TOURISM INDIA APRIL 2020

nd

APRIL 2020

Vol 22, No. 12

IATA WARNINGS WTTC PREDICTIONS UNWTO APPEAL WEF SOLUTIONS WTFL ANALYSIS

COVID 19 &TOURISM

TURBULENT

TIMES

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Editor’s Note

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Turbulent times of Tourism

ow the gates are closed, the closing down of destinations is a symbol of how global travel and tourism landscape has changed due to COVID-19. The tourism industry is being “badly hit� by the pandemic with lockdowns and travel restrictions.

COVID-19 has so far caused outbreaks in 185 countries. Several countries have implemented restrictions in movement within and across borders. Al over the world every industry faces uncertainty over its future. The airline industry faces its gravest crisis.

The financial reasons and health anxieties made travellers put themselves to hold on or postpone travel plans. All hospitality services are in suspension mode with exceptions for those who designated as quarantine facilities and those who were accommodating tourists and people stranded due to the lockdown. The impact will be severe In the case of Organisations. The guiding principles are often criticized and most tested when it comes to decisions on risk management and the effort to move the organization forward in these kinds of turbulent times.

If this COVID-19 crisis progresses trend remains to continue for the coming months its impacts of unemployment will be a major setback since the sector accounts for millions of direct and indirect employment and the full impact of this crisis still remains unknown.

UNWTO & WHO are jointly call for responsibility

and heightened coordination to ensure that health measures are implemented in ways that minimize unnecessary interference with international travel and trade.

Furthermore, the Tourism industry recognizes to practice the term RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL in all sense. Personal responsibility is the most important step that people can take to protect themselves and others. Through a piece of advice for public by WHO stressed Travellers should familiarize themselves with the basic prevention practices that apply while traveling and in daily life. These include regular hand washing, normal cough etiquette, postponing travel plans in cases of illness, and avoiding contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections. It is essential to stay informed as the situation evolves, especially while travelling. Travellers should check regularly with WHO and other reliable resources for the latest updates and information issued by WHO The Virus marks the importance of personal hygiene and makes us remember that travellers are responsible not only for their well-being but for the well-being of those around them. They should be aware of the symptoms and take all the recommended steps for personal hygiene.

Let us be with the spirit and services of the Health professionals and health workers who are in a fight against the virus to make us remain in this world.

Now #Staysafe Rajani A Editor March APRIL 2020 Tourism India

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Contents APRIL 2020

VOL 22 NO 12

MANAGING EDITOR Ravisankar K V EDITOR Rajani A EXECUTIVE EDITOR Raadia Mukadam ASSOCIATE EDITOR G. Ajithkumar ART EDITOR N Bhattathiri DIRECTOR - DESIGNS Anand Sankar PHOTOGRAPHERS Vivek R. Nair, Murukesh Iyer

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TOURISM & COVID 19 A WAY FORWARD

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INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS COULD FALL BY 30% IN 2020

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Jobs at risk in Travel & Tourism jets 50% increase

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Travel & Tourism will be critical to Asia Pacific’s economic recovery,

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Airlines Facing Rapid Cash Burn & Deeper Revenue Hit from COVID-19

BUSINESS & EDITORIAL ASSOCIATES

NEW DELHI D Anilkumar +91 9868123311

MUMBAI K V Satyanath +91 9745598126

KOLKATA Jayasree Singh +91 943306033

BANGALURU Damodaran K Nair +91 8310955261

EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICE TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD A-29, KUMARA VILAS, ELANKOM GARDENS, VELLAYAMBALAM, SASTHAMANGALAM P.O., TRIVANDRUM, KERALA, INDIA 695010 TEL: +91 471 2315256 MOB: 9947160531 CONTACT US Editorial Enquiries editor@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9847060531 Advertisement Enquiries marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9745598126 Circulation & Subscription Enquiries circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9947160531 Online Edition www.tourismindia.org www.tourismindiaonline.com Digital Edition: https://issue.com/tourismindia No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD. All rights reserved Copyright @2020 Printed and Published by Ravisankar K V on behalf of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD, A-29, Kumara Vilas, Elankom Gardens, Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695010 at Aarsha Offset Graphix, Mettukkada, Thycaud.P.O., Trivandrum- 695014 Editor: Rajani A

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Five Ways to Lead: Workforce Principles for the COVID-19

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PATA launches Crisis Resource Center & Tourism Recovery Monitor

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FTA to India have shown an increase in the last 3 years

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India Tourism launches ‘Stranded in India’ portal to help foreign tourists

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WE NEED OPEN SOURCE SOLUTIONS TO DEAL WITH THE COVID CRISIS

Contents 32

Corona Virus and Impact on Travel

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232 European Tourists stuck in Kerala due to COVID-19 fly home

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Appointments RAviz Hotels

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Emirates SkyCargo scales up network and operations for Medical & Supply Demands

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Santa Claus sends his greetings from Rovaniemi The Official Hometown

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Serendipity Arts Foundation & Rencontres d’Arles announces the largest grant in South Asia

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Travel Updates post covid 19

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How Hotels and Private clubs can retain a brand recall amidst customers in times of COVID-19

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Brand Kerala Woman of the Year Award 2020 conferred on K.KShailaja

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Brigade Hospitality & WTC Bengaluru Celebrated International Women’s Day

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Bangalore Airport’s Quad retail plaza brings in nonflyers, as well

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PRIDE HOTELS ANNOUNCES “WORK FROM PRIDE”

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CHIVA-SOM THAILAND LAUNCHES COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE WELLNESS SERVICES APRIL 2020 Tourism India

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NEWS/ GLOBAL TRAVEL

TOURISM & COVID 19 A WAY FORWARD The outbreak of Coronavirus COVID-19 presents the tourism sector with a major and evolving challenge.

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he Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in humans and can spread from person-to-person.

COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans.

Around the world, countries continue to count the cost of COVID-19: in lives lost, in economic disruption and in the threat to sustainable development where it’s most needed.

The Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund set the backdrop for global leaders to advance immediate response and the economic policies to chart a path

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Economic Impact of Travel & Tourism 2019

•In 2019, direct, indirect and

induced impact of Travel & Tourism sector is accounted for US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world GDP marked as 10.3% of global GDP. •Growth of 3.5% globally, Outpacing The Global economy by 2.5% •330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world •US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports, 28.3% of global services exports) •US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total investment) • One in Four New jobs created by the Tourism sector APRIL 2020 Tourism India

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towards a sustainable recovery. The meetings follow decisions made by the European Union and national governments across the world.

Tourism must be recognized as a key pillar for building a better future in all world regions. Past recoveries prove that the importance of this sector cannot be overstated.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) calls for solid international leadership and for tourism to be included as a priority in future recovery efforts and also calls upon the sector and travelers to address this challenge with sound judgment and proportionate measures.

Tourism is currently one of the most affected sectors and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has revised its 2020 forecast for international arrivals and receipts, though emphasizes that such any predictions are likely to be further revised.

Against a backdrop of travel restrictions being introduced, UNWTO underscores the importance of international dialogue and cooperation and emphasizes the COVID-19 challenge also represents an

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opportunity to show how solidarity can go beyond borders.

The tourism sector, like no other economic activity with social impact, is based on interaction amongst people. UNWTO has been guiding the tourism sector’s response on several levels: By cooperating closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the lead UN agency for the management of this outbreak; UNWTO continues to coordinate closely with WHO and other United Nations agencies, and UNWTO’s Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili maintains regular contact with governments and tourism sector leaders.

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST

The tourism sector is committed to putting people and their wellbeing first.

Two highly acclaimed UN agencies, UNWTO & WHO are jointly call for responsibility and heightened coordination to ensure that health measures are implemented in ways that minimize unnecessary interference with international travel and trade.

Furthermore, tourism’s response needs to be measured and consistent, proportionate to the public health threat and based on local risk assessment. by standing in solidarity with affected countries; and by emphasizing tourism’s proven resilience and by standing ready to support recovery.

RESPONSBILE TRAVEL

Personal responsibility is the most important step that people can take to protect themselves and others. Travelers should familiarize themselves with the basic prevention practices that apply while travelling and in daily life (WHO advice for public).

These include: regular handwashing, normal cough etiquette, postponing travel plans in cases of illness, and avoiding contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.

It is essential to stay informed as the situation evolves, especially while travelling. Travelers should check regularly with WHO and other reliable resources for the latest updates and information issued by

health and travel professionals.

Travelers are responsible not only for their own well-being but for the well-being of those around them. They should be aware of the symptoms and take all the recommended steps for personal hygiene

IMPACT ON TOURISM

The tourism sector is currently one of the hardest-hit by the outbreak of COVID-19, with impacts on both travel supply and demand.

This represents an added downside risk in the context of a weaker world economy, geopolitical, social and trade tensions, as well as uneven performance among major outbound travel markets.

Considering the evolving nature of the situation, it is too early to estimate the full impact of the COVID-19 on international tourism.

For its initial assessment, UNWTO takes the SARS scenario of 2003 as a benchmark, factoring in the size and dynamics of global travel and current disruptions, the geographic spread of COVID-19 and its potential economic impact: UNWTO underscores that any estimate must be treated with caution due to the volatile and uncertain evolution of the outbreak which might lead to further

revisions.

PROMOTING SOLIDARITY

UNWTO is observing the introduction of restrictions on travel. Where these are introduced, they must be based on the latest expert recommendations and have public health concerns as a main concern.

Within this context, UNWTO has stressed the importance of international dialogue and cooperation. This shared challenge also presents the global community, including the tourism sector, to work more closely together and show that solidarity can go beyond national borders.

