits and 5 deluxe rooms with categories ranging from 280 to 500 sq.ft. Dimora consider guests as kings, so they offer high end amenities paired with a host of tailored features to make the guest’s stay even more memorable.

To satisfy the needs and tastes of the guests, Dimora maintain the position as a four star business class hotel with round the clock assistance to ensure a comfort. A multi -cuisine and Coffee Shop restaurant ‘Cafe Hive’ is the highlight of Dimora. For veggies, ‘Vega Dimora’ serves lunch and dinner where dishes are prepared in a separate vegetarian kitchen.

Guests can refresh themselves by visiting the fully equipped fitness centre which provide healthy workout as per convenience. Apart from this, the facilities range from

swimming pool, doctor on call, valet parking, currency exchange, smoking lounge and even room for differently-abled.

Dimora has designed both the banquet and conference hall for high-profile meetings which are well-equipped with audio-visual facilities necessary for grand events or business meetings.

To draw a brief background, Apollo Dimora is an offering from Apollo Builders, a fully integrated construction company that covers the residential, commercial and hospitality sector.

They have delivered praiseworthy projects in Kerala and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. Backed with their experience and expertise, Apollo aims at raising the benchmark in the hospitality sector to widen their arena of talent.

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ver 101 experiences to choose from Cook with Grand Hyatt Goa chefs, learn to make Indian -inspired cocktails, rejuvenate at Shamana Spa, savour Modern Australian cuisine at The Verandah, indulge in fondue at Capiz Bar or simply hit the adventure zone for an adrenaline rush with a selection of seven restaurants and bars, an extensive spa, a versatile recreational menu and a sailing centre, Grand Hyatt Goa has something for everyone.

Set on the calm waters of Bambolim Bay, the resort offers

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a wide range of things to do for both you and your family. Its recreation team has an array of adventuresome and exciting to choose from, including wall -climbing, aqua-zorbing, soccer, archery, zip-line, flying fox, wild-web rope course, cycling, functional training and boot camp. These are only some of the many activities that take place on the expansive lawns.

Walk into the Capiz Bar on Mondays to experience new beer and food pairings. Rejuvenate at the Shamana Spa on Tuesdays with a detox program that

includes a combination of yoga, aqua exercise, lymphatic drainage, and a royal wellness bath along with healthy drinks and herbal teas. Come Wednesday and indulge in the seafood night market in the gardens serving a large variety of fresh seafood and live music and entertainment. Gather around the fireplace at the Capiz Bar on Thursdays for an evening of cocktails and music. Enjoy al fresco evenings on Friday at the Pool Bar and Grill with DJ Thelma. And, of course, Sundays will beguile you with the ever -popular Champagne Brunch at The Dining Room.

Kids can have their own little holiday at Camp Hyatt - a recreation centre designed to provide the perfect amount of fun and games for children below 12 years of age. Grand Hyatt Goa makes sure you have all the boxes ticked for a truly

unforgettable memory; culture, cuisine, festivity and a collection of unique experiences; there is something for everyone.

Some recreational activities available at the resort like Zip-line: This heart-pounding adventure will eliminate your fear of heights! When suspended from a cable and moving freely along it, you’ll feel an exciting adrenaline rush! Wild-web rope course includes a combination of both vertical and horizontal challenges, and is constructed from wood, cables and ropes installed above ground and strung between trees and poles.

This course is open to all age groups and is not as easy as it looks! Zoccer is an insane mix of football (soccer) and zorbing.

Zoccer tackles send you bouncing and reeling across the pitch but protected by an inflated zorb. You can crash into other players and create may

hem without causing any bodily injury! Aqua Aerobics is a form of aerobic exercise that requires water-immersed participation.

The classes focus on aerobic endurance and resistance, and the creation of an enjoyable atmosphere with background music. Different forms of water aerobics include: Aqua Zumba, yoga, and aqua aerobics.

Yoga for kids matters because every child is born divine, and as we grow up, they say that we lose our connections with our inner selves. This is why yoga and meditation bring children closer to who they really are and lead the way to a better world. Scheduled yoga technique like poses, sun salutation, breathing, yoga nidra & guided meditation are practiced with fun activities.

