TOURISM INDIA APRIL 2015

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India at ITB Berlin Budget and Tourism Jordan to Enthrall Visitors

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Embrace the New, the Disruptive and the Innovative

“T

he random power of disruption is no stranger to our own sector as it thrives on disruption. We always anticipate it and we have learned to dealt with it. The world’s most successful Travel & Tourism companies are those which are brave enough to embrace disruption and focus on the benefits of reinvention and innovation.” That is the message from Mr. David Scowsill, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), as he opens the organization’s Global Summit in Madrid recently.

“Reinventing the customer experience is key, because at the heart of this era of almost unparalleled disruption, are the shifting trends and expectations of the consumer. We must never lose sight of that. It is the consumer who drives all this change, and it is the consumer that leaps quickly to new brands that satisfy their demands.”

“The fast growth of mobile applications is rapidly changing consumer habits, and it is not just amongst younger travellers. It is becoming a serious game-changer for our industry. Social media has become a powerful two-way communication channel, which is a significant force to be reckoned with. Everywhere we look; the tradition is being contested and disrupted by the shock of the new. In response, established industry players continue to reinvent the way that they do business.”

On the other side International tourism receipts increased by US$ 48 billion in 2014 to reach a record US$ 1,245 billion. An additional US$ 221 billion was generated from international passenger transport, bringing total exports from international tourism up to US$ 1.5 trillion.

According to Taleb Rifai. UNWTO Secretary-General, “International tourism is an increasingly significant component of international trade as seen in export earnings from international tourism and passenger transport, which reached US$ 1.5 trillion in 2014. In a scenario with decreasing commodity prices, spending on international tourism grew significantly in 2014, proving the sector’s capacity to stimulate economic growth, boost exports and create jobs”.

Indian Tourism industry is also thriving in many areas at par with global prospects , at the same time some traditional tourism areas are still going through the global recession effects. New technology and changing customer behavior patterns are not yet analyzed properly to regain the lost market share.

Industry must work together for better understanding and brighter future with more focused and planning approach.

Ravisankar K.V.

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April 2015 Vol No. 16 No 12 Price: India INR 75 US$ 4.99 GBP 2.99

Managing Editor Ravisankar.K.V Executive Editor Rajani A Consulting Editor Biju Thomas Art Editor N Bhattathiri Senior Correspondent Ganesh Mohan 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 – 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

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India Shines at ITB Berlin

18 The Budget Entices the Tourism Sector

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A Testimony of Faith

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April 2015 Vol. 16 No. 12 Price: India ` 75 US$ 4.99 GBP 2.99

India at ITB Berlin Budget and Tourism Jordan to Enthrall Visitors

Cover photograph was taken at Wayanad, Kerala during MTB 2015 Kerala

by Mr. Umesh/foveafoto

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50 cr for Nabakalebar Rath Yathra festival

Jordan to Enthrall Visitors

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The World Cup of Wild Life

DOWN MEMORY LANE

The Land of Ganga Girija Chandran

50 Make it Happen 9

I

ndia Pavilion won the 2nd place for the Best Stand in the Asia, Australia and Oceania category at the ITB held in Berlin, Germany during 4th to 8th March, 2015. The ITB Berlin (InternationaleTourismus -Börse Berlin) is the world's largest tourism trade fair.

India showcased its rich cultural heritage at the fair.

Brand India was projected to the whole world through marketing of the brand “Incredible India” with the help of outdoor media by branding

buses and outdoor backlit billboards. Evoking the Buddhist heritage of India, the pavilion was built with the Sanchi Stupa in the middle and trade partners all around. It symbolized Indian civilization that is built around the values that the Stupa stood for.

Various activities that were performed at the Indian Pavilion caught the attention and participation of the visitors from around the world. The Yoga workshops were held every two hours where many

Indian culture and tradition was depicted through various other activities and the audiences were involved by organizing competitions like sari draping, palm reading contest and Bollywood dance contests.

people interested in the practice of Yoga participated and learnt the art of meditation. Indian culture and tradition was depicted through various other activities and the audiences were involved by organizing competitions like sari draping, palm reading contest and Bollywood dance contests. H.E Vijay Gokhale, India’s Ambassador to Germany also attended the event and gave away the prizes to the winners.

Mr. Suman Bill IAS, Joint Secretary -Tourism, Government of Indi, Ms. Roma Singh Nongpiur, Director of India Tourism, Germany and Indian Tourism officials with ITB best stand award

Maldives – the official partner country of ITB Berlin 2016 : official signing in ceremony between Mr. David Ruetz, ITB Berlin Exhibition Director and Mr. Abdulla Ziyath, Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing & PR Cooperation (MMPRC)

Besides cultural activities, a press conference was also organized at the fair so that the participants can know Indian culture and interact with representatives of our country.

The Ministers of Tourism of states of Orissa and Uttar Pradesh, Chief Secretary (Uttar Pradesh), Additional Chief Secretary (Tamil Nadu) and Dy. Head of Mission and representatives from the states were present at the press conference. The Tour Operators’ Breakfast meeting was also organized where over 80 tour operators mostly based out of Germany attended the meeting. Many important issues were raised at the press conference and Tour Operators meeting. These

Ms. Shubhdarshini Tripathi, Deputy Chief of Mission India Embassy Berlin lighting the traditional lamp to inaugurate the Kerala Tourism pavilion in the presence of Mr. Suman Bill IAS, Joint Secretary -Tourism, Government of India and Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao IAS, Secretary, Kerala Tourism

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issues included safety and security of women tourists, fears of introducing a biometric recording in the country of origin for visa applicants and lack of a strong campaign in overseas markets.

All these concerns were well received at the India Forum. The Indian government clarified to the Secretary General of the UNWTO that Indian Government has zero tolerance for any threat to the safety of tourists and all efforts are being made to provide a safer environment to the tourists. It was also discussed that women travel writers from Europe should visit India and write about the potential of India from a woman’s perspective. A

Mr. Ramkumar Vijayan, Assistant DirectorCentral and Eastern Europe, Israel and Mr. C. Gangadhar, Assistant Director, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India

positive response was received from the writers and journalists including prominent ones such as Ms.Anja Beckmann of Travel on Toast, Alexa Meyer of Deutsche Welle, Angela Niewald, Chief Editor of FreizeitWoche etc.

The importance of social media was also highlighted to create a significant impact in this regard.

K

erala Tourism's hugely popular global multimedia campaign to promote the backwaters has won the prestigious Golden Gate Award at the Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin (ITB -Berlin) - 2015, the world's leading travel trade event.The state tourism department bagged the silver prize at the Das Golden Stadttor (Golden Gate) Awards presented in the German capital on Thursday night. Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao IAS, Kerala Tourism Secretary, who is leading the state tourism delegation at the ITB 2015, and Mr. Suman Billa IAS, Joint Secretary in the Union Tourism Ministry and former state tourism secretary, together received the prize at a glittering awards ceremony.

Kerala Tourism received the Golden Gate Award's Silver Prize in the Mulimedia -campaign category. The award was presented for The Great

Backwaters campaign in the television-commercial medium.

Conceptualized by Kerala Tourism's creative and marketing agency Stark Communications, The Great Backwaters campaign had won the Golden Gate Gold Prize in the Print category at the ITB-Berlin last year. Earlier, Kerala Tourism had won the Golden Gate Silver Prize for the hugely successful 'Your Moment is Waiting' ad campaign in the print category.

The Great Backwaters campaign of Kerala Tourism was notable for its use of aerial photography for the first time in the country on such a wider scale, covering the state's backwaters as a single destination. A renowned aerial photography team from Finland had conducted the photography using helicams launched from the makeshift platform of a boat to capture the beauty and essence of the

vast backwaters.

Presented every year at the ITB-Berlin, Golden Gate Awards, dubbed the 'Oscar in tourism communication', are considered the ultimate recognition in global tourism communication. The awards, in its 14th year, provide worldwide attention to the tourism industry.

“We are honoured by the remarkable recognition for the Great Backwaters Campaign at the world’s biggest travel trade event," said Kerala Tourism Minister Mr A P Anilkumar. "The award shows the significance of our state on the world tourism map," he said. "The honour in Berlin will inspire us to promote our state further across the world. Our efforts are aimed at promoting Kerala in the most creative and effective way to a larger global audience," Mr.Anilkumar added.s

Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao IAS, Secretary, Kerala Tourism and Mr. Suman Bill IAS, Joint Secretary -Tourism, Government of India receiving the Golden Gate Award at the ITB-Berlin

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Mr. Abraham George, President of Kerala Travel Mart Society, Mr. P I Sheik Pareeth IAS, Director and Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao IAS, Secretary of Kerala Tourism, Mr. A P Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala, Dr Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr Lalit K Panwar IAS, Union Tourism Secretary, Mr. Subhash Goyal, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) , Mr. Jose Dominic, Member, National and Kerala Tourism Advisory Council and Mr. E M Najeeb, President of Kerala Confederation of Tourism Industry during the launching ceremony of Visit Kerala Year at New Delhi.

T

he Vishu festivities this year will be spiced up with an added attraction as Kerala Tourism formally rolls out one of its most ambitious, events -filled campaign to woo travellers from across the world that would firmly position God’s Own Country as an all-weather tourist destination. Beginning April 15 (the Vishu day), Kerala

Mr. A P Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala and Dr Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation jointly lighting the traditional on the occasion of official launch of Visit Kerala Year.

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Tourism’s ‘Visit Kerala 2015’ campaign would get off the block with a string of innovative and interactive programmes, ranging from Ayurveda to adventure trips, from destination weddings to heritage tourism, from food festivals to quiz competitions.

“Starting this Vishu, up to the next Vishu in 2016, every visitor to Kerala will experience ‘God’s Own Country’ like never before. Every visitor will take home memories that will last a lifetime,” said Mr. A P Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala .“Kerala has already acquired all the trappings of a tourist hotspot. I believe the new initiatives will trigger an upsurge in footfalls in God’s Own Country and make the state an inescapable tourist destination,” he added.

The major focus of the campaign, which was launched

by Union Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, is to showcase the tourism products that are unique to the state

- Ayurveda, Responsible Tourism, Spice Route - Muziris heritage and culinary traditions.

“Kerala needs to be promoted across the world. Its beauty is splendorous and its hospitality top-rate,” said Dr Sharma, who promised central assistance to the state to raise the profile of the state as a top tourist destination in the world.

Mr. Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala who addressed the launch ceremony of ‘Visit Kerala’ through a video message, said visitors to Kerala during 2015-16 would find the state’s destinations more attractive and full of surprises.