SUPPORTING RECOVERY

Small and medium sized enterprises (which make up around 80% of the tourism sector) are expected to be particularly impacted.

This might affect millions of livelihoods across the world, including vulnerable communities who rely on tourism as a vehicle to spur their development and economic inclusion.

Due to its crosscutting economic nature and deep social

The Domino Effect of COVID-19

footprint, tourism is uniquely positioned to help societies and communities affected return to growth and stability. Over the years, the sector has consistently proven its resilience and its ability not only to bounce back as a sector but to lead the wider economic and social recovery. This depends on adequate political support and recognition.

Against this backdrop, UNWTO calls for:

financial and political support for recovery measures targeting the tourism sector in the most affected countries; recovery measures and incentives to be planned and implemented in coordination with international development and donor organizations; and tourism support to be included in the wider recovery plans and actions of affected economies. #STAYSAFE # STAY HEALTHY #TRAVELTOMORROW #TRAVELRESPONSIBLY

1 million Jobs lost per day 75 million jobs at risk

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NEWS/ GLOBAL TRENDS

INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS

COULD FALL BY 30% IN 2020 Tourism is among the hardest hit of all economic sectors. However, tourism is also united in helping to address this immense health emergency.

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he unparalleled introduction of travel restrictions across the world, the United Nations specialized agency for tourism expects that international tourist arrivals will be down by 20% to 30% in 2020 when compared with 2019 figures.

UNWTO stresses that these numbers are based on the latest developments as the global community faces up to an unprecedented social and economic challenge and should be interpreted with caution in view of the extreme uncertain nature of the current crisis.

UNWTO notes that in 2009, on the back of the global economic crisis, international tourist arrivals declined by 4%, while the SARS outbreak led to a decline of just 0.4% in 2003.

An expected fall of between 2030% could translate into a decline in international tourism receipts (exports) of between US$300-450 billion, almost one third of the US$ 1.5 trillion generated in 2019. Taking

into account past market trends, this would mean that between five and seven years’ worth of growth will be lost to COVID-19. Putting this into context, UNWTO notes that in 2009, on the back of the global economic crisis, international tourist arrivals declined by 4%, while the SARS outbreak led to a decline of just 0.4% in 2003.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism is among the hardest hit of all economic sectors.

However, tourism is also united in helping to address this immense health emergency – our first and utmost priority – while working together to mitigate the impact of the crisis, particularly on employment, and to support the wider recovery efforts through providing jobs and driving economic welfare worldwide.”

Mitigating damage and planning for recovery

Mr. Pololikashvili added that, while it is too early to make a full assessment of the likely impact of COVID-19 on tourism, it is clear that millions of jobs within the sector are at risk of being lost. Around 80% of all tourism businesses are small-andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the sector has been leading the way in providing employment and other opportunities for women, youth and rural communities.

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UNWTO underlines tourism’s historic resilience and capacity to create jobs after crisis situations, while also emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and of ensuring the sector is made a central part of recovery efforts.

Since the start of the current crisis, UNWTO has been working closely with the wider United Nations system, including directly alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) to guide the sector, issuing key recommendations for both high-level leaders and individual tourists. To better consolidate and strengthen the response, the Organization has established the Global Tourism Crisis Committee.

WE HAVE TO WAKE UP QUICKLY

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r.Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General ,UNWTO urged the partners in the European Commission, across the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions to embrace tourism like never before.

The Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund set the backdrop for global leaders to advance immediate response and the economic policies to chart a path towards a sustainable recovery. The meetings follow decisions made by the European Union and national governments across the world.

The message reads that Tourism must be recognized as a key pillar for building a better future in all world regions and past recoveries prove that the importance of tourism sector cannot be overstated. In Europe, the world’s leading tourism destination, the sector generated last year more than US$407 billion in international tourism receipts, providing more than 27 million jobs. And jobs are a lifeline for communities, including the most vulnerable members of society which will ensure that tourism grows back stronger and better – but only if it has the right support from the highest levels of government and international organizations.

Zurab Pololikashvili urged to wake up quickly to start concrete action is of the essence to face up the shared challenge.

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NEWS/ GLOBAL TRENDS

JOBS AT RISK IN TRAVEL & TOURISM

JETS 50% INCREASE Travel & Tourism contributes to 10.4% of Global GDP, is directly responsible for generating one in 10 of the world’s jobs, and for eight successive years, has outpaced the growth of the global economy.

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he latest projection of a 50% increase in jobs at risk, in less than two weeks , represents a significant and worrying trend, with an astounding one million jobs being lost every day in the Travel & Tourism sector, due to the sweeping effect of the coronavirus pandemic. The alarming figure, based

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on research from WTTC, shows a punishing Travel & Tourism GDP loss to the world economy of up to US$2.1 trillion in 2020.

Number of jobs at risk from COVID-19 pandemic is up to 75 million London, UK: Up to 75 million jobs are at immediate risk in global Travel & Tourism due to the

coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The analysis by WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, also exposes the depth of the crisis for individual regions. Asia-Pacific is expected to be most heavily impacted with up

The number of jobs now at risk in the global Travel & Tourism sector is a staggering 75 million, bringing real and profound worry to millions of families around the world.

“This chilling new figure also represents the collective delay by many governments around the world to react quickly enough to come to the aid of a sector which is the backbone of the global economy.

and profound worry to millions of families around the world.

“This chilling new figure also represents the collective delay by many governments around the world to react quickly enough to come to the aid of a sector which is the backbone of the global economy.

“If urgent action is not taken within the next few days, the Travel & Tourism sector faces an economic meltdown from which it will struggle to recover and plunge millions of people dependent upon it for their livelihoods into debt. Not only will this have an enormous negative impact on major businesses in the Travel & Tourism sector around the world, the ‘domino effect’ will also result in massive job losses across the entire supply chain, hitting employees and those in selfemployment.

“We call on all those in positions of power to help the powerless and enact policies to support and sustain a sector which is a driving force of the global economy and responsible for generating one in five of all new jobs.”

Germany is set to be the most affected country in Europe, with almost 1.6 million jobs at risk, followed by Russia with an estimated 1.1 million in potential job losses. Italy and the UK follow as the third most impacted, with both countries projected to lose up to one million jobs in the Travel & Tourism sector. Meanwhile, the region which has experienced the least damaging impact from the COVID-19 outbreak is the Middle East. However, it still faces job losses of 1.8 million and a GDP loss of up to US$65 billion to the regional economy.

to 49 million jobs at risk throughout the region, representing a loss of nearly US$800 billion to Travel & Tourism GDP. The latest figures also suggest that in Europe, up to 10 million jobs in Travel & Tourism are at risk, totaling a loss of nearly US$552 billion.

The Americas are also expected to be hit hard by this crisis, with the United States, Canada and Mexico expected to lose up to US$570 billion combined, with nearly seven million jobs in Travel & Tourism at risk. Other countries expected to be hit hard by this crisis include Brazil, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, Indonesia and India.

Ms. Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The number of jobs now at risk in the global Travel & Tourism sector is a staggering 75 million, bringing real APRIL 2020 Tourism India

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NEWS/ GLOBAL TRAVEL

TRAVEL & TOURISM WILL BE CRITICAL

TO ASIA PACIFIC’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY, SAYS WTTC

Travel & Tourism sector outpaced overall economy for the fifth consecutive year

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he new Economic Impact Report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), has revealed the vital contribution that Travel & Tourism will make to Asia-Pacific’s economic recovery, once the COVID-19 pandemic has been combatted.

Travel & Tourism played plays a big role in driving the economy in the region last year. As per the report International visitor spend totalled a staggering $548 billion USD, representing 6.6% of the region’s total exports. Further evidence of the importance of Travel & Tourism in the region, is demonstrated by the research

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that shows over the last five years, the region was a world leader in job creation, with Travel & Tourism creating more than 21 million new jobs, equating to 56% of all new jobs globally. The comprehensive report also showed leisure travel makes up the majority of total Travel & Tourism spend (81%), with only 19% being attributed to business travel. When considering domestic and international spend the numbers skewed similarly, with domestic visitor spend making up 74% of the total, and international making up 26%. China led the region in 2019 in terms of GDP and employment size, with strong performances in

other major Asian markets such as Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Travel & Tourism supports nearly 80 million jobs, or, 10.3% of total employment in China .The Travel & Tourism economy in china grew by 9.3% and is the second largest in the world – making up 11.3% of China’s overall economy. Malaysia and Vietnam also witnessed significant growth, up 6.6% and 7.7% respectively, with both displaying an even split between domestic and international visitor spending, with 49% of visitor spend from domestic travellers and 51% of spend from international. The majority of the Travel & Tourism spending in both countries overwhelmingly came from leisure travel, with Malaysia attributing 86% of visitor spend to leisure, and Vietnam attributing 90%.

The Philippines also saw significant growth by 8.6% once again, making up 25.3% of the total economy in the country and supporting 24.1% of total employment (more than 10 million jobs).

Leisure spending made up 66% of total visitor spending, and 85% was made up of domestic visitors.

Ms. Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “WTTC’s 2019 Economic Impact Report (EIR) shows how intrinsic Travel & Tourism was last year to the economy in Asia-Pacific, making it the fastest growing region in the world in terms of its contribution to GDP, supporting more than 182 million jobs or 9.6% of the total number of people employed. “Our report underscores how vital Travel & Tourism will be in powering the recovery of the region’s economy, generating new jobs and driving visitors back to Asia-Pacific, having a positive economic domino effect on suppliers large and small throughout the industry.