Aquasail sailing centre at the resort is the only sailing center in

India, based at a 5-star resort. A great experience awaits you with a top-of-the-line fleet and certified instructors allowing individuals and groups to achieve the best in sailing. Wall-climbing activity is designed to offer the thrill of being outdoors and makes use of an artificial wall created by our outdoor adventure experts. This offers unmatched challenges. Cycling: Pick up a cycle and pedal around round the sprawling lawns of the resort. Cycling can also be an immensely challenging physical activity. Flying Fox offers the thrilling choice of either gliding like an eagle or flying like over our lawn. A flying fox is an overhead cable strung between two points and the participant flies along a pulley. It’s like being on an aerial runway!

Drone mania: Drones are remote-controlled flying robots that can do all sorts of exciting things, from zooming along the ground and jumping over obstacles, or flying high into the sky and hovering motionless.

Boot camp is a fitness boot camp provides a physical training programme conducted by personal trainers and is designed to build strength and fitness through a variety of intense group activities for over an hour.

Yoga with live music: session comprises meditation, mindfulness and re-awakened energy that will leave the participant feeling happy and relaxed from head to toe, body and soul. Live Indian music compliments this peaceful yoga session.

Tourism India | June 2016 | 35

Shahnaz Husain*

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ou do not have to be born beautiful. Beauty can be acquired. I have always said that good health and beauty are two sides of the same coin.

Unless you are healthy from the inside, you cannot reflect true beauty. For a flawless skin, shiny hair and a slim figure, good health must be on top of the list. In fact, I promoted the Ayurvedic principles of holistic health,

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with Yoga as an integral part of the program. This concept of holistic beauty care was unique and caught on worldwide. In fact, I believe that yoga is very relevant to our modern lifestyle, in terms of both health and beauty. Personally, it has been a part of my life and I have experienced its numerous benefits.

One of the important part of the Yoga, Pranayam is necessary for beautiful skin and hair, as it helps to reduce

stress, increase oxygenation and improve blood circulation.

Some asanas that help beauty are Uttanasana, Utkatasana, Shirsasna and Halasana. Surya namaskar is also most beneficial.

The appeal of Yoga lies in the fact that it helps both body and mind. It not only works on all the muscle groups, but also increases vitality, tones the internal organs, stimulates the nerve centres, relieves stress and clears the mind. Although it is an ancient Indian discipline, it has also gained relevance as a means of attaining a well-balanced personality and delaying the visible signs of ageing.

The other important aspect of Yoga is that it involves breath control and specifies the inhalation and exhalation of breath during the exercises.

Thus, it helps oxygenation. It imparts a feeling of physical and mental exhilaration. This is so important for beauty, because feeling good is an integral part of looking good.

Yoga improves blood

circulation, including the circulation of blood to the skin surface. This is important for the good health of the skin, as it helps to supply essential nutrients to the skin. It also promotes the removal of toxins through the skin. This is important, especially in cases of skin congestion. It tones the skin, improves oxygenation to the skin, imparts a beautiful glow and keeps the skin youthful and free from problems. Similarly, all these benefits are for our hair also.

When we talk of beauty, we do not talk only about the beauty of the face. It also includes the figure, giving it suppleness, good posture and grace. As far as the appearance is concerned, practice of Yoga helps you having a slim figure which can take years off and helps in staying youthful for a longer time. It supplies oxygen to every tissue and this itself makes way for both health and beauty. The yogic asanas are designed to keep the spine and joints flexible and supple. They make the body strong and

agile, tone the muscles, improve blood circulation, impart vitality and enhance both beauty and good health.

Many beauty problems are triggered off by stress. Since yoga helps to induce relaxation and reduce stress, it certainly helps in dealing with stress -related conditions like acne, hair loss, dandruff, etc. Studies conducted on those who practice yoga have shown that positive changes also occur in the personality, in attitudes, emotional stability, self -confidence. It has a direct effect on the mind, emotions and mood. In fact, it is a regular stress-buster and puts the glow back on the skin. You will feel instantly rejuvenated and good about yourself.