In order to give a competitive edge to its campaign, Kerala Tourism will foray into new markets in China and Sri Lanka through trade fairs, road shows and familiarisation tours. In addition, it will launch campaigns in traditional markets like the UK, France and Germany to woo potential travellers by holding trade fairs and road shows. Consumer fairs and familiarisation trips will be introduced in upcoming markets like the US. ‘Visit Kerala 2015’ will promote Kerala Tourism products like cultural festivals, weddings, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE). It will also showcase the Spice Route and Muziris heritage through an international campaign to promote heritage tourism in the state.

Kerala will be promoted as a major “Wedding and MICE destination” through online campaigns. The tourism department will also prepare wedding venue databases. In addition, adventure and cycling holidays will be promoted to attract youths and students.

To create a destination pull,

food festivals will be held in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad to market Kerala’s authentic cuisine, one of the tourist attractions in the state.

Highlighting the importance of Responsible Tourism, Mr. P I Sheik Pareeth IAS, Director of Tourism, Kerala said a ‘God's Own Country, People's Own Tourism' campaign would be conducted across the state to sensitise local communities to

tourism and its opportunities.

Among those who addressed the gathering included Mr. Subhash Goyal, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Mr. Abraham George, President of Kerala Travel Mart Society, Mr. Jose Dominic, Kerala Tourism Advisory Council member and Mr. E M Najeeb, Kerala Confederation of Tourism Industry president,

K

erala Tourism has conferred the national Web Ratna Award 2014 for exemplary e-governance initiative through the internet.

The Kerala Tourism website (www.keralatourism.org) won the Golden Icon award in the 'Outstanding Content' category of the Web Ratna Awards, instituted by the Union government under the ambit of the National Portal of India.

Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao IAS, Kerala Tourism Secretary received the award from Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology. The award ceremony was held at the India Habitat Centre in the national capital.

The Kerala Tourism website, designed and maintained by Invis Multimedia, is among the top tourism portals in the world.

The Kerala Tourism website has won several national and international awards, including five National Awards and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold award, for its innovative use of information technology to

promote tourism across the world.

"The Web Ratna Award is the recognition to our continuing efforts to make innovative use of modern technology to remain among the most favoured destinations in the world," said Mr. A P Anilkumar, Kerala Tourism Minister.

Launched in 1998, the Kerala Tourism website today receives around 4.2 million visits and 14 million page views annually. "As a pioneer in using information technology, Kerala Tourism reaches people around the world through our informative and imaginative website," said Mr. Rao, Kerala Tourism Secretary."Our website is a significant tool for continuing interactions with our guests and potential visitors in the 15

Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao IAS, Secretary of Kerala Tourism receiving the Web Ratna award from Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Communications & Information Technology at a function at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

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T

he Ministry of Tourism has identified 50 circuits for development of tourism in India. These circuits/ destinations cover major and relevant tourist places and attractions and boast a diverse mix of culture, heritage, spiritualism and ecotourism to give tourists a holistic perspective of the country.

Port Blair-Neil Havelock-Little Andaman (Andaman and Nicobar), Kashmir Circuit (Jammu and Kashmir), Desert circuit (Rajasthan), Nature Tourism Circuit (West Bengal), Braj-Agra Circuit (Uttar Pradesh), Gangtok (Sikkim) are the circuits identified among others.

The Ministry has formulated a special scheme named’ Swadesh Darshan’ for integrated development of tourist circuits around specific themes. The five circuits indentified under this scheme are: Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit and

North-East Circuit.

The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to various State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for various tourism projects. The issuing of the CFA fund will be subjected to availability of funds, inter-se priority, liquidation of pending utilization certificates against the funds released earlier and adherence to the scheme guidelines.

In 2012-13, a total of 136 projects were sanctioned to the states and an amount of Rs 929 crore was sanctioned to them for these projects. In 2013-14, the number of projects sanctioned to the states was 261 and an amount of Rs 1801 crores was sanctioned to them. In 2014-15 (till December, 2014) a total of 53 projects were sanctioned to the states and a sum of Rs 333 crores was sanctioned to them for these projects.

The Ministry of Tourism has a scheme of Assistance for Large Revenue Generating (LRG) Projects for development of tourism infrastructure, in order to bring in private sector, corporate and institutional resources as well as techno -managerial efficiency. The projects admissible under this scheme should be of tourist’s attraction or used by tourists to generate revenue through levy of fee or user charges on the visitors.

Some of the important items which come under this scheme are: Tourist trains, Cruise vessels, Cruise Terminals, Convention Centers, Golf Courses, Health and Rejuvenation facilities and last mile connectivity to tourist destinations, etc.

The subsidy under the scheme has a cap of Rs.50.00 crore subject to a maximum of 25% of total project cost or 50% of equity contribution of the promoters, whichever is lower. Projects sanctioned in this scheme so far are mainly luxury tourist trains, ropeways, development of golf courses, etc.

The Project of Integrated Cable-Car and Lakeside Tourism Project at Loktak Lake, Manipur was sanctioned in 2013-14 for an amount of Rs. 2035 lakhs under LRGP. 17

Mr. Arun Jaitley, Union Minsiter of Finance and Ms. Nirmala Staraman, Union Minister of State of Commerce in front of the Parliament

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he government move to initiate proceedings for issuing Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) to 150 more countries along with the present 43 countries will make substantial growth to tourism sector in India. This move will make world heritage sites more tourists friendly and has been welcomed by the travel and hospitality industry. The government decision is a tantamount to economic boom says the experts.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitly, in his first full year budget 2015 said “extend the visas on arrival facility to 150 countries, in stages, after the success of the same issued to travellers of 43 countries.”

The budget showed sincere relevance and concern to revive the tourism industry.

The financial potential of tourism industry is not at all negligible, said Jaitly. Tourism in India is an important job and revenue generator for the government.

In this budget speech Arun Jaitly pointed out that ailing cultural and world heritage destinations need more development. He called out development on 25 recognized cultural and heritage destinations which has deficiency in its facilities.

Churches & Convents of Old Goa, Hampi in Karnataka, Kumbalgarh and other Hill Forts of Rajasthan, Rani ki Vav in Patan in Gujarat, Leh Palace in Ladakh in J&K, Varanasi Temple town in UP, Jallianwala bagh in Amritsar in Punjab, and Qutub Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad in Telangana comes under the proposed sites.

“Facilities like landscaping restoration, signage and interpretation centers, parking, access for differently abled, amenities for visitors including securities and toilets, illumination and plans for

benefiting communities around them would be restored,” Jaitley said.

Other recommendations in the budget such as exemption in tax for individuals, proposal to cut to 25% of corporate tax, new consumption and consumer policies will make the travellers to think favorably. This is an added advantage for tourism industry as well, because this will eventually promote domestic and international travel considerably. The Budget speaks of quick change, faster growth and high levels of transparency and this will augment economic growth in the industry.

The budget is going to be very crucial for the tourism industry. It is good to see that the central government has recognized the underlying potential in the tourism industry. Tourism has been becoming a clear focus and vision of the government. As a subcontinent, India has a huge potential in tourism sector which in turn provides lucrative revenue growth and development. All the proposals in the budget should be done

Peter Kerkar Director, Cox & Kings “The extension of Electronic Travel authorisation (Evisas) to 150 more countries is a positive step for tourism as this sector contributes seven per cent of India’s GDP and helped create more than 40 million jobs last

in proper standards. Other projects and proposals like Swachh Barath, Smart Cities, Smart trains, Metros, Clean Ganga, Women Safety, tax relief to yoga and meditation, announcement of tourism circuits around the country, will add to develop a better tourism culture and environment. The proposal for extension in visa on arrival will eventually make inflation in tourist flow, both domestic as well as inbound tourists.

Apart from that the pedagogues in the tourism and hospitality industry opined that, it would be better if the government will look in to the complex tax structure imposed the sector. Rational decisions in the aviation tax are crucial, this will eventually reduce the flying costs and attract international tourists; they said. The right investments and policy revisions can certainly help position India as a globally competitive tourist destination.

Reactions and Expressions from Business Experts Mr. Rajeev Wagle Managing Director Kuoni India.

“The budget provides an impetus to economy achieving a high growth rate in 2015-16 of anywhere between 8.1 and 8.5 percent, and thereby laying down a foundation for a double-digit growth rate in future years. This is a great step towards a robust and sustainable growth for the Tourism Industry as well and will unlock the latent potential of India's tourism industry.

The Union Budget has 20

Mr.Subhash Goyal, president, IATO “Even though the finance minister Arun Jaitley has announced Tourist Visa on Arrival for 150 countries, but by the time this is done, people who are trying to sabotage the PM’s vision, have created a lot of damage to the growth of tourism by introducing biometrics for getting an Indian visa in many countries.

All efforts of the government are going down the drain, even countries like Israel who have the maximum threat of terrorism, do not have the biometric.

We looked at the government to put forth a definitive time line for a nationwide rollout of GST. The tax regime should help us set off Service Tax giving a significant boost to the tourism industry and we are happy that GST will be introduced

by April next year.” recognized and shown commitment to tourism as an important revenue and employment generator for the Government.

Focus on development of World Heritage Sites - churches and convents of old Goa, Hampi, Elephanta caves, Leh palace, Varanasi temple town, Jallianwala Bagh etc to be developed to make them more tourist-friendly, the Visa on arrival scheme to be increased to 150 from 43 countries, more growth in term of investment in infrastructure will transform the travel and tourism sector considerably .

Proposals such as exemption to individual taxpayers, proposal to cut to 25 percent corporate tax and a series of measures to boost consumption will allow the travelers to consider holiday and travel options more favorably. This will surely help in tapping the huge potential in India of the domestic and outbound markets and will help promote a significant increase in international and domestic travel.

The Budget speaks of quick change, faster growth and high levels of transparency and this will augment economic growth for the industry. A number of

steps for tax rationalization will also help augment tax revenues for the Government.”

Rajeev Wagle Managing Director Kuoni India Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) “The Government’s pro-tourism strategic vision sees continuum and we applaud the vision and long term initiatives of Budget 2015 – 2016 including expanding the VoA scheme to 150 countries in a phased approach as also the welcome move of eliminating some of the concerns and apprehensions that tourists as well as operators had as to how this system operates; Focus on developing World Heritage Sites is of huge value given that many are in a bad shape and have received scant attention in the past In addition to this, the investment of Rs. 2 lakh crore towards sanitation is critical for Incredible India’s image, overall. The rail and road infra thrust too will aid domestic

and inbound tourism.”

Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and CEO, MakeMyTrip.com “The announcement of visa on arrival to 150 countries from the current 43 countries is a positive and progressive step. This will definitely boost tourism for the country and will give competitive advantage to India against other destinations in South Asia and Middle East.”