“Until then it is crucial that all governments throughout the region help to protect Travel & Tourism as the backbone of the regional and global economy, which is currently in a fight for survival. Our research shows that up to 75 mil-

lion jobs globally are at immediate risk, with more than 48 million at risk across the Asia Pacific region alone, highlighting how critically the sector requires support.” On a global level, the Travel & Tourism sector outperformed the 2.5% rate of global GDP growth for the ninth consecutive year in a row, thanks to an annual GDP growth rate of 3.5%.

This made it the global economy’s third highest sector in terms of GDP growth. The EIR shows the sector supporting one in 10 (330 million) jobs, making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

A breakdown by WTTC shows Asia Pacific to be the top performing region worldwide with an impressive growth rate of 5.5%, followed very closely by the Middle East at 5.3%.

The US and EU both demonstrated a steady growth rate of 2.3%, while the fastest growing country among was Saudi Arabia.

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NEWS / AIRLINES

AIRLINES FACING

RAPID CASH BURN & DEEPER REVENUE HIT FROM COVID-19 IATA predicts that airlines may burn through $61 billion of their cash reserves during the second quarter ending 30 June 2020, while posting a quarterly net loss of $39 billion.

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) updated its analysis of the revenue impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global air transport industry. Owing to the severity of travel restrictions and the expected global recession, IATA now estimates that industry passenger revenues could plummet $252 billion or 44% below 2019’s figure.

This is in a scenario in which severe travel restrictions last for up to three months, followed by a gradual economic recovery later this year. IATA’s previous analy-

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sis of up to a $113 billion revenue loss was made on 5 March 2020, before the countries around the world introduced sweeping travel restrictions that largely eliminated the international air travel market.

“The airline industry faces its gravest crisis. Within a matter of a few weeks, our previous worst case scenario is looking better than our latest estimates. But without immediate government relief measures, there will not be an industry left standing. Airlines need $200 billion in liquidity support simply to make it through.

Some governments have already

stepped forward, but many more need to follow suit,” said Mr. Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO of IATA.

Slower Recovery

The latest analysis envisions that under this scenario, severe restrictions on travel are lifted after 3 months. The recovery in travel demand later this year is weakened by the impact of global recession on jobs and confidence. Full year passenger demand (revenue

passenger kilometers or RPKs) declines 38% compared to 2019.

Industry capacity (available seat kilometer or ASKs) in domestic and international markets declines 65% during the second quarter ended 30 June compared to a year-ago period, but in this scenario recovers to a 10% decline in the fourth quarter.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) published new analysis showing that airlines may burn through $61 billion of their cash reserves during the second quarter ending 30 June 2020, while posting a quarterly net loss of $39 billion.

This analysis is based on the impact assessment IATA released last week, under a scenario in which severe travel restrictions last for three months. In this scenario, full-year demand falls by 38% and full-year passenger revenues drop by $252 billion compared to 2019.

The fall in demand would be the deepest in the second quarter, with a 71% drop.

The impact will be severe, driven by the following factors: Revenues are expected to fall by 68%. This is less than the expected 71% fall in demand due to the continuation of cargo operations, albeit at reduced levels of activity Variable costs are expected to drop sharply—by some 70% in the second quarter—largely in line with the reduction of an expected 65% cut in second quarter capacity.

The price of jet fuel has also fallen sharply, although we estimate that

fuel hedging will limit the benefit to a 31% decline.

Fixed and semi-fixed costs amount to nearly half an airline’s cost. We expect semi-fixed costs (including crew costs) to be reduced by a third. Airlines are cutting what they can, while trying to preserve their workforce and businesses for the future recovery.

These changes to revenues and costs result in an estimated net loss of $39 billion in the second quarter.

On top of unavoidable costs, airlines are faced with refunding sold but unused tickets as a result of massive cancellations resulting from government-imposed restrictions on travel. The second quarter liability for these is a colossal $35 billion. Cash burn will be severe.

We estimate airlines could be burning through $61 billion of their cash balances in the second quarter.

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NEWS/ AIRLINES “Airlines cannot cut costs fast enough to stay ahead of the impact of this crisis. We are looking at a devastating net loss of $39 billion in the second quarter. The impact of that on cash burn will be amplified by a $35 billion liability for potential ticket refunds.

Without relief, the industry’s cash position could deteriorate by $61 billion in the second quarter,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Several governments are responding positively to the industry’s need for relief measures.

Among countries providing specific financial or regulatory aid packages to the industry are Colombia, the United States, Singapore, Australia, China, New Zealand and Norway. Most recently, Canada, Colombia, and the Netherlands have relaxed regulations to allow airlines to offer passengers travel vouchers in place of refunds.

“Travel and tourism is essentially shut down in an extraordinary and unprecedented situation.

Airlines need working capital to sustain their businesses through the extreme volatility. Canada, Colombia, and the Netherlands are giving a major boost to the sector’s stability by enabling airlines to offer vouchers in place of cash refunds. This is a vital time buffer so that the sector can continue to function. In turn, that will help preserve the sector’s ability to deliver the cargo shipments that are vital today and the long-term connectivity that travelers and economies will depend on in the recovery phase,” said de Juniac.

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GLOBAL PASSENGER

DEMAND PLUNGES ON COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS February international passenger demand fell 10.1% compared to February 2019, the worst outcome since the 2003 SARS outbreak and a reversal from the 2.6% traffic increase recorded in January.

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic data for February 2020 showing that demand (measured in total revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) fell 14.1% compared to February 2019. This was the steepest decline in traffic since 9/11 and reflected collapsing domestic travel in China and sharply falling international demand to/from and within the Asia-Pacific region, owing to the spreading COVID-19 virus and government-imposed travel restrictions. February capacity (available seat kilometers or

ASKs) fell 8.7% as airlines scrambled to trim capacity in line with plunging traffic, and load factor fell 4.8 percentage points to 75.9%.

“Airlines were hit by a sledgehammer called COVID-19 in February. Borders were closed in an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

And the impact on aviation has left airlines with little to do except cut costs and take emergency measures in an attempt to survive in these extraordinary circumstances.

The 14.1% global fall in demand is severe, but for carriers in Asia-Pacific the drop was 41%. And it has only grown worse. Without a doubt this is the biggest crisis that the in-

dustry has ever faced,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

The Bottom Line

“This is aviation’s darkest hour and it is difficult to see a sunrise ahead unless governments do more to support the industry through this unprecedented global crisis. We are grateful to those that have stepped up with relief measures, but many more need to do so. Our most recent analysis shows that airlines may burn through $61 billion of their cash reserves during the second quarter ending 30 June 2020. This includes $35 billion in sold-but-unused tickets as a result of massive flight cancellations owing to government-imposed travel restrictions. We welcome the actions of those regulators who have relaxed rules so as to permit airlines to issue travel vouchers in lieu of refunds for unused tickets; and we urge others to do the same. Air transport will play a much-needed role in supporting the inevitable recovery. But without additional government action today, the industry will not be in a position to help when skies are brighter tomorrow,” said de Juniac.

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NEWS / GLOBAL AIRLINE NEWS TRENDS

By Yann Zopf, Public Engagement, World Economic Forum

FIVE WAYS TO LEAD: WORKFORCE PRINCIPLES FOR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Businesses need to respond to urgent concerns from their workforce on safety and support; The World Economic Forum is launching a new roadmap with five principles and four management imperatives

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s organizations address the longer-term implications of COVID-19, it is imperative to focus on the needs of all stakeholders, from customers to suppliers to shareholders and, specifically, employees. In the current environment, most businesses have to put in place new measures for their workforces rapidly – often with no previous comparable experiences.

To help guide chief human resource officers and business

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Actions to help include empowering local managers, prioritizing personal communication and sustainably managing the shift to remote working and Stakeholder capitalism provided the framework for a responsible course of action at this pivotal moment

leaders through this unfolding crisis, the World Economic Forum has launched The Workforce Principles for the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Five principles and four management imperatives are a preliminary response to the crisis. Suggested action pathways are provided along with case studies and additional resources in each section. The project was completed in collaboration with Willis Towers Watson.

“This crisis presents an opportunity to take bold actions and show leadership and solidarity,” said Ms.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “Responsible employers can apply these principles and guidelines to better balance short-term crisis measures against the medium- and longterm objectives.”

These actions can include protecting salaries and benefits or providing learning opportunities to make progress against reskilling and workforce transformation objectives. Such an approach enables organizations to earn the trust of employees and unlock the discretionary effort needed to move the organization forward in turbulent times.

Five Guiding Principles: • See this crisis as a defining

leadership moment and continue delivering the best possible outcomes for all stakeholders Adopt an agile and continuous learning mindset to ensure your response is (re)calibrated to the circumstances at hand Understand the perspectives of and engage all stakeholders (e.g., employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers, unions, healthcare providers, community) in decision-making Focus on the intersection of employee and company well-being Make decisions and take actions that consider medium-term needs and longer-term business objectives

• •

agers, and prioritize personal and empathic communications Focus on employee experience, engagement and motivation – Lead with integrity and purpose, be active with employee listening, connect employees using new technologies Ensure responsible work redesign – Sustainably manage the shift to flexible/remote working, incorporate contingent labour in a responsible manner, consider a cross-industry talent exchange, make progress towards the longer-term upskilling and reskilling agenda Balance short-term cost concerns with medium-term resilience

•

•

•

and rebound – Protect jobs and elements of total rewards, focus on the financial well-being of the most vulnerable employees, take a segmented view of the workforce A company’s commitment to its guiding principles is often most tested and most critical when it comes to decisions about labour cost and risk management.