Indeed, the benefits of Yoga reflect as external beauty. For a flawless skin, shiny hair and a slim, graceful figure, make yoga a part of your daily life. *** *Shahnaz Husain is a herbal beauty expert who has been awarded Padma Shri

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Rajvi H Mehta*

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hen PM Narendra Modi suggested to the United Nations (UN) that we should celebrate an International Day of Yoga, a record number of UN Member States accepted the proposition and passed a resolution without even a vote.

Last year 192 nations celebrated this day on June 21.

The Universal acceptance of this proposition indicates that the representatives of the different nations had either experienced yoga, heard about yoga or read about its benefits and thus there was no need to discuss or debate or vote on yoga. Therefore, we cannot forget the stalwarts in the field of yoga in the last century who relentlessly worked to make this unknown subject known across the globe – because of which this proposition could be universally adopted.

One of the greatest contributors to the ‘universalisation’ of yoga has been Yogacharya BKS Iyengar who taught yoga for 82 years of his life. He started yoga to overcome ill-health and having a first-hand experience of

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human suffering, he started on a mission to help the others who suffered. Human suffering knows no nationality or religion or socio economic stature. Sufferings can be physical, mental, emotional or intellectual. Yoga can be a means for overcoming or withstanding it so that we progress stoically in this journey of life. In his own words, “Yoga cures what need not be endured and endures what cannot be cured.”

2500 years ago, Sage Patanjali who codified the system of yoga into Yoga sutras, clearly stated in the 30th sutra of the first chapter that the major obstacles in our life are disease, dullness which is physical in nature; doubt, negligence, idleness lack of moderation which are mental obstacles; living under illusions which is an intellectual limitation, and inability to hold on to what has been achieved and a scattered and oscillating mind which has intellectual as well as spiritual limitations.

Yoga is a means to free all of these.

This path to yoga is eight fold. The first two are yama and niyama [moral and social discipline] teach us the art of living our lives. The next two are asana [moulding the body into various positions], pranayama [regulation of the life force] which are experimental sciences; while the next three pratyahara, dharana and dhyana are experiential philosophies which cannot even be expressed, while Samadhi is a state of eternal bliss. Thus, of these 8 aspects, the only two that can be done by an individual [as the rest are experiential] are asanas and pranayama. That is the reason, the world often associates yoga with asana and pranayama. And, it is only through these asanas and pranayama that you can experience the other aspects of yoga - ultimately letting one experience divine bliss. How far we progress in the path would depend upon the intensity of our practices.

The asanas and pranayama are performed by the human embodiment which includes the musculo-skeletal body, the organic body comprising of the various physiological systemsthe mind, the breath, the senses and the consciousness.

Thus, their practice affects all these systems of the practitioner and good health, freedom from suffering, the removal of ease from the dis-ease are all the effects of yogic practices.

A lot of concern is often laid on whether yoga is really universal but these issues are baseless and more due to the figment of imagination. Human

suffering is universal and the means - the asanas and pranayama- are done by the human embodiment - which also does not differentiate between nationalities, religion or socio economic conditions.

In fact, it is so overwhelming when the practice of yoga strengthens one’s faith in one’s own religion. One of the most touching episode for the writer was at a workshop in Amman which was attended by mostly Arab men and women. At the end of the session, while the rest of the group was collecting yoga mats, Suleima asked for a mat to be kept aside. All were perplexed. It was time for namaz and she prayed on the mat.

When Guruji Iyengar first started teaching public classes in UK in the 1960s, the Inner London Education authority asked for yoga to be introduced in their curriculum.