Sharat Dhall, President, Yatra.com This is a very positive budget for the corporate sector and is extremely forward looking with a strong emphasis on infrastructure development, agriculture and manufacturing. The travel & tourism sector will take strong positives from the focus on development of key heritage sites and building of roads across the country as well as the move to extension of the visa on arrival scheme to over 150 countries, all of which should drive growth in the sector. On the other hand, the increase in service tax will result in small increases in the prices of flights, hotels and holiday packages. However, all-in-all, we think that budget 2015 will be positive for the tourism sector and India as a whole.

Vikram Malhi, Managing Director- Asia, Expedia

Neelu Singh, COO, Ezeego1.com, “We are happy with the thrust on domestic and inbound tourism by developing key tourist destinations and sites and making them more tourist-friendly, such as World Heritage Sites of old Goa, Hampi, Elephanta caves, Leh Palace and Varanasi temple town.

It will help draw a lot of heritage and religious tourists. The government has highlighted the desire to incentivize cashless transactions which is a positive development for online sites such as Ezeego1.com. With individual tax payers getting tax benefit up to income of Rs 4.44 lakh, disposable income will increase, which is likely to indirectly induce leisure tourism. The Budget also pays heed to positioning India as a safe country for single female travellers by increasing contribution to the Nirbhaya Fund.”

On Airfares: “Indian travellers have been spoilt over the last 18months to buy air tickets 2-5months in advance or during airfare sales. While this incremental raise of 1.64% will increase the airfares a bit, they will be more than offset by the regular airfare sales that airlines keep announcing, without having much impact on the air travel bookings.”

On Budget: “This budget has effectively addressed the key issues that impact the travel sector like infrastructure development,

developing heritage sites, enhancing visa on arrival to 150 countries and retaining focus on softer aspects like women’s security and clean India. Transformative changes in the railways network and development of certain routes and destinations will also promote travel and tourism amongst the large cross section of consumers.

The government push to create a cashless economy, by aiding digital coverage and debit, credit card penetration in the country will positively impact the OTA segment. This will catalyse greater growth opportunities for players in this segment as more opportunities emerge from a

Harmandeep Singh Anand, Hon. Secretary General, TAAI “The Union Budget 2015-16 has not been a good Budget for the travel agents. We were already expecting the taxes to go up, but the new Swachh Bharat Tax of two per cent, has increased the service tax to 16 per cent.

Instead, the government could have bought down the taxes by announcing an RCM, now we have to shell out extra four per cent from our pockets. The other initiatives related to tourism are irrelevant like the extension on Visa of Arrival to 150 countries, which had already been announced and does not co-relate to the Annual Budget.”

Ajay Bhatia, vice president and chief operating officer, Mercury Travels “We can see around 30 per cent increase in tourist arrival. Short haul from neighbouring countries will get a boost. This will be a significant contributor to the Indian economy as well as driver of progress through creation of jobs.”

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unar Se RozgarTak (HSRT) program imparts tourism and hospitality specific skills to young people aspiring to join the tourism sector. Presently professional training courses are conducted by HSRT aiming to bring up tourist escorts, tourist facilitators, event facilitators, security guards, tour assistants, transfer assistants and office assistants.

H

The tourism Ministry also conducts tests and there by certifies the skills of the existing service providers in the sector.

A total of 169962 persons have been trained in the Hunar Se RozgarTak (HSRT) programme since its inception in the year 2009-10 till 31/1/2015. The program is fully funded by the Union Ministry

wider ambit of consumers.”

million in the current calendar year.”

Jaideep Ghosh, Head of Tourism and Hospitality, KPMG India “The proposed increase in the number of countries under the Visa on Arrival scheme, we expect, should catapult the inbound foreign visits to exceed 8

Y. Rajeev Reddy CMD, Country Club Hospitality & Holidays Ltd “Wow !

Thumbs up to budget 2015!

With a new visa on arrival policy we have made the world a global playground and this

of Tourism. In December, 2014, the Hunar Se RozgarTak(HSRT) programme expanded its target area by allowing the AICTE/ NSDA/government approved private hospitality Institutes, industrial units, industry associations and skill imparting bodies with proven credentials for its implementation.

Under the skill testing and certification programme, the existing service providers are oriented for 5 days and on the 6th day their skills are tested and certified. The programme is delivered by the MoT sponsored Institutes of Hotel Management and Food Craft Institutes. A total of 67878 service providers have been certified since the inception of the programme in 2009-10 till 31/1/2015.

Besides HSRT the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) also conducts training programs to groom tourism service providers. will be a great impetus to travel and tourism industry.

With this move, we are confident that the tourism industry will make a quantum leap in growth. This will have a direct impact on aviation, infrastructure like airports, hotels, resorts and will also attract global skill sets which will make India a strong global visible player.”

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ational Geographic and ITB Berlin Announced World Legacy Award Winners Visionary companies and destinations together drive sustainable tourism transformation of global travel industry. National geographic society and ITB Berlin join hands together to encourage such innovative and visionary tourism initiatives The winners of the 2015 National Geographic World Legacy Awards were announced at the colorful awards ceremony held at ITB Berlin. The World Legacy Awards showcase the leading companies, organizations and destinations ranging from hotels to ecologies and from small islands to entire countries - that are driving the positive transformation of the travel industry based on National Geographic’s work of inspiring people to care about the planet. The awards were distributed on five categories, each with its own terms and requirements recommended by the award committee.

More than 150 entries were received, representing 56 countries across six continents.

Winners and finalists in five categories were selected by 18 international judges led by Costas Christ, editor in charge of National Geographic Traveler magazine and chairman of the World Legacy Awards. An on-site inspection to document sustainable tourism practices in action was part of the judging process.

Costas Christ said: “Tourism

is based on selling cultural and natural heritage experiences, whether that is a trip to see Angkor Wat or a wildlife safari in Africa. With more than a billion international tourists last year, and the number growing, we must make sure that tourism is an opportunity and not a threat to the people and places travelers want to visit. The World Legacy Awards

are about helping to lead the way forward.”

Five leading and innovative tourism and travel ventures bagged the world legacy awards in five different categories.

Earth Changers -

Recognizing cutting-edge leadership in environmentally friendly business practices and green technology, from renewable energy and water conservation to zero-waste systems and carbon-emission

reduction.

WINNER: • Orange County Resorts, India - Orange County works closely with local communities and government municipalities to engage in sustainable development practices and education, including elimination of plastics, recycling of glass and metals, and alternative energy. Water

conservation is promoted through the use of reverse osmosis plants that provide safe drinking water and the elimination of 150,000 plastic bottles annually. Wind power provides the majority of electricity, and resort green teams closely monitor all energy, water and waste impacts.

Sense of Place –

Recognizing the excellence in enhancing sense of place and authenticity. It includes 23

Mr. Brett Tollman, President and CEO of The Travel Corporation, parent company of Adventure World; Mr. Jose T. Ramapuram, Director of Marketing, Orange County Resorts and Hotels, India; Earth Changers winner; Costas Christ, Chairman World Legacy Awards & Editor at Large, National Geographic Traveler; „World Legacy Award”

support for the protection of historical monuments, archaeological sites, cultural events, indigenous heritage and artistic traditions.

WINNER Cavallo Point Lodge, United States - A successful collaboration between the lodge owners, the city of Sausalito and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Cavallo Point transformed the dilapidated Fort Baker military barracks into a thriving LEED Gold-certified sustainable tourism lodge, restoring more than a dozen historic buildings to their original design and garnering top architectural honors from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Conserving the Natural World -

Recognizing outstanding support for the preservation of nature, restoring natural habitat and protecting rare and endangered species, whether on land or in the oceans.

WINNER Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile - Situated in the Andean Patagonian rain forest, Huilo Huilo is a private ecotourism

project working to preserve the region’s rich biodiversity.

To date, it has protected more than 247,000 acres of wilderness habitat once threatened by the timber industry, and transformed it through scientific research and community education into a model of sustainable development and conservation.

Engaging Communities Recognizing direct and tangible economic and social benefits that improve local livelihoods. It includes training and capacity building, fair wages and benefits, community development, health care and education.

WINNER • Tropic Journeys in Nature, Ecuador - A pioneer in community-based tourism in Ecuador, Tropic Journeys started working 20 years ago in the remote Ecuadorean Amazon with the indigenous Huaorani people. Today, Huaorani Ecolodge is operated

by Huaorani community members who set their own wages and manage the day-to -day business, sharing the skills they have learned with other Huaorani indigenous communities.

Destination Leadership - Recognizing destination leadership. It includes cities, provinces, states, countries and regions that are demonstrating environmental best practices, protection of cultural and natural heritage, benefits to local communities and educating travelers on the principles of sustainability.

WINNER • Aruba, Caribbean - Setting an example of how to combat global climate change with the goal of becoming the world’s first country to operate fossil fuel-free by 2020; Aruba has invested heavily in renewable energy.

The entry call for the next World Legacy Awards starts June 1, 2015. For more information on the World Legacy Awards and this year’s winners, go to nationalgeographic.com/ worldlegacyawards/.The World Legacy Awards recognizes its partners and sponsors.

Partners are ITB Berlin and the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador.

Sponsors are Adventure World, a division of Travel Corporation; the Tread Right Foundation; and Nomadic Expeditions.

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Sunil Kaul

S

wami Amar Nath Ji Yatra is the most hallowed Hindu pilgrimage of Northern India in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

The pilgrimage attracts lakhs of devotees across the country in the month of Shravan (July-August) to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva which is in the form of ‘ice-lingam’ formed naturally of an ice -stalagmite in the cave at Swami Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir. The Amarnath Ji is considered to be one of the most revered Hindu Dhams and the holy cave to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Since the Yatra assumes colossal importance nationwide, it is imperative upon every devotee to have a cursory knowledge about the history of the Yatra.

It includes the knowhow of various religious places situated en-route to Holy Cave through Baltal and Pahalgam routes.

It is believed that a Muslim

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shepherd named Buta Malik was given a sack of coal by a sage. After reaching home, Malik discovered that the sack in fact contained gold. He was elated and straightway rushed back to the sage to express his gratitude. Instead, he saw a miracle and could not believe his eyes to find out a cave there. Since then, the Holy Cave became a place for the annual pilgrimage.

Another epic story about this very cave is that Lord Shiva recounted to Mata Parvati, the secret of creation of the whole universe and the ways of emancipation of the mankind.

A pair of doves overheard this conversation and since then became immortal. The pair of doves has made the cave their eternal abode and could be seen by the pilgrims in the Holy Cave.

Baltal Route

The shortest route to 28

perform the mountainous pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath Ji is taken through the Baltal in Ganderbal district of the Kashmir valley. Baltal is about sixty kilometers away from the summer capital of the state via Srinagar and about fifteen kilometers from the famous tourist destination Sonamarg.