Companies must recognize often competing demands and look for innovative solutions. Such an approach enables organizations to earn the trust of employees and unlock the discretionary effort needed to move the organization forward in turbulent times.

“This crisis presents an opportunity to take bold actions and show leadership and solidarity,”

Ms. Saadia Zahidi Managing Director World Economic Forum

• •

Four Management Imperatives: • Prioritize planning, well-being

and communication – Clearly articulate key policies and procedures, empower local leaders and manAPRIL 2020 Tourism India

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NEWS / TRAVEL TRENDS

PATA LAUNCHES

CRISIS RESOURCE CENTER AND TOURISM RECOVERY MONITOR The travel and tourism industry has weathered many different types of crises; however, the current unprecedented pandemic poses a severe threat to the entire industry impacting the economic livelihood of millions of people around the world

T

he Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the launch of the PATA Crisis Resource Center and Tourism Recovery Monitor on April 02, 2020, a unified platform that provides reliable and up-to-date policy statements, authoritative information, and tourism indicators from around the globe. The aim is to provide a global centralised repository of reliable information for users based on their needs.

The PATA Crisis Resource Center is a result of a pilot Expert Task Force (ETF) led by PATA Immediate Past Chair Sarah Mathews to accu-

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mulate knowledge, generate support, and help members and industry stakeholders across the globe access solutions by governments, while also assisting governments in understanding the challenges through the travel impact survey.

PATA Vice Chair Soon Hwa Wong also led an ETF to establish the PATA Tourism Recovery Monitor, an integrated resource for strategic tourism planners and decision makers to keep fully abreast of the fast changing environment. Both initiatives are housed under one microsite.

Ms Mathews said, “The travel

and tourism industry has weathered many different types of crises; however, the current unprecedented pandemic poses a severe threat to the entire industry impacting the economic livelihood of millions of people around the world. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) up to 75 millions jobs are at immediate risk globally, while travel and tourism GDP loss to the world economy is up to US$2.1 trillion. Therefore, I felt it was critical that we brought together global crisis experts like Damian Cook of E-Tourism Frontiers, Willem Niemeijer of YAANA Ventures, and

New Zealand’s 10th Great Walk officially opens and explores some of the most rugged, diverse and untouched environments in the country Greg Klassen of Twenty31 to help create a long term Crisis Resource Center. The center will be a unified source of information for travel and tourism organisations to find solutions to the current crisis.”

“We are launching with two key areas of focus; one is to house all the efforts across the globe by governments who have and are providing aid, relief, and support for their industry stakeholders within the resource center. Secondly, we are asking for the industry to complete a business impact survey in order to use those results to request for more government support for our industry. Whilst the current focus is on COVID-19 as a public health

issue, the goal is to establish a long term resource center for the industry to utilize when we face any future crisis. The travel and tourism industry is incredibly resilient, and travel will continue to inspire millions of people across the world,” she added.

“In crisis management, we need to have the latest status of the situation. For post crisis recovery planning, we need reliable data, updates and developing trends at our disposal. Timing is everything especially when it relates to the execution of recovery efforts. Too early could result in a complete waste of resources. Too late could risk being one of the last off the starting block,” said Mr Wong. “The PATA Tourism Recovery Monitor (PTRM) is designed to be the go-to resource for strategic tourism planners and decision makers to keep fully abreast of the fast changing environment.

Being the trusted voice of the industry, PATA has brought together an array of experts and partners to share valuable data, content and trends of leading tourism indicators to help us spot “green shoots” as soon as they start to appear. PTRM is a product of a new initiative re-

cently announced known as the Expert Task Force (ETF) where PATA members can propose short term solutions to fix immediate challenges or introduce innovative and effective enhancements to help the association and members do better business. I am very happy to take the lead on this and encourage our members to do likewise going forward.”

The PATA Crisis Resource Center and Tourism Recovery Monitor collates reliable data and information to assist all industry stakeholders as they deal with the current crisis. The Association is currently asking governments, and international and national organisations to seek their assistance in collecting information on aid and relief packages available to businesses in their respective destinations. In addition, PATA will add further data and information that will be useful to organisations as they deal with the current situation. While this is a much needed resource, PATA cannot do this alone and is encouraging governments, partners, members and, international and national associations and organisations to assist the Association and support this initiative.

February March APRIL 2020 Tourism India

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NEWS/ NATIONAL

FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVALS TO INDIA HAVE SHOWN AN INCREASE IN THE LAST 3 YEARS Thus there has been no decline in Foreign Tourist Arrivals to India during the last three years. Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State (I/c) of Culture and Tourism, Government of India informed this statistics a written reply in the Lok Sabha recently

FOREIGN TOURISTS ARRIVALS IN INDIA 2017 2018 2019

10.04 Million 10.56 Million 10.56 Million

1 6074345

Tamil Nadu

2 5078514 3 3780752 4 2740502 Maharashtra*

Uttar Pradesh

Delhi *

51754348 6 1617105 7 1200969 Rajasthan

West Bengal

Punjab

8 1096407 91087971 10 933841 Kerala

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Bihar

Goa

INDIA TOURISM LAUNCHES

‘STRANDED IN INDIA’

PORTAL TO HELP FOREIGN TOURISTS The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, with an aim to extend support to the guests who are stranded in in various parts of India due to COVID 19 restrictions

T

he Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, with an aim to extend support to the foreign tourists who are stranded in India, has come up with a portal to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by foreign tourists who are stuck far away from their home land. The portal is titled ‘Stranded in India’ and aims to act as a support network for foreign tourists stuck in various parts of the country.

The entire world is facing a truly unprecedented situation arising out of coronavirus and it is a constant endeavour to ensure the wellbeing of tourists, especially the ones that travel from foreign countries. Accordingly, the Ministry of Tourism is constantly staying vigilant and encouraging various initiatives to help the ones in need.

The portal strandedinindia.com consists of the following information that will be useful for the tourists in their time of need: a) Comprehensive information around COVID-19 helpline numbers or call-centres that the foreign tourists can reach out to for help. b) A variety of information around Ministry of External Affairs control centers along with their contact in-

Due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), there is much uncertainty in the region and around the world

formation. c) Information around statebased/regional tourism support infrastructure. d) Help Support section to extend help to the ones in need of further information and connect foreign tourists to concerned authorities.

The website will be featured on the Tourism Website and prominent Ministry of Tourism channels.

Please visit strandedinindia.com or incredibleindia.org for further details.

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By Aradhana Khowala CEO & Founder, Aptamind Partners

OPINION / TOURISM

WE NEED OPEN SOURCE SOLUTIONS TO DEAL WITH THE COVID CRISIS

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The travel & tourism sector is in the middle of a catastrophe and we need immediate steps and fast to stop the free fall. While the sector waits for the rescue packages, subsidies, tax breaks and emergency loans, how about racking our brains as a community to conjure up temporary respite options or out of the box solutions to numb the pain from the costs of cancellation and closures? assets – both people and places be repurposed in the short term?

Hotels as make shift hospitals

E

ven as businesses across the industry suffer, some are stepping up to offer help and even more might be called on to support the national effort. Hotel assets like many other in the sector are often underutilized, have large head counts and huge overheads. Just as clothes, furniture and many other assets are upcycled into new items, how can hospitality

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Many hotel chains have gone on record to state they could turn the assets/properties into temporary hospitals if the government needs additional bed space during the coronavirus outbreak. This is not a new concept. During the World War II, militaries around the world needed housing and multiple temporary hospitals were set up for the wounded. Hospitals were set up in hotels, schools, homes, town halls to large and small private houses.

Some of the most suitable ones were hotels which were established as hospitals. We now even have cruise ships in UK that have offered them as floating hospitals to help deal with the coronavirus crisis.

Talent Repurposed

Heath care workers have never been in more demand. A vaccine

is still some time away and, in the meantime, and retired medics and nursing staff are being asked to go back to work to deal with the current rate of contagion. During the war when the make shift hospitals needed to supplement workers, it was often the local women who volunteered. In this instance, it is the hospitality and tourism talent could be repurposed and retrained to do fulfil these tasks. It is normal for housekeeping staff to move to work in front office or vice versa, a lateral transfer to any other department and there is no reason why armed with competence, compassion and exceptional people skills the hospitality or aviation staff can’t move into a more clinical support role, such as healthcare assistant or support worker.

Care homes for the elderly

Our battle is so unexpected that there are no provisions made for the elderly, and they will likely be needing care and support in such

numbers that without it they will suffer the most. Hotels and hospitality facilities can offer the compassionate surroundings much needed for the elderly and it is also proven that the elderly are more likely to recover with fewer complications if they were cared for in places which feel like private places as against hospitals. Hotels or long stay suites would make a great make-shift accommodation for the elderly needing care as hospitals and old age homes can’t cope with the numbers.

Beauty with a purpose

LVMH is producing sanitising hand gel instead of the luxury scents it does normally at three of its perfume and cosmetics sites for distribution to French hospitals fighting the country’s coronavirus outbreak. This is especially relevant

in a strained hospital system with a severe shortage of hand gels. Similarly, beer company BrewDog has started making alcohol hand gel at its distillery in Scotland as well as Absolut is turning their hands to making hand gel to help people stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic. The generous acts deserve full points for patriotism but in the minds of the consumer scores just as high on compassion and company values.

Conclusion – Open source the solutions

The ideas above may raise more questions than answers. Some might be not viable operationally others not feasible financially.

The question if governments will finance or support these transformations remains unanswered.