But, there was a condition – there should be no reference to spirituality or religion. Guruji Iyengar respected their condition. He started teaching

them asanas on the so-called physical plane, not referring to the Sanskrit names of the asanas or quoting the sutras. Over a period of time, the practice of asanas started transforming the individuals and they wanted to know more, where and how they originated, the philosophy and today, the Sanskrit names of the asanas, the integration of Patanjali’s philosophy has become an integral part of all Iyengar Yoga students and teachers. The point is to begin and the practice transforms. Be it China or the USA; be it Israel or Iran, be it Malaysia or Philippines, be it man or woman, rich or poor, Spanish or English or Hindi speaking – Yoga sees no difference and we all practice together. The point is that yoga is associated with flexibility – not merely of the body but the mind too – which makes us accept and respect all living being on this earth. This is not enforced, but happens.

So Yoga, in a way, has united the world, even if it is small representations from the member countries for just a day of celebrations. With time and the increase in awareness of yoga, more people are bound to join this practice.

So, yoga which originates from the Sanskrit yuj which means to yoke, join, unite has the ability and the celebration of the yoga day is reflective of this word. Sage Patañjali had used the term sarvabhauma indicating that yoga is for one and all. It is universal. *Rajvi Mehta is a senior Iyengar Yoga teacher at Iyengar Yogashraya, Mumbai.

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Abhishek Dayal*

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serious health time-bomb is ticking for the nation. To give but one example: experts recently warned that more than 10 crore people are likely to be affected by Diabetes in India in the next ten years.

Diabetes not only leads to fall in quality of life and productivity, it is also life threatening.

Falling health standards in adult population in India is evident from increase in all types of non-infectious illnesses like cancer, kidney, lung and heart failures, spinal

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problems and many others.

Fighting for the health of the nation has become a collective challenge for the individual, families and the society. Although there is no one cause leading to this depressing scenario, but three main culprits can easily be identified: poor lifestyle choices, pollution, and lack of preventive healthcare and remedies at the onset of illness.

The nation suffers from falling health of its citizen through fall in productivity and huge amounts of money that has to be spent on public health care. A healthy citizen makes for a healthy nation.

Going to the root of the problem Mr. Narendra Modi i, Prime Minister dentified practice of Yoga as a solution for restoring the health of the citizens. This solution is unique

as it seeks to involve each and every Indian in fight against ill-health. The cost to the society for adopting a healthier life through Yoga is virtually zero. The allied benefits of sharper mind, a peaceful mind and possible spiritual benefits makes the solution even more unique!

In a recent interview, Mr. Shripad Yasso Naik AYUSH Minister was asked why Indians are not fit if they know of benefits of Yoga since centuries. His answer was simple and straightforward- he said “because Indians don’t do it!”

The benefits of Yoga are known and proven. Yoga has been a part of our culture and folklore for ages. Simple Yogic exercises are known by a large chunk of our people. Its acceptance cuts across all sectarian and class divides. Still it requires a massive government effort for spreading the awareness, simply because like many other things traditional, Yoga had lost out by not being fashionable for a long period.

This author was in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the celebration of the first International Yoga Day last June. A big, curious crowd had gathered at the picturesque Galle Face Greens to participate in the event, including a group of journalists who had come to cover the event. They seemed bemused: they felt it was like another rock music event, where one comes for entertainment and to be ‘seen’ with the happening crowd. These journalists were also invited to participate in the 45 minute long session led by a local Yoga expert. The results were amusing and instructive.

The journos were first impressed by the strain that their bodies showed when they did the ‘simple’ Yoga exercises.

During the next few days almost all of them discussed among themselves how their bodies had reacted after the session and by the weekend some of them had joined the Yoga classes at the Indian Cultural Centre in the city. A year on, this group has become Yoga enthusiasts and have made Yoga an integral part of their life.

Why is this anecdote important? It shows two things: One, that Yoga is universal, effective and easy to communicate, and two, that it requires an initial push to take it to a community, after which a momentum builds around it and it spreads its roots.

There has been any number of studies to show the direct benefits of Yoga for people suffering from many life -threatening disorders like falling lung or kidney functions. To the patients of these illnesses, medical practitioners need to prescribe exercises for improvement in quality of life. But for a modern, relatively healthy citizen, whose lifestyle is such that he or she is susceptible to these diseases, it needs a social awareness campaign to take the message of benefits of Yoga.