From Baltal, one has to traverse through narrow terrain along steep cliffs till confluence of streams at Sangam. Moving forward, pilgrims are required to travel on the slippery track over primitive glaciers for about three kilometers before reaching to the Holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji. The weather on this route remains inclement and torrential rains lash over the area frequently, making it arduous for the devotees to travel along.

Unflinching faith shields the visiting pilgrims from inhospitable weather

conditions while taking this route that is less preferred.

The majority opt for the Pahalgam track. The Baltal Route gives an opportunity to pay obeisance at Holy spring of Mata Khir Bhawani temple located in Ganderbal district. It is believed that the colour of the spring changes if any untoward incident is about to happen as a premonition of an impending doom. The recent impending indication was seen last year in the month of June 2014 when the colour of the spring had changed to red and thereafter floods ravaged the Kashmir valley in the first week of September 2014.

Pahalgam Route

While taking the route via Pahalgam, pilgrims can have an opportunity to visit Raghunath Ji temple as well as the renowned Sun Temple in Martand located in the district Anantnag. World famous hill

Photo Courtesy: Holiday IQ and Wikipedia

station Pahalgam is the base camp of the yatra that is about 100 kilometres away from Srinagar. From here, the pilgrims have the option to travel either by road or onfoot. Pilgrims make it a point to visit the Lord Shiva temple situated on the embankment of famous Lidder River. One more ancient temple of Lord Shiva called Mamal Temple is situated on the hilltop across the Lidder River and is also worth a visit. Pahalgam town enveloped in the snow-clad mountains and the dense cover of forests is a treat to the eyes.

It is believed that Lord Shiva left his ride, Nandi - the bull at Pahalgam and proceeded towards the Holy cave. The place was known by the name of Bel Gaon and with the passage of time is being known as Pahalgam.

Halt stations (Padav) enroute to Swami Amarnath ji from Pahalgam

When the yatra proceeds from base camp Pahalgam, the first halt (Padav) is about 16 Kms away at a place known as Chandanwari. The road leading to Chandanwari is motor-able.

To reach this spot, one can board the public transport available on reasonable rates fixed by the local authority.

The trail runs along the Lidder River with a most fabulous and mesmerizing scenic view. It is believed that Lord Shiva massaged his forehead with sandalwood powder (Chandan) at this place hence deriving its name as Chandanwari. After reaching Chandanwari, the yatra proceeds towards Pishu Top through a very difficult and challenging track.

One feels quite ecstatic to traverse this hard track while chanting

‘Har Har Mahadev’ by virtue of which this hazardous track seems quite easier. After completing this leg of the journey along the steep mountainous slope, the devotees halt to take rest to reenergize themselves.

Sheshnag is the next pit stop where the pilgrims take a

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dip into the Holy Spring and stay overnight. It is believed that by taking an ablution in the holy spring of Sheshnag, the sins are forgiven. It is believed that Lord Shiva dropped his Sheshnag here in the spring while proceeding towards the Holy Cave. The place is actually a lake surrounded by snow clad peaks resembling the heads of the mythical snake.

Next challenge of the holy journey is a backbreaking steep zig-zag trek towards the Mahagunas Top that leaves the pilgrims breathless due to high altitude and lack of oxygen.

Some pilgrims may experience nausea as well. Dry fruits, sour and sweet eatables like Lemon may prove to be helpful in such a situation. All along the route, medical facilities free of charge are available for those pilgrims who require any medical attention. Moving forward, the track descends to the meadows of Posh Pathri richly covered by wild fragrant flowers and herbs. But it is said that whosoever halts here for some time falls into a deep slumber because of this intense fragrance. So it is advised not to spend more time at this spot and proceed 30

towards the next halt at Panjtarni. Panjtarni is enveloped by five snow-clad peaks where the pilgrims take rest and stay overnight. In the wee hours next day, the yatra proceeds towards the final destination, the Holy cave - the abode of Lord Shiva. On the way to the Holy Cave, one comes across the confluence (Sangam) of Amravati and Panjtarni streams. The pilgrims take ablution at Amravati near the Holy Cave before paying the obeisance.

The Chhadi Mubarak comprising of the priests and pilgrims start the on-foot journey from Dashnami Akhada at Srinagar. After performing the necessary rituals, the Chhadi Mubarak visits the famous Shankaracharaya temple and Durga Nag temple before proceeding towards the Holy Cave. During the on-foot yatra, they perform the series of religious obligations and rituals at Awantipora temple, Shiv Temple Bijbehara, Raghunath Ji temple and Martand Sun Temple at Mattan in Anantnag. Amidst all these rituals, devotees are seen chanting hymns and Bhajans making the whole environment lively.

The Chadhi Mubarak finally performs the Darshan of Swami Amarnath Ji on the day of Shravan Poornima (Raksha Bandhan). This marks the concluding of the holy pilgrimage that is visited by lakhs of devotees from across the geographies. In 2014, about 3, 72,909 yatris had performed the pilgrimage.

Precautionary measures to be taken by the pilgrims during the pilgrimage It is the pre-requisite for an intending pilgrim to adopt some precautionary measures while traversing through these tough routes. A pilgrim should keep a stick in his hand to maintain the balance and should put on the sports shoes apart from taking less baggage along in order to withstand the challenges of the track. It is also desirable to take along a first-aid kit. The selection of the clothes is crucial as one need to wear warm clothes in order to keep away any risks posed by the hostile cold weather that keeps fluctuating across the routes. The casualties of the Amarnath yatris that had taken place some years back were only because pilgrims were not equipped with adequate warm clothes.

The step-by-step procedure which the Yatris need to follow to register for the Yatra has been put on the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board’s website, www. shriamarnathjishrine.com. The website also contains the application form and state -wise list of Bank Branches with complete addresses which the Yatris can approach for registering themselves for this year’s pilgrimage.

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ive-star airline meets increasing passenger demand to Bengaluru with B777. Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar, is continuing its expansion plans in India with a significant increase in capacity on its flights from Doha to Bengaluru (formerly known as Bangalore) from August 1, 2015, to meet the increasing passenger demand on the route.

Currently Qatar Airways operates a Boeing 787 on the Doha–Bengaluru route with 254 seats. Starting August 1, the Boeing 787 will be replaced by a Boeing 777, with a capacity of 335 seats, which will connect to more than 140 destinations worldwide via the airline’s state-of-the-art hub in Doha.

Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “The strengthening of the Doha– Bengaluru route reflects increased passenger demand and reaffirms our continuous expansion strategy for the Indian market. There are a

large numbers of expatriates from South India who are working in Doha, and with our increasing capacity we aim to offer our customers a superior travel experience and seamless connectivity into the State of Qatar.

“India is growing as an economic hub and shows enormous potential, and our growth strategy has always stressed the significance of the Indian market where we plan to seek even more capacity and increase frequency on existing routes”, he added With the new upgraded service between Doha and Bengaluru, more passengers flying to Doha, or onwards to their final destination, will

have the opportunity to experience the new state-of -the-art Hamad International Airport which has been designed with customer experience firmly to the fore.

Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 has been designed to ensure that its passengers can fly long distances while immersed in complete comfort and enjoy the five-star airline’s legendary hospitality, all while enjoying fine cuisine and more than 1,000 on-board entertainment options.

Qatar Airways offers a wide selection of flights from 12 cities in India via its hub in Doha to an exciting choice of destinations – Barcelona, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Miami, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, and Washington DC as well as many more.

With five new destinations on the horizon for 2015, (Amsterdam, Durban, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan), Qatar Airways will increase its global portfolio to 151 destinations across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, North America and South America. The carrier currently operates a modern fleet of 150 aircraft.

• Airline to add 32% more seats 31

Mr. Shyson Thomas, Managing Director of Air Pegasus and his colleagues during the launch press conference at Trivandrum.

A

ir Pegasus started its operation in Kerala with a daily flight between Tiruvananthapuram and Bangaluru. The new comer on the block Air Pegasus commenced its operation in Kerala from Thiruvanthapuram.

Launched under the brand name Air Pegasus, promoted

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by Decor Aviation Private Ltd. the airline will begin with two ATRs with 66 seats each. One more aircraft is expected to join the fleet later in April.

Based out of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, Air Pegasus will scale up its services gradually to connect Kochi, Chennai,

Belgaum, Rajahmundry, Pondicherry and Madurai.

“Flights connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru will simplify the travel options for both in -bound and out-bound passengers,’’ said Shyson Thomas, Managing Director of Air Pegasus, promoted by Decor Aviation Private Ltd. ‘’The connectivity provided by these routes will help many regional businesses expand their reach. We aim to be the truly regional airline brand with more connectivity in existing regions and to connect non-connected sectors,’’ he told a news conference.

Launched under the brand name Air Pegasus, the airline will begin with two ATRs with 66 seats each in its fleet. Decor Aviation, which is part of the Decor Group of Companies, currently provides ground handling services to Indian and foreign carriers across 11 airports in India.

• Recommences the daily flight to Chennai

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riLankan Airlines the national carrier of Sri Lanka announces an enhancement of its flights to Chennai from Colombo by the addition of a fourth flight. This flight will operate daily from the 16th of April. The addition of this flight brings the total frequency of flights between Sri Lanka and India to 86 flights per week.

This announcement reinforces the significance of the Indian market and specifically Chennai for the airline.

Each of the daily flights will feature an array of bespoke services, world-class in-flight entertainment including a combination of Tamil language programs and signature SriLankan Airlines hospitality services. The purpose of re-launching these flights is to increase frequency of the airline, providing passengers with added convenience.

Commenting on the occasion, Saminda Perera, General Manager Sales Worldwide stated, “Chennai is a key market for us and one of the fastest growing cities in Southern India. While we have always received a strong response from this market, Chennai serves as a key

business hub for all multinational corporations.

This daily flight will cater to growing business, corporate and leisure demand between Srilanka and Chennai.”

He further added, “The increased frequency also reinforces our commitment to Chennai and will strengthen the deep commercial and bilateral ties between India & Sri Lanka.”

Regional Manager for India, Lalith De Silva said: “Our passengers have welcomed the news that SriLankan Airlines will increase its frequency to the city. With over 225,000 arrivals on SriLankan Airlines from Chennai to Colombo in the past year, the daily flight will appeal to both business and leisure customers providing them with better connectivity to destinations beyond Sri Lanka and more options for their travel convenience."

The airlines’ hub is located at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, providing convenient connections to its global route network of 95 destinations in 44 countries.