We also don’t know if the able and healthy talent in hospitality will risk

a cross over to what can only be ascribed as unknown territory and how will that transition and training be funded.

However, what we do know is that the COVID crisis is an urgent, global problem that has put countries, governments and businesses on war footing. What we also know is that we are clearly unprepared for the carnage. Hence, as an industry and as a society we need to move towards a philosophy of support and service where all the good of the head, heart and hands needs to come together and show itself. This also means a need for more collaboration and generosity to open source solutions for our shared problems. This is just a start, keep the list growing and bring forth your innovative ideas and share generously. Never have we needed it more!

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FEATURE / TRAVEL TRENDS

CORONA VIRUS

AND IMPACT ON TRAVEL Corona Virus or COVID 19 as we all know has had a significant impact on the Global Trade, Economy and Travel

T

he COVID - 19 has affected 104 countries and territories. As of March 31, 2020 the number of Corona Virus (COVID - 19) has surpassed 1,07,800 and 3,661 deaths.

World Health Organisation(WHO) reminds all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the im-

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plementation of robust containment and control activities.

It is also observed that the Corona Virus (COVID - 19) affects people above 65 or people with chronic illness OR with low immunity more as compared to the younger generation.

China and a few other countries have already demonstrated that the spread fo the virus can

be slowed and impact reduced by using of universally applicable actions such as working across society to identify people who are sick, bringing them to care, preparing hospitals and clinics to manage surge in patients, educating and training health workers.

As WHO continues to work with all counters to develop guidance, distribute supplies, share knowl-

edge and provide people with the information they need to protect themselves and others.

Several countries have released travel advisories for their citizens to travel to various countries.

Some of the countries are restricting flights/travel from a few affected countries.

The Flights and hotels are seeing high cancellation and substantial reduction in international traveller’s. Due to this Airlines have started offering free cancellation or date change and hotels are also extending similar benefits to their customers.

There are several travellers who are ready to fly inspite of the situation as the overall percentage of affected people is substantially low in most countries. The biggest fear what traveller’s are having is getting stuck in a foreign land.

What happens if there is a surge in the increase in the number of cases after they reach a foreign country and the government issues a travel restriction to / from home country, one will be stuck in a foreign land.

Major conferences and international trade fares have been cancelled or postponed all over the world due to the Corona Virus outbreak.

To avoid this, we are expecting that there will be some increase in domestic travel.

How can you protect yourself if you still decide to travel?

There are a range of Recommendations by WHO for those who would prefer to travel int he current scenario.

1. Wash your hands frequently 2. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing 3. Avoid close contact with anyone showing slightest signs which are seen in Corona Virus patients such as fever, running nose, cold, cough, difficulty in breathing.

4. In case you feel you have any symptoms of Corona Virus, go to the nearest Medical facility to get yourself checked.

Mr. Jay Kantawala from WIYO Travel commented that there most tourists are opting to cancel their international travel, a few are applying for their visas and will take a call last minute. This is mainly due to the complete uncertainty in how the Virus is spreading and sudden decisions by the government authorities to implement travel bans and chances of getting stuck in a for-

eign land.

Mr. Jay Kantawala also added that statistics has shown that the cruise industry has been steadily growing and has seen excellent growth in past 5 years, the year 2017 has seen a investment of over US Dollars 6.8 Billion in new cruise ships, this will add capacity further and the cruise companies are expecting the industry to grow at a good pace in the coming years. Lot of cruisers would use the cruise experience to feel a destination to only return there again at a later date to explore indepth.

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NEWS / STATES

232 EUROPEAN TOURISTS STUCK IN KERALA DUE TO COVID-19 FLY HOME

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany had come forward to operate charter flights for the repatriation of the German and European Union nationals stranded in India

A

batch of 232 tourists from European Union nations, a majority of them from Germany, got held up in Kerala due to ban on international flights in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, departed to Frankfurt on March 31, 2020 in a special Air India aircraft following joint efforts by Kerala Tourism and the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany.

The special flight arranged for the home-bound journey of the asymptomatic tourists took off from the International Airport at Trivan-

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drum, after their hassle-free stay in the state for over a fortnight.

“We are glad that the foreign tourists have been able to fly back home after their smooth stay in the state. It was not an easy task to bring together the tourists stranded in different locations in 13 districts. We have taken great care to ensure that they did not face any difficulty during their stay. We always live up to the ideal of Adhithi Devo Bhava”, said Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala,

The special flight arranged for the home-bound journey of the asymptomatic tourists took off from the International Airport at Trivandrum, after their hassle-free stay in the state for over a fortnight.

“Some other countries including UK have sought the state government’s help for facilitating the transportation of the tourists from their countries”, Mr. Surendran said.

“All the passengers on the special aircraft were asymptomatic and were kept under quarantine for 14 days. It was the seamless working together of the Department of Tourism, the Embassy of Germany inIndia, the Hon’ble Consul General at Bangalore and the Honorary Consul at Thiruvananthapuram that led to the successful repatriation of the tourists,” said Ms. Ranii George IAS, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Kerala.

“The unstinted support from Hon’ble Chief Minister and Hon’ble Minister for Tourism has greatly helped in facilitating the repatriation of the tourists. Today, it is gratifying to know that the tourists are on their way home, ” she said.

“Kerala Tourism had provided all support and assistance to the tourists who were not able to return home due to the ban on international flights in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic,” said Mr. P Bala Kiran IAS, Director of Tourism.

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany had come forward to operate charter flights for the repatriation of the German and European Union nationals stranded in India. All asymptomatic tourists, who have not been in contact

with high risk individuals and had completed 14 days in Kerala or had tested negative, were eligible to be repatriated under the programme.

Officials of the Tourism Department and the helpdesk set up under the Director of Tourism to ease the difficulties of the visitors worked tirelessly through the last week to contact the tourists and arrange their transportation to the state capital.

Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) also stepped in by arranging accommodation for home-bound tourists in Thiruvananthapuram and provided services in their hotels, said Mr. VR Krisha Teja IAS, Managing Director, KTDC. The tourists stranded in different destinations of the state were brought to the state capital

by specially arranged vehicles and expert drivers.

The Home Department, Police and a special medical team from the Health Department also joined the efforts for the safe passage of the tourists. The tourists had undergone the required medical check-up before their departure, which was arranged in KTDC’s Hotel Samudra in Kovalam.

The flight was arranged as part of an agreement between the German Embassy and Air India with required clearances from Ministry of External Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministry.

The Director of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport made meticulous arrangements for the tourists at the airport.

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NEWS / AIRLINES

EMIRATES SKYCARGO SCALES UP NETWORK AND OPERATIONS FOR MEDICAL & SUPPLY DEMANDS

Carrier now operating scheduled cargo flights to more than 50 destinations globally with multiple weekly frequencies and Operating increasing number of charters to transport relief supplies and medical equipment

K

eeping up its unwavering commitment to deliver food, medical supplies and other essential commodities to markets across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo has rapidly scaled up its cargo services to connect an increasing number of global destinations. The air cargo carrier currently operates flights to 51 destinations globally, out of which 19 cities are served by the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft offering up to 100 tonnes of capacity per flight and 38 destinations are served

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by dedicated cargo flights on Emirates’ Boeing 777 passenger aircraft offering up to 50 tonnes belly capacity.

Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, said: “We have particularly ramped up operations for transporting cargo in the belly hold of our passenger aircraft in the last two weeks. Emirates SkyCargo has been expanding its network on a daily basis and some of the latest destinations for our cargo flights on passenger aircraft include Bangkok, Casablanca, Johannesburg,

Singapore and Taipei. Air cargo remains the fastest means of connecting essential supplies to those that need them and our expanded network allows for increased connectivity across different global origins and destinations.”

During the week ending 4 April 2020, Emirates SkyCargo had operated more than 160 flights on its freighter aircraft and close to 90 flights on its passenger aircraft. The following week, the air cargo carrier had operated close to 160 flights on its passenger aircraft

alone.

In order to streamline operations and cut costs under rapidly changing global conditions, Emirates SkyCargo has also transferred all its cargo handling operations in Dubai to Dubai International Airport. Emirates SkyCargo has released a video about the change to its hub operations.

Charter Operations Over and above scheduled operations, Emirates SkyCargo has also operated an increasing number of special charter flights for cargo both on its freighter and passenger aircraft. Since the start of April, the carrier has executed more than 30 charter flights connecting over 20 global destinations. The main commodities transported on the charter flights are medical supplies including face masks, protective covers, sanitisers, equipment for hospitals in addition to pharmaceuticals, raw materials and spare parts.

In the space of just three days between 7 and 9 April, some of the notable charters operated by Emirates SkyCargo included: • 100 tonnes of masks and other protective supplies transported from Guangzhou to Dubai on 7 April.

This was part of several other charters to bring medical supplies into the UAE. • Close to 100 tonnes of medical supplies including masks and other protective equipment transported on 8 April from Shanghai to Mumbai on the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter • 100 tonnes of protective equipment transported from Shanghai to Dubai on a Boeing 777 freighter on 8 April. The supplies will then be flown to Bucharest on 10 and 11 April on four separate flights on the

Carries close to 100 tonnes of medical supplies including masks and other protective equipment from Shanghai to Mumbai on the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter Boeing 777 passenger aircraft.

• Over seven tonnes of medical supplies transported to Los Angeles on 8 April in the belly hold of an Emirates’ Boeing 777 passenger aircraft. This was also the first dedicated cargo flight on a passenger aircraft operated by Emirates SkyCargo to North America.