It has only been a year since the first Yoga day was globally celebrated. In this one year, the tremendous increase in the number of instructors who have learnt Yoga, the thousands of resident communities that have started morning Yoga classes across the country and the general awareness of the diverse benefits of Yoga to the citizen, and hence the nation, shows that a fire has been lit, and that it is spreading like wildfire.

By giving a place to Yoga in our daily lives, we can look forward to a healthier and happier India in years to come.

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) 72nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) unanimously endorsed a resolution denouncing the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products and pledging to partner with government authorities and conservation organizations in the fight 42 | Tourism India | June 2016

against the traffickers of endangered animals. “The illegal wildlife trade threatens the survival of many endangered species, the local communities and businesses that depend on them, and poses a risk to health and safety. In line with our broad commitment to sustainability,

the airline industry is reinforcing its role by helping to shut down the vile activities of poaching and trafficking,� said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. The resolution urges governments to commit additional resources to address illegal trafficking and calls on airlines to: Increase passenger, client, customer and employee awareness about the nature, scale and consequences of the illegal wildlife trade Partner with airports, freight forwarders and other stakeholders to work proactively with enforcement agencies and conservation organizations to address the

problem Consider the adoption of appropriate policies and procedures to discourage trafficking through awareness programs, information sharing and incident reporting In March 2016 IATA was among the signatories to the Buckingham Palace Declaration supporting the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce initiative of The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The resolution also encourages airlines individually to sign the Declaration.

In a recorded message to the AGM delegates, His Royal Highness Prince William the

Duke of Cambridge urged the industry to unite in support of this cause.

"Many airlines, and your association IATA, have already signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration, pledging your support for our aims. IATA has been instrumental in helping set up workshops to raise awareness and educate front-line staff to spot smugglers in the act. The more of you that can join us in this work, the more powerful our deterrence activities will be.

These criminal gangs are exploiting the incredible global aviation network you have built, and it needs nothing short of a global coalition to find them and stop them,” said

the Duke of Cambridge.

“We all have a responsibility to protect our planet and its diverse ecology. I am aware of the important goals you have set for capping and reducing carbon emissions from civil air transport. This is to your credit and shows the power of aviation when it comes together as a force for good.

Now I ask you to make a commitment to our planet’s wildlife, to join us and help save our most precious animals for future generations to enjoy,” said the Duke.

“We are honored that the Duke of Cambridge has recognized aviation’s role in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. Aviation has taken a responsible approach to its sustainable development. We are determined to ensure that the global air transport network will not be exploited for the nefarious purposes of illegal wildlife traders,” said Tyler.

The resolution furthers the airline industry’s heightened activity in this area. At the 71st IATA AGM last year, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Two awareness-raising workshops for airline and airport staff have been held at international airports in Nairobi and Bangkok. In addition, IATA joined the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership. New guidance material for airlines has been published, and an IATA Environment Committee Wildlife Taskforce has been set up to monitor progress and provide advice on the next steps.

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unedin is New Zealand’s city of firsts – first city, first university... turns out, it’s also the place to work up a thirst.

Quirky, Gaelic-infused Dunedin is New Zealand’s city of firsts – first city, first newspaper, first university... turns out, it’s also the place to work up a thirst. From kitchen experiments to a friend’s garage and award-winning brews, New Zealand craft brewer Richard Emerson is brewing up to open New Zealand’s newest craft beer destination – a shiny new brewery and visitor centre in central Dunedin.

In New Zealand’s short European history, the Scots -founded South Island city of Dunedin has a proud history of pioneering firsts - first city (proclaimed in 1868), first main centre with a daily newspaper (The Otago Daily Times, 1861), first southern hemisphere city to receive live fish eggs from England (salmon ova, 1868), and that was just the beginning.

Meanwhile, almost 150 years on, the pipes still sound, the newspaper prints, the salmon bite and Dunedin’s appetite and enthusiasm for creating firsts hasn’t waned – step up Emerson’s, one of New Zealand’s first and most successful, independent breweries, soon to celebrate its 23rd anniversary and make its next big move in mid-2016.