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IITM EVENT CALENDAR 2015-16 BANGALORE 10, 11, 12 July 2015

MUMBAI 28, 29, 30 August 2015

PUNE 27, 28, 29 Nov 2015

KOCHI 14, 15, 16 Jan 2016

CHENNAI 17, 18, 19 July 2015

GURGAON 03, 04, 05 Sept 2015

HYDERABAD 04, 05, 06 Dec 2015

KOLKATA 04, 05, 06 March 2016

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U

AE Exchange steps in to their new venture, something which is appealing to their customers. They have found the vast opportunities in the travel and tourism sector.

UAE Exchange with fifteen years of experience now announced their travel and tour service, facilitated with lucrative itinerary, tranquil trip, and of course added surprises, is all part of the aspirations one expects from a tour provider, and UAE Exchange has it all in their customized packages.

UAE Exchange India believes in building on dreams unexplored. In pursuing its belief, it has been successful in providing remarkable services to its customers ever since 2001.

With its 9 elite IATA locations, the company facilitates instantaneous service from these prime centers. UAE Exchange takes the pride of playing the key role in promoting India as a travel destination by unfolding the plethora of captivating places.

They have an extensive reach of more than 380 customer touch points equally distributed at almost all the states of the country. They have amassed all the first-hand knowledge of the destinations that they offer with stupendous images and discreet description for the readers to have a better perception in opting destinations.

“Our special customized packages have always made our customers delighted about the service. Having acquired the expertise to arrange the best travel schemes, we have entered into various strategic tie ups with international hotels, resorts, and institutions to give world class services to our customers. Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, India, our travel and tour segment is known for its prompt and flawless travel management.

With the sole aim of catering to its customers’ various travelling needs, its travel segment provides various services including domestic and international air ticket reservation, outbound, inbound, and domestic tour packages, Visa services, emigration services, Passport services, train and bus ticketing, guides & chauffeurs, local transportation, online hotel booking, etc” said the company official.

UAE Exchange India has also an exclusive travel card for its customers ‘Go Cash’. GO CASH pre-paid Multicurrency Travel card enables exchange rate lock facility, security and accessibility at minimum time with worldwide acceptance for purchases across millions of Master Card-approved outlets.

Travel card acts as a safety machine and customers can be free from the fear of cash carrying enigma. All together it is good news for travel lovers that they will get a bunch of services within a single window.

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“S

trengthening ties with Indian Ocean Rim neighbors will help improve security and age-old cultural bonds� said Dr Mahesh Sharma the central tourism minister.

The Minister said that the Center would be laying more focus on coastal circuit tourism. India has a long coastline of 7500 Km which possesses rich culture and heritage. If this can be harnessed along with beach tourism, culture and pilgrim tourism, all states particularly coastal states like Odisha will be benefited, Dr Sharma said.

The three day international conference is being attended by the representatives of 20 countries situated in Indian Ocean Region.

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned an amount of Rs 50 cr for the Nabakalebar Rath Yatra Festival in Odisha.

Announcing this at a high level

meeting of officials in Bhubaneswar today, the Union Minister of State for Tourism, Mahesh Sharma said the funds have been sanctioned under the newly launched scheme ‘PRASAD’. The Union Petroleum Minister, Sh Dharmendra Pradhan; Tourism and Culture Minister of Govt. of Orissa Sh. Ashok Chandra Panda and Chief Secretary of Orissa were among those present at the meeting.

Dr Mahesh Sharma said that Orissa is the soul of India and Government is making all efforts to promote the rich cultural heritage of the state as well as the country. The Minister also disclosed that a museum is being set up by the Ministry of Culture at Lalitgiri.

The state will be benefitted by the two circuits ie Budhist Circuit and Coastal Circuit under the new scheme of Swadesh Darshan, he added.

Puri will also be developed under the HRIDAY scheme of Ministry of Urban

Development , the Minister explained. Dr Sharma said that Orissa will be projected on the international map through its campaigns.

Dr Mahesh Sharma chaired the Plenary session of the International Conference on “India and the Indian Ocean: Renewing the civilization linkages” in Bhubaneswar.

While addressing the Plenary, the Minister laid stress on developing, deepening and strengthening relations with the Indian Ocean Rim(IOR) countries, which have civilization links with India.

Prime Minister Shri Modi’s recent visit to Seychelles, Mauritius, Sri Lanka is the example of New government’s initiative in this direction, the Minister said. Prime Minister has given more importance to promote ties with our IOR neighbors who will not only strengthen the security of our vast sea lanes in Indian Ocean but also secure our age-old cultural relations with them, Dr Mahesh Sharma explained.

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I

am sitting on the banks of the mighty Ganga, watching the evening sun cast a lovely ochre hue over the water and buildings on the shore. I first came to Rishikesh in 2014 and stayed for two months attending the satsangs of my Guru, Sri Mooji, who points us to the path of self-enquiry (propounded by Ramana Maharishi). The time after each 38

day’s satsang was spent walking or sitting on the banks of the river.Trying to explain the experience or the beauty and serenity of the place in words is futile. It needs to be experienced. It is a meditation in itself even ifone is not spiritually inclined.

Occasionally, I would go to Ram Jhula or Lakshman Jhula (‘ jhula’ in Hindi means swing ).

These are primarily pedestrian suspension bridges across the river that actually swings!

Cycles and motorbikes are also allowed.

The Ram Jhula is closer to town and leads to the Gita Bhavan and Parmarth Niketan ashram. The daily evening Aarati at Parmarth is well known. The shops that lead up to the bridge on both sides

Ganga; the mother in whose lap I unloaded the baggage I had collected over the years and it felt as if she took away all of it, setting me free. No matter how tired I felt, all it took was to wash my face in her cool waters to feel rejuvenated!

offer touristy things (for the locals) and clothes primarily catering to the westerners who flock to Rishikesh seeking a spiritual experience. It is common to see local smart alecks (sometimes wearing the garb of a swami clad in saffron!) trying to dupe gullible foreigners promising instant spiritual experiences / meetings with yogis who can

give moksha or special powers etc. I have also been approached by one such who produced an album with morphed pictures of himself with celebrities! All I had to do was to ask him a few basic tenets that even a spiritual novice knows, before he realised that he had the wrong number and took off in a hurry.

Rishikesh has its own street food and one of my favourites is “aloo chaat�. Sweet potato and potato are boiled and cubed and then lightly fried in a wok. 4-5 different spice powders are tossed in and topped with a mint- chilli sauce. If street food is not your thing, go to Lakshman Jhula, the pricier and more touristy part of town, as there are many good restaurants there. It also has some good accommodation options.It is worth a visit otherwise also as there are fabulous views of the river and the surrounding mountains. Be aware that most of Rishikesh is strictly vegetarian and if you wish to have non vegetarian food, head to Tapovan where the restaurants are allowed to serve meat.

Triveni Ghat is another place where I like to go. It is the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the Saraswathi. The Gita Mandir and Lakshminarayan temple here are usually visited before

people participate in the Maha Arati to Goddess Ganga in the evening. The entire area is worth a visit with street markets and food and handicrafts on sale.

The easiest mode of transport in town is the big shared rickshaw called Vikram, which ply on the main roads.

From these points you can walk to most places. Else, hire a small regular auto rickshaw

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Down Memory Lane is a column by Girija Chandran, founder -director of Hammock Holidays, Bangalore. In 2013, spiritual pursuits and an interest in alternate healing prompted her to give up active involvement as full-time director of the company and follow her heart.

Down Memory Lane is an attempt to share some of her most cherished travel experiences.

by paying a minimum of 50 and above based on the distance.

Taxis are also available at designated taxi stands.

Whatever you choose, ensure that you bargain!

I stayin the Sheesham Jhari area which has many ashrams.

Dayanand Ashram, Swatantranand Ashram, Ma Karthiyani Ashram, Avadhoot Ashram, Swami Narayan ashram and more. From here there is a great walking route to Ram Jhulaalong the banks of the Ganga and one can continue up to Lakshman Jhula also. Swimming in the riveris possible at certain places but one needs to be aware of the

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strong currents.For the more adventurous, trekking, hiking and white water rafting options are available. Yoga schools are popular. The International Yoga Festival is held in Rishikesh every year in March. Unless you are really interested in participating, I would say avoid this period as the hotels and ashrams get full and there will be a huge crowd.

One of the high points of my trip was a visit to Vashisht Gufa ( Gufa refers to “cave” ) where Sage Vashisht is believed to have meditated and lived. It is on the banks of the Ganga. The serene location combined with the intangible energy inside the cave raises your awareness to another level. These days one has to take special permission to enter the gufa.

I would recommend Rishikesh as a “must experience” destination to all those even remotely interested in spirituality. The river Ganga here has a different feel and quiet

strength. In my experience she is more loving here than in Varanasi or Haridwar. She is the mother in whose lap I unloaded the baggage I had collected over the years and it felt as if she took away all of it, setting me free. No matter how tired I felt, all it took was to wash my face in her cool waters to feel rejuvenated!

The biggest learning I take with me, from my guru and mother Ganga is a real awareness of the impermanence of the visible world and a glimpse of the unchanging, that which is beyond time.

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he Minister of State for Tourism has said that the new Tourism Policy, 2015 will be launched on the 15th of May this year. He was addressing the participants at a workshop held on the formulation of National Tourism Policy 2015. The representatives from various organizations like Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), FICCI, NASSCOM, FAITH, Travel Agency Corporation of India, Indian Tourist Transporters Authority (ITTA), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA), All India Resort Developers Association (AIRDA) and Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) were present among others at the meeting.

The Minister thanked the participants for bringing and sharing their wisdom on a common platform. He said that the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is working as the greatest Ambassador of Tourism for the country and his efforts will be taken forward rapidly by the Ministry of Tourism.

Dr. Mahesh Sharma also said that from now on, a new work culture will be implemented in which a task will be identified and a person will be assigned for the task.

The timeline will also be fixed and the implementation will be closely monitored.

Acknowledging the need for synergy between various Ministries of the government,

he appreciated the idea of National Tourism Board which is proposed as a part of the new Tourism Policy to speed up and promote tourism in the country.

The Tourism Minister explained that potential of existing policy of 2002 has not been used fully and the new policy will use the framework of existing National Tourism Policy of 2002 to make it dynamic to meet the challenges that have emerged in today’s world including technological and global competitiveness. He appreciated the idea of a ‘single window portal system’ for making information available to tourists.

The aim of the workshop was to receive inputs and suggestions from various stakeholders associated with tourism and hospitality sector so as to formulate a dynamic

and pragmatic tourism policy Dr Lalit K Panwar IAS, Union Tourism to attain the target of Secretary , Dr Mahesh “responsible and sustainable” Sharma, Union tourism. Various issues ranging Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and from infrastructure need for Civil Aviation and Mrs. Usha Sharma, connectivity in remote areas, Additional Director e-ticketing and safety and General of India security were discussed during Tourism at National Tourism Policy meeting the workshop. The at New Delhi stakeholders raised their concerns and gave various suggestions to Government to be incorporated into the Tourism Policy 2015. Demand for establishing a New Tourism Policy to ‘Hospitality have a clear-cut action University’ plan with timelines: was also Dr. Mahesh Sharma raised during the meeting.