• Close to 1 million Covid-19 testing kits to be transported to Sao Paulo on 9 April. An earlier shipment containing 500,000 kits was transported on 30 March.

• Emirates SkyCargo has a dynamic and responsive team handling charter operations. In some cases, the team has been able to deploy aircraft within 24 hours of the original request coming in for a charter operation.

Emirates SkyCargo global teams go the extra mile Both at Hub Dubai and across the world, Emirates SkyCargo’s staff have been working hard to ensure the safe and efficient transport of cargo despite challenging conditions.

“Under these unprecedented conditions, our staff are fully committed to making sure that that medicines,

medical equipment, food and other necessary commodities for people and businesses around the world are being transported without any compromise of the high service levels that differentiate Emirates SkyCargo from other players in the market.

We are truly grateful to the non-stop efforts of our team that contribute to our successful operations,” added Sultan.

Some of Emirates SkyCargo’s stations including Hong Kong and Amsterdam have had to manage increased freighter operations with Hong Kong managing more than 30 and Amsterdam managing more than 16 freighter flights a week.

Bringing food and medical supplies to the UAE From across its global network, Emirates SkyCargo has helped import more than 33,000 tonnes of perishable items and more than 1,700 tonnes of pharmaceuticals into the UAE since the start of the year. Food items are brought in from several markets including Australia, India, Kenya and Pakistan.

“With our expanded network now covering more than 50 global destinations, we are able to ensure a constant supply of food and medicines from across the world into the UAE. Emirates SkyCargo remains committed to maintaining and constantly replenishing vital food and medical supplies in the country,” emphasized Sultan.

Globally, the air cargo carrier has transported more than 93,000 tonnes of perishables and more than 20,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals.

The carrier has also transported more than 3000 tonnes of medical supplies for combatting Covid-19 across the world.

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NEWS /DESTINATIONS

SANTA CLAUS

SENDS HIS GREETINGS FROM ROVANIEMI THE OFFICIAL HOMETOWN Stay home and healthy and take care of your loved ones, remember to keep the dream alive

W

e are up against new difficulties globally, as both businesses and personal lives are affected. We feel you. Now is the time to join efforts and fight to stop this new threat called COVID-19.

It is heartbreaking to see many fine establishments close their doors worldwide. The

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most famous resident of Rovaniemi wants to send a positive message and kind reminder to everyone around the world, to keep dreaming.

It has been a quarter century since Santa Claus opened his doors to welcome visitors daily to his office at the Arctic Circle Rovaniemi. The tradition

stands still as Santa Claus Office is closing the doors from visits here on the Arctic Circle but opening a window to Christmas magic via daily live stream, so that everyone in need of some Magic can join on Santa Claus Office website: www. santaclausoffice.com This is the time to dream new dreams!

SERENDIPITY ARTS FOUNDATION & RENCONTRES D’ARLES

ANNOUNCES THE LARGEST GRANT FOR LENS-BASED PRACTITIONERS IN SOUTH ASIA

I

An open call for lens-based practitioners of Photography & Video and the grand winners will get Rs 12,00,000 and 10 finalists will get Rs. 70,000 each

n a quest to strengthen regional cooperation on the foundation of the strong Indo-French bilateral relations through cultural exchange, Serendipity Arts Foundation and Les Rencontres d’Arles announced the biggest photography, video and new media grant, supported by the Embassy of France in India, named the Serendipity Arles Grant, with the shared purpose of promoting cultural practices in South Asia.

The grant of 12,00,000 rupees (approximately 15,000 euros) will support lens-based practitioners from South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.The initiative seeks not only to empower artists from the region, but also further a spirit of regional cooperation and representation. The open call for entries had begun from the 15th of April 2020, through the social media handles of the Serendipity Arts Foundation, Les Rencontres d’Arles and the Embassy of France in India, will close the process of receiving applications on the 7th of July 2020.

The valid applications for the grant received within this deadline will be shortlisted by a distinguished jury.

Acknowledging the Foundation’s position as a portal into South Asia’s cultural landscape, representing some of the best artists from the region, Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder Patron, Serendipity Arts Foundation, said, “Seren-

dipity Arts Foundation was set up to energize the arts, spur creativity and to empower artists.

Besides hosting the impactful and path-breaking Serendipity Arts Festival, the Foundation has supported the arts and artists of South Asia through residency programmes and grants.

diverse artistic domains, will review the proposals and shortlist 10 artists. The first stage will recognize and support 10 artists with a grant of Rs 70,000.00 (approximately 800 euros). Along with receiving a part of the grant, these ten shortlisted candidates will also be given the opportunity to showcase their work at the upcomThe collaboration with Rencon- ing edition of theSerendipity Arts tres d’Arles will strengthen our Festival, scheduled to take place resolve to back and support art- in February 2021 in Goa, India. ists from the region and help promote their work on a global Finally, at the festival in February platform”. Highlighting the im- 2021, the same jury will unaniportance of this collaboration mously declare the finalist, from Mr. Sam Stourdzé, Director, amongst the ten previously shortRencontres d’Arles, said, “Ren- listed artists, who would then recontres d’Arles is delighted to ceive a grant of Rs. 12,00,000.00 team up with the Serendipity lakh (approximately 15,000 euros) Arts Festival, a major player on to develop the project and show India’s art scene. Today our fes- the final presentation at Rentival would like to acknowledge contres d’Arles, France, in 2022. that India and the South Asia region have become a breeding Welcoming the grant, Mr. Emmanground of creation. Each year, uel Lenain, Ambassador of France 10 young photographers and a to India, said, “Art and culture are winner will be selected, fund- at the core of the relationship beed and their work exhibited, tween India and France. In these strengthening the ties between difficult times, I applaud these two our countries and, especially, key contributors for enriching the shining a spotlight on the artists”. cultural landscapes of their respective countries through this long term The largest of its kind, the grant collaboration. The Serendipity Arles will be awarded in two stages. Grantwill make it possible to exhibit Upon receipt of applications for the works of one young artist of the the grant within this deadline region every year at the Rencontres will be shortlisted by a distin- d’Arles, a foremost photo festival of guished jury comprising artists, international repute. This will be a authors, Foundation directors, powerful testament to the vitality and eminent personalities from of Indo-French cultural relations.

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AIRLINE NEWS / NEWS TRAVEL UPDATES

By Anand Parthasarathy

ALERT! EVEN AS INDIAN HOTEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY REELS FROM EFFECTS OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, NEIGHBOURS ARE GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS The developments in Sri Lanka are particularly relevant to Kerala Tourism related players. The attractions of both Kerala and SL are very similar, beaches, hill stations, health tourism. If Kerala is not agile, if it does not support and assist the industry as SL government is doing, its neighbour will scoop up the business and the process will take years to reverse.

T

he Indian hospitality, travel and tourism industry – like counterparts in most other countries worldwide, is still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and many fear, that some enterprises may never recover without massive reconstruction assistance from their respective governments.

So, it may be interesting to learn that some economies believe they have sufficiently recovered to open

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their countries for tourism. For the Indian industry, this comes from two neighbours – a development that may have a more direct impact: Sri Lanka plans for an early revival of its tourism and in fact plans on opening up, albeit gradually, in coming weeks. The Daily News , Colombo reports a statement by Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando that the cabinet had approved critical five-year global promotion initiative last week and

that the country was also working with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in a threestage strategy of situation assessment, impact assessment and road mapping, to help get tourism industry back on its feet – which includes over 11,000 entities and just under 40,000 rooms.

The minister explained that the revival would involve a first stage which “ focuses on the immediate recovery of the industry, which involves changes to the visa process to include mandatory testing, adjustments to the immigration process, airport entry, hotel transfer and certification of hotels to ensure health and safety of tourists, employees and the local community.”

Rigorous health and safety activities incur costs and as such, it was recommended that a minimum pricing structure be established for accommodation, avoiding undercutting and the resulting race to the bottom.

CHINA SEES REVIVAL IN DOMESTIC TOURISM

Corona Virus has first identified in China’s industial city Wuhan in in late 2019 and within 3 months, entire global travel and tourism industry has halted.

M

eanwhile, in China, the upcoming May Day holiday may mark a significant milestone for recovery of the domestic tourism industry. Leading international travel services provider Trip.com Group has released its 2020 May Day Tourism Trends Report for the Chinese market, revealing a significant increase in bookings over the period, especially in the area of domestic tourism, where the company is the largest travel services provider.

According to the report, May Day is expected to mark the first peak for travel in 2020. The most popular destinations over the upcoming holiday are projected to be Sanya,

China Tourism industry is expected to mark the first peak for travel in 2020 by May Day, the International Labour Day Shanghai, Lijiang, Anji, Nanjing, Deqing, Hangzhou and Suzhou.

Popular tourist attractions have implemented reservation systems to keep visitor traffic below 30% of maximum capacity, and travellers have shifted their sights from inter-provincial and outbound travel to locally-oriented tourism.

Younger travellers in their teens and twenties have emerged as the driving force over the May Day holiday, comprising 57% of total bookings for the period.

“The pandemic has presented a great challenge for all of us,” said Trip.com Group Chairman James Liang. “However, travel is a resilient and important industry, and coupled with the easing of restrictions as the pandemic is contained in China, a shift towards new, innovative modes of tourism is driving promising growth over the upcoming holiday, and indicative of new heights for the industry in the near future.”