Emerson’s Brewery has been turning out consistently awarding-winning stouts, 44 | Tourism India | June 2016

lagers, ales and more since 1993, and is soon to move into big new premises designed to let beer enthusiasts get up close and personal with their favourite tipple, and the people who make it.

The brewery and the beers are the creation of Richard Emerson, food technician turned brewmeister, who started out making beer in his downtime at work and then in the family kitchen, before moving into a friend’s garage in 1988.

While his parents may have been happy to get the kitchen back, they were also very supportive in those early days, as Richard mastered the art of brewing, becoming a master brewer in the process. It always was, he says, a labour of love, and still is.

In fact, he’s often said he’s on a search for the “Holy Grail of Ale”, with presumably no shortage of would-be knights to accompany him. Richard travels widely in the course of his work and says that while some beers he’s sampled have come close, there’s been no “perfect 10”, not even of his own invention. And yet he makes it sound easy: “The vision I have is a simple honest 4% golden ale that has the right yeast flavour and juicy hop combination yet drinks like a good four-pinter!” Even now, Richard is surprised – and pleased – there are still things to learn In the meantime there are plenty of stars coming off the bottling line, winning fans,

accolades and medals along the way. There’s a stable of regulars – from the sessionable Bookbinder, best sellers Pilsner and 1812 Pale Ale, through to the heftier Taieri George Porter, named for Richard’s father George and released every year on 6 March.

Another annual release is the JP range, named in honour of Jean-Pierre Dufour, formerly Dean of Food Sciences at the University of Otago, an icon in the international brewing industry and a valued friend of Richard and his company. Every year the JP is different – in 2015 it’s a Belgian Specialty Strong Ale, described in the notes as having a “candy shop aroma with a delicate rich body and fruity caramel- toffee finish: enjoy with a spicy tagine or apple pie”.

Matching food and drink is something usually associated with wine, but it’s just as appropriate with different styles of beer, Richard says, and it gives him an excuse for not naming his favourite.

“After all those years, no one gives me a break with that question,” he laughs. “What I try to explain is that I don’t have a favourite beer but

Travel Tips

chose the beer to match my mood, the occasion, the time of the day or even with the whisky that I want to enjoy … heck, there’s an excuse for a beer any time.”

Such as moving into a new building the brewery is in the process of shifting again, the fourth time since opening – although this time, it’s purpose built. In 2012, Richard and the other shareholders sold the brewery to Lion Nathan, one of New Zealand’s largest brewing companies, but he has stayed on the payroll to lead the 12-strong team and look to the future.

“It’s been two years in the planning, which may seem a long time but it is worth it as we want to get it right,” he says of the complex taking shape just across the railway lines. “It’s going to enable us to do more things that we had never been able to do before – there’ll be more space, a retail area, a bar for visitors; somewhere that people can touch, smell, taste and experience more about Emerson’s -exciting days ahead!”

Emerson’s new “spiritual home” at 80 Anzac Ave is progressing rapidly with the new taproom and restaurant

on schedule to open in July.

Large windows will allow visitors to the brewery to watch the brew crew ply their trade while enjoying lunch with views of the Dunedin cityscape. The new cellar door will be an enhanced experience and the long awaited tours will become a highlight of the new premises.

In the meantime lucky locals can also find the full range of Emerson’s beers at selected outlets throughout the country. There are not plans to export overseas just yet, Richard says. “We’ve been busy looking after the local market first to make sure that everyone we supply doesn’t run out - especially our keg beers, because there’s nothing worse than a dry tap at the bar.”

Richard Emerson’s top things to do in Dunedin: Dunedin is spoilt for choice - firstly, on the waterfront, Starfish at St Clair is a lovely place to wash the salt breeze from your mouth after a walk on the beach, perhaps a relaxing drive to Carey’s Bay Historic Hotel, just beyond Port Chalmers, for a delicious seafood lunch and a pint of Emerson’s Pilsner.