The initiatives taken by government like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Visa on Arrival; E-visas were also discussed at the meeting.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism were also present 41

94% Women Consider Travelling inside India is Safe: Reveals Survey

H

olidayIQ; India's largest travel community, conducted a survey among 20,000 women across the country to understand if what women thought India was a safe destination to travel on the occasion of International Women’s Day,.

Mr. Hari Nair, Founder &

CEO, HolidayIQ said, “2015 is the seminal year for solo women travellers. We have been tracking a fair rise in this segment in the last four years, but the big spurt to 10%, will be witnessed in 2015 for the first time. This jump will significantly alter the tourism in India, just as the rise of couple travellers over the last decade did by giving rise to the concept of weekend getaways and jungle lodges across India.

Perhaps, women-friendly concept hotels and specialized holiday packages will surface.

Meanwhile, the tourism industry must note, when women plan a holiday, they spend 15 % more than men.

Not wanting travel to be an extension of the family, independence and the exposure that comes with it has led to the rise of the solo woman travellers".

Below are findings of the survey: ‘Do women feel safe to travel in the country?’

1. Women safety while travelling in India a. 78% women of various age-groups across the country feel India is a safe place to travel 2. City wise split – Women in Mumbai feel the safest amongst all cities, followed by Bangalore a. 71% Delhi b. 76% Kolkata c. 92% Mumbai d. 74% Chennai e. 83% Bangalore f. 75% Hyderabad 3. Age Group – Around 94% of young women in India feel travelling in India is safe

a. 18 to 24 years – 95% of them feel India is a safe place to travel b. 25 to 34 years – 92% of them feel India is a safe place to travel c. 35 to 44 years – 79% of them feel India is a safe place to travel d. 45 to 54 years – 87% of them feel India is a safe place to travel e. 55 to 64 years – 47% of them feel India is a safe place to travel 4. Who do they prefer travelling – girl gang travelling is a trend that’s catching-up a. 25% prefer travelling

with family b. 22% prefer with friends c. 18% prefer with girl-gang d. 13% prefer solo e. 8% with significant other 5. Preferred/ safe destinations by women – 60% of women prefer beach & hill station holidays a. 60% of women preferred Beaches (Kerala, Goa, Andaman, Pondicherry) & Hill Destinations (Manali, Ooty, Nainital, Shimla, Coorg) b. 12% of women preferred city holidaying– Mumbai, Chennai, c. 8% of women preferred jungle holidaying– Corbett, Ranthambore, Bandipur d. 20% of women opt for alternate holidaying option Tips from Holiday IQ for women travellers Carry out thorough research, use apps for navigation/ maps. Make sure phone has charge. Keep a couple of friends posted on whereabouts. Carry cash & contact details of hotel. Try to blend in. Be confident; don’t shy from asking for help. Be wary, not unfriendly. Trust your intuition, but do your homework. Keep to yourself, but stick with the crowds.

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ravel & Tourism growth in many European countries is threatened by poor infrastructure quality, capacity and long-term planning, according to a report published by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The report “European Travel & Tourism: Where are the greatest current and future investment needs”, published at the WTTC Global Summit in Madrid, reveals that, despite €2.1 trillion of forecast investment in the next decade, the growth of the sector in many countries is threatened by poor existing infrastructure quality or capacity or inadequate future investment.

Of the 41 European countries analysed in the report, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom are the best placed over the next decade.

The Travel & Tourism sector makes a substantial contribution to European economies. In 2014, including its direct, indirect, and induced impacts, Travel & Tourism supported 33.5 million jobs and made nearly €1.6 trillion in contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), or 9.3% of total European GDP. In addition, Travel & Tourism is a key to recovery for countries hit hardest by recession and the Eurozone crisis, including Greece, Spain, and Portugal.

Travel & Tourism is forecast to grow as fast, if not faster, than the economy overall in every major European region, putting pressure on

infrastructure capabilities and increasing the need for additional infrastructure investment. This report shows that several countries could fail to achieve baseline forecasts for Travel & Tourism GDP and jobs, and fall behind in global competitiveness terms, due to limited infrastructure and underinvestment relative to Travel & Tourism demand.

The WTTC report uses three

categories to identify country typologies, ranging from those that are at risk of losing Travel & Tourism infrastructure competitiveness over the next decade, to those that are well-placed to benefit from forecasted investment spend between 2015 and 2025: 1. Well-placed: This group of countries, exemplified by Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom, has high existing quality and capacity of Travel & Tourism infrastructure which they are expected to maintain and improve between 2015 and 2025. With investment growth expected to outpace demand over that

period, these countries are well-placed to capture the full benefits of forecasted Travel & Tourism demand.

2. Well-placed, but with key risks: France, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, and Greece are one set of countries included in this category. Each of them has existing Travel & Tourism quality and capacity that is greater than the European average. Yet their strong positions are likely to deteriorate somewhat over the next decade, since Travel & Tourism demand growth is forecast to outstrip Travel & Tourism investment growth over the period.

3. At medium or high risk: This category includes countries like Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova, which are considered to be at high risk because they have the poorest existing infrastructure quality and capacity of the 41 countries studied in this report. Croatia, Serbia, and Slovakia are also considered at risk, because Travel & Tourism investment growth is expected to lag behind demand growth over the next decade.

However, the potential of tourism sector to create jobs, financial security and economic wealth can only be met with sufficient and effective investment to support this demand. Our research paints a picture of a diverse continent with some countries much better placed than others to capitalize on forecasted demand. This points to a need for smart investment, greater collaboration between public and private bodies, and creative funding options.

Breaking down barriers to infrastructure development through the right business, political and regulatory frameworks will help to ensure that Travel & Tourism in Europe maintains a strong and competitive position.

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he Leela palaces, hotels and resorts participated in the lights off event for the third consecutive year to support the world environmental issues. Its eight award winning hotels around the country united to support the vision of greener planet by joining the earth hour on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 8:30 pm.

To show their commitment towards a green and sustainable future, all hotels switched off exterior lights and rooftop neon signage’s, and dim interior lights, including the lobby, to a safe level for guests and employees. To counterbalance, hotels used candles to illuminate various spaces and created a chain of candlelight dinners across its acclaimed restaurants to communicate the global call for climate change in an accessible and aesthetic manner. All General Managers were connected with guests and invited them to participate in the initiative.

“The Leela group is proud to support Earth Hour. It is a reaffirmation of our enduring commitment to protect our environment and operate green hotels that contribute towards a healthier, safer environment for our guests and employees every day”, said Rajiv Kaul, President, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts., “Earth Hour is a powerful symbol through which each one of us can make a lasting difference on the health of our planet” he added.

Since its inception, the group has focused on converting barren land on which the hotels are built into green, lush zones that benefit surrounding communities, further reducing energy and water consumption, and responsibly handling waste management while limiting carbon emissions.

Earth Hour, an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is the world’s single largest annual event, which has inspired a millions of people across 152 countries to switch off lights to draw attention to the worldwide issue of global warming and climate change.

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he Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma called out a review meeting on the functioning of Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) at Hotel Janpath in New Delhi. “Entrepreneur’s approach and vigorous marketing is required to take ITDC to new heights “says Tourism Minister Addressing the senior officials of ITDC, Dr Sharma said that, “from now onwards all efforts must be made to revive the ailing units/hotels of ITDC which will require a major change in work culture”. He

asked the employees to identify problems, dedicate a person responsible, draw up a time frame to correct it and continuously monitor the progress.

Dr. Mahesh Sharma said emphatically that there can be no compromise on delivery, and results must become visible. “We will try to revive hotels with some management problems but will have to lease out those with sticky problems.

Disinvestment should be the last option, it is a sector which is capable of showing quick results and results must start pouring in by the next year”, he emphasized. In a separate meeting with the staff, the

Minister assured them that their problems will be sorted out within three months and all issues will be addressed only after discussions with the staff.

Additional Secretary, MoT and CMD, ITDC, Sh. Girish Shankar made a presentation giving an overview of the working of the Corporation.

Secretary, MoT, Dr Lalit Panwar, officers of the Ministry and employees of ITDC were also present at the meeting.

10% of global GDP, once all direct, indirect and induced impacts are taken into account.

The sector will account for 284 million jobs, 9.5% of total employment, or one in eleven of all jobs on the planet, WTTC forecasts that the United States and China will retain their rankings as the two biggest Travel & Tourism economies in the world, but Germany has overtaken Japan to rank as the third largest Travel & Tourism economy.

Russia is the only G20 country expected to register a decline in Travel & Tourism growth in 2015, due to the continuing sanctions being imposed and the devaluation of the ruble.

David Scowsill, President & CEO WTTC, said: “At a time of global economic challenges, Travel & Tourism continues to grow faster than the global economy, and is an enduring source of job creation and a driver of growth for every region in the world.”

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very year, WTTC forecasts the economic impact of the Travel & Tourism sector in 184 countries and 24 regions. For 2015, these forecasts show a sector that is again growing strongly, creating jobs and driving growth.

In 2014, the industry contributed US$7,580 billion in GDP and 277 million jobs to the global economy.

During 2015, the industry’s contribution to global GDP is forecast to grow by 3.7% and employment by 2.6%. This demonstrates the sector’s enduring ability to generate economic growth and create jobs at a faster rate than the global economy, which is due to grow by 2.9% in 2015.

By the end of 2015, the Travel & Tourism sector will contribute US$7,860 billion,

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Dr Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation visiting the ITDC unit at Odisha

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he 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 (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India. Highest percentage share of FTAs in India is from USA, followed by UK and Bangladesh.

The following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEEs from tourism during the month of February 2015.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs): • FTAs during the Month of February 2015 were 7.61 lakh as compared to FTAs of 7.58 lakh during the month of February 2014 and 6.89 lakh in February 2013. There has been a growth of 0.5% in February 2015 over February 2014.

• FTAs during the period January-February 2015 were 15.52 lakh with a growth of 2.3%, as compared to the FTAs of 15.17 lakh with a growth of 7.7% in January-February 2014 over January-February 2013.

The Percentage share • of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during February

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2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (13.38%) followed by UK (13.19%), Bangladesh (11.26%), Canada (4.50%),France (3.68%), Germany (3.62%), Sri Lanka (3.49%), Malaysia (3.31%), Russian Fed. (3.02%), Japan (2.69%), Australia (2.54%), China (2.43%), Thailand (2.11%), Afghanistan (1.74%)

and Singapore (1.55%).