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FEATURE / HOSPITALITY

By Mr Rajesh Shetty, General Manager The Acres Lifestyle Club & The Fern Residency

HOW HOTELS AND PRIVATE CLUBS CAN RETAIN A BRAND RECALL AMIDST CUSTOMERS IN TIMES OF COVID-19

In the time of social distancing and home quarantine, travel and hospitality are among the worst impacted sectors

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he impact of the current COVID 19 pandemic on multiple industries is being noticed across the world. In the time of social distancing and home quarantine, travel and hospitality are among the worst impacted sectors! The hospitality industry is highly dependent on tourism which has borne the brunt of the current situation. This has led to multiple cancellations of room bookings, occasion celebration and even general dining, greatly impacting their

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revenues and raising concerns of possible layoffs post the pandemic crisis.

Private Lifestyle clubs, which offer F&B, activities and event venues, are mostly dependent on members and guests for revenue generation. The current lockdown has impacted not only the footfalls but also the rising cost of maintaining the expensive infrastructure without actual revenues coming in. It has also adversely impacted

the members’ lifestyles, who were used to a routine of working out or spending leisure time at the club.

However, once normalcy resumes, club members might want to resume their daily routine and may even do so more enthusiastically than ever. This could primarily be so in case of using the gym and working out, so as to get back in shape and make up for a lost time and also to get back to socialising – one of the greatest deprivation in the lockdown. In order to address this influx, clubs would have to be prepared with the following measures: The clubs will have to ensure the club building and facilities are sanitised and there are clear visual indicators of the same to reassure the members of the safety and reiterate the management’s focus on the members’

health and well-being - they are ready to service their members like never before as they would be visiting the club after a long hiatus and thus need to have a great experience to keep their loyalty intact ensure there is no downtime of any of the facilities as the tolerance levels for the same might be quite low. The members would be raring to use all the facilities available to the same extent as during normalcy or even more During this downtime, it is also essential to continue to work on brand recall and maintain contact with patrons by sending out e-mailers and through a digital medium with social awareness messages and informing them about the efforts were taken up by the club. This would help brands to a) resume operations on a high note

post the hiatus, and b) have adequate prospective sales in the pipeline to be able to weather the losses incurred.

The digital media is a big boon in the current situation, allowing businesses to stay in touch with their current consumers and lure in prospective customers too as most people are currently resorting to digital media for information and entertainment. Those businesses that can effectively use the same would definitely be able to reap its benefits in the near future once we approach normalcy!

As the markets and the economy finally come back to normalcy, hospitality, travel and private clubs will play an essential role in bringing people back together and share the sense of solidarity in these times of collective grief.

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NEWS / AWARD

KERALA’S HEALTH MINISTER HONOURED

BRAND KERALA WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD 2020 For her outstanding contribution in the fight against Nipah Virus epidemic and Corona Virus epidemic in the state

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rs. K.K. Shailaja, Minister of Health and Social Justice, Government of Kerala is one of the most efficient ministers who has taken courage from love and empathy she has for fellow humans, said Princess Ashwathy Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bai, well-known writer and member of the Travancore Royal Family.

The princess was speaking after

conferring the Brand Kerala Woman of the Year Award 2020 to the Minister for her outstanding contribution in the fight against Nipah Virus epidemic and Corona Virus epidemic in the state, in the presence of eminent women personalities from various fields in Kerala on March 7, 2020 at Thiruvananthapuram.

The princess showered accolades

on the minister and said, “She has been able to coordinate her head (thought), heart (compassion) andhand (work) and render her selfless service and I see her as a blessing for this world. When the whole of Kerala is addressing her as Shailaja Teacher, I will lovingly call her ‘Shailaja baby’.” As she said this the audience broke into spontaneous applause.

Princess Ashwathy Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bai, well-known writer and member of the Travancore Royal Family confers the Brand Kerala Woman of the Year Award 2020 on Mrs. K.K. Shailaja, Minister of Health and Social Justice, Government of Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. K.V. Ravishankar, Mr. Baiju Chandran, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, Mr. Cherian Philip, Mr. Thomas John Muthoot and Mr. Baby Mathew Somatheeram are also seen.

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An eminent panel of Jury headed by Mr. G Shankar, Padmashri awardee and accomplished architect (Founder of Habitat Technologies), along with the members of jury consisting of Mr. Baiju Chandran, Dr. Rajashri Ajith (Director, Kerala Institute of Travel & Tourism Studies, Trivandrum), Mr.E.M. Najeeb and Mrs. Rajani A., had unanimously selected Mrs. Shailaja, Minister of Health and Social Justice, Government of Kerala for the award in recognition of the selfless service she rendered in raising the standards of public health in the state to the global level.

In her address the minister said that she was accepting the award as a recognition for the work and service by her team. “I dedicate this award to all the health workers who has been rendering selfless service in the fight against Nipah and Novel Coronavirus,” Mrs. Shailaja said. She said that her investment in this fight was taking appropriate steps with care and caution on the strength of accurate information provided by the health officials and the wholehearted support of all the doctors and other health workers.

She sought the support of the public to carry on the work of preventing thespread of coronavirus in the state.

The minister went on to describe the various steps the government was adopting to contain the spread of the epidemic. “When I first read about the outbreak in Wuhan, I alerted my secretary and we convened a meeting to put in place the protocol to be adopted. In fact, we tracked the Kerala students from the time they left Wuhan in China till their disembarkation.

We briefed them about isolation and the students cooperated with us.”Mrs. Shailaja heaped praise on her efficient team for the success in limiting the spread of the virus.

Mr. Cherian Philip, Kerala State Mission Coordinator, presided over the function, in which Mr. Baiju Chandran, Director, Doordarshan Kendra,Trivandrum, Mr. Thomas John Muthoot, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry Kerala Chapter and Chairman Muthoot

Fincorp, Mr. Baby Mathew Somatheeram, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry and CMD, ATE Group & Executive Director, KIMS Health Care group, Mr. K.V. Ravishankar, Managing Editor, Tourism India Media group and Mrs.Rajani A, Editor, Brand Kerala also spoke.

The award function was held as part of the International Women’s Day celebration. A knowledge session on the theme ‘I am Generation Equality’ was also organized as part of the function. Brand Kerala Magazine’s March 2020 edition is dedicated as Women’s Day Special.

Brand Kerala, the brand business magazine of Kerala from Tourism India Media group, is being published from the state capital for the past 10 years.

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NEWS / EVENT

BRIGADE HOSPITALITY & WTC BENGALURU CELEBRATED

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Keeping in lieu with the theme for 2020, which is Gender Equality, the gathering engaged in conversations to make the community more inclusive for one and all

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rigade Hospitality and WTC Bengaluru recently celebrated International Women’s Day with much enthusiasm and excitement. People from Brigade Group took part in big numbers to celebrate the powerhouse called WOMAN, who has been setting examples in both the professional and personal life for people to take inspiration from. Keeping in lieu with the theme for 2020, which is Gender Equality, the gathering engaged in conversations to make the community more inclusive for one and all.

Brigade believes innovation and creativity is at the crux of the 21st century with technology making way into our daily lives. Both women and men are equally contributing

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in shaping the world of tomorrow that promises abundant opportunities. This work culture should positively influence the lives of women and girls around the world of a secular and secure tomorrow.

On this glorious occasion to celebrate women, Ms. Uma Reddy Managing Director, M/S Hitech Magnetics & Electronics, a first generation technocrat entrepreneur, delivered a speech and shared her life story with the attendees. Her speech highlighted the challenges she faced at the beginning of her career and how she overcame it by displaying grit & stamina, which turned her into a successful woman she is today.

Well being of Girl Child is a subject close to Brigade Hospitality’s heart,

where they continue to empower them from a very young age by indulging in various CSR activities. The IWD celebrations acted as a platform for all the participants to come together and recognise the contribution women continue to have on the society at large.

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DESTINATION / INTERNATIONAL

By Vishnu Anand India Tech Online

BANGALORE AIRPORT’S QUAD RETAIL PLAZA BRINGS IN NON-FLYERS, AS WELL One year old in February 2020, the F&B + retail plaza is open round the clock, all year

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he Quad, Bangalore International Airport’s unique retail and F&B (food and beverage) plaza is one year old this month -- and by all accounts has been a roaring success. Indeed it has become a ‘fave’ go-to spot even for non fliers, who motor 30 kms and more from the city centre to enjoy the unique ambience of this dayn-night spot.

Situated on the kerb (in front of Arrivals), the Quad has four zones : Retail, F&B, Flea Market and the

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Passengers at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), who are waiting for flights, can spend time at The Quad a set of retail, food and entertainment outlets — outside the arrival terminal. The facility — spread over an area of 50,000sqft — was launched on Feb 2019

Arena. There are today some 25 outlets including brands like Superdry, Hidesign, Toyport by Lego, Auromonde and Gajet Plaza. Operational round the clock, shopping enthusiasts can now explore a wide range of brands, making a fashion statement with the latest collections. The Quad boasts array of F&B outlets, offering a variety of gastronomic experiences and eateries which are known for curating dishes that are hyper-local, gourmet and crafted to perfec-

tion.

They include Barley & Grapes Café, Windmill Craftworks, Café Azzure, House of Kebabs, The Wok Shop, Burrito Boys, Doner & Gyros, Frozen Bottle, Great Foods of India, Wine Vault by Living Liquidz and Gourmet Food. Dessert and coffee lovers have a choice of Haagen-Dazs, Smoor and Café Coffee Day. Another element of the retail plaza is the centrally-located LED video wall and arena, where live performances will brighten up the ambience and draw customers in. The space is designed to host plays, musicals, poetry/book readings, concerts and more.

According to Mr. Pravat Kumar Paikray, assistant vice-president, commercial development, KIA, this is an attempt to not only provide more options for flyers, but also to encourage non-flyers to make the trip to the airport.