On the way back, drop into

Dunedin is located almost at the bottom of the South Island, 360km from Christchurch down State Highway 1. The airport has several flights a day from major New Zealand airports including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The Southern Scenic Route travels north from Invercargill to Dunedin via the spectacular Catlins Coast.

While Dunedin itself is a vibrant small city, within a short drive of the city there’s a lot to do, including the world -renowned albatross colony on the Otago Peninsula. The winter resort of Queenstown is a 3.5-hour drive, while the historic delights of Oamaru are just an hour north of Dunedin. the Portsider for tasty tapas with the fine range of beers.

Inchbar, at the Gardens traffic lights, is one of Emerson’s oldest customers and an eclectic bar where you’re bound to end up chatting with the locals.

A train ride up the Taieri Gorge is an excellent choice. A relaxing trip as you can enjoy a few bottles of Emerson’s beer while watching the scenery roll by.

Once you’re off the train, walk up Stuart Street into Albar for a few pints of hand -pumped beers and a whisky to match. If it’s cold outside you can ask for a hot water bottle.

Fancy a beer and pizza? Stroll into the exchange area to Zucchini Bros (zucchinibros. co.nz).

And of course from mid2016, the Emerson’s Taproom and Restaurant at 80 Anzac Ave. Tourism India | June 2016 | 45

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acations to San Francisco can be absolutely rewarding as this city’s natural beauty and iconic attractions charms visitors all the way. Visitors have multiple options to explore activities in San Francisco! One who visits this destination must see attractions, festivals and events, take sightseeing tours, 46 | Tourism India | June 2016

explore the expansive parks, San Francisco has it all.

From amazing views and a sea of sea lions to chowder bread bowls and California wines, your visit to San Francisco starts at Pier 39. Kick off your visit by exploring two levels of dining, entertainment, shopping and attractions, all surrounded by unbeatable

views of the city and the bay.

Once called "the bridge that couldn't be built," today it is one the seven wonders of the modern world. This 1.7-mile-long Golden Gate Bridge -- one of America's top ten construction marvels -- is a must-see. To experience this breadth taking iconic landmark one can take a helicopter flight in the sunset, or take a Bay Cruise under the Bridge, drive across or even ride the bicycle with your family along the Bridge!

California Academy of Sciences is home to engaging exhibits and shows, charismatic live animals from around the world, and a fascinating team of scientists and presenters working to explore, explain, and sustain the diversity of life.

Exploratorium is a home

-grown, hands-on museum igniting curiosity and inspiring creativity in people of all ages. Visitors can explore more than 600 hands-on exhibits, including 150 new experiences and enjoy breathtaking views of the city and bay in the spectacular glass-and-steel Bay Observatory.

More than 75 percent of visitors to San Francisco's include Fisherman's Wharf on their itinerary.

Waterfront marketplaces and the Wharf's famous fishing fleet make this a lovable attraction among visitors. Fishing boats, sea lions basking in the sun, seafood stalls, steaming crab cauldrons, seafood restaurants and sourdough French bread bakeries are the highlights. Souvenir shops and historic ships add to the atmosphere. The historic F-Line streetcar and two cable car lines terminate in the area and sightseeing boats and boat charters link to Alcatraz ("The Rock"), Angel Island and other points around San Francisco Bay. The historic heart of San Francisco, Chinatown is the oldest and one of the largest in the United States. The entrance to Chinatown at Grant Avenue and Bush Street is called the "Dragon's Gate."

Inside are 24 blocks of hustle and bustle, most of it taking place along Grant, the oldest street in San Francisco. This city within a city is best explored on foot; exotic shops, food markets, temples and small museums comprise its boundaries. Visitors can buy herbal remedies, enjoy samples at a tea bar or order a "dim sum" lunch.

Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar.K.V on behalf of Tourism India Publications Pvt. Ltd, PRL A 14/1, Tourism house, Panickers lane, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum, Kerala, India 695010 Printed at Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695 010 Editor: Ravisankar.K.V

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Tourism India

Vol. 19

No.02 June 2016

RNI. No.: KERBIL/1998/7642