• The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during February 2015 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (33.0%) followed by Mumbai Airport (18.5%), Chennai Airport (7.6%), Haridaspur Land check post (5.6%), Bengaluru Airport (5.5%), Goa Airport (4.1%), Kolkata Airport (4.0%), Hyderabad Airport (2.7%), Cochin Airport (2.6%), Ahmedabad Airport (2.2%), Sonauli Land Check post (1.9%), Gede Land check post (1.8%), Trivandrum Airport (1.5%), Amritsar Airport (1.5%) and Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.3%).

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism in India in rupee terms and in US$ terms • FEEs during the month of February 2015 were Rs 11,056 crore and FEEs in US$ terms during the month of February 2015 were US$ 1.782 billion.

• FEEs from tourism in rupee terms in January -February 2015 were Rs 22,585 crore with a growth of 1.2% as compared to the FEE of Rs 22,321 during January-February 2014.

• FEEs from tourism in US$ terms during January -February 2015 were US$ 3.636 billion with a growth of 1.3% as compared to the US$ 3.591 billion with a negative growth of 7.7% during January-February 2014 over January -February 2013.

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n pursuance of the budget announcement 2014-15, the Ministry of Tourism has launched two new schemes (i) “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)” and (ii) “SWADESH DARSHAN”. Both the schemes are to be implemented in mission mode. Developing world-class infrastructure in the respective destinations/ circuits is one of the mission objectives of the schemes.

Under PRASAD, initially, twelve cities namely Amritsar, Ajmer, Amaravati, Dwaraka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Kedarnath, Kamakhya, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi and Vellankani have been identified for development.

The first meeting of National Steering Committee for new plan schemes of PRASAD and Integrated Development of Tourist

Circuits of Ministry of Tourism was held in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of various ministries like M/o Railways, M/o Water Resources, M/o Rural Development, M/o Urban Development, M/o Power, M/o Transport and Highways and Culture Ministry among others.

The various stakeholders gave details of some of the projects to promote Tourism being implemented by them and how they can be dovetailed with PRASAD as well as scheme of Development of Tourist Circuits.

Addressing the participants, the Minister emphasized the need for inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination

to create proper synergy for the success of the schemes. Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that, “There is a need to promote rural tourism since even urban India is not familiar with the rural life. Apart from this, India has rich resources like rivers which can be beneficial for developing Cruise Tourism which is nonexistent in the country at present”, he said.

Suggesting the need for speedy implementation of PRASAD and Development of Integrated Circuits, the Minister said that, “there should be no delay in implementing those portions of the scheme which are within the ambit of the Central Government”.

Secretary (Culture), Mr Ravindra Singh pointed out that the locations for the Buddhist circuit must be finalized quickly and the Banaras circuit, which will form a good project to be taken up under the scheme, should also be developed. Secretary (Tourism), Dr Lalit Panwar highlighted the importance of Cruise Tourism saying that it comprises a negligible percentage of total tourism in the country and has a great potential.

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MaximRMS & RezNext to Demystify the Revenue Management

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axim Revenue Management Solutions (MaximRMS), a world leader in pricing, forecasting and profit optimisation technology for the hospitality industry, and RezNext, a leading real-time distribution technology company, are pleased to announce their strategic partnership. Through this partnership, RezNext is distributing a custom-tailored version of the MaximRMS e.

FLEX revenue management system throughout India, Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia, named “ReV powered by Maxim”. The MaximRMS revenue management system is fully integrated with the complete suite of RezNext products.

Mike Kistner, Chief Executive Officer, RezNext Global Solutions, said “Revenue management, especially in emerging markets like India has been mostly adopted by the large chains and 5 star properties. With this partnership with Maxim, we are demystifying revenue management by providing a simple technology solution that can provide the most advanced analytics. ReV powered by Maxim will empower revenue managers across all star categories of hotels to understand demand periods better, identify booking pace and leverage recommendations to optimise

revenue. The solution is fully integrated with PMS, GDS and OTA channels, along with competitive, reputation, and other data streams. Adding our own custom-tailored revenue management product directly addresses our local market’s needs, helping hotels become more profitable and make better pricing and distribution decisions.”

According to Steven Gelb, CEO of MaximRMS, “We are excited to expand our worldwide reach by welcoming RezNext to our strategic partners program. RezNext offers industry leading distribution technology, local market knowledge and presence. We are very happy that RezNext has chosen the MaximRMS technology as their revenue management solution.”

Features and Benefits of these revenue management system includes, increase in profit, time saving, and making the customer competitive. The newest version of the system has the unique ability to dynamically respond to emerging travel trends, price sensitive distribution channels, competitive position, and complex customer segmentation. Operators using MaximRMS have been able to outpace their competitive sets on average over 25%.

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The company has its operation in Bangalore and Goa but its biggest base is in hearts of travellers who have been experiencingour offerings.

The sheer number of repeattravellers gives us a bigdelight ..

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ake It Happen(MIH) is an ideal platform for visitors who are seeking immersive travel experiences and meaningful fun filled holidays.

MIH has been pioneering new travel ideas for its guests since it came up in 2011. Founded by a passionate wanderer , a true Gypsy in nature –Maria Victor strongly believes that travel is way of discovering your own self. Working in India and abroad at various corporate levels she realized thatTravel is biggest stress buster from the continuous work pressures.

She hails from Goa and its natural that tourism runs in her veins.

In 2014 she crossed roads with an another travel freak Sandeep Sinha & now the co-founder of MIH .

Sandeep’sbeliefs in tourism as a tool for bettering societiesin a meaningful way . His experience of handling guests from varied cultures &his vast knowledge of Tourism is working great for MIH . Today we are not only positioned as providing the best experience at a genuine price but that too in a very transparent & honest way. MIH is also now helping destinations to evolve as a great place for traveller to visit

and locals to host. We strongly believe that benefits of tourism should be available to all. Conservation and environment are our immediate goals.

MIH is partnering with a Vineyardat Jaymangali Blackbuck sanctuary and offering exciting stays for weekenders near Bangalore.

This is commitment towards creating awareness &involving local people to participate in preservation of our wildlife and fauna.

The company has its operation in Bangalore and Goa but its biggest base is in hearts of travellers who have been experiencingour offerings. The sheer number of repeattravellers gives us a bigdelight ..It also shows that we are on the right course.

Our offerings cover all parts of India & the sub-continent ..Make It Happen wants to explore the deeper sense of India .India where time has stood still and where people still are very authentic . The other day we were cruising on the backwaters of Kerala and the crew immediately recognised the warmth and energy of our Logo.

Moving forward we have

already started offering the joy of festivals to our buyers.

We got a tremendous response on the Nagaland – Hornbill & recently concluded Goa Carnival festivals. We don’t want our guests to be a mere spectator but actually become part of the process and fun. MIH offerings on soft adventure ( walks, treks, scuba dives ) has always been a big hit. Joining hands with our travellers we discover the various facets of tourism whether in India or some select overseas countries. .

Our fixed departures towards an immersive and

wholesome experience has been welcomed widely by our guests both from India and

overseas . We will keep researching , designing ,talking and listening to travellers and hosts to come up with new travel ideas. In the process we may make mistakes but that is way to learn and excel.

We invite all to check our offers on our website www. makeithappen.co.in .Please write to us on contact@ makeithappen.co.in or call us any time at +91 97419-11408 or +91 76765-39716 . You can also follow on our FB page :Facebook.com/ makeithappenthrills.

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ordan continues to remain a secure destination that offers diversified and varied travel experiences. The borders of Jordan are secure and not affected by the turmoil in the surrounding regions. Tourists are pouring in from all corners of the world and enjoying Jordan’s cultural and family-oriented cities of Amman, Petra, Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Aqaba.

This is apparent from the latest figures of the new Queen Alia Airport terminal; which has received more than 7 million passengers in 2014.

This has only been possible because of the continual development of hotels and other sites all over the historically and culturally rich kingdom of Jordan.

Raving testimonials of tourists as well as the remarkable reviews on various booking portals are positive

and current visitors enjoy the experience of a memorable visit.

Jordan is a part of a United States lead coalition along with several European countries, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. It is conducting distant air strikes that have no implication on the territories of the coalition countries.

Because Jordan cares for

human souls Jordan defends its citizens and visitors with all the power it can to preserve human lives.

The Jordan Tourism Board and the Federation of Tourism Associations are ready to address any concerns which tourists might have. Jordan is waiting with open arms to serve and provide a first class experience to all visitors and tourists.

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enerations of Kiwis, past and present, have grown up hearing dolphin tales – the stories of ‘celebrity’ dolphins who’ve achieved local and sometimes international fame through their exploits in New Zealand’s coastal waters. There are 13 different dolphin species living around New Zealand.

Dolphins - the fastest swimmers in the sea - are often seen following boats, or playing in shallow waters off beaches. Occasionally individual dolphins move into an area, stay a while and get to know the locals. New Zealand’s ‘celebrity’ dolphins feature in a line-up that reaches all the way from early Māori mythology into modern folklore. Māori have a traditional relationship with marine mammals. They often described dolphins as Taniwha, or water spirits, and told stories about certain 54

Taniwha that had intervened in human life.

According to NgātiWai people - who inhabited islands off Auckland’s eastern coast; dolphins acted as messengers in times of need, carrying news from the islands to the mainland. There are several stories concerning Cook Strait - the sea passage between the North and South Islands - and the surrounding coastal areas: Tribes that lived around Cook Strait talked of Paneiraira, a Taniwha that helped canoes cross the tricky waters. An ancient story tells how the Taniwha Tuhirangi guided Kupe, the legendary Polynesian explorer, to New Zealand. Kupe placed Tuhirangi at French Pass in the Marlborough Sounds, to guide canoes through treacherous waters. In the mid-18th century, the guardian dolphin Kahurangi accompanied

Hinepoupou as she escaped abandonment on Kapiti Island (north of Wellington) to return 80km to her father in the Marlborough Sounds (South Island) Pelorus Jack of Marlborough Sounds Several dolphins have made their names in New Zealand folklore over the two centuries since Europeans arrived. For 24 years (1888 -1912), Pelorus Jack - recognized by Māori as the Taniwha Tuhirangi - guided ships between Wellington, the Marlborough Sounds and Nelson.Pelorus Jack was usually seen accompanying ships through French Pass, the dangerous passage between D’Urville Island and the mainland. If there were two boats, the dolphin chose the faster, and could easily beat a vessel doing 30k/ph. At night Pelorus Jack’s speeding outline glowed with phosphorescence from plankton in the water. His picture appeared on the cover of the Illustrated London News. Pelorus Jack was a four-meter Risso’s dolphin, though it was never confirmed whether ‘Jack’ was male or female.