“In airports across India, there are curated retail and F&B experiences set up for departing passengers due to the additional time they spend at the airport.

For arriving passengers, not much has been done in terms of retail and F&B experiences. This is why we have set up The Quad in such a manner that arriving passengers pass it while exiting,” he said.

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NEWS / HOSPITALITY

PRIDE HOTELS ANNOUNCES “WORK FROM PRIDE”

This initiative where an alternate workspace; like an office kind of setup with work desk space and business centre facilities will be arranged for the people who need an isolated place to work efficiently

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he Pride Group of Hotels has announced its guest friendly initiative “Work From Pride” by creating an alternative workspace for them. This is an initiative created for an alternate workspace; for the mid-senior level people who are accustomed to travelling and working in isolation. Professionals in the field of IT, Finance, Business Development among others.

‘Work From Pride’ is an initiative where an alternate workspace; like an office kind of setup with work desk space and business centre facilities will be arranged for the people who need an isolated place to work efficiently. The stay arrangements for the guests will be done

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specially for this package. All the arrangements will be done keeping in mind to create an office environment within the room where guests can start their work without any hindrance.

“In these trying times when the entire country is surrounded by uncertainty brought by COVID-19 crisis, we at Pride Hotels are working tirelessly to make a small difference in our guest lives through our initiative.

The initiative is specifically designed for the corporate traveler or the professionals (like Auditors, Bankers, IT/ BD managers) who have kept their work on hold due to the government imposed restriction in their areas or are unable to efficiently work from

home.” says, Mr. Atul Upadhyay, Vice President - Operations at Pride Hotels.

Under the initiative, the Pride Hotel will offer an entire customized package. All the facilities and set up will be customized and designed based on guest preferences. Pride Hotels will provide guests with a comfortable and sanitized stay, high-speed internet connection and Business Centre Facilities. The hygienic stay will also be supported by a customized meal menu. 3 Major meals of the day (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) and Hi tea will be served in the room. Tea and Coffee will be served with delicious sweet and savory cookies.

As a precautionary measure, the hotel will enact on the precautionary operational protocols including the mandatory temperature check, deep-cleaning measures in the hotel, colleagues lockers, all public areas, spa, pool, restaurants, meeting spaces, rooms, and suites.

Bookings up to 30th Sep’20 can only be made for the post lockdown dates in the cities of Pune, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Nagpur and other Pan India locations.

Visit: www.pridehotel.com

THE VERY BEST OF A SAFARI EXPERIENCE LIVE TO YOUR HOMES

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Be one of the first to see Ulusaba’s new Leopard Cubs

or all of us at home, an African safari and being up close and personal to some of the big five, is something we can only dream of right now. However, Virgin Limited Edition is planning on bringing alive the magic of the bush to you in a series of Instagram Live game drives.

The doors to Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand, South Africa may well be temporarily closed right now, but the incredible safari experience it is renowned for, is most certainly not.

The thrill of a game drive is never knowing what might appear around

the corner and in this series of live videos, Ulusaba’s ranger’s will endeavour to bring the very best of safari to your sofa. So, whether it’s the reserve’s resident lion pride, an elephant calf and its family or the very first views of two new leopard cubs hidden in their den, this Instagram Live from Virgin Limited Edition will certainly give a real-time authentic experience from one of South Africa’s most renowned safari lodges.

When: Every Monday at 3:30pm BST/8:00pm IST for the next four weeks (starting Monday 13 April 2020)

Where: Instagram - @VirginLimitedEdition Hashtag: #Travelfromhome #Sofasafari Ulusaba’s Rangers and Trackers are some of the very best in the world and while life as they know it might not be entirely normal for them right now, the welfare of the wildlife in the reserve is still their number one priority. Observing, protecting and researching the daily habits of the reserve’s wildlife is still as much a part of their daily routine and they want to share these experiences with the world.

The luxury private game reserve that forms part of the Virgin Limited Edition collection of unique retreats around the world sits in the heart of the African bush; but unlike nearly everything else in the world right now, it is very much a normal day for all the local wildlife that surround it.

The videos will be a first from Virgin Limited Edition that will showcase a series of live videos and inspirational ideas from across its properties, that will inspire and allow us to still dream of travelling.

For more information on Ulusaba Private Game Reserve or Virgin Limited Edition call T: 0800 716 919 (UK toll free). Alternatively e-mail enquiries@virginlimitededition.com.

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NEWS / WELLNESS

CHIVA-SOM THAILAND

LAUNCHES COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE WELLNESS SERVICES The coronavirus outbreak has caused pain and disruption around the world. and the Cruise major has announced it will dedicate two ships in Australia and California to support some of the people affected by recent crises.

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pioneer in transformative wellness practices, Chiva-Som in Hua Hin, Thailand, has announced the launch of Chiva-Som Online Wellness Services, to provide support and encourage individuals to maintain wellness goals during this unprecedented time. The Chiva-Som Online Wellness Services will be provided by wellness advisors, practitioners and experts. The services include some of Chiva-Som’s most popular services including consulta-

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tions, activities and physical training, all of which will be conducted oneon-one.

Chiva-Som has delivered its proven holistic wellness therapies to guests worldwide for over 25 years.

In these challenging times, maintaining physical and mental wellbeing is much needed. The new tele-therapy service at Chiva-Som will connect individuals with the resort’s team to provide bespoke professional support during this time of heightened

anxiety and social isolation. Participants will be able to speak directly to the experienced wellness team live from home via video communication and receive personalised feedback regarding lifestyle and nutrition.

Chiva-Som is also sharing a collection of on-demand, inspirational wellness content and hands-on tools across the resort’s digital channels to help everyone adapting to a new way of life within the limits of home. From healthy cuisine recipes and holistic

Spectrum of the Seas, Celebrity Millennium and their crews are ready to thank those who step up for others; company sends 1,000,000 masks to China efforts wellbeing advice, to virtual exercise programmes and self-training tutorials, all curated by the resort’s worldclass team of trainers and education facilitators, to keep the body and mind active and healthy whilst the resort is closed. Example features home. These are available on Chiinclude tips on boosting the immune va-Som’s blog www.chivasom.com/ system and how to promote restful about-blog, Facebook chivasomresleep; Pilates, yoga and meditation sort, Instagram @chivasomresort sessions; pranayama classes; and and YouTube Chiva-Som Internationtutorials to teach to self-massage at al Health Resort channels.

“Now is a time for support, collaboration and encouragement. We are committed to our guests and community, in which we are striving to distribute our wellness resources to support people’s wellbeing without boundaries. We shall pass this together.” said Krip Rojanastien, Chairman and CEO of Chiva-Som. The Complimentary Online Wellness Services are available daily from now to 31st May 2020. Please note that a reservation is required and should be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Individuals will receive a live health and wellness consultation, and a separate one-on-one consultation with a Naturopath, or a physiotherapy or exercise session with a practitioner. The selection of consultation, treatment and exercise session will be based on the advisor’s expert guidance.

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NEWS / FOOD & WINE

AVANI HOTELS

SHARES VEGAN COOKING VIDEOS ON INSTAGRAM There has never been a better time like Lockdown to sharpen your culinary skills. With demand for home cooking content on the rise

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ith demand for home cooking content on the rise, Avani Hotels (www. avanihotels.com) has partnered with a prominent food blogger @ HeyTheresia making her healthy vegan recipes available to Avani Instagram followers.

A home-cooked meal is a welcome source of comfort, as well as a nourishment for the body, mind and soul. For the budding chefs seeking to embrace a more holistic lifestyle and reduce their individual carbon footprint, this Avani cooking series offers a collection of inventive vegan dishes, which tend to have a lower environmental footprint than ani-

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mal-based foods.

Named among top ten food bloggers by Indonesia Tatler magazine, @HeyTheresia (Tere) blogs about food and travel. Her popular vegan recipe channel has gained a loyal following among the proponents of sustainable lifestyle.

For her collaboration with @ Avani_Hotels, @HeyTheresia worked with Avani chefs at a number of our Southeast Asian properties to treat the Instagram community to four easy-to-follow vegan recipes.

For the first recipe in the series, Tere partnered with Avani+ Riverside Bangkok’s chefs. The resulting

dish is an umami-packed Grilled Portobello Steak served with a “cake” of tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini and eggplant.

In collaboration with Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel, Tere crafted a Tortilla Wrap recipe – a rich combination of homemade hummus and jalapeño con carne made with red beans, capsicum, tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini.

Putting her stamp on Thailand’s national dish, Tere created a raw version of Pad Thai with zucchini noodles and almond sauce, under Avani+ Samui Resort’s guidance.

One of Tere’s signature dishes, Banana Pancakes, has also

Avani

Hotels & Resorts

L been included in the series. Made with almond milk and flavoured with soul-warming cinnamon and nutmeg, the impossibly fluffy creations are served with maple syrup.

Viewers will be able to access the cooking-at-home series for free on the brand’s Instagram channel @Avani_Hotels or by following the #AvaniLovesVegan hashtag. Avani also invites foodies and influencers to share their own recipes.

aunched in response to a growing global group of discerning world travellers whose priorities are service, style and value, Avani Hotels & Resorts is a contemporary, upbeat brand that delivers the perfect balance. With a focus on good sleep, effective social spaces, locally sourced sustenance and genuine service. Avani welcomes guests to over 30 properties in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Seychelles, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and Laos, with a pipeline of further openings in Australia, Asia, Indian Ocean and the Middle East.

Avani is part of the DISCOVERY loyalty programme. www.Avanihotels.com

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