Opo of Opononi, Northland For two summers (1955 and 1956), Opo - a young female bottlenose dolphin - captivated New Zealanders with her playful nature and gentle antics. Big crowds visited the little Northland town of Opononi, in the Hokianga Harbour, where Opo played with children, allowing them to

touch her and ride on her back.

As she got used to human attention, Opo responded to cheers by increasing the difficulty of her tricks and games. Opo became the subject of a song, and the nation mourned when she died in March 1956.

Moko of Mahia Beach The seaside escapades of Moko - resident dolphin in the waters surrounding Mahia and Whakatane, on the east coast of the North Island - are the latest chapter in New Zealand dolphin-lore. Moko, a young bottlenose male dolphin, became a headliner when he moved into the Hawke’s Bay region in 2007, wowing the crowds with his playful antics and love of human company.

In March 2008, Moko made world headlines when he saved two beached pygmy sperm whales. Conservation workers had been working to get the whales back into open water when Moko appeared, leading the whales to safety through a narrow channel into the sea.

Always ready to play, the adolescent dolphin occasionally caused problems for human friends when he refused to give up on games.

Once a tired lone swimmer had to be rescued by boat after Moko's games wore her out.

Moko had meant no harm, she said afterwards, but she had been unwise to be out there alone.

In early 2010, Moko moved north around the East Cape to the small coastal town of Whakatane where the locals organized a Moko minder - to help keep the playful dolphin away from trouble - and tourists flocked to see him.

Sadly, Moko's life came to a premature end in July 2010, when his body was found washed ashore near Tauranga.

Dolphin encounters New Zealand’s Department of Conservation advises that

swimmers should not try to handle, ride or be towed by a dolphin. Swimmers should remain calm if approached by a dolphin, and allow the mammal to make contact if it wants to.

Boaties are advised to keep boat speeds and engine noise down while around dolphins.

Swimming with dolphins Since the 1980s, swimming with wild dolphins has become a popular tourism activity in New Zealand. Each year over 100 commercial tourism operators apply to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for approvals to either watch or swim with dolphins, seals or whales. The bottlenose dolphins in the Bay of Islands (in the northern North Island) are the most popular for these activities, although dusky, common and Hector’s dolphins are also often seen.

In the sheltered waters of the Marlborough Sounds, Dolphin Watch Nature Tours provide boat and swimming tours from their catamaran.

There are opportunities to see several species of dolphin including common, bottlenose, Dusky and Hector's. A little further south at Kaikoura - on the eastern coast of the South Island - award-winning Kaikoura Dolphin Encounter (Top 10 in Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences) runs tours swimming or watching Dusky dolphins in their natural environment. In Akaroa Harbour, on the Banks Peninsula and south of Christchurch, Black Cat Cruises offer the once in a lifetime thrill swimming with Hector's - the world's smallest and rarest dolphin.

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erala, God's Own Country is not just about swaying coconut palms, sensuous beaches, and alluring emerald backwaters. Rather, step a bit closer to be awestruck by the wild passion that lurks just beneath its innocent, shy facade.

MTB, a mega mountain biking event has proven that Kerala is a land of adventure, sports and die hard passion. An initiative of the State government, MTB aims to invite the attention of tourists, travelers and adventure-seekers across the globe to scale, gauge and explore the prospects of running wild in the backyard of God's Own Country. This April, biking aficionados from across the globe will gear up for the ride of a lifetime in Kerala The phenomenal success of MTB editions 1 and 2 has set the ball rolling and enthusiasm is palpable in the air! The third edition of the event is all set to be flagged off on April 18, 2015. A project of the Department of Tourism, MTB Kerala was the first of its kind in the State when it was announced three years ago. Today, this mountain cycling challenge has proved its stature, marked by loads of thrill and fun. This time, the event is poised to scale new heights and will take the riders to the hills, valleys and mountains of 56

Wayanad - a green paradise in Kerala. The Priyadarshini Tea Estate in Mananthavady,Wayanad Ms. Asha Jose, chief executive officer, Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society said “An adventure tourism is an exciting experience, The 1st and 2nd edition of MTB Kerala witnessed a burgeoning success with adventurers across the world pedaling their way through the rock terrains of Gods own country. Third edition of MTB Kerala 2014 comprises a combination of single track, rural roads and a of forest path. Note that most of these areas are not generally accessible to the public and as such are unique to this event, which is fully backed up and marshaled. This edition will witness more than 150 bikers from around the globe.� .

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he wildebeest migration is considered as one of the new ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. If there is a safari you should go on, this has to be it.

The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Park together form what no other reserve in Africa could possibly provide. It is astonishing, incredible, enchanting and overwhelming. The great migration is a natural event which one should never miss.

You can’t experience such a wonderful immense displace of fauna as in wildebeest migration elsewhere in this world. Over two million animals migrate from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya from July through to October in search of food and water.

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Each and every animal have to go through this arduous migration process in order to survive, they might have to face the impending dooms waiting for them; as an instance they have to cross the meandering Mara river in which crocodiles are waiting to pray on them. In fact this is one of the highlight of the safari, as the animals try to cross the river alive.

In the Maasai Mara, the migrating animals will be hunted, stalked, and run down by the larger carnivores. The Maasai Mara also has one of the largest densities of lion in the world and is no wonder this is the home of the BBC wildlife channels Big Cat Diary.

The stage on which this show is set is loosely termed the Serengeti Ecosystem, about 40, 000 square

kilometers pretty much defined by the dominant migration routes of the white bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes tuarinus mearnsi) and comprises parts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the south; the Serengeti National Park and the adjacent Maswa Game Reserve and other ‘controlled’ areas in the centre, east and west; and the Maasai Mara National Reserve to the north. The principle players are the wildebeest, whose numbers appear to have settled at just under 1.7 million, with supporting roles from some 400,000 Thomson’s gazelle, 300,000 zebra and 12,000 eland. These are the main migrates and they cross the ranges of over a quarter of a million other resident

herbivores and, of course, carnivores. The lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs and lesser predators await the annual coming of the migration with eager anticipation.

Professional photographers spent a lot of time in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. To become a part of this great migration is a dream of every professional photographer. It is real life there; one can see the start and end of life and the rules of nature everywhere in Mara in the season of migration. Photography workshop designed for photographers will be conducted every year at Maasai Mara, to make them prepared to catch every action in an exclusive way. Every single aspect is planned to make the best out of the trip.

Sudhir Shivaram an internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer holds the photography training camp at Mara. Sudhir is a Canon contract photographer, and is the brand ambassador of ‘Canon India’. He is the recipient of the ‘Sanctuary Asia Wildlife photographer of the year 2012 award. He has also been recognized as India’s 5th most influential person in photography industry. Sudhir holds photography workshops and wildlife photo tours, both for beginners and professionals and mentor them to enhance their skills and

understanding of nature and wildlife photography.

Prominent aspects of the entire workshop starts from the charted private flight arranged to Mara from JKIA airport Kenya. No wasting precious time spending the whole day on the road to the Mara. No wasting time transferring to Wilson Airport and thence to the Mara - your private charter flight will be waiting for you at JKIA itself and you will fly directly to the Mara as soon as you alight from your international flight.

Nomadic Camp, Masai Mara Reserve

The camp is located at a special campsite within the Mara Triangle. There are no other lodges or camps in the Mara Triangle area, so you will be far from the crowds and not have to jostle for the best positions at special sightings.

No going in and out of the reserve every day by 6pm - you will be deep in the reserve for your entire time. The camp will be set up as close to the anticipated crossing points as possible, so that you will never be more than 20 minutes away from the river. The camp itself is luxuriously appointed and will make a superb base for your group of photographers.

Solar power and generator, battery charging facilities in room and dining room will be provided on guest request. The camp will be exclusive only for our group. There will be an Indian Chef along with us to cater to our taste buds.

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The fully equipped safari vehicle

Sudhir Shivaram is one of India’s most respected wildlife photographers based at Bangalore. He is Sanctuary Asia's Wildlife Photographer of the Year for the year 2012. This green evangelist campaigns for wildlife protection around the world and gives freely of his time and images to raise awareness about nature and wildlife. Sudhir is one of the brand ambassadors for Canon India and is a Canon contract photographer.

Perhaps nothing is as important to the wildlife photographer as his vehicle.

Fully open-sided vehicles will give you fantastic angles and make for a comfortable shooting environment.

When you are spending long hours in a vehicle, then this becomes paramount.

The top is removable and can be taken down upon request for a totally open vehicle.

Although these are large enough to comfortably accommodate 7 people; on this safari there will be only 4 people per vehicle. More space for you. More room for your equipment as well.

There will be additional accessory (bamboo pole or similar) added to the vertical bars at the sides to keep the bean bags and shoot while seated. You will also have the flexibility to shoot using your tripod. The technique will be taught at the workshop.

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Package Includes, Airport and airstrip transfers; 05 Nights at the Nomadic Camp in the Masai Mara on full board basis, inclusive of all meals, all non-premium drinks including beer and wine and all soft drinks, laundry services.

Camping and Conservation Fees; Open-sided vehicles; Elite Guides; Private charter transfers Nairobi-JKIA/Masai Mara/JKIA; Emergency Incident Support – Evacuation Insurance for persons under 60 yrs of age and Chalo Africa Pre Trip Dossier Excluded International air tickets & visa fees; International travel and medical insurance & vaccinations (pleaseseehttp:// www.chaloafrica.com/travel -insurance-a-guide-for-african -safaris/ for additional Information); Porterages, tipping and gratuities to staff and guides; Extra meals, visits and activities not indicated; Shopping and other items of a personal nature; Day1: (Sunday, 6September) Arrive into Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Go through immigration and visa formalities. Our reps will

be there to transfer you immediately to your private charter flight to the MasaiMara.

You will get there by lunch time to the camp, have lunch and head for the afternoon safari.

Day 2-6: Nomadic Camp, Masai Mara Reserve (Mon, 7 Sep to Fri, 11 Sep) Four full days in Nomadic Camp, with your days organized in conjunction with Sudhir. The focus of these full days will be to capture your river crossings and other action sequences. The variety and density of wildlife in the Mara never disappoints, and especially not in peak season.

Sudhir will organize photography workshops and discussions during any quiet afternoon and evening hours so that you can benefit to the fullest from his expert tutelage.

Day 6: (Fri, 11 September) Today, after a morning game drive, you will be driven to Ol Kiombo to catch your private charter flight back to JKIA, Nairobi, from where you will catch your international flight home. Working on the basis of the KQ flight that leaves at about 17:00 hours, we will need to be in Nairobi by 14:00 at the latest and the charter flight will be timed accordingly. Once again, this is door to door service, with no wasted time at all.

Contact: sudhir@sudhirshivaram